Chapter 10: Inside The Riverside Town of Roka (III)
Year 0003, Month VIII-X: The Imperium
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Day 16: Third and Final Day - Buying a Wagon, Registering as a Travelling Merchant, and Departure
The morning sun cast long shadows across Roka's cobblestone streets as the trio prepared for what would be their final day in the riverside town. August had completed his customary morning run around the town's perimeter, his breath forming small clouds in the crisp air as he returned to their lodgings. The routine had become second nature to him, a way to maintain his physical conditioning while gathering his thoughts for the day ahead.
During their evening discussions the night before, they had reached a crucial decision regarding their future travels. August and Andy were to register as traveling merchants under the auspices of the Meredian Trading Company once they reached the city that served as the main headquarters of Marcus's employer. However, Marcus had yet to reveal the full extent of his connections to the company, harboring a secret that weighed heavily on his conscience.
The truth was both simple and complicated: Marcus was the son of the company's owner. His position as a courier was not merely employment but rather his father's method of testing his worthiness to inherit the family legacy. It was a trial by fire that every child of the Meredian household had endured before him, a tradition that separated the worthy from the weak.
Marcus carried this burden silently, reluctant to share his background for fear of mockery and ridicule. His status as a bastard son, born of his father's mistress, had made him acutely sensitive to how others perceived him. Throughout his life, he had been scorned by his legitimate half-siblings, who viewed him as an unwelcome interloper in their noble lineage. Rather than bearing the prestigious Meredian name, he carried his mother's surname—Fernando—a constant reminder of his illegitimate birth.
Despite this stigma, his father, the Head of the Meredian household, had granted him certain privileges. Marcus received the same standard education and background training as his legitimate siblings, a testament to his father's belief in merit over birth circumstances. However, this inclusion came at a price: daily torment from his half-siblings, who used every opportunity to remind him of his lesser status.
The patriarch of the Meredian family was well aware of these dynamics. His household operated on a foundation of ruthless competition, where merit and hard work served as the ultimate measures of worth. In his view, this was fair competition—his children could employ any tactics they deemed necessary, with only one absolute taboo: the death of a sibling. This rule represented the sole line his children could not cross in their pursuit of succession.
This brutal tradition had shaped the Meredian family for generations. Even bastards like Marcus were permitted to participate in this decade-long competition, though few expected them to succeed. The ultimate prize was succession to the household name and control of the trading empire. Remarkably, even female heirs could inherit the Meredian name, though their husbands would be required to abandon their own surnames and marry into the family, taking the Meredian name as their own.
Marcus's situation was particularly precarious. Having been introduced to his father at the late age of eleven, he was now twenty-one years old with only one year remaining in the competition. While he had received the same training and resources as his siblings, they had gained a significant advantage through their earlier start and superior access to family resources. Marcus had never truly wanted to participate in this competition, but family rules were absolute and non-negotiable.
For the past three years, he had worked as a courier for the trading company, a position that had done little to improve his standing in his father's eyes. The patriarch saw no particular worth in Marcus's efforts, viewing them as adequate but unremarkable. The recent bandit attack that had nearly cost Marcus his life had only reinforced his father's assessment of his capabilities.
What troubled Marcus most was August's earlier observation about a potential traitor within the Meredian Trading Company as found on the documents the bandits had with whom August had dispatched. The more he considered it, the more convinced he became that one of his siblings had deliberately leaked information about his route and cargo to the bandits. It was exactly the kind of underhanded tactic that fell within the bounds of their family's competition rules.
However, his time with August and Andy had revealed something unexpected: his genuine skill as a merchant. For the first time in his life, he felt valued for his abilities rather than judged for his birth circumstances. If his father remained blind to his worth even after witnessing his capabilities, Marcus had already decided on his course of action. He would propose to August and Andy that they establish their own trading venture, free from the toxic dynamics of his family.
The weight of these revelations finally compelled Marcus to break his silence. As they gathered for their final morning meal in the inn's Mako's Bar and Diner, he took a deep breath and addressed his companions with uncharacteristic directness.
"Sirs, I must share something with you about my background," Marcus began, his voice steady despite his inner turmoil. "After hearing your counsel before regarding the bandits and their possible connection to the underworld Syndicate organization of Corvus, I believe you deserve to know the truth, and then you may decide whether my proposals have merit."
He proceeded to lay bare his entire story—his illegitimate birth, the brutal family competition, his father's indifference, and his siblings' cruelty. He spoke of his growing certainty that one of them had orchestrated the bandit attack, and finally, his desire to forge a new path alongside his newfound companions.
August and Andy exchanged knowing glances as Marcus concluded his tale. They had suspected something of this nature for some time, having noted various inconsistencies in their companion's story.
"Lad," Andy said with a knowing wink, "we had already surmised much of your background. A simple courier doesn't typically travel with a six-legged horse, does he? In my years as an active merchant before, we used standard four-legged horses or beasts as traveling companions. Our couriers certainly never received six-legged horses unless they happened to be the owner's son."
August nodded in agreement, his expression thoughtful. "Your parentage matters little to me, Mr. Marcus. You've proven yourself an invaluable companion during our journey, and I believe we should seriously consider establishing our own trading company in the future as you have proposed. Starting as traveling merchants seems the logical first step for now."
He paused, choosing his words carefully. "We should still visit your family home—you need to make your own decision about your future there. From what you've described, the environment seems toxic, though I acknowledge there may be benefits to maintaining those connections. The choice is entirely yours. We won't pressure you into any particular decision."
August's expression hardened slightly as he continued. "We've only recently met, and there's much you don't know about us as well. However, based on your performance thus far, both Uncle Andy and I find no fault in your abilities as a merchant. Your father must be blind to not recognize your worth."
August's blunt assessment of Marcus's father reflected his own disgust with the Meredian household's dynamics. The competitive environment struck him as both disgusting and suffocating, a place where genuine talent was overlooked in favor of political maneuvering and cruelty. If Marcus's father truly remained blind to his son's capabilities as a merchant, then leaving such a toxic environment would be the wisest course of action.
From August's perspective, based on their brief but meaningful acquaintance, Marcus already possessed the proper bearing of a great man and the enthusiasm of a skilled merchant who genuinely loved his trade. These qualities alone were rare and valuable, worthy of recognition and cultivation.
Marcus fell into deep contemplation, the weight of this new perspective settling over him like a revelation. For so long, he had sought approval from family members who seemed incapable of recognizing his worth. Here were strangers who saw value in him that his own blood relatives had missed or deliberately ignored.
August and Andy waited patiently, understanding the magnitude of the decision their companion faced. After several minutes of contemplative silence, Marcus finally spoke, his voice carrying a new note of determination.
"Sirs, you've shown me a perspective I had never considered before. For years, I've tried desperately to please my family, but they've remained blind to my worth. You've given me something I had nearly lost—hope." His voice grew stronger as he continued. "I am now convinced and will again propose that we establish our own traveling merchant group. Initially, it would need to be registered under your names since I'm still officially affiliated with the Meredian Trading Company. After we visit my family home, I intend to abandon my family ties and carry only my mother's surname. What are your thoughts on this proposal?"
August and Andy exchanged glances, broad smiles spreading across their faces. They nodded in unanimous agreement with Marcus's bold decision to forge his own destiny, free from the predetermined fate his family had attempted to impose upon him.
Their next destination after breakfast was concluded was Roka town's merchant guild, the official organization responsible for handling both established companies and aspiring traveling merchants. The merchant guild enjoyed widespread recognition and support from both the empire and local municipalities, serving as the sole authorized body for such registrations and oversight.
The guild building stood impressively at the heart of Roka's commercial district, its stone facade adorned with the symbols of various trading houses and merchant families. Inside, they found the appropriate receptionist who handled traveling merchant registrations.
Marcus had thoroughly briefed his companions on the intricacies of merchant registration. Traveling merchants operated under different regulations than established merchant companies. They weren't bound to any specific city for registration purposes, though they were required to disclose their earnings to any town or city possessing a merchant guild presence every visit. Additionally, they had to pay the requisite taxation imposed by the Empire of Elms-Arkanus throughout their territories—typically 5-10% of earnings depending on their operation's scale annually. As newcomers starting small, they would face the minimum 5% tax rate on all future earnings.
Established major companies faced different requirements, submitting earnings reports only twice yearly to the local towns or cities serving as their operational headquarters, including all branch locations. Under imperial rule, these companies typically paid 10-20% of their annual earnings, calculated during the second accounting review of their ledgers within the merchant guild.
However, traveling merchants faced distinct disadvantages, particularly regarding money and inventory storage. Most were forced to associate with banks—either local or imperial institutions—to store their profits. Each transaction exceeding 250 Imperial or local gold coins incurred a 2-3% annual holding fee. Larger, more established companies rarely faced this problem, as they maintained their own vaults within their branches or headquarters.
Fortunately for the trio, August possessed what he privately referred to as his "Game-like System"—a locally built bank capable of holding up to one million Imperial Orihalcum Coins. This advantage effectively eliminated their storage concerns for money, though they (or August most specifically) kept this capability strictly confidential.
Another requirement was maintaining a traveling accountant for their ledgers, a role Marcus eagerly volunteered to fill given his considerable skill in financial matters. The final challenge involved merchandise storage. While established trading companies maintained warehouses throughout their operational regions, traveling merchants lacked such luxury and had no permanent base of operations. August's magical item pouch could hold only limited quantities, making additional storage solutions essential.
Marcus proposed purchasing a wagon and beast to handle their cargo transportation needs. While magical sub-space chests/crates that could hold a lot of items existed—functioning similarly to August's magical item pouch and capable of conserving wagon space and weight—these items were only available in cities with well-established trading companies or mercantiles, predominantly in the Imperial Capital. The cost was prohibitive: a standard-sized chest cost ten Imperial Orihalcum Coins, with advanced versions could cost up to one hundred coins each, as they required specialized magicians skilled in subspace magic for their creation.
The registration process proceeded smoothly. They paid ten local silver coins for establishment fees, and within an hour, received their certification and copper identification plaque. The membership roster currently listed August as owner and Andy as principal merchant, with plans to include Marcus once he formally severed ties with his family name and the Meredian Trading Company. They christened their nascent enterprise "Maya's Traveling Mercantile," a name that carried special significance for August.
With registration complete, they proceeded to a local wagon maker's establishment, where an impressive array of vehicles awaited their inspection. The craftsman explained the various options available to them.
Standard small wagons typically measured 20-30 feet in length and could carry 5-10 short tons easily, with prices ranging from 5-10 local gold coins. Medium-built wagons scaled up to 40-50 feet and could handle 20-25 short tons, costing 20-30 local gold coins. Large wagons could reach 60-100 feet in length, carrying 50-70 short tons, with prices spanning 50-100 local gold coins. All were constructed with sturdy wooden frames, wheels, axles and weather-treated leather or cloth roofing, with wheel configurations ranging from four to ten wheels depending on size and load requirements.
Custom-built wagons commanded higher prices and featured specific modifications for particular types of merchandise. However, the trio opted for a standard model—the smallest available. Their chosen wagon measured twenty feet in length with a five-ton maximum carrying capacity, perfectly suited for their immediate needs and future plans.
Both Andy and Marcus demonstrated their negotiating prowess, bargaining skillfully with the wagon maker. Andy and Marcus combined efforts successfully reduced the price to four local gold coins, perfectly matching their budget and their diminishing available funds.
The purchase included a complimentary beast-pulling mechanism that could be attached to their draft animal—a generous addition from the seller. Since they couldn't afford a separate beast for hauling, Marcus offered his six-legged horse for wagon-pulling duties for the time being. The animal was certainly strong enough for the task, especially given their limited current merchandise.
They planned to acquire goods during their northward journey, primarily through hunting beasts in the local forests they would encounter. Additionally, they purchased six standard storage crates, each possessing a unique magical property: the ability to maintain freezing temperatures for their contents. This feature proved invaluable for preserving perishable goods. Anyone with mana could simply channel energy into the storage crate—one hundred mana points maintained freezing temperatures for three days, while one thousand points extended preservation for thirty days. These specialized crates cost ten local silver coins each, though they negotiated the price down to eight local silver coins per crate. Leaving them with 5 local gold coins and 10 local silver coins, which August stored inside his [SYSTEM'S BUILT IN BANK].
With all purchases completed and properly organized, they proceeded to the hitching area where Marcus had stabled his six-legged horse for the duration of their stay in town. The process of attaching the animal to their small wagon proved straightforward, though they made mental notes about designing an appropriate banner for their new enterprise later on.
As they completed their final preparations, a sense of anticipation filled the air. August felt a particular poignancy about leaving Roka Town—the riverside settlement had marked an important transition point in their journey. Their small wagon began moving as they passed through the town gates, wheels creaking softly against the cobblestones.
The road stretched northward before them, leading toward Marcus's family home and whatever destiny awaited them there. Behind them, Roka Town gradually faded into the distance, its riverside location and bustling markets becoming memories that would shape their understanding of commerce and community.
Their next destination lay further north, where Marcus would face the most difficult decision of his life, and where the true test of their newly formed partnership would begin.