Unorthodox Farming: Chapter 20 (Patreon)

Chapter 20

Work Life Balance

Having lunch with Emily and her friend had reminded me how much more enjoyable life was with company. Yes, I enjoyed getting lost in Farentine's library, but being around people was better. Life was more chaotic that way, but with that chaos came jokes and laughter, little moments that reminded you that you were alive.

Farentine's library had offered me a valid way to run away from my problems, to run away from the danger I'd put my friends in, a way for me to forget and ignore the responsibilities that I had back in Blackwood. I'd accepted the isolation. I'd accepted the silence. I'd accepted not having to think about anyone but myself, convincing myself that the opportunity to read her library validated my decision.

And the honest true was that despite my reasons for accepting her offer, reading her library was an opportunity I shouldn't have walked away from. I'd learned so much about classes, attributes, experience, and the system that if I had to do it all again, I would.

However, Sasha was adamant that Farentine's library was better than anything I could access at the academy and that I was wasting my time if I was searching for answers which weren't in her library. Which is why, after I walked the two of them back to the Academy, I went back to Farentine's townhouse and sent out messages to everyone I'd been neglecting through my farm manor ring, asking for updates on how things were going.

It had been eight weeks since I'd left Blackwood, and the only time I'd made contact was when I asked for Ranic's feedback on the merchant class for Farentine. From my conversation with Emily and her mother's letters, everyone except Torvac and Misk thought I was doing champion things and couldn't be disturbed.

I'd kind of guessed that was why they were leaving me alone, and I'd let them think that because I wanted time to myself. Time where I wasn't running from anything or toward anything. Time where I could just exist without pressure, but that time was over.

Now I needed to catch up on work, and judging by how many people messaged me back before I woke the following morning, there was a lot of work to catch up on. Everyone was demanding my attention, and as soon as possible.

Fitz had established a marketing arm for Blackwood here in the Capitol and had opened talks to purchase several local buildings with farmer experience and the promise of future favours. Five of them were suitable for announcing the francisation for my trap method, and he needed my input so a deal could go through.

Beldose wanted to discuss my experience loan scheme in person, which was something like student loans but less predatory. When I told him I couldn't leave the Capitol, he just asked me how soon I'd be free. When I told him I had nothing on, he said he would be at the Capitol by lunch.

 Adoya wanted my seal of approval for the final trap barn designs, so she was also on her way. I asked her to bring my guitar.

Isabelle was still bedbound and behaving herself, so all she wanted to know was what my latest discovery had been and if she should expect more anytime soon. Each new discovery expanded Blackwood's pool of village points, and she was close to being able to make a new long-term plan.

Jeric wanted to know when I would be free to travel to the southern province. I had no idea he'd gone south before he replied. Emily hadn't mentioned it, but Isabelle's idea was apparently moving ahead much more quickly than either of them had anticipated. Jeric had even shipped my farmer experience to Longhill, and the southern nobles had begun sending their unemployed farmers there, so they were ready to begin the moment I arrived.

I decided to knock out my meeting with Fitz and Beldose within a few days, so after checking the teleportation circle schedule and speaking with my guards, I told Jeric to give me three days.

Which is how I ended up back at Orlana's twice in two days. Fitz and his three new assistants stood up as Brunt opened the door to the private dining room for me.

I walked over and shook Fitz's hand.

Fitz was the best administrator I had, so when he asked me to let him return to the Capitol to rebuild his relationship with his wife, I let him. Having him working here wasn't the best use of his skills, but it did mean I didn't have to worry about anything that was going on here.  

Fitz also looked a lot happier than when he'd left Blackwood, less conflicted, more comfortable in his own skin. It wasn't the time or the place to comment on that, so once the introductions were finished, we ordered drinks and got down to business.

The only reason we were having lunch at Orlana's was that I wanted to butter up Beldose. Banks in this world weren't equipped to make thousands of small loans, and that was exactly what I was proposing he do.

Fitz took a file from the assistant to his left and placed it in front of me. "I've had positive responses to the offers I made on your behalf," Fitz said. "This is what I'm proposing.

I opened the file and started reading.

After only the first few lines, I frowned because I didn't like the implication. "The five most expensive properties all accepted our offer to buy their buildings?"

Fitz nodded. "It turns out your secret isn't as well-kept as we thought. They all knew about your ability to give the great boon and were more than willing to trade their buildings for it and the experience you offered. I'm going to suggest we accept all five buildings. We can use the largest as the headquarters for your franchise. The second-largest for your new farmer experience selling business, we'll discuss when Beldose gets here. The third is for your research and development projects. The fourth is for the board game empire you wish to build. I'm not exactly sure what the last one will become, but it's free real estate, and I'm sure you will find a use for it in the near future."

If Ririon and Durgun's plan worked out, I'd be getting a lot more farmer experience soon, so I didn't see any downside. "Purchase the properties."

Fitz handed me the contracts to sign. I read each contract before signing and returning it. Fitz handed them to one of his assistants, who left to deliver them to the other parties.

As he closed the door, Fitz moved on to the next issue. "Would you like to go over the renovation costs?"

"Is it necessary?"

"I can't get in contact with Jeric, so I have no one to approve them."

"Do you have an estimate of the costs?"

Fitz handed me another file listing the costs to renovate each building. There was an explanation for why he'd chosen which businesses went where. It all made perfect sense. The entire project would cost less than five hundred crowns, which would have been an absolute fortune to me only a few years ago, but was now a minor investment. A minor investment to add to the massive loans I already needed to repay.

"Talk to Beldose about a loan for each renovation. If he approves the loans, then move ahead."

Beldose would go over everything with a fine-tooth comb. He always did when I was involved. If he thought the renovations were worthwhile, then they probably were.

"Move ahead with what?" Beldose asked from the door.

I rose and held my hand. "With the renovations for my new buildings here in the Capitol."

Beldose had got two steps inside before freezing in place. He stared at me for several seconds and then shook his head like he was snapping himself away, walked over, and took my hand. "If you had that face when I came to Blackwood the first time, I would've turned around and ridden home without ever speaking with you about the loan."

Farentine had told me that my youthful appearance would make anyone worth dealing with take me more seriously. Beldose had just proven that was true.

I introduced him to everyone else, pulled out the chair beside me, and sat back down. "Have you lost weight?"

Beldose scowled as he flopped into the seat next to me. "Your loan is so profitable, my wife took it upon herself to purchase us enough endurance blessing that we can jog without difficulty. She drags me out as the sun rises and just before it sets. It's a nightmare."

"I'm sorry you have to exercise because I'm making you so much money."

Beldose scoffed and then chuckled. "You're probably the wrong person to complain to about my suffering, too."

"It certainly feels that way."

"Then let's talk about this loan scheme you're proposing."

Fitz handed Beldose a file.

Beldose read the first few lines and then closed it. "I'm aware of all this. What I want to know is how much farmer experience you have access to? Your proposal refused to name the amount for obvious reasons, but I'm not leaving here without an answer."

"We can supply two hundred farmer experience crystals without having to worry about our other obligations," Fitz replied.

I frowned. "I thought it was eight hundred."

"Jeric found more southern nobles with experience," Fitz explained.

That made sense.

"Eight hundred I could work with," Beldose said. "Two hundred makes this a short-term investment without the ability to scale across the kingdom."

Fitz shook his head. "Arnold has a novel idea from his world that he wishes to apply to his trap business. It will generate the experience we need going forward."

Fitz went on to explain the concept of a franchise and how it worked, pointing out that it didn't just require a financial investment but also required paying a 10% experience royalty. Beldose asked all the right questions, and Fitz gave all the right answers. Jeric had outlined everything to Fitz before he left Blackwood and then reiterated how it worked before he left the Capitol to go South.

The fact that everyone had been working so hard while I was lying on the couch reading made me feel bad, but at the same time, it reminded me that I wasn't needed for the day-to-day work. That things could run without me.

If I made a few more changes and found the right people, I'd be able to walk away. I'd be able to take Farentine up on her offer.

After an hour of discussing franchises, Beldose turned to me. "If this franchise works out, you'll be able to clear some of your debt."

"That's the plan. If my loan scheme works, I'll be able to pay off more. Are you interested?"

Our contract required me to work exclusively with his bank.

"I wouldn't have come all this way if I weren't. I'm only here to understand the scale of what I'm supposed to build and whether or not you're cheating me again. I don't think you're trying to do that this time, so where would you like to open the first branch?"

Fitz smiled and handed Beldose another file. "Here in the Capitol."

Beldose opened the file and read the address. He sucked in a deep breath. "This is on the edge of the banking district. Do you have any idea how expensive these buildings are?"

"Arnold wants people to take your new bank seriously," Fitz said. "I would have preferred a building closer to the centre of the district, but the cost was prohibitive. If you're against the idea, I can find somewhere else."

"The profits won't be able to cover the rent," Beldose rightfully said.

"Arnold has purchased the building with farmer experience and access to the great boon. Your rent will only have to cover local taxes."

Beldose gave me a level look. "Working with you involves far too much time and effort, so if you think that I'm going to lower your interest rates because you're generous, you'll find yourself mistaken."

"I don't expect you to," I said. "And I don't want you to. All I want you to do is loan money to farmers' children at the lowest rate you can."

"Altruism is a poor business plan."

"This isn't altruism. I've sold all the farmer experience that I can in Radian. If I don't find another market, what's sitting in my vault is practically worthless to me."

My loan scheme involved giving kids like Manson and Pel a loan to help them purchase enough farmer experience to reach level 10. At level 10, they could find work on a farm to cover their daily needs. They would also be able to bank enough money to cover the interest payments while they worked to raise their levels. Once they reached level 15, they could start paying back the principal.

It wasn't as bad as a student loan, but it would be hard on them to begin with. Manson and Pel said they would have leapt at the chance if it had been offered to them. Other farmers' kids I'd talked to said they would do it just to get away from their parents sooner. If your parents didn't have the experience to give you when you turned thirteen, getting to level 10 was the hardest part of being a farmer.

Beldose knew it.

I knew it.

Fitz knew it.

Farmers knew it.

This business had everything going for it. The only downside was that these loans were going to be small but require almost as much work by the bank as larger ones. There were no credit scores in this world. No easy way to know if the kids would pay it back. If enough of them defaulted, the whole thing would fall apart.

I held out my hand. "Do we have a deal?"

Beldose nodded. "We have a deal."