(It is finally done. After eight interminable months, it's concluded. All this time, I have been using all the money I received from the business for renovating purposes. Now our residence looks like a miniature military training ground.)
(Firstly, we have our house, where we live and sleep; nothing has changed, but when you walk outside. Incredible!)
(Outside, there is another building with a lot of land area, way bigger than our dwelling. Having enough space to house a minimum of ten inhabitants. It's made of stone. With a rectangular shape and a flat, simple roof, inside there is one bathroom, and that is it; it was not too expensive to build. Around two gold coins, I think it was.)
(Then the training grounds; this is my true pride and joy, my greatest accomplishment by far. It is about ten times larger in land area than the building available for the orphans. It is enclosed in stone with the same straightforward design of a rectangle, resembling the building for the orphans, precisely identical, just not in size. And inside, let me not get started. One can find weapon racks with many options, firstly, real metal swords, spears, and circular shields. Moreover, there are some tower shields; variety is very important. Furthermore, there are bows and many arrows, mostly longbows. Conclusively, there are also about fifteen light chain mail armor stands; in total, it costs around thirty-five gold.)
(That is very impressive and all, but my truly most desirable part about this facility, and I think it is blisteringly expedient, is my modern-like training facilities. It houses stone weights mimicking modern ones, and it also contains bench press facilities, again mimicking modern ones, but of course not coming close to their quality, but they are purposeful enough. Also, I have some pull-up bars. Additionally, I commissioned the building of many dummies resembling a human, and I also had some target butts built, punching bags, and some jumping ropes made. That is it; in total, I presume it costs in the range of four gold.)
(Plus, I had it all done inconspicuously, so I would bring no attention. With the help of Elias, saying I just wanted to help my father better achieve his dream, and I wanted our home to look grander or something, he agreed to help. As long as he was getting paid, he didn't care to pry. We paid him around 5 gold for his assistance.)
(In total, all this cost roughly forty-six gold coins; in the period of 8 months, we only made approximately sixty-one gold coins in profit, leaving us with only fifteen gold coins for everyday life. It's more than enough to last us for a couple of years and to feed the orphans I'm planning to bring in.)
(My mother and father were opposed to this and questioned this ridiculous spending, but instead of being dodgy and trying to hide my plans, I told them the truth. They were still opposed, but it is the money I earned, and with the other money I set aside, it is more than enough for us to live comfortably; so they eventually agreed.)
(Now is finally the time I can go and recruit orphans; I have waited long enough, I believe.)
"Father, are you ready to head out?" Thorn asked.
"I am coming; just give me a few more minutes," Bram replied as he dressed up and took a bite of his bread.
In town, Thorn and Bram are walking.
"Thorn, do you have any idea as to what orphans you are going to select?" Bram questioned with a curious look.
"First and foremost, I'm going to select anyone who is around the ages of fifteen and sixteen."
"Why exactly those particular ages? Wouldn't you rather choose a strong, muscly man?"
"It would be great to have that kind of advantage starting on, but I need loyalty! And in those ages, loyalty can be built way more efficiently as they are still young, so they will want to rely on someone much easier and therefore, want to create trust, and older man will have a higher chance of trying to try and exploit us. Not to mention, with proper feeding and nurturing, they have the potential to grow stronger and taller than if they had already grown. Thirdly, I just don't want old man; that's also one of the reasons—just a personal preference. I forgot; also, as people grow older, their bodies deteriorate. Of course, it will have a negligible difference; that's why I forgot it."
"Understand now?" Thorn said confidently, striving to get that approval and pride from his father.
"Thorn, you always do surprise me; your precocity really was gifted to you by the heavens, and by me, of course. But I understand now to answer your question," Bram smugly replied.
One hour passed...
"This is so frustrating; we can't find anyone," Thorn muttered.
"Thorn, don't worry, we should look more, or perhaps select the older ones. What do you say?" Bram made a suggestion to calm Thorn's anger.
(No! I have waited so long and wasted so much money and effort, and you're telling me I'm supposed to just select the lesser option? Fuck no! What can I do? Think, Thorn, think. Wait, wait, wait, wait, I remember something in those novels I used to read; and in medieval times, didn't slave traders exist? How could I have been so stupid until now? This way the choice is grander and of higher quality, and I don't have to spend my time exploring the town. God, if you hear me, please make slave trading real here, please!)
"Father, I have a question." Thorn hesitantly uttered.
"What is it, Thorn?"
"Do people who sell people exist here?"
"Yes, they most certainly do; they're pretty commonly found at that. Are you saying we should go and buy them just because of a tiny setback, Thorn? I thought I had raised you better than that; these are horrible people who commit atrocious crimes, and it is also a morally wrong action to engage in at that." Bram, an upright, honest, and kind man, could never think of doing anything like that: imprisoning people and then buying them like toys to play with. He always had something against it; that's how he was raised, to always respect and appreciate the value of life.
"Father, I know slave trading is very wrong and heinous, but think, what we would actually be doing is freeing slaves, giving them food, shelter, and comrades, and giving them the chance to become powerful and have a life. We are giving them benefits many people would pay to get; not only that, we are freeing them from oppression from the slave traders and potential wicked masters. We are giving them a home, a place to belong; their only duty they have, is to stay loyal to that home."
All that Thorn said was true, but he didn't care about the slaves that much; if he could, he would create his own slave market. He only cared about persuading his father at that moment.
"When you say it like that, it literally sounds like we are doing a hero's job. I never really thought of it from that perspective. And if you think about it, it doesn't only sound like that; it is that." Again, Bram was totally dumbfounded by his son's precocity.
"So, is there a local slave market nearby?" Thorn scaredly asked, hoping for a positive answer.
"As I told you before, they are commonly found, so yes, there is; it's around 30 minutes from here and an hour from our house."
"Can we go now, pleaseee!! Father!! It is nearby anyway."
"Sure, we can, once we grab the money you have so carefullyyyy—hidden," Bram exclaimed with a dissatisfied tone; he thought Thorn was being too cautious with the way he hid the money. Yet Thorn's cautiousness would be something that would be a blessing in disguise.
"Oh, silly me, how could I forget? Then I guess we go now, grab the money, and go to the slave market? And Father, caution is always absolute, no matter what you think. At least that is my opinion.
"Fine, whatever you say, but no, let's go tomorrow; enough travelling for one day. You do need to rest, Thorn!" From a father, Bram became a mother for one second with that sentence.
"I understand, but we set out at the first hint of sunlight, ok?" Thorn was very impatient; every second mattered to him. Now he truly resembled what he should be: a child.
"No worries, we will set out at dawn; no need to rush, Thorn. Let's head home now," Bram responded convincingly.
Somewhere near the town.
Knock! Knock! Knock!
"Enter."
"Boss, we have finally located the origins of the producers of the smell masker product you asked us about. We know all their identities and where they live; we can strike tonight!" Galhagger impatiently voiced his desires.
"Are you sure you got their precise location and identities? Are you sure it's them?" Snake-Eye asked with skepticism in his voice. He wanted no anomalies to occur; no unexpected factors.
"Yes, I'm definite. We have mapped out their premises, we have identified every family member, and we even saw a trader come to pick up their products. I'm unshaken it's them.
"Well, give me all the details, mobilize all men, I'll prepare a plan, and we'll strike tonight at the darkest hour. Understood?" Snake-Eye condescendingly ordered.
"Clear, I will get right on it, boss."
Ten hours later...