A Series of Unfortunate Events!

Going back to Big Capybara with the news that Dobri could now sew his own clothes, a rune that he gave to Matthew as well, who had resorted to going to night school, was a shock for the village.

Matthew was like a dragon. He made sure that the entire village was supplied with all types of clothes.

His silk was now traded for better prices. Him being able to make gorgeous clothing out of it and all.

The human knew that he still needed the gnome. After all, the library tax for a human was 10 gold coins.

Coins which didn't grow on trees.

But the most important thing was that Dobri had three mana suppliers. The trolls, Hans, Hugo and Harald, who were eating away at the village's stores so, as if they had been starving before.

When Dobri had enough hanfus and everyday clothes for sale, plus some robes which he had placed the runes on himself, the trolls decided to bring one small detail to his attention.

"Boss," Hans, as the oldest, began. "You have been making these clothes from our mana. We want to get paid for that."

Dobri was now an experienced capitalist. He didn't want the trolls to join a union.

To get off days and lunch breaks, when he himself didn't have such luxuries!

"Didn't I feed you every time you told me you were hungry?" Dobri began as he was preparing to pack his enchanted clothes in his bottomless backpack. Dan the Pony was already waiting outside, eating from the overgrown lawn's plants.

"Yes, but that doesn't mean that you are paying us enough!" Harald protested. He had been the one to vouch for Dobri to keep his head and to give him a chance.

But the thing was, that the gnome was doing more than just keeping his head.

He was also exploiting them!

Harald should have known that it was going to end up like this. After all, Dobri had exploited Morty from the get-go.

The only thing that couldn't complain about the gnome was his pony, Dan, who usually got to live his life in bliss, by mowing the front lawn to his heart's content and resting under the shade of the small apple tree up front, where there was always a tub with water for him.

"Look, I am just trying to kick off my business, you know?" Dobri asked, as he tried to think of a way to get away with paying his mana suppliers just 1,000 gold coins per month. "But now we are going to go to Gretta. Depending on how much she gives me, I will raise your paychecks!"

Dobri was an expert at not promising things.

He guessed that he was a true capitalist now!

****

Gretta was typing on her calculator. She didn't know from where and why the gnome was getting all these magical artifacts, but her calculator showed her that she had to fork over 20,000 golden coins this time.

Which was a problem. After all, Gildana refused to give her another loan. The last shipment of stuff Dobri brought her had sold like bread still warm from the oven, but she had to repair her house, and, well…

Now she only had 5,557 golden coins on her!

"Gretta, will you buy it all?" Dobri asked.

The dwarven lady looked at all the wares with sad eyes.

"Dobri, were you always this rich?" She was going to guilt-trip the gnome, or her name was not Gretta Ironheart!

Dobri shook his head.

"And have you ever taken something on credit?" Gretta asked.

Dobri nodded. Now knowing how Angela and Martha had felt.

He had a choice before him.

He could either tell Gretta that he wasn't going to give her anything on credit, pick up his stuff from the street, and then hop on Dan and ride off, or he could think about the future.

He sighed.

"Just give me what you can," Dobri said, as he took out his bank pouch. "And you can give the rest after you sell everything! How much did I earn this time, by the way?"

Gretta thanked her lucky stars.

She showed the calculator to the gnome.

Dobri wanted to jump for joy! Soon, he could afford to hire some help and sell even more wares!

"Here you go," Gretta signed the contract without too much care in the world. "Have a safe trip!"

Dobri looked at Hans, Hugo, and Harald. Morty was also eyeing him with narrow eyes.

"Ok, today I will pay you your paychecks! Morty, you get a whole salmon!"

The trolls smiled, and Morty began to purr.

Dobri began the slow ride to Mirstone.

****

The gnome knew that he couldn't leave his stall's location always up to chance. He also knew that he had to buy a plot now, before the word of mouth spread that he was rich.

Before he even loaded his wares on the only good place in the entire Black Market, by the turtle pond, he went to the overseer.

The man looked at his pony, then at the three trolls, then at Morty, and finally at Dobri.

"Now I've seen it all," he said, as he began to take out the Black Market registration papers.

"I would like the place by the turtle pond!" Dobri was sure that the small animals were going to bring more gawkers with them.

And with the more gawkers, more shoppers!

"That costs 10 gold coins per use," the overseer told him, as he handed him the contract.

"It is expensive," Dobri said, as he narrowed his eyes.

"Yes, but it is the only place that has a cute factor," the overseer told him with a shrug. "You can always sell under the dead birch. That costs one silver coin per day."

Dobri looked at Hans, who was nodding along.

"If you want to sell everything, you should think about the future," the troll told him. He pointed at another free spot. "And let me tell you, when there is food near your wares, you will sell more. There is a permanent fried banana stall right next to this plot."

Dobri nodded.

The deal was struck. History was made.

And a gnome prepared to make his empire known!