The Black Iron Glory
Treating in the Tavern
Chapter 41
Treating in the Tavern
Claude understood that they only got a very big catch during their trip mainly because of luck. Welikro was the one to thank for hunting deer in the river during their first night there, while Claude miraculously survived the struggle with a large black python in the ruins. The blacktiger fish they caught was also a gift from heaven. He strongly doubted that they would experience the same luck on each of their trips.
In addition, Borkal also played a big role in selling all of it for a very large amount. He expertly used the opportunity when the crowd gathered to auction off items. That way, the city store owner would not be able to force him to sell it at a lower price. Instead, the price only goes up with each offer. At that time, the shop owners could no longer back down and had no choice but to buy a large quantity of goods to protect their company's reputation in the presence of the crowd.
Auctions at the docks are basically live shows where those shops can advertise their brand. Chirp Leather for example had their reputation after leaving the auction without buying anything. The hunters in the city must have Mila Tailors as their first choice to sell deer skin because they were the ones who bought it at the highest price. Their second choice was Wakri, who had bought two ripped goat skins for six riyases. Chirp Leather could only rely on licking the remaining crumbs by their two competitors in the future.
The total profit of 17 thales and eight riyases was far from Claude's expectations. He thought that getting eight or nine thales for those items would be quite good. However, the auction at the docks had doubled that amount, leaving him with an additional three thales after he paid back his debt with his share of the money. That's the same as Morssen's monthly public service salary.
No wonder Dad acted so strangely last night and didn't scold me for hiding a hunting trip from him. He probably found out about the prices of the items sold at the docks. I better go pick up some new books, lest he lecture me about not keeping my promise to him to buy books with the money he gave me. . .
That was the main reason Claude treated his friends for lunch. He wanted to buy some books in the city while he did.
"Well, I brought four bags of money here with your share of the money. I'll give it to you when we get to school" Borkal said with a nod, "But Claude, do you want me to share the money you want?" will pay us back soon? "
"I'll leave it with you for now. We can use it for some snacks and delicious food when we leave school for lunch. After all, we can't always make you pay them for that …"
Eriksson agreed. "Claude's right. Since we made our own little bit of this trip, let's use that amount to pay our restaurant bills."
"I also agree with that," said Welikro, "But Boa, I want to have four riyases and five sunars. I will leave the other four thales with you and take them from you when I need them. "
"Why?" The three of them looked at Welikro with curiosity.
She said slightly timidly, "Well ..If I keep the money on me, my sister will definitely take it away for safekeeping. That would be the last time I saw him. Something like this has happened several times in the past. The pocket money my father gave me almost always ended up with my sister.
They were silent when they heard of his fate.
Borkal said, "Well, I'll keep it for you. Just take it from me when you need to buy something."
When they got to school and entered the classroom, they were greeted with applause from the other students, something Eriksson was happy with.
When they got to school and entered the classroom, they were greeted with applause from the other students, something Eriksson was happy with.
"What are they doing?" claude asked with a blank look.
"They were also on the dock yesterday and called us four brave fighters from the second year cohort. Do you know how terrible the skin of a python is when it is installed? Even adult hunters would not dare to deal with something like that. Sure, it's all thanks to you, " explained Borkal in a whisper.
The four Year 2 warriors? Could it be better than that? Claude felt his face flushed with embarrassment. He had only managed to get through three morning class sessions, as any instructor who came to the class would call their names and express praise and admiration for their courage. Even during the break time, other students, including the girls, talked incessantly about them.
Welikro doesn't seem to mind. Being an ignorant person like him, he reacted rather slowly to all of that. Claude on the other hand was not used to being in the spotlight. As a transmigrator, all he wanted was to remain humble. Only by hiding in the masses could he feel safe. He had no choice but to endure it and hope that all of this would pass over time.
Borkal and Eriksson instead enjoy their newfound fame and recount their relentless journey to their friends. If not for Claude's quick reaction, they would have almost revealed the fact that they had been camping in the ruins of the magic tower. Even though they were drunk that night, it did not limit their imagination at all. They concoct all sorts of stories about the two nights they spent at the feet of Egret, blinding their schoolmates with terror, suspense, and intrigue.
Claude strongly believes that a new series of urban legends about the Egret will soon be born, such as the haunted cry of the woods at midnight, the dark silhouette that can be seen in the misty mountains, the, the fog that persists even though the sun rises, and so on. The storyteller happily raved while the listener did not bother to think hard and scrutinize the story. It never occurred to them how the four boys could return unscathed if the place was truly as frightening as Borkal and Eriksson feared.
"Where should we go to eat?" ask Welikro.
"Why don't we go to the tavern? Didn't Eyke sell our blacktiger to one of them? I really want to try the taste" Claude suggested. Since he paid, they should not mind. He did not expect Borkal and Eriksson to say no to his plans.
"Why don't we go to the tavern? Didn't Eyke sell our blacktiger to one of them? I really want to try the taste" Claude suggested. Since he paid, they should not mind. He did not expect Borkal and Eriksson to say no to his plans.
"No way, Claude, do you want to be scolded? Want to bet that at least half the people there will recognize us? I'm sure your father and my father will eat there now" Borkal said.
"I thought my dad would be there too. He made plans with Pjard yesterday afternoon. Pjard said that he would leave most of the fish for my father, who would come with a few more friends to taste the fish.We caught, "said Eriksson a little disappointed. Like a father like a son, Eriksson's father likes to bathe in the limelight like his son.
Claude slapped his forehead. How could I forget? The shop was a common place for townspeople to gather. Given that Pjard had bought blacktiger fish at such a high price, the tavern would definitely be filled with upscale townspeople for the rest of the day wanting to taste the rare specimen. Claude's father, the chief secretary of the city, will most likely be invited to eat there. Going to the tavern now practically asked to be scolded by his father.
There are plenty of bars in Whitestag, seven near the wharf only. However, there is only one townspeople who are referred to simply as 'shops' or 'old shops'. It was the first tavern also named after the town, the Whitestag Tavern. It is said that the history of the tavern stretches as far as the property of the city, with it being passed down over ten generations before ending up as the sole property of the dignified city councilor, Sir Fux. Being a board member like him, he did not know how to manage a tavern, so he left Chief Chef Pjard in charge of it.
Pjard is a fantastic guy. He is from the royal capital and his family owns a fine restaurant there. Since his childhood, he has researched the culinary arts passionately. As Sir Fux studied in the royal capital when he was young, he became good friends with Pjard.
Later in her life, a noblewoman with a passion for delicious food falls in love with young Pjard. But as expected, the relationship did not get any blessings from his parents. After all, she was a noblewoman, and falling in love with a lowly chef whose much lower status and family background made her nation's home a laughingstock in the royal capital.
And so, the noble lady firmly decided to elope with the young Pjard!
It ends with the Pjard family suffering the wrath of the girl's family. Their fine restaurant was soon closed. On that front, Pjard had to thank Stellin IX for greatly suppressing the scope of what nobles could do. At the very least, his family members were safe from danger. All the nobles could do was put financial pressure on them.
For the sake of love, Pjard had left his family in the royal capital to the Whitestag for the help of Sir Fux. Later, he took over the management of one of his core properties: the old Whitestag shop.
It ends with the Pjard family suffering the wrath of the girl's family. Their fine restaurant was soon closed. On that front, Pjard had to thank Stellin IX for greatly suppressing the scope of what nobles could do. At the very least, his family members were safe from danger. All the nobles could do was put financial pressure on them.
For the sake of love, Pjard had left his family in the royal capital to the Whitestag for the help of Sir Fux. Later, he took over the management of one of his core properties: the old Whitestag shop.
As he takes over the joints, Pjard fires all the female waitresses who earn a side income through sensual and intimate services and convinces Sir Fux to give the tavern a major renovation. He also recruited many new servers and trained them strictly. Three months later, the old shop was born again and became the most elegant and expensive place in Whitestag. The wealthy townspeople flocked there in droves and the tavern became a central location for interaction between people from the upper class society, a place where they could talk big business while eating good!
"Thank you for the reminder, Boa. Where should we have lunch?"
"Don't you say you want to go to the bookstore after dinner? Why don't we go to Big Fork, the restaurant next to the bookstore? The mutton ribs and noodles they serve there sound good" Eriksson suggested.
Big Fork is not the real name of the restaurant. Freia people usually name their own shops and businesses after their surnames. Originally, the restaurant was known as Lunery Dinery after its owner, Lunbards. But to attract the attention of potential customers, they put a giant fork at the entrance of the restaurant. Later, people referred to the place as Big Fork instead of its real name. That's one reason not to show random objects in someone's storefront. . .
Although there are noodles in that world, most are handmade by squeezing flour into dough and separating them into lumpy shapes with sticks before being sliced into thin pieces. They can be consumed after cooking them in a pot for a while and pouring sauce on them. It was not so different from the noodles Claude had in his past life, but the sauce did not taste so good.
On the other hand, goat ribs taste good to lick. For drinks, rye beer and honey-red tea are served there, each for one sunar. Since the four of them still had classes after the break, Eriksson and Borkal went to drink honey-red tea instead of beer.
Claude consumed five ribs of his mutton in quick succession and devoured a large bowl of noodles. Borkal ate roughly the same as he did, only two goat ribs less. Eriksson and Welikro on the other hand crave instant noodles for several reasons and each order two large bowls.
When the bill came, Claude paid three riyas and four sunars in total; one sunar for each of the goat ribs, of which they had 12 in total, six bowls of noodles in each of three sunars and four sunars for four red honey teas. That amount was equivalent to Morssen's salary for three days. Although the price of Big Fork was rather high, Claude remained satisfied that he managed to treat his friends with a delicious dish.