Chapter 11: Shopping Part 4

"Do you have more of this?" Joshua asked, ignoring the old man's panic. "I need at least fifty pounds to start."

"Fifty pounds?!" The old alchemist replied. "What potion requires fifty pounds of anything?!"

"Cake." Joshua said. "Cake requires as much as I can get."

"I have never heard of this Cake." The alchemist said. "It intrigues me that someone so young would claim to know a recipe that I myself, renowned master of the alchemic arts, Ulysses, do not know."

"Then your only option is to sell it to me." Joshua replied. "I will bring you a cake, or at least a sample of a cake, after I have finished."

"Fine." Ulysses grumbled, "no one ever buys the stuff anyway, I don't even know why I still grow it."

"I am going to need a lot more as well." Joshua said. "Have fifty pounds shipped to The Morning Loaf, in the lower city, every three days."

"Every three days?!" Ulysses gasped. "You are going to need that much plant sand?!"

"Yes." Joshua said. "I might need more as time progresses, but that is a good place to start." [I know how to make moonshine as well, so if the cake business doesn't work out, I will have another use for the sugar. Although if the cake business is as profitable as I suspect it will be, I might start the moonshine business anyway.] Joshua thought.

"It's five silver a pound." Ulysses said. "Fifty pounds that is two hundred and fifty silver."

"That is no issue." Joshua said, handing over his status plate.

Ulysses took the plate and transferred the necessary funds from Joshua's account, then reached under the table and pulled out a large burlap sack of what he called plant sand, but what Joshua knew was sugar.

"Are you going to be able to lift that kid?" Ulysses asked. "It looks like it weighs more than you do."

"No, I have it." Joshua picked up the bang and tossed it on his shoulder. "Despite my appearance I have a decent amount of strength."

Ulysses looked at Joshua's tablet. "So, I see." He said. "Your stats are all high for your level, must be that weird jack of all trades skill. Of course, your level is really low for your age, but your stats make up for it."

"Thanks." Joshua said as he put his hand out to receive his plate back. He put it back in his pocket and started walking down the street. He then realized he had a problem. He could not go back into the tombs and make it past the army of skeletons carrying fifty pounds of sugar. He also could not use the gate because the guard would know he somehow got around him.

He was stuck, with his bag of sugar.

"You there young man." A woman yelled from behind him. "Did I overhear you correctly when you were talking to Ulysses? Are you really going to invest in the lower city? Even if it is with just useless plant sand, I fail to see the point of wasting your time on the rats and vermin, not even fit to breathe.

Though I do suppose some of the lower nobles live there, if only for the cheap slaves."

"You mean servants?" Joshua asked. "That is what you mean isn't it, madam?"

"Call them what you will." She said. "They live under the floor, eat scraps, have zero power and influence, and are paid in said scarps and housing. If that is not a slave, I know not what one is."

"A slave would be unable to quit." Joshua said.

"And you think those servants do?" She said laughing. "Where else will they go? There are no unoccupied homes in the lower city, if they don't want to live on the street, they have no choice. Considering the hoodlums that run amuck in that town at night, living on the street would be a death sentence.

So, it is serve or die. They are slaves and nothing more. Now back to the more important matter at hand. Why invest there? You claimed the goods were going to a bakery, yes? I run a bakery here in the upper city, with only the finest clientele.

I can tell you know something, something unbelievably valuable and I want it for my shop. What do you say?"

"Not interested." Joshua said. "Although my goal is to make money and using your offer would be the best viable way to do that, I do not like you. I would rather build up the lower city bit by bit, until it surpasses that of the upper city. Trust me it will. After that, know that I am coming to take over your shops and your businesses.

The hatred and arrogance that all of you have sickens me and I will put a stop to it. Enjoy your shop while you still have it."

"You dare threaten me?" She asked. "Do you not know who I am?!"

"Frankly, madam I do not give a damn." Joshua said as he turned his back to her and started walking off.

"You get back here this instant young man!" She yelled. "This isn't over! I know the name of your shop! I will destroy you!"

[Great this world has Karens too.] Joshua thought to himself. [Good to know some things are constant no matter what world you are in. That does worry me about what she said though. I hope mom was able to find a place to stay and that she was able to quit. Damn it! Why couldn't it just be easy!]

Joshua decided on a plan. He would lie his way out of it, at least he hoped he would. He was walking towards the guard post ready to spin his tale, but to his surprise the guard was a different one than was there earlier. Since he was leaving the upper city, the new guard did not ask any questions as he walked by.

"You have a good day sir." The guard said as he passed him.

Joshua smiled with his luck, at least one thing on his list was easy.