"Well you might not believe me but I was almost killed, buried in the sand alive, and then dug myself out somehow. If you have any items that can help I'll gladly purchase them off you."
"Understood. Was it warm or cold? Then they sucked burying the body. And yeah definitely do, how much water, bandages, do ya' need a new tent, bags, what ya' need boy." Carl didn't hesitate or flinch, he acted as it was just a regular day.
"Glad you understand, cold to the bone, yeah stupid lucky, and as much for the bag of fish can get me. You've heard worse or was that normal in the military?" Polemos was a little surprised that Carl was exactly as Elder Spear described when he recommended him.
'What has he seen, if he didn't flinch and he acted as if it was an everyday thing, where the hell was I reincarnated???' Polemos was really starting to freak out a little.
If Carl was going to say what Polemos was going to think, he might need to really consider what or who planned this bullshit.
"Heard? No, completely normal if not sometimes worse it's the military boy, your life is no longer yours, it's to the kingdom or empire you join. Only decent thing is retirement and if you know how to earn money. And I can get what you need no problem." Carl made a list as he spoke without missing a beat.
"Well that sounds great, if not 'fantastic', are there Mercenary guilds, adventure halls, or anything that has a little more freedom? Well that's good you're enjoying retirement. And do you have any books or anything about earning money, or anything basic in World knowledge. Especially the power hierarchy and anything you got for Mana."
'I'm definitely not joining a kingdom or empire, screw that, I'd rather use them for money and power and hell it'll be fun to smack around some greater than thou Nobles.' Polemos tried to rub an imaginary beard that he had in his first life, as the corner of his mouth tilted upwards a little. He then remembered that Carl never answered his question about weapons.
"You never answered about-."
"Yes I did, you didn't tell me what you're looking for boy." Carl looked up from the list and looked Polemos in the eyes and released a bloody feeling that made Polemos start to sweet a little.
"You did, I apologize, was looking for an axe, and a dagger." Polemos replied and was scared, and he kept wondering why he was calling him boy as it was a little irritating and made his body churn.
"Why do you keep calling me boy? Aren't we considered as an adult at sixteen in the tribe?"
"An axe that's different but that's no problem, a dagger is also no problem either. An ya' you do become an adult at that age, but you haven't killed before have you. Hence you're still a boy. So you plan on killing someone?" Carl looked straight into Polemos's eyes and increased the bloody feeling a little more.
"A few actually." Polemos didn't hesitate as he looked right back at Carl.
'If Carl has seen worse or even heard worse. Then I'm guessing that murder really is normal here or is it death, we'll figure that later.'
"A few well, good luck. Join a Mercenary guild or an organization then, they have some of the more lesser restrictions and the lifestyle can be pretty brutal, but that depends on what you're looking for, for money. And no problem let me get what ya' need and if ya' need anything else, come back I'll buy whatever you're selling." Carl responded while turning around and went to grab Polemos's supplies.
Polemos started to rant while Carl was getting his supplies.
"Really where in the God's name am I? This is like bad news after bad news. Well aren't I the bastard? Plus screw whoever calls themselves a God screw them, and if there are Gods and assholes and I'm pretty sure there is as that's not gonna be fun. If not more annoying than anything, and since Mana is involved it's gonna be even worse as power will still corrupt anyone who has it…."
Polemos was a little numb by the time Carl came back with what looked like a tent bag. It looked a little worn and had the color of the desert, and even more surprising was it didn't look heavy.
"Trust me you'll need this and if anyone asks, tell them you found it. This is a True Acolyte stage nine intermediate ranked military bag and it has five slots inside that are used to help store your supplies and resources." Carl said and explained what the slots were all for and told Polemos that only what is labeled goes into the specific slot.
"First one holds food or rations, second medical, third camp survival supplies, fourth clothes, and the fifth is what the new owner wants. Just a little blood and the bag makes a slot for the individual, I'd recommend the spot for books or journals though." Carl's recommendation was not what Polemos expected and made him a little surprised.
"Really, why books or journals?"
"Simple helps keep the mind sharp and one always needs to keep updated on your way to make money or to reflect." Carl then handed Polemos the military bag and then pointed to the table that held an axe and an 8 inch long straight dagger.
The axe looked like a steel axe from a video game in his first life without the runes and carvings.
"I also threw in a belt and sheath for the axe and dagger, and both are True Acolyte stage eight intermediate ranked equipment so they're solid. And I just need ya to drip your blood on the bag to make the bag yours." Carl said as he pointed to the dagger.
"Yeah sure no problem." Polemos grabbed the dagger, pricked his finger and dropped it on the bag, as the blood was absorbed into the bag which made Polemos wonder what material was used to make it. He then felt a small connection to the bag and registered the fifth slot of the military bag as books.
"Did you choose books or journals?"
"Books."
"Alright, then here are all the books I could get with what you brought." Carl then dropped the small chest that looked like it could hold 150+ books.
Bang!
"Was I supposed to carry that if I didn't choose books for the bag?" Polemos chuckled as he looked at the bag and then was glad he listened to Carl when he recommended the choice for the fifth slot. Then I listened as Carl explained how to transfer the books inside the military bag that also worked the same in reverse when you needed the item you wanted.
"Well yeah why wouldn't you. Aren't you glad that you chose the book option, otherwise that would have been pretty heavy to carry." Carl started to laugh as the counter even started to tremble from his voice.
"Wait, this is definitely not worth what the fish was offered for, how much is the cost of all this Carl, how much do I owe you? I'll repay you back." Polemos was finally able to ask as he continued to see everything in front of him and wanted to make sure Carl got what this was all worth.
"Well then just bring me 2,500 kilograms of fish, monster, beast, or whatever you can, and will call it good. I'm running a little low on that at the moment." Carl shrugged as he went back to his ledger.
"Thank you Carl. I'll definitely make sure to come back, you've been of great help. Can I take the chest still? It might come in handy." Polemos smiled as he thanked Carl and hoped he would allow him to take the chest as it actually would be helpful with what he needed to complete his tasks.
"Ya sure then just add 150 more kilograms and make sure I get that 2,650 kilograms of meat." Carl didn't even look up from his ledger and continued to work on his business.
Polemos then grabbed and equipped the leather belt and weapons to his hip. Then grabbed the chest and started his journey back to his tent with his supplies as he needed to start making his dinner and look at all the books that were in the bag and start to read everything so he could survive and get stronger.
"It looks like I'm going to be pretty busy. This is amazing. Why is it that I have so much to do and yet I've never been more excited, such a wonderful feeling. Is it because it's something brand new that I can't stop but wait to see what happens. Well is that a good thing or a bad thing cause this could look bad if I get lost in that feeling." Polemos couldn't see it but his eyes flashed with a purple gleam, and his mouth curved upward as he continued to his home.
"It looks like I have enough extra food and water for almost two weeks, and medical supplies that should last for awhile, the third slot has plenty of camp supplies, while the fourth is empty, and last but not least so many new things to learn and explore I just can't wait." Polemos grinned while he entered inside his tent and started to get to work on his dinner of roasted fish and what looked like vegetables from the military bag.
"All right let's improve my fish roasting technique, then read as many books as I can before the second moon shows up, then on to body training, and finally write what happened in my journal. Then off to the land of dreams."
'I wonder how many fish Elder Spear will get tomorrow, I'll make sure to save his share and only bring in mine. I need to do something for the man to repay his kindness.'