4.2 - Dourk Tavern

A middle-class bar in Walluo City.

"Owner is out and won't be back in a few days."

The bartender's flat answer made Captain Rumus sighed in silence, forcing a smile he then said.

"Understood, but can you taste our beers and give a reference to the bar owner?"

"Sorry I couldn't do it without permission from Owner."

"Very well, and thanks for the time."

Without wasting any time Captain Rumus and group from Magwurt City then walked towards the exit.

During the last two hours, Captain Rumus and the group from Magwurt City visited six mid-range bars in Walluo City, but not a single bar was willing to sample Amur Beer let alone put it on the menu.

Something that made Captain Rumus's heart filled with regret. Because he knows very well that Amur Beer is much more delicious than beer sold in mid-class or even high-class bars.

Now the only options they had were high-class aristocrats or lower-class bars. High-class bars were excluded from the option as nobles were only willing to do business with fellow nobles. So the only options left are low-class bars.

"Sorry Ser Slane, I didn't think they would turn down Amur Beer without trying it first."

With a casual tone LtC. Slane answered.

"Don't worry about it."

LtC. Slane is fully aware that bar owners are usually reluctant to change suppliers, if they already have a large customer base.  Meanwhile, adding another beer to the menu could offend the old supplier and result in the termination of cooperation.

Their trip was not completely wasted anyway, as they could also see the price list of each bar, and knowing that the beer price at mid-class bars was in the range of 10-12 coins/glass.

LtC. Slane then cheerfully added.

"Captain, we'd better take a break over lunch."

"Understood, I happen to know a tavern with a nice menu."

 - - - - -

Dourk Tavern, Walluo City

1240 hours, June 7, 2025

Captain Rumus brought the group from Magwurt City to a very bustling medium-sized tavern. They even had to wait for a while before getting a table with a capacity of eight people.

And one thing immediately caught LtC. Slane's attention. In one corner of the tavern, a boy with a bruised face was busy peeling a basket of potatoes. Now and then the boy would touch the bruise on his face while grimacing.

Meanwhile, one of the two waitresses at the Dourk Tavern approaching, and Captain Rumus immediately asked her.

"What's the menu for the day?"

"Pea soup, grilled sausage, lamb steak, potato salad, baked potato, boiled egg, black bread, apple or pear, ginger beer, or boiled water."

Seeing Captain Rumus turn his head at him, LtC. Slane immediately placed an order.

"For me, pea soup, grilled sausage, poached eggs, potato salad, apple, ginger ale, and can you tell me why that kid's face is covered in bruises?"

The maid followed LtC. Slane's gaze before saying.

"His name is Sturk, yesterday he was caught pickpocketing a merchant from Lingua Region. If Papa had not saved him he would have been beaten to death."

The waitress took a deep breath before continuing in a low voice.

"The tavern's profits are meager, but Papa was never able to leave someone who needs his help."

LtC. Slane responded to the female waitress's complaint with a smile, and while the waitress continued taking orders she turned her gaze back to the boy in the corner.

In this world, even the most prosperous cities are not free from poverty. LtC. Slane understands this very well because he has experienced it firsthand.

At the age of six, his mother left him. He understands why his mother didn't want to live with taxi drivers who always came home drunk, but he always wonders why his mother didn't take him along.

Because his father did not always bring food home, Little Slane took the initiative to support himself. The first thing he did was rob the drunkard who passed out at the lonely alley.

At the age of ten, Little Slane joined a group of pickpockets who targeted foreign tourists who had just left the airport.

One time he was caught and badly beaten.  When his father found out that he worked as a pickpocket, he was kicked out of the house. Since then Little Slane fully joined the group of little pickpockets.

At the age of 12, little Slane heard a story about Warren Buffet, who at his age began to use the income from selling newspapers to buy shares on Wall Street, until he finally became one of the Titans in the financial market.

Little Slane realized he didn't have a sharp mind like Warren Buffet. So the means that he chooses to change his life is adequate education. 

Little Slane set Harvard as his target. After that he started to work hard to raise money no matter whether it was by pickpocketing, working as a dishwasher in a Chinese restaurant, or various other menial jobs with wages a few cents/hour.

Meanwhile, to prepare for his academic capability, little Slane took advantage of the free online learning site, which at that time began to boom. In his spare time, Little Slane also began to diligently visit the city library.

Slane's marketing talent began to show when he became a part-time salesperson at a used car dealer, at the age of 16 years old. Every week Young Slane would sell at least one car. A record that not even a professional sales could match.

At the age of 18, young Slane already had enough money to pay tuition for his first year of college, as well the payment for his father who had to enter the nursing home.

Even though he had to work while studying, Young Slane could still graduate cum laude.

Shortly before Young Slane applied to Harvard, the CIA actually offered him a full-scale scholarship. It's known that Young Slane has a character that is very liked by high-ranking CIA officials.

A simple and hardworking young man with a realistic and practical perspective. Does not like daydreaming or takes the perspective of a victim, and always uses his time for positive things. Young Slane also has the determination to avoid cigarettes, alcohol, and women.

After the first failed attempt, CIA tried again three years later. However, at that time Young Slane already received an offer from his senior. A girl who is three years younger than him, but has graduated two years earlier with summa cum laude.

The young girl named Claire J. Webber appointed Slane as a junior member of the marketing planning team at one of her companies. Two years later Slane was appointed head of the marketing planning team after he successfully tripled the company's turnover.

As head of the marketing planning team, Slane again left the board of directors dumbfounded because within one year he once again doubled the company's turnover. While some of his ideas on delivery systems resulted in increasing cost efficiency significantly.

Until finally, one morning Claire called him and asked a question.

"If you could go back to the Middle Ages while bringing in technology and products from the 21st century, what would you do?"

and he answered casually but steadily.

"I will turn every place I visit into a goldfield."

Claire then appointed Young Slane to form and lead the Amethyst Merchant.

Apart from Bob, Vex, and General O'Neil, only LtC. Slane who knows that behind TF Amethyst stands Titan the global economy named Claire J. Webber.

In the TF Amethyst structure, LtC. Slane only occupies the 8th highest position. However, in the trade war that Amethyst Merchant was waging, no one could intervene in his policies.

The one who has the right to intervene in the policies made by LtC. Slane is only Claire. This shows how deep the trust that Claire placed in him.

After taking a deep breath, LtC. Slane then turned his attention to the menus that were being laid out on the table by the waitress. Not long after that, lunch began.

*****

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