Chương 20: Bonus Chapter - Maximus Fuquahd

"I should buy a boat," muttered the dwarven mayor of Greensheaf, his chair creaking against his weight as he settled back into it. His slipper fell to the floor as he instinctively leaned precariously back, then startled the chair's groaning protests. But he settled it back onto four legs before it could break.

I paid far too much to import this piece of art to let another one break on me, he thought with a bit of frustration - and pride, at the fact that he had a set of real chairs, when the peasants in the village all made due with rudimentary stools. Chuckling to himself, he leaned down to scoop up his slipper - made from genuine sparkelk leather - and stuff it back onto his foot. It didn't matter that the overloaded looked like a sausage ready to burst.

"No one here could ever make something so fine," he crowed as he sat back up - and promptly cracked his head against the bottom of the table. Sucking a breath through his teeth at the pain, he slowly and carefully sat back up and glanced at his breakfast. The eggs he'd had shipped on ice magic from Cinder's Hollow, far superior to the ones collected in this backwoods village, were still in place on the ceramic plate, and his coffee still steamed appealingly in the cool morning air.

"Hmph." The bitter beverage was far from his favorite thing, but he'd heard from the merchant that it was all the rage amongst the nobility in the capital. How could he not have it on hand? His fingers brushed against the thick, cream colored paper, the only other thing left on the table. To Maximus Fuquahd, Mayor of Greensheaf, Thank you for your generous consideration in choosing us as your business partners in this venture.

We are happy to hear that your village has survived unscathed from an attack of moon-corrupted trolls and are most pleased to be able to purchase the alchemical ingredients you've gathered. They were in exceptional condition - whoever the hunter in your employ is, we would be happy to work with you both again.

In summary, we have purchased: 28x troll eyes, 70 silver each, 19 gold 60 silver 25x vial of troll blood, 1 gold 30 silver each, 32 gold 50 silver 140x troll fingers, 7 silver each, 9 gold 80 silver 140x troll toes, 4 silver each, 5 gold 60 silver 14x troll skins, 5 gold each, 70 gold 14x troll liver, 8 gold each, 112 gold Final price: 249 gold, 50 silver From this we have deducted the following fees If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

Transport and security, 10 gold Commission fees at 8%, 19 gold 96 silver As such, your final earnings come to 219 gold and 54 silver. Please verify the amount in the attached strongbox and stamp the enchanted mark on this letter with your seal to confirm you have received the appropriate amount.

Best, Gilberta Trading Company"Telling Harold that I would take care of the cleanup on behalf of that arrogant Countess was such a good decision," he murmured as he preened to himself, the growing lump on his head already forgotten. The balding dwarf tugged on his too-small vest and adjusted his glass-beaded necklace so the largest of the fake stones was front and center.

"They should be happy I gave them any of the gold! It's my village, not theirs. I don't care what that stuck up archmage said about the troll parts. She'll never be back here. What would she be doing in some backwood like this? It's a fluke she was here the first time."

"I should buy a boat," he repeated.

"And a home away from here where I can use it. A winter manor." Never mind that his duties technically required him to stay through the winters in Greensheaf.

"Someone else can handle the militia organization. It's not like I know how to fight." Nodding to himself at this plan, he stroked his patchy beard and considered his future.

"Or maybe I buy a manor in the capital. Doslande is a true city, unlike the Countess's drab Elkstone. A place with culture. I could rub shoulders with real nobles, find a better position than Mayor of Shitsheaf." His grin had grown fiercely at the idea, images in his head of him in rich velvet clothes trimmed with real silk lace, a bejeweled brooch on his chest, riding in a gilded carriage.

He would spend the days chatting over fine tea, with impeccably dressed servants to clean his mansion and gorgeous men and women throwing themselves at his feet to spend a night in his bed.

"If only these peasants were more productive," he grumbled to himself, scowling down at his rapidly cooling coffee and eggs.

"Then I could raise the taxes even more, move out of here even sooner. The 'Gryphonsmaws'," he spit the name, "don't know what they missed, not bringing me into the castle as their steward. Like that demonkin deserves the job more than me. Hmm. Maybe I will raise them anyway. It's not like those foolish villagers can do anything to stop me." On the far end of the village square, several villagers stood in a tight huddle, glancing over their shoulders to ensure they weren't being watched.

A beleaguered looking young man, a traveler claiming to be passing through from Elkstone, was the center of their rapt attention. His expression was as dark as the cloak pulled tight around his shoulders.

"I was there. Our entire army hardly stood a chance against the horde of monsters. Then they showed up. Lady Gemma did something with her shield that froze over a hundred trolls in their tracks while Lady Bellasora cast some sort of spell. The trolls just… vanished with the ground they were standing on. Just a perfect bubble with nothing left. There were trolls cut clean in half, more perfect than a razor." He shuddered, pulling his cloak around his shoulders.

"Ser Robin had lost a dagger in the melee. One of Count Abius's men tried to take it for himself. They appeared right behind him, grinning like a fool, and just stared. The whole time, they were throwing more daggers in the opposite direction, splitting goblins in half with each one." The outsider finished his story with, "They're heroes, sure, but I wouldn't want to be on their bad side."

Several villagers peeled off to argue amongst themselves about the mayor's behavior - and the rather obvious fact that he'd clearly stolen the opportunity to sell the trolls for parts from the Countess despite Lady Bellasora's orders. With a faint smile, the disguised Elkstone guard pulled his lunch from his knapsack and found a quiet spot to watch the village center, waiting for the next group of curious people to seek him out. Your plan is working, Lady Cecilia.

If this keeps up, Maximus will be driven out within a month.