TFA1 4.2 - Dourk Tavern

  Inside a middle-class bar in Walluo City, a bartender lazily said, "Owner is out for a few days."

  In an instant Captain Rummus let out a sigh. "Understood, but can you taste our beers and tell the taste to bar owner?"

  "Sorry, I couldn't do it without bar owner permission."

  "Very well and thanks for the time."

  Wasting no time, Captain Rummus and the group from Magwurt City left the bar. During the last two hours, the had visited six mid-range bars in Walluo City, but not a single bar was willing to taste Amur Beer’s sample let alone put it on the menu.

  It made Captain Rummus's heart filled with regret, because he knew that Amur Beer was more delicious than any beer sold in mid-class or even high-class bars in Walluo City.

  Now, the options they had were only low-class bars. High-class bars were excluded from the option as nobles were only willing to do business with fellow nobles.

  "I’m sorry Ser Slane. I never thought they would turn Amur Beer down without tasting it."

  In casual tone Lt. Colonel Slane answered, "Don't worry about it."

  Lt. Colonel Slane was aware that bar owners were usually reluctant to change suppliers once they had large customer base. Adding another beer to the menu could offend the old supplier and led to termination of cooperation.

  However, their trip was not completely wasted. At least, they could see the price list on each bar, and found that beer at mid-class bars was in the range of 10-12 coins/glass.

  Lt. Colonel Slane then cheerfully added, "Captain, let’s take a break and have a lunch."

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

  ---

  Dourk Tavern, Walluo City

  12:40, 7 Jun 2025

  Captain Rummus brought the group from Magwurt City to a bustling mid-sized tavern. They even had to wait for a while before getting a table for eight people.

  And one thing immediately caught Lt. Colonel 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 came over. Captain Rummus immediately asked her, "What's the daily special for today?"

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

  Seeing Captain Rummus turn his head at him, Lt. Colonel 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?"

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  The waitress followed Lt. Colonel Slane's gaze before replying, "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 the death."

  The waitress took a deep breath before continuing in a low voice, "The tavern's profits are meager, but Papa could never leave someone who needs his help."

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

  In any world, even the most prosperous cities were not free from poverty. Lt. Colonel Slane understands this very well because he had 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 coming home drunk, but he always wondering why his mother didn't take him along.

  Because his father did not always bring food for him, Little Slane took initiative to support himself. The first thing he did was rob the drunkard who passed out at a lonely alley. At the age of ten, Little Slane then joined a group of pickpockets who targeted foreign tourists who had just arrive at the airport.

  One time he was caught and badly beaten. When his father found out that he worked as a pickpocket, he used as an excuse to kick him out of the house. Since then, Little Slane fully joined the pickpocket group.

  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 financial market.

  Little Slane realized he didn't have big luck or sharp mind like Warren Buffet. So the means he chose to change his life was adequate education. He set Harvard as his target. After that he worked hard to collect money no matter whether it was by pickpocketing, working as a dishwasher, or other menial jobs.

  Meanwhile, to polish his academic capability, Little Slane used free online learning site which at that time began to boom, and whenever he had free time he would use it to visit municipal library.

  Slane's marketing talent began to show when he became a part-time salesman at a used-car dealer, at the age of 16. Every week Young Slane would sell at least one car. It was a record that not even professional salesman 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, CIA actually offered him a full-scale scholarship. It was known that Young Slane had a character that was very attractive for CIA high-ranking officials.

  He was a simple and hardworking young man with a realistic and practical perspective. Did not like to day dreaming or having victim mentality, and always used his time for positive things. Young Slane also had the determination to avoid cigarettes, alcohol, and woman.

  After their first attempt to recruit Young Slane failed, CIA tried again three years later. However, Young Slane already received an offer from his senior, a young woman who was three years younger than him but had graduated two years earlier with summa cum laude.

  The young girl, Claire J. Webber, appointed Slane as a junior member of marketing team at one of her companies. Two years later, Young Slane became the head of marketing team after he successfully doubled the company's net profit.

  As the head of marketing team, Slane left the board of directors dumbfounded because within one year he once again doubled the company's net profit, while his ideas on new delivery systems increase the cost efficiency significantly.

  Until finally, one morning Claire called him and asked a question, 'If you can go back to Middle Ages while bringing in technology and products from 21st century, what will you do?'

  Young Slane answered casually but steadily, "I will turn every place I visit into a goldmine."

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

  Apart from Bob, Vex, and General O'Neil, only Lt. Colonel Slane who knew that behind TF Amethyst stood the titan of global economy, Claire J. Webber.

  In the TF Amethyst structure, Lt. Colonel Slane only occupied the 8th highest position. However, in the effort to achieve economic dominance that Amethyst Merchant was working on, no one could intervene with his policy or action. Only Claire had the authority to shut down his policy or action. This was a proof how deep the trust that Claire placed on him.

  After taking a deep breath, Lt. Colonel Slane then turned his attention to the food that was being arranged on the table by the waitress. Not long after that, the lunch began.

  *****