Once Baston came back to Prius Academy, he quickly found Panto personally. Although their relationship was just a classmate, but he believed the merchant boy still depended on him. The matter of cult should be
ongoing in Panto's head, making him to be alert on the surrounding. It was good that he believed such a nonsense. Baston just conveyed his purpose without any
pleasantries.
"If I want to sell this ice bead, how much money I can get?"
"What?" Panto was confused because Baston suddenly asked him about the price he could give, "For this thing, it's better to ask my father. It's because this item is quite rare, so I can't give you the exact price."
"Then, how long until you can inform me the price?" Baston looked in a hurry, "I mean how long you can ask about it to your father?"
"This… I can't be sure. It should be on this week since I plan to return to my home for several days. At that time, I can ask it for
you…"
Panto was still confused why Baston suddenly asked about it, so he first confirmed the matter to the fat boy. Baston didn't mind it and he then explained about the ice bead. He told Panto that he got this thing from Zeverius Academy. It was a gift, but since it wasn't useful for him, he then
decided to just sell it. Panto sighed before there was a glimmer of exciting feeling on his eyes. He knew this thing should be quite rare, so it was a good opportunity if his father could sell it in the name of his business unit.
At the beginning, Panto was afraid this ice bead came from shady source. It didn't matter actually, but sometimes, several buyers wanted to know it because they were also afraid of being implicated by unknown
trouble. If the source was clear, then it was alright. When Panto said he would deliver this item personally to his father, Baston asked if he could come with him. The fat boy came up with reason to make sure everything would be fine.
Panto who heard Baston's request couldn't help being happy. Although he almost forgot the matter about the cult, but still, having a strong person to protect along the journey was quite significant. His father usually hired
many guards, but never wizards. It was because the cost was very expensive,
more than a knight. Even though it was just a guard, they were doing a great job after all this time. Usually, one or two bandits came in the middle of road, but it would be soon taken care quickly.
In business, everything could be done because of money or with the money itself. If the opponent couldn't win by products or anything else, then they sometime would take irrational act depended on how much money were involved in the transaction. In the bright side, they behaved like any others while in the dark side, they could use any means such as poison or assassination. This method was cruel, but any merchant was already used about it. As long there was much money to earn, anything would be possible.
On the other hand, Baston had more chances to explore the outside world. Actually, he had a theory he wanted to prove about the quests from the old book. At the beginning, he had more quests to complete, yet by the time he waited for it, there would be less and less until it stopped giving one. Therefore, there was a kind of speculation that the old book would give the quest according to his circumstance.
When he met Panto and Alicia for the first time, the old book gave the quests to him. It was also the same when he met with the great wizard Angus. There was also several occasion when he met with others, but the
quest didn't pop out. He guessed perhaps not everyone could trigger the quest. The
next one he dealt with Anderson as his teammate. By this course, the final one
should be also linked with a certain person. He had a hunch that Clark should be the next one considering that he had much more impact in his communication and relationship. In the end, it had connection with the troublesome boy, yet he was needed to give memorable impression to everyone.
He thought the case would only involve one person, but in the recent one, it involved many people at once. The important thing he could sum up was in the trip to the meeting, the old book gave 2 new quests. This was
quite surprising because it wasn't easy to get quest recently. The fact he could get one in the meantime indicated that there must be a requirement to be given this condition. He needed to try it once more to make sure his hypothesis was correct.
"Baston, try this snack. It's so delicious…" Panto took the snack beside him with other things, "There are also several different snacks. I want to bring more, but the carriage is quite narrow."
Baston was dumbfounded, "Why you need to bring so many snacks here?"
"Well, I'm afraid you will get hungry in this trip. My home is quite far, so it needs 2 or 3 days for us to reach the destination."
"I can't possibly eat snacks for 2 days straight in a row, right…"
"Ha… ha… ha… That's true… It's just that I'm afraid you will get bored…"
At presents, Baston and Panto were in the personal carriage while the rest of guards were riding a horse. The carriage that Panto used was smaller than the academy one, but Baston was quite satisfied. At least, he
didn't want a simple horse carriage since it would bump a lot. With 2 or 3 days inside, his bottom would be in great pain after that. While they were enjoying the scenery, Panto then asked him for advice.
"Baston, what should I say about you in front of my father?" Panto started to become serious, "What I mean is if you state yourself as a person from poor class, then everyone won't believe you have such a precious
ice bead."
Baston frowned, "I see. There will be no way that such a poor person holds this kind of bead. They will choose to believe that I'm a
thief rather than a potential customer."
"Yes, I'm afraid so. I also can't explain about the cult, right? I'm afraid they will target my family next once they hear such rumors."
Baston was taken aback before nodding, "It's true. Don't speak about this thing because it can endanger everyone who knows it. The less people know, the better safety they can get."
"Yes, of course."
The fat boy was amazed that Panto still remembered the cult by his heart. Supposedly, he wanted to let this mysterious organization to disappear, yet the involved one seemingly made their own assumptions. At present, he didn't know where they developed their imaginations regarding this
cult, but one thing for sure was since it was a fake one, Baston could just use it in case of making his drama.
"Then, tell your father I'm a fallen noble. If your father talks further, let him knows that I'm a bastard son from a noble man."
"Alright, I will do as you say…" Panto grinned.
Baston was slightly puzzled that Panto regarded him as his savior or master until this day. When he played a drama in front of him, he never thought the end result would be like this. He wondered if he gave a
command, would Panto do as the order or not? Such a lackey wasn't bad because
it made him convenient.
Three days later, they finally reached their destination. As always, the front gate of the city looked grander and magnificent. Everyone must be in awe whenever they passed the gate. As soon as Baston got inside the city, he could see many stores were built in every side of the city. There were
also many inns, indicating that the business here was very good. It was crowded
anywhere, making the carriage moved slower so as not to hit the pedestrians.
"Let me introduce you about this city!" Panto suddenly became motivated, "This is Farbarus City, the land where every inch is so precious than anything. In here, there are almost no empty spots left. Everyone at least has one or two businesses. The market is booming from many years ago, so many people come here to look for an opportunity. While merchants like us build our own business empire, the commoner or poor will also flock here in order to get a job. As long you are alive, then you can earn money."
"Well, I can see that. There's even many traffics in the surrounding. By the way, this place is like business district. Is there any
residential district where people live?"
"No, the whole city is business district. The place they live is used also for business. Even there are no goods to sell, they can make their house to be an inn. Many travelers from far like to stay at there since
it will be convenient. In summary, no one will live here for vacation since everyone is doing business here."
From what he saw, Baston also agreed. Every inch of this city was precious to earn more money. It seemed no one would build residential area just so people could have relaxation. They would rest once the business wasn't booming again. Usually at night, the thriving crowd would be less than
the day so it was a better time to rest and sleep, even though some of them was open for all the time.
Baston also looked at many civilian houses at the side of the road. Instead of selling goods, they also joined the prosperity of the city by providing a service as the inn. There were big to small inns here, but mostly of them were in scale of just like a guesthouse. Even though their places were not big, but they kept it clean so several people sometime stayed at them. One of many reasons was actually they were cheap and affordable, so it was a great place just to sleep.
Panto wanted to bring Baston to his father directly, but he thought it wasn't too appropriate. It was better to stay at nearby inn first to look his father's reaction about the ice bead. If the old man just took a casual look with nothing interesting, then it would be better for Baston not to show his face. It would be entirely different once the old man showed intrigued expression. At that time, Baston would greet him if the old man wanted to meet the seller.
The idea looked good, so Panto made his way back at home while Baston would be waiting at the inn. Of course, the boy was glad he could once again be worthy to his savior. He paid for exclusive treatment regarding the food and the room, making the fat boy once again thought Panto was very
useful to him. The merchant boy got down from his carriage while looking at the big store in front of him.
His house didn't look like a normal house. After all, his father was doing a business and he needed a place to do the transaction plus
the place for living. That was why even though the house looked like a big supermarket, Panto indeed lived in here for most of the time. His room was in upstairs where there were less people here. Everyone who saw him might be thinking he was a worker here since he used a special path used for delivery of goods.
The place was really disguised as living room for workers, yet there was no trace of them living here because only Panto who stayed at this room. The only person who could enter beside his father was only maids who always kept the room clean everyday. Inside the room, Panto sighed and laid at
the bed. He was waiting for his father to have a time for meeting. Since the business was thriving, his father was always very busy. There was no way to disturb him so the best Panto could do was waiting patiently.