Chapter 130 — The First Multi-Village Route
S.C. 1511 — Early February
East Blue — Quiet Waters Near Foosha
The small boat glided across the calm morning water, its shallow hull slicing the surface cleanly.
Inside sat:
Three small crates of salt
Two crates of dried fish
One crate of herbal powder packets
Three sealed water jars
One fox sitting proudly on everything
Ren paddled steadily, breath calm and focused.
He whispered:
"Today, we sell beyond Foosha."
Zemo barked once — confident and ready.
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Why This Route Mattered
Ren needed:
multiple buyers
recurring small sales
income streams nobles ignored
safe coastline experience
a real trade loop
So today's route was simple:
Foosha → Tiny Coast Settlement → River Delta Village → Return
Three stops.
Quiet sales.
No attention.
Perfect for a beginner merchant.
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Stop 1 — The Tiny Coast Settlement
A village of ten houses, drying racks, and old fishing boats.
Ren greeted the fishermen politely.
The old man inspected the salt.
Clean.
Dry.
Not mixed with sand.
"Good quality… we'll take two bags."
Sale:
Salt, 2 bags → 20,000 beli
(10,000 beli per bag — fair village price)
Ren bowed.
Zemo stole a fish tail.
Ren pretended not to see.
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Stop 2 — River Delta Village
A sturdier settlement with docks and trade habits.
Ren offered:
Dried fish
Herbal stomach-powder
The settlement leader inspected both.
"Good quality. Consistent. We'll buy."
Sales:
Dried fish → 28,000 beli
Herbal packets → 12,000 beli
(Small village, modest prices)
Total → 40,000 beli
Ren promised to return next month.
Zemo made sure everyone admired him before leaving.
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The Third Phase — Unexpected Opportunity
On the way back, a man stranded near the rocks waved desperately.
"Boy! Please—help!"
Ren guided the boat over, gave him rope and a spare wooden handle.
The man insisted on payment:
A small pouch — 8,000 beli
"Take it. You saved me," he said gratefully.
Zemo barked proudly.
Makino's words echoed:
"Reputation travels faster than boats."
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Returning to the Island
At sunset, Ren hid the boat beneath foliage and carried the goods inside.
He counted the earnings:
20,000 beli from Coast Settlement
40,000 beli from Delta Village
8,000 beli from grateful fisherman
Total from First Route: 68,000 beli
He added bartered goods:
cloth bundle
bait hooks
dried herb strips
(≈ 5,000 beli value)
Overall value earned: ~73,000 beli
Small profits.
But steady.
And honest.
Ren whispered:
"Zemo… this was our first real route."
Zemo wagged his tail, proud beyond measure.
Ren wrote in his notebook:
First Multi-Village Route — Complete
Foosha ✔
Coast Settlement ✔
River Delta Village ✔
Reputation: Positive
Boat Condition: Stable
Next Month: Repeat, measure demand
He closed the notebook.
The Meridian Group wasn't named yet.
But it existed — quietly, humbly, invisibly.
And this?
This was only the beginning.
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End of Chapter 130 (Beli Version)