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Caleb gave a modest shrug, though inside, he was smiling ear to ear. This is how power is built. Not just through bullets and brawn, but through careful investments. Dutch never understood that.
"No problem, Sheriff," Caleb replied with an easy smile. "Think of it as an investment into the town's future. Into your men. Into keepin' Valentine secure and strong."
Sheriff Malloy gave a low whistle, shaking his head slowly. "Valentine's lucky to have you, Caleb. Not every businessman thinks about the town when he thinks about his pocketbook." He tucked the bills away into the desk drawer, closing it with a firm snap, though the awe still lingered in his voice.
"Just looking out for our community, Sheriff," Caleb nodded, satisfied. Business was done. He began to rise from his chair, tipping his hat politely, preparing to bid his farewell. But just as he reached his feet, something stirred in the back of his mind. 'Ah, yes. Best to tie up that loose end while I've got the Sheriff here.'
"Before I go, Sheriff," Caleb said, pausing with one hand on his hat brim, "there's another small matter I'd like to ask your help with."
Sheriff Malloy raised an eyebrow, curiosity flickering back into his eyes. "Another matter? What is it."
Caleb reached into his satchel once more, pulling from the endless depths of his system inventory with practiced ease. This time, he produced 990 dollars, stacked in bundles as neat as before. He set them on the desk between them, the paper whispering against the wood.
"I'd appreciate it if you could deliver this sum to Mr. Graght," Caleb explained. "It's the final payment for my land deed. Truth is, I don't know where his office is, and time's not on my side today. Got a lot of work ahead of me, so I can't be wastin' hours huntin' him down."
He was lying, of course. He knew exactly where the land agent's office was. But this served two purposes: it saved him a trip, and more importantly, it further entwined Sheriff Malloy in his affairs. Having the Sheriff act as his courier for a transaction this large was a powerful signal of their new "understanding."
Sheriff Malloy blinked, momentarily taken aback. "You're payin' off Graght? The rest of the payment?"
Caleb gave a sharp nod. "That's right. I'd like to make it official. No debts lingerin' over my head."
For a moment, the Sheriff simply studied him, then chuckled under his breath, shaking his head in disbelief. "You've got more money than sense, Caleb… and I mean that as a compliment. Most men around here can't even pay off half their loans, let alone close the whole book. Don't worry, I was plannin' to pay Mr. Graght a visit myself. Had some business to discuss with him anyway. I'll make sure this gets to the right hands."
Caleb let out a quiet breath, relieved. "Thank you, Sheriff. That's a load off my shoulders."
"You've got my word," Malloy said firmly, sliding the 990 dollars into another drawer separate from the first. He gave Caleb a nod of respect. "You keep makin' moves like this, son, and pretty soon you'll be the most important man in Valentine."
Caleb chuckled, tipping his hat again. "Let's hope I can live up to the expectation."
With that, he gave his farewell, the heavy wooden door creaking open as he stepped out into the light. The deputies glanced up briefly as he passed, but Caleb didn't linger. His boots carried him steady down the dusty main street, his mind already shifting to the next matter on his list.
The general store was his destination. If he wanted to expand his menu, if he wanted to keep his customers hungry for more, he needed ingredients. Something fresh, something different. The burgers had been a success, the fries a novelty. But Caleb wasn't about to stop there.
The bell above the door jingled as he stepped inside. The air carried the faint scent of flour, kerosene, and cured leather. And behind the counter, Mr. Worth sat hunched over, a half eaten burger clutched in one hand.
The sight made Caleb chuckle out loud.
"Caleb!" he managed to say around the mouthful of food, quickly chewing and swallowing. "Welcome, welcome!"
"Well, mornin', Mr. Worth," Caleb greeted warmly, his voice laced with amusement. "Looks like you're havin' yourself a fine breakfast there."
Mr. Worth take another bite, a smear of grease glinting on his chin, before swallows it. He chuckled sheepishly, raising the burger as if in salute. "You caught me red handed, Caleb. I swear, ever since you opened that stall, hell, now it's a full blown restaurant, I find myself eatin' breakfast from you more often than from my own kitchen. My wife's cookin' just doesn't stack up anymore."
Caleb laughed heartily, shaking his head. "Careful now, Mr. Worth. Don't let your wife hear that, or you'll be sleepin' out in the barn."
"Ah, she won't hear it from anyone," Mr. Worth said, waving a dismissive hand. "Unless you plan on tellin' her? And if you do, well…" he leaned forward, feigning seriousness, "I might just have to suddenly find myself all out of stock for a certain popular restaurateur. Supply chain issues, you understand."
Feigning mock fear, Caleb raised his hands. "Alright, alright, you've got me. Your secret's safe. Don't worry, I won't risk losin' my tomatoes and onions over loose talk."
"Smart man," Mr. Worth said, his grin returning.
Both men laughed, the sound filling the store with an easy warmth.
"So then," Mr. Worth said, wiping his hands on a cloth and setting aside the remains of his burger, "what can I do for you today, Caleb?"
"I'll need quite a few things, actually," Caleb said thoughtfully, leaning on the counter. "I'll need one kilogram of ripe tomatoes. Two kilograms of onions. A block of that hard cheese you have in the cooler. A jar of sugar. A jar of salt. Some fresh horseradish, if you have it. A braid of garlic. Some ginseng root… and some chili, too."
As the list went on, Mr. Worth's expression shifted from curiosity to outright astonishment. His jaw went slightly slack, and the remainder of the burger in his hand nearly tumbled to the floor. He fumbled with it, managing to secure his grip at the last second.
"Whoa there!" he exclaimed, staring at Caleb. "That's… quite a haul. You plannin' to cook up a feast or open a second restaurant?"
Caleb only grinned, his eyes glinting with that familiar fire of ambition. "Let's just say I've got a few ideas. New recipes. Somethin' fresh to keep the folks comin' back for more."
Mr. Worth chuckled, finishing the last bite of his burger in one exaggerated bite, as though to give himself both hands free to work. "Alright, Caleb. One kilogram tomatoes, two of onions, cheese, sugar, salt, horseradish, garlic, ginseng, and chilies. You just… wait right there. This might take me a minute to gather up." He shook his head, muttering to himself as he turned and began moving around his store, pulling items from shelves and bins. "Chilies and ginseng in a burger… what is the world comin' to putting them into meat…"
"Appreciate it," Caleb said with a nod, leaning back slightly as he waited.
As Worth disappeared into the back, Caleb folded his arms, mind drifting. The Sheriff was in his pocket now, at least partially. His land debt was handled. His wealth was secure in the system's endless vault. And soon, with these new ingredients, his restaurant's menu would evolve again, keeping him ahead of the curve.
He rubbed his chin, already envisioning the next steps. Maybe he need to begin making some drinks to pair with the meals he have and going to made. Lemonade, perhaps? Sweet tea? Also talking about drinks he need to look into Coca Cola and invest in them.
As from the list of items he buy, the tomatoes and onions could be the base for a rich, slow simmered ketchup, far superior to the thin, vinegary stuff commonly available. The horseradish mixed with a little vinegar and salt could become a pungent, creamy sauce.
The cheese could be melted into a perfect, gooey slice. The garlic could be roasted and blended into a savory patties alongside the Creeping Thymes. The sugar was for a new, sweeter batter for the fries, and the chilies… the chilies were for a bold, spicy option he could call the "El Diablo" burger.
The ginseng was a red herring, a curious addition he could claim was for a "health tonic" drink he was developing, a story to cover any future, more complex recipes.
Caleb's mind was a whirlwind of culinary possibilities, each ingredient from Mr. Worth's store sparking a new idea. He was mentally crafting recipes, balancing flavors, and envisioning a menu that would make his establishment legendary. The simplicity of a burger and fries was about to be revolutionized.
His reverie was broken by the sound of Mr. Worth grunting as he hauled the final items onto the counter. The storekeeper had assembled everything into three sturdy burlap sacks and a small, open topped wooden crate for the more delicate items like the tomatoes and the block of cheese.
"There," Mr. Worth said, patting one of the sacks with a sense of pride. "One kilogram of tomatoes, two of onions, cheese block wrapped in wax, sugar jar, salt jar, horseradish root, garlic, fresh ginseng, and a good handful of chilies. Took me a while to dig those out, don't often have folks buyin' that much at once. Best check it over, Caleb, just to make sure I didn't miss nothin'."
Caleb shook his head with a warm smile, waving the idea away. "No need, Mr. Worth. You've always been reliable. I trust you."
That drew a chuckle from the shopkeeper. "Well, I'll be damned, trust like that's worth more than gold these days. Still, I appreciate it. Let's see… total for all this will come to 77 dollars and 64 cents." He scratched at the side of his chin, looking slightly apologetic at the high number. "Price of cheese has gone up, and them chilies ain't easy to come by."
Without hesitation, Caleb dipped a hand into his satchel, pulling from his system inventory with the same natural ease he'd shown earlier with the Sheriff. He laid out the exact amount, 77 dollars and 64 cents, in neat bills and coins upon the counter. "77 dollars, 64 cents. Fair price for good goods. My thanks, Mr. Worth."
The man's brows rose. Most customers would have grumbled, haggled, or at least sighed at such an amount. But Caleb? He paid without a word, without flinching. Worth swept the money up reverently and tucked it into the register. "Pleasure doin' business with you as always, Caleb. And do me a favor, when you manage to cook up somethin' new with all this, make sure I get the first taste, eh? Can't let the rest of the town beat me to it."
Caleb chuckled, tipping his hat slightly. "I'll make sure you get the first bite, Mr. Worth. Count on it."
With that, he moved to the counter. His left hand hooked under two sacks, hefting them with ease, while his right hand balanced the last sack stacked atop the small wooden crate. The sheer display of strength left Mr. Worth blinking in surprise.
"You carryin' all that yourself?"
"Why not?" Caleb grinned, adjusting his grip. "Wouldn't be the first time I've carried heavier."
Mr. Worth let out a low whistle. "You're somethin' else, Caleb. You be careful not to tear your arms off."
Caleb laughed, shaking his head as he turned toward the door. "Don't worry, I'll manage. Thanks again." And with that, he pushed the door open and stepped back out into the bustle of Valentine's main street, the bell above the frame jingling faintly in his wake.
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Name: Caleb Thorne
Age: 23
Body Attributes:
- Strength: 7/10
- Agility: 7/10
- Perception: 8/10
- Stamina: 7/10
- Charm: 6/10
- Luck: 8/10
Skills:
- Handgun (Lvl 4)
- Rifle (Lvl 3)
- Firearms Knowledge (Lvl 3)
- Past Life Memory (Lvl MAX)
- Knife (Lvl 2)
- Blunt Weapon (Lvl 1)
- Sneaking (Lvl 3)
- Horse Mastery (Lvl 4)
- Poker (Lvl 4)
- Hand to Hand Combat (Lvl 2)
- Eagle Eye (Lvl 1)
- Dead Eye (Lvl 3)
- Bow (Lvl 2)
- Pain Nullifier (Lvl 1)
- Physical Regeneration (Lvl 0)
- Crafting (Lvl 3)
- Persuasion (Lvl 2)
- Mental Fortitude (Lvl MAX)
- Cooking (Lvl 3)
- Teaching (Lvl 2)
- Germanic Language Proficiency (Lvl MAX)
- Inventory System (Permanent - 10x10x10)
- Acting (Lvl 2)
- Alcohol Resistance (Lvl MAX)
- Treasure Hunter (Lvl MAX)
Money: 1,899 dollars and 46 cents
Inventory: 102,917 dollars and 43 cents, 7 gold nuggets, 58 gold bars, 7 silver rings, 1 Double Action, 1 Schofield, 2 large bags of jewelry, 4 gold rings, 2 silver rings, 4 silver pocket watches, 3 gold buckles, 1 gold pocket compass, 2 platinum pocket watches, 2 Colm's Schofields, and land deed (Parcel)
Bank: -