A Series of Unfortunate Events!

The rumor that a gnome had gone back from Mirstone with a wagon full of wares was something the dwarf Gretta Ironheart, was not going to leave unchecked!

She was of the Ironheart family. As opportunistic as only a mountain dwarf could be.

It was not just the fact that she had an axe which was perfect for cutting off heads.

It was also the fact that she did all her calculations with a calculator that made her dangerous.

Gretta had learned early on that if she didn't use the calculator, then she might make a mistake.

The dwarven lady had never so much as thought that calculating everything in her mind would make her look more professional.

Sure, it was a neat party trick, but it didn't add up all the time.

She was a dwarf who had done her best during math class, but despite the teacher's best efforts, had ended up using calculators even during exams.

Gretta didn't feel any shame in that. She knew that the important thing was to get all her calculations correct.

She was rarely scammed these days.

As she went to knock on the gnome's house, she knew that she was going to make a killing.

There was a tiny kitten who was looking at her from the window. The ginger fluffball was staring at her with narrow eyes.

Gretta winked at it.

The gnome opened the door soon after.

"Hello, my name is Gretta Ironheart!" The dwarven lady introduced herself. "And I would like to buy off your wares!"

Dobri blinked. He had told the guards that he had a wagon full of stuff, but he had no idea why the lady was already in here, demanding his wares.

"The wagon is at the back," Dobri said, as he came out of his house. "I hope your appraisal skills are good, Madam Ironheart. For I got most of my wares as bartered goods."

Gretta thanked her lucky stars. She was really going to make a killing!

Gnome and Dwarf went to the wagon. Gretta hopped in the back, beginning to shuffle through the wares.

She knew that double-crossing the gnome was not going to win her any favors.

For the gnome was going to find out about it sooner or later.

Her fingers were tapping on her calculator at breakneck speed!

She wanted everything!

Knowing that she could sell it in her shop for much more than the standard market price!

People paid good money for wares that were presented as dwarven.

Even if they had nothing to do with dwarven craftsmen.

By the end of the appraisal, Gretta was more than happy to fork over the 10,000 gold coins.

"After I looked over everything, Sir Gnome, I can tell you that your wares are of perfect quality!" She told the gnome, who was looking at her with wide eyes. "When taking the current market prices into account, I propose 10,000 gold coins for everything!"

Dobri did the math.

With that much money, he could go to the rune craftsman intern and buy off all his robes, cough, pajamas, cough.

Then just buy some oxen and go back to the Black Market!

"I agree," Dobri said, his eyes shining with greed! He was already making plans to buy agricultural land and to rent it out to people for a steady income!

"Here, Sir Gnome!" Gretta took out her bank pouch. It was a new invention. People could get the amount they needed from it. She typed 10,000 golden coins on it and then took out a treasure chest.

It was bigger than Dobri.

The gnome loved those details more than words could express.

"I will stash everything in my bottomless bag, if that's ok?" The dwarven lady asked.

Dobri nodded.

Soon she was gone, he was rich, and Morty was looking at him from the window.

Dobri winked at him.

"I'll buy you the elven food now!" The gnome said, already making plans to buy himself a whole chicken and a bag of potatoes, carrots, and some rice!

Morty, just like every cat given through the cat distribution system, could read lips.

The kitten nodded its approval and then lay on the windowsill so that he could bake his beans.

Happy and no longer needing any Maine Coons.

For the moment, at least.

****

Dobri was in the single convenience store in Big Capybara.

The cat food had a bit of dust on it, but its runes were still shining. Dobri felt like a noble when he put the cat food in his extended shopping bag.

He got the last chicken in the shop. Got himself some potatoes, carrots, and the last of the squash.

There was even a bottle of soy sauce in the shop!

Dobri felt so, as if he could run and sing!

When he passed by the hygiene products, he got a shampoo for Morty, a tube of toothpaste, and some body wash and shampoo for himself.

The cashier was someone who knew that Dobri was struggling with the money. She didn't want to break the gnome's heart, but he had already made a 100 golden coins bill with her.

Angela sighed when he placed his shopping cart next to the counter.

"Look, Dobri, I can't sell you all of this before you clear up your bill. Please, buy something cheaper!"

Dobri took off his bank pouch, tapping 100 golden coins on it, and then depositing the money near the counter.

Angela's eyes were wide! Where did the gnome get this much money?

"I finally had a breakthrough with the whole selling thing!" Dobri told her, more than a little pride in his voice. "Now, please, tell me how much I need for the new purchases! This weekend I am going back to the Black Market, Angi! My life is now finally better!"

Angela smiled and scanned all the purchases.

She was still amazed when Dobri forked over another 115 golden coins.

"Dobri?" Angela said, as she looked at the little gnome with pride in her eyes. "Do it for all of us, ok? Show us that dreams can come true!"

Dobri nodded. more than a little prideful that he had managed to pay for his purchases this time.

"I may be 50 centimeters tall, Angi!" He said, as he accepted the extended and featherlight shopping bag with a smile. "But I will never give up!"

Angela believed him.

But the universe heard him.

It hated the fact that someone was too sure of themselves.

Dobri was going to pay.

He will either swim through the current, or lose it all…