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...
Mayor Timmins's smile vanished, replaced by a look of pained honesty. "It's… it's been a challenge Mr. Thorne, I won't lie to you. My big dream and vision for Strawberry…"
"Is a noble one," Caleb interjected smoothly, stealing the man's lament and reframing it. "A tourist destination, a haven. The vision is correct. The execution…"
He gestured vaguely at the dusty bear. "…has faltered. I am here because I believe in the vision. I wish to acquire this lodge, and the land rights pertaining to it, and realize that vision."
Mayor Timmins's breath caught. "Acquire? You mean… buy it?"
"Exactly. I am prepared to offer a full eight thousand dollars in cash. A fair price, given its current state and liabilities. That sum would relieve the town's treasury, and in my hands, the lodge would be transformed into an engine for the prosperity you've always dreamed of for Strawberry."
The number, 8,000 dollars in cash no less, landed in the quiet room. It was the lower end of the range Cecil had mentioned, but it was a real, tangible offer after a week of silence. Timmins and Cecil exchanged a loaded glance.
"Mr. Thorne," Mayor Timmins began, his voice straining for authority, "while I'm thankful and happy of the offer, the initial investment was considerably more. The land alone… the building…"
Strauss cleared his throat, opening his own case and producing a sheet of figures. "With respect, Mr. Mayor, we have reviewed the available public records. The town's investment is sunk cost. The lodge's monthly operational deficit is approximately at three hundred and fifty dollars. At the current trajectory, the town will spend another eight thousand dollars simply keeping the doors open and losing money over the next two years, with no improvement in prospect. Our offer is not for the dream, but for the current asset, which is a liability. The eight thousand is a lifeline, not a valuation of potential."
It was a brutal, clinical analysis, delivered in Strauss's dry, uninflected tone. It shattered Mayor Timmins's remaining pretense.
Caleb softened his approach, layering Persuasion over the hard truth. "Mayor, I am not here to rob you. I am here to partner with Strawberry. I buy this failing enterprise. You use the capital to fix roads, improve the fishing docks, market the town properly."
"While I, in turn, will invest twenty thousand dollars, minimum, into transforming this place." He painted the vision briefly, the three story V shaped structure embracing the view, the Pelton wheel on the waterfall providing modern electricity for the hotel and the town, the luxury suites, the fine dining.
Mayor Timmins was caught between the hammer of Strauss's facts and the anvil of Caleb's dazzling future.
He looked to Cecil, who gave a tiny, almost imperceptible nod. Take it.
"The… the electricity," Mayor Timmins stammered, latching onto the most concrete benefit. "You'd share it with the town?"
"For a reasonable municipal fee, yes," Caleb said. "Strawberry would be the first town in the state with ubiquitous electric light, powered by its own natural beauty. Imagine the headlines."
That did it. The dream was rekindled, but this time with a competent architect. Mayor Timmins's shoulders slumped in surrender, but his eyes were alight. "Eight thousand… and the twenty thousand investment guaranteed?"
"The initial renovation phase will begin right away as long as the transfer of title and ownership if done," Caleb stated. "You have my word. The funds are secured." He nudged the suitcase with his foot for emphasis.
Mayor Nicholas Timmins took a deep, shuddering breath. He looked at the dusty bear, symbol of his failure, then back at Caleb Thorne, the avatar of a salvaged future. "Then… then I believe we have an agreement, Mr. Thorne. Welcome to Strawberry. Properly."
Caleb smiled, not the sharp smirk of the poker table or the cold grin of the bayou, but the satisfied smile of a man who has just acquired a cornerstone of his legacy. He reached for the suitcase.
Caleb placed the heavy suitcase on the low table between them with a deliberate, resonant thump. The sound seemed to finalize the agreement in the air.
"As a gesture of trust between both sides," Caleb said evenly, "I'll show you that I'm not lying about the eight thousand dollars in cash. Nor about the twenty thousand minimum set aside for renovation."
He reached down, fingers moving with practiced confidence, and dialed the lock. The clicks sounded unnaturally loud in the quiet lobby, click, click, click, each a punctuation mark in the moment. Then the clasps sprang free. With a quiet flourish, he opened the lid.
The interior was a revelation of ordered wealth. Neat, paper banded stacks of hundred dollar bills filled the case, arranged in precise rows. The sheer volume of cash in the rustic, failing lodge was jarring, almost surreal. Sunlight from the dusty window glinted off the crisp edges of the notes.
Cecil's eyes widened first. Not in greed, but in disbelief, an accountant's mind confronted with a sum that rarely existed outside ledgers and bank vaults.
Mayor Timmins actually leaned back for a moment, his hand fluttering to his chest as if to calm a racing heart. His face paled, then flushed. "My word," he breathed, the sound barely audible over the distant roar of the waterfall. "I... I've never..."
Caleb let them look for a five count, allowing the reality of his capital to sink in. Then he closed the case with a firm snap, cutting off the hypnotic display.
"It's all quite real, gentlemen. And no," he added with a wry smile, "the bottom layers are not newsprint or kindling. You have my word as a businessman."
For a moment, Mayor Timmins stared at him. Then he let out an awkward, almost embarrassed chuckle, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Of course, Mr. Thorne! Of course! I would never... it's just... the sum, in person... it's rather overwhelming. I've never seen that much money in cash before." The last shreds of his negotiating posture evaporated, replaced by awe and a desperate hope that this deal would not slip away.
Caleb chuckled softly in return, the tension easing like a knot loosening in the air. "You're not alone in that," he replied.
Strauss, who had remained perfectly still throughout the display, finally allowed himself a small, calculating smile.
Meanwhile, satisfied with the impact, Caleb turned his head slightly towards Strauss. Without changing his expression, he began speaking, but the sounds that emerged were not English. They were the guttural, precise syllables of German. His Language Skill rendered it flawless, native sounding.
"Das lief einfacher als erwartet," Caleb said casually, the German rolling off his tongue with smooth, native fluency. ('That went easier than expected.')
Cecil blinked, clearly caught off guard. Mayor Timmins frowned, confused. As for the effect on Strauss was profound. His eyes, behind his spectacles, widened in genuine shock. He had known Caleb Thorne as a man of frightening capability and sharp intellect, but this was a new dimension entirely.
A bounty hunter and industrialist from the American heartland speaking fluent, educated German? It shattered his remaining categories. After a moment's stunned silence, he responded in kind, his own German accented but fluent.
"…In der Tat," Strauss replied after a brief pause, adjusting his spectacles. ('Indeed.')
"Das liegt an Ihrem Auftreten, Herr Thorne. Der Eindruck war entscheidend. Deshalb ließ sich der Bürgermeister so leicht überzeugen." ('That is due to your bearing, Mr. Thorne. The impression was decisive. That's why the mayor was persuaded so easily.')
Caleb gave a soft chuckle in German. "Ja, das mag sein," he replied lightly. ('Yes, that may be.') "Aber Eindruck allein reicht selten aus." ('But impression alone is rarely enough.') Inwardly, he credited his maxed out Acting and Persuasion skills far more than his bearing, but the mystique was useful.
On the other side of the table, Mayor Timmins and Cecil exchanged a bewildered glance. The rapid fire foreign exchange was both intimidating and impressive. Timmins leaned close to his clerk. "What in heaven's name are they saying?"
Cecil, who had encountered a few German trappers in his time, whispered back, "German, I believe, Mayor. Sounded like German."
Timmins nodded slowly, his respect for Caleb inflating further. A man who carried such wealth and spoke European languages? This was no ordinary frontier investor. This was a man of the world. "Looks like Mr. Thorne is truly a very rich man,Cecil," he murmured. "Speaks German and all. This is… this is a much bigger investor than any we've managed to attract in the past."
Cecil hearing that nod in fervent agreement. "Undoubtedly."
Caleb turned his attention back to them, switching seamlessly to English as if nothing unusual had happened. "Now then Mayor Timmins," he said, businesslike once more. "We have a deal in principle. Time is of the essence. when can we sign the papers? The sooner, the better."
Mayor Timmins, eager to please, puffed out his chest as the shock of the money and the language display settling into something closer to excitement. "We can have the papers drawn up by tonight! Or, at the very latest, first thing tomorrow morning. There are title deeds, transfer documents, municipal approvals..."
"Tonight would be preferable," Caleb interjected gently but firmly. "I have pressing matters in another town tomorrow. I'd like to see this settled."
The mayor glanced at Cecil, who nodded firmly. "Yes," Cecil said. "We can do it tonight, Mr. Thorne. I'll prepare the proof of ownership and the required official documents as quickly as possible. I'll work through supper if I have to."
"Splendid," Caleb said. "To expedite the process, and ensure everything is in perfect legal order, my associate Herr Strauss will assist you. He is meticulous with documents."
He glanced at Strauss, who gave a slight bow of acknowledgment. "Upon the successful signing and transfer, the eight thousand dollars will be yours. The twenty thousand dollar renovation fund will be held in reserve by Herr Strauss, who will remain here in Strawberry to oversee the initial phases."
Strauss inclined his head slightly, already reaching for his papers.
"And," Caleb continued, "he will also be responsible for hiring local labor, carpenters, stonemasons, and laborers. The wages will be paid in cash, weekly, injecting capital directly into your community, giving the town's economy a much needed boost."
Mayor Timmins looked like he might embrace Caleb. This was beyond his wildest hopes, not just a sale, but a commitment, jobs, and a modern marvel (electricity!) for his town. "Mr. Thorne, I... we are profoundly grateful. You have no idea what this means to us. You are a godsend."
"Just a businessman who sees potential where others see problems, Mayor," Caleb replied modestly.
With the business settled for the moment, the mayor rose from his chair. "In the meantime, Mr. Thorne, please accept the best room in the lodge. You should rest while we prepare the paperwork."
Caleb smiled politely. "I appreciate the offer. Before that, though, if you'll excuse me, while the documents are being prepared, I'd like to take the air and see more of your beautiful town. A personal tour, if it's not too much trouble?"
"Trouble? It would be my honor!" Mayor Timmins exclaimed, jumping to his feet. "I shall be your guide myself! Show you all the points of interest, the best fishing spots, the views..."
Caleb nodded graciously. He had no need of a guide, his memories of another life provided a perfect map of every path, building, and vista in Strawberry, with his own map interface it was a perfect match.
But accepting the offer was a political courtesy, a way to bond with the mayor and be seen by the townsfolk as a partner, not a distant absentee owner. "I would appreciate that greatly. Herr Strauss," he said, switching back to English, "you know what to do."
...
Name: Caleb Thorne
Age: 23
Body Attributes:
- Strength: 8/10
- Agility: 8/10
- Perception: 9/10
- Stamina: 8/10
- Charm: 8/10
- Luck: 9/10
Skills:
- Handgun (Lvl MAX)
- Rifle (Lvl MAX)
- Firearms Knowledge (Lvl MAX)
- Past Life Memory (Lvl MAX)
- Knife (Lvl MAX)
- Blunt Weapon (Lvl 2)
- Sneaking (Lvl MAX)
- Horse Mastery (Lvl MAX)
- Poker (Lvl MAX)
- Hand to Hand Combat (Lvl MAX)
- Eagle Eye (Lvl 2)
- Dead Eye (Lvl 4)
- Bow (Lvl 3)
- Pain Nullifier (Lvl 4)
- Physical Regeneration (Lvl 3)
- Crafting (Lvl MAX)
- Persuasion (Lvl MAX)
- Mental Fortitude (Lvl MAX)
- Cooking (Lvl MAX)
- Teaching (Lvl 3)
- Trilingual Language Proficiency - G, I, & C (Lvl MAX)
- Inventory System (Permanent - 10x10x10)
- Acting (Lvl MAX)
- Alcohol Resistance (Lvl MAX)
- Treasure Hunter (Lvl MAX)
- Drugs Resistance (Lvl MAX)
- Business (Lvl 1)
- Leadership (Lvl 1)
Money: 3,465 dollars and 60 cents
Inventory: 251,892 dollars and 61 cents, 11 gold nuggets, 65 gold bars, 1 Double Action, 1 Schofield, 2 Colm's Schofields, land deed (Parcel), 1 Mauser, 1 Semi Auto Pistol, 1 Lancaster Repeater, 1 Old Wood Jewelry Box, 1 F.F Mausoleum small brass key, 1 Ruby, 1 Braithwaites Land Deed, 1 Broken Pirate Sword, 1 Milton's Safety Deposit Key, 1 Senator Pendleton Sealed Envelope, & Proof Of Marlin-Thorne Firearms Co.
Bank: -