Chapter 128: Oh no, Kit that’s awful!
Kit's hungry eyes raked over the foursome with unveiled delight. He wondered what he could offer to entice the four of them to manage his farm. Now he knew their future plans, he didn't want to let this opportunity escape. Even if he could only make a deal for three years until their binding contract wore off, he still wanted to employ them.
"What would you say if there was a farm that was brand new and needed employees. The owner would let you run it anyway you liked as long as you grew certain ingredients they requested. The farm is so big that there would be plenty of room to grow or raise whatever you wanted as well." Kit could hear how eager he was to recruit this group of friends.
Surprisingly it was Bear that spoke up first. "I would say that it was a scam. For a start there was no mention of how many ingredients we would need to grow. All farms have limited space, so we might be able to have a patch for ourselves at the start but what about in the future if the owners demands increase."
Bunny started to nod her head along with Bears words. "That's right, what if I raised a special beast then had to let it go because the owner needed the space the beast was taking up or even worse what if the owner of the farm decided to take ownership of the beast that I toiled so hard to raise." Bunny had an aggrieved expression as if she was imagining it happening right now.
The final nail in the coffin on his offer was Lindor nodding in approval of his friend's rejection. "Offers like that are always too good to be true Kit, whoever told you about this is just trying to scam labour out of people with this incentive. I have seen it happen many times before. Kit don't associate with a person like this, they will try to take advantage of your kind nature. You haven't made a deal with them already, have you?" Lindor gazed at Kit with worried eyes.
"Oh no, Kit that's awful! We should try to get you out of whatever contract you signed with them." Star was talking as if Kit had signed a shady deal with an unscrupulous person. "We know you are starting out as a chef and need ingredients but don't just sign any old contract. In the future if you need to deal with a farm to get ingredients come to one of us first and we will look over the contract to see if it is fair."
Kit covered his face with his hands. What the hell did these people think about him? Did he look like he would be easily deceived. Wait that wasn't the only problem, they assumed he was trying to scam them with his offer. Where the hell had he gone wrong in his proposal?
"Kit, are you ok? Is the contract you signed that bad?" Lindor came over to him and pulled his hands from his eyes. Kit couldn't help but let out a self-deprecating laugh, it looked like people really viewed him as a naive idiot.
"No, you misunderstand, I have not signed any contract. I was trying to offer you and your friends the positions of managing my farm. I know nothing about farming and have no time to learn so I wanted to give the position to people I can trust." A grimace spread across his face, he wasn't selling this offer if anything he was making himself look worse.
Right now, he really looked like a naïve idiot. Who said they are not interested in one of their business ventures. That came across as if he wouldn't be willing to invest in his farm, that was actually the complete opposite of what he thought. He knew the farm would become an integral part of him being a successful chef in the future.
Before he could explain himself further Lindor let out a devastated cry. "Kit it's your farm that you want us to manage?" A flustered Lindor ran over to his friends, and they started speaking together in hurried tones. Kit thought they might be discussing his offer, but when a period of time had passed and none of them came and asked him any questions he knew that wasn't the case.
The longer they spoke the more confused Kit became, he turned to Peaches to see if he could figure it out. The silver haired man just shrugged his shoulders. Kit watched as the group of friends became more animated, soon they were all taking turns peaking at him. He could only smile in response.
Kit became bored watching them interact and the urge to get back to Spartan Fire took over once again. He decided to interrupt whatever they were doing. "Lindor can you guys discuss whatever it is on the way, I want to keep moving."
"Sure Kit." Lindor and his friends took the lead still throwing words backwards and forwards between them. Kit hoped the group of friends might have engaged him in some conversation on the way about his farm, to his disappointment they completely ignored him.
When they arrived at their destination Kit concluded that he was clearly rejected, not one single question had been asked! He sighed, at least he still had recruited Pretzel and Kettle. It would have been fantastic to have his farm taken care of though.
A familiar giant field of tall canes stood in front of Kit. He looked around for the traveling stone and soon his eyes twinkled when they landed on the carved rock. He quickly explained to the group how it worked, and the phrase needed to activate it.
Soon they were all standing in the forest not far from his restaurant. Kit's nerves became taught at his return. Now that he was almost home all his feelings of unease about the monster run came crashing back. How would the residents welcome his return to Spartan Fire?
The fear of the unknown reared its ugly head and Kit started to panic. What would he do if he was no longer welcome in his Spartan Fire. Kit gulped some deep breaths to calm his racing heart. Peaches had noticed his strange behaviour and came over to his side.
"Kit what is it? Are you alright?" Worry was clear in Peaches eyes.
Kit regulated his breathing with some concentration, then gave Peaches a tight smile. "I'm ok, just worried about my welcome home."
Peaches brows shot up to his hairline. "Kit from what I have seen in the village you are well loved. If you are still worried about the monster run outcome don't be. I think you will be surprised at the residents evaluation of the outcome. Remember that they are not like us, they think differently about death. Try not to think about it until we actually get back, there is no point working yourself up about something that is just an assumption, not a fact."
Kit could only nod in acceptance of Peaches words. The man was right, he would soon find out what everyone thought when he returned anyway. Kit headed towards Spartan Fire in a much slower pace than his previous haste, Pretzel was enjoying asking Peaches all about his new village. Kit started to feel bad that he had been ignoring the youth because of his internal struggles.
It was plain to see that Pretzel was nervous about relocating. He forced a smile on his face and engaged in the conversation with the pair. "Pretzel once we get there you will meet a lot of new friends." Kit paused would meeting so many people at once be too overwhelming for the lad? Then Kit remembered that it was not just people Pretzel would have to encounter, there was also all the animals that resided in the boarding house.
An eager smile bloomed on Pretzel's face. Kit's concerns dissolved at the sight of Pretzel's pearly white teeth. Kit continued to fill Pretzel in about his family in Spartan Fire, before he realised it he was standing at the outskirts of the village.
Shock spread through him at the sight before him. Kit's mouth dropped open as he gaped at all the new buildings that had sprouted in his absence. Kit started to doubt that this was Spartan Fire, he had only been gone for six days how on earth had it changed this much!
A wide dirt road ran down the centre of the village past the town hall. It was still the largest building in Spartan Fire, so he easily recognised the structure. Lining the wide road were numerous new buildings and a bustling of people could be seen heading in and out of the new shops. Kit counted at least twenty shops on the main stretch of road. What the hell had happened while he was gone?
Roads connected to the main street led off into a residential area. Neat lines of houses ran along each road, scatterings of gardens filled the land around each house. Spartan Fire was no longer the small village it was when he left. It had evolved into something the size of Kokka village. Glee filled Kit's heart at the sight of the village's growth, he couldn't wait to get a closer look.
He rushed forwards leaving his group behind. Happy chatter filled Kit's ears as he arrived at the first shop, a butcher's sign hung above the store. The front of the store had a large glass window displaying a range of meat inside.
Kit's eyes bounced from one building to the other as he walked along the road until he arrived outside the town hall. A familiar face greeted his arrival. "KIT, you're back!" Mars flew over to him and pulled him into a hug. "Kit, I was scared when I found out you had died. Twix and I wanted to leave to go and find you, but Grandpa scolded us saying that was a stupid idea. Next time we need to organise a meeting place before we leave."
Mars was squeezing the air out of his lungs with his welcome hug. Kit wanted to laugh but couldn't get enough air in to do so. He started slapping Mars back, "Mars let me go I can't breathe." He was instantly release from his death hug. "I missed you to Mars."
As Kit stepped back from Mars his eye started to twitch. What on earth was his friend wearing? It looked like the village wasn't the only thing that had changed while he was away, Mars had gotten himself a new outfit.
Kit smacked his lips together so he didn't burst out laughing at his friend. Mars was currently dressed in an orange shaggy jumpsuit with a purple belt. On top of his head was a floppy purple hat, his feet were adorned with matching purple gumboots. Kit struggled to keep his shit together, he had gotten used to Mars' pirate rooster outfit. This new eyesore prompted him to remember how outlandish his friend's choice in clothing was.
Words burst from Kit's mouth before he could stop himself. "Mars what on earth is that you're wearing?"
Mars glanced down at his attire then grinned. "Awesome isn't it, the tailor made this for me with the skin from the orange haired buffalo." Mars stoked the hairy orange fur on his chest with delight. "Don't worry Kit this time I got us matching outfits!" An orange furry pile of cloth suddenly appeared in Mars hands, Kit started to back away from his friend.
Kit frantically thought of an excuse to not wear the frightening jumpsuit. "Mars, thanks for making me one, but I think it is best if only one of us looks like that. Umm you see, we would look like a team if we both wore the jumpsuits and Twix might get upset if he is left out." Kit threw Twix under the bus without batting an eyelash. He just hoped Mars hadn't made any more of the outfits for his excuse to work.
Mars looked crestfallen at Kit's words. "I didn't think of that, next time I will make more." Kit celebrated his success in dodging a bullet this time. Peaches and Pretzel arrived just as Mars was tucking away the orange eyesore.
When Mars realised who was standing next to him, a stunned look appeared on his face. "You're alive? How?" Kit watched as the reason for Peaches to be living dawned on Mars. "Ohhh, oh nice! Welcome back Peaches." Peaches tilted his head in greeting.
Now that the shock had worn off, Mars set his sights on the new addition. "Hello I'm Mars, pleased to meet you." Pretzel hid behind Peaches with a terrified glint in his eyes. The urge to laugh once again struck him, Mars really looked a fright in his new attire, he held it back his laughter so he could comfort Pretzel.
"It's ok Pretzel, Mars is quite harmless. He just has a unique taste in clothes that's all. Remember we discussed him on the way here." A pair of big eyes pecked around Peaches and tentatively gazed at Mars. When Mars just stood there smiling Pretzel soon came out from behind Peaches.
"H-hello." Pretzel trembled. Before he could give proper introductions, a bellow sounded catching Kit's attention.
"Get your ass back to the restaurant before I turn you into fungus!" A furious Snickers was stomping towards him. Her long green hair was swaying with each step. An intense furry was radiating off the slight elf. Kit's scalp tingled with fear, he wanted to run but his legs froze, this was not going to end well for him.
Snickers soon reached his side, then before he could say anything she reached up to his ear and pinched his lobe between her small fingers forcing him to bend over. She then started dragging him towards the restaurant. "Snickers! Let go!" Kit finally found his voice at this humiliating scene.
"Like hell I will! I have already rebuilt the restaurant twice because of you disappearing! Next time you want to head off on your own, leave the god damn magic multiplier plate behind!" Kit suddenly had an idea of why she was so upset. Without that plate every single meal would have had to be made from scratch.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone