10. Flurry


    Three temples needed to be built. Without a temple Trade Points would gather at 40 a second, plus whoever was worshipping; Mardonius and Salutius were kind enough to build another large statue, making it 50 a second, the Gods’ of Agriculture and Water were honoured with 5 large statues, with construction work going to the three new temples. Mercurius used the native wood, realising the potential for limitless money. He had to wait a bit for it to produce necessary quantities for export, but he nonetheless exported it to the Raja states with great profits.


    Spending nothing and selling it in their markets, is a great feeling. I can’t wait to do my worst to Balna, I truly can’t. I can’t believe those bastards destroyed my temple.


    He sold wood that came at no cost into Raja markets, then went and sold eastern spices in Moru markets before returning with some 800 or so gold. He realised he would have to splurge most of his coin on cement, marble and stone. Houses had to be rebuilt again, and he gave a donative to most of the residents. Three temple structures were built in the soft sand.


    “One day we will have water for all residents, for now we are focusing on export crops!” Salutius said selling the idea of the God of Water.


    We’ll all have water? The residents thought.


    The town developed quickly, and a part of the reason for this is local tribes from nearby came to aid the construction.


    “What are you building here newcomer?”


    “A temple to the God of Trade,” Mercurius said with ill advised bravado, “and God of Water and Agriculture.”


    The tribesmen looked with shock and then wonder. They watched trees sprout from the water with tremendous unbelievable speed, to be chopped by the locals. They prayed to the God of Water and Agriculture and wood sprouted faster than ever. Mercurius approached Ur out of curiosity.


    “By any chance does 100 God Power allow you also to do your powers?”


    “For water yes, agriculture is a little bit more expensive at 120. But then again you must appreciate it is a fabulous power,” Ur explained.


    “For sure,” Mercurius said with awe and amazement in his voice.


    Trees sprouted and some 300 tribesmen settled near the town Mercurius created.


    “Our clansmen have been experiencing drought in our village,” one man said, “please let us settle next to you.”


    “Settle in our town, feel free,” Mercurius said, open arms.


    Wheat was made, water was distributed in ever increasing rates. The temples got more manpower with more men heaving rocks and building houses.


    There must be 500 people here now.


    Mercurius sold this new free wood to the Raja states and Hitara for much better margins. Even Moru itself was sold the wood, acquiring 1400 gold. Unfortunately all gold profits had to be reinvested in the temples that were being made and the houses for the new residents. Women and children helped, men helped especially, the God of Trade had a large statue dedicated to the patron deity situated inside, a large statue inside, the Goddess of Agriculture likewise had a dedicated statue inside, the God of Water likewise. All the gold spent on marble depleted the reserves to 50 gold. Despite it being near evening the three temples were finished, and with the three evangels tapping their religious monuments, the temples began producing masses of God Power. Forests grown and chopped by the new residents. Wheat fletched, corn given to everyone, water filling the wells. Mercurius fell over, exhausted beyond belief.You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.


    “The new converts from here have been very helpful,” Salutius mused, a woman catching his attention.


    “Yeah…” Mercurius said exhausted and breathing into the sand.


    “Careful,” a woman said, stabbing a scorpion, “that’s a good way to die.”


    Mercurius was carefully housed in his abode. A small hut, with protection from the desert sands.


    “For now it is humble,” A local tribesman said, “but I can see the future, three temples, these three will produce riches beyond our wildest dreams.”


    “In Moru city, we would just be paupers,” an old man said, “to think such people existed, praise the God of Agriculture!”


    Mercurius woke up the next day merely selling wood and food that was collected. The Raja states, Zhong and Hitara. Gold piled up, from a mere 200 gold coins, to 2000. Food piled up too. Mercurius had to visit local stone merchants in Moru, returning with granite and even marble for construction of houses. Water filled the wells, wheat was ground down into flour in the mills, and bread was starting to be made.


    “I thought we were goners, but we have bounced back remarkably quickly,” a Hunaran resident said.


    “That is the power of farming,” Salutius explained, “as it turns out, being able to grow your own wood greatly increases your profits.”


    Mardonius looked at the nascent community with tears in his eyes, addressing a large crowd.


    “We need to build walls, or at least watch towers! We must be prepared for conflict!” He continued prattling.


    Mercurius’s ears were immediately drowned out with a familiar voice:


    “WELL DONE EVANGEL. YOU EVEN TEAMED UP WITH THE GOD OF FARMING AND WATER. VERY SMART!” He shouted in Mercurius’s head.


    “Fuck me,” Mercurius said, “what a god.”


    “I CAN HEAR YOU.”


    “What do we do now?”


    “They destroyed our temple in Balna,” the god of trade began saying in hushed overtones, “gather riches, hire mercenaries and take out Moru.”


    Mercurius stopped and stared into the distance.


    “Then we really will become enemies of all,” Mercurius said wistfully.


    “You already are.”


    This god is burning my Trade Points to prattle in my head. But he’s right.


    “It’s not prattle, and of course I am.”


    Mercurius sold free wood to the Moru markets, and to the Hitaran markets, coming back to a bounty of wood cut, the Trade Points were overflowing and he could hit to the Rajan markets without hesitation or pause. Water filled the wells, various grown food products reached the various residents. Mercurius looked at all the mills, all the free food being consumed.


    “I wonder I give 2 gold a week,” he mused.


    “You give them 2 gold a week?” Ur asked, amazed, his blue eyes stared at him.


    “The God of Trade is generous.”


    “The God of Water makes sure they have enough to eat and drink.”


    “For sure,” Mercurius smirked, “I wouldn’t have it any other way, the partnership of our three deities, will make the world tremble.”


    “Our gods talked to us too, they know what the God of Trade said to you,” Gaia said, “dangerous thoughts Mercurius.”


    “You think?” Mercurius said.


    “You might have been chased out of Balna for your paganism, for your temple, but you had a low profile, if you begin toppling nations, we could have religious wars on our hands.”


    “The Moru army is busy preparing to invade Peria, it might be a better time than ever to strike from their underbelly,” Mercurius mused.


    Mardonius and Salutius surprised the trio of evangels, waltzing into their conversation.


    “There is another way, not just mercenaries,” Salutius said, he unfurled a map of Moru, “Church of Light countries employ a lot of slaves. We can buy them, and free them, we can create armies of people to be mobilised on a short notice.”


    “If food and drink and money is distributed…” Mercurius suggested, nodding with great enthusiasm, a great grin in his mouth.


    “We can topple Moru quite quickly,” Mardonius and Salutius said together.


    We can take down a country. They all thought.


    Mercurius got to work, realising what needed to be done.


    I’m just getting started.