I reincarnated in game

47 Reporting In

Tom reflected on the way he had deliberately walked out of the room after his meeting with King Archibald and Saint Elizabeth; he wanted to make sure the king knew he was the man in charge … after all; he had the backing of Sisilia as well as the top religious and financial leaders of Second Level! 

The weather had cleared nicely.  It was just a short twenty minute walk from the castle gates to the local Chamber of Commerce in Aldo so he decided he would make a report to his father.  Tom walked in as if he owned the place.  He went straight to where the man in charge was standing.  “Show me to your communications room; I have to send a very important message to the Kingsley Chamber of Commerce on Second Level,” he said in a very authoritative voice.

The manager of the local Chamber looked at Tom then said, “Excuse me … just who do you think you are?  Our communications system is for our exclusive use, for inter-branch communications, not for just anyone who wants to send a message!” 

Tom drew himself up to his full height then leaned towards the shorter man behind the counter.  Speaking loudly and very deliberately, he enunciated each word, as if speaking to a child, “I am Tom Kingsley, son of William Kingsley, the president of Kingsley Chamber of Commerce … your boss!”

The manager was taken aback … of all the people who this rude man could have been, he had to be the boss’s son!  He stammered, “My apologies, sir.  I did not know.  Please come this way!” 

Tom was smug.  There was only one thing he enjoyed more than the power of his family name … he loved showing everyone that he was the man in charge!  He liked to see the way people’s demeanour changed … like the way the manager’s had.  He had made sure he had spoken loud enough for the employees to hear when he informed the manager he was the boss’s son … from the smattering of laughter which was heard as he followed the humbled man from the main lobby, Tom knew this incident would be the talk of the Chamber and maybe even around the town!

Back in the private area of the Chamber, the manager led the way to the communications room.  Without even asking, he sat and quickly made the connection to his counterpart in the Kingsley Chamber of Commerce.  He asked that Mr. Kingsley be paged to their communication room for an urgent message … when the man on Second Level left to get William Kingsley, the manager stood up and moved back, signaling Tom to come to the seat before the crystal ball communications device. 

Tom looked at the manager, and then said, dismissively, “You can leave now.  I will let you know when I am done.” 

The manager bowed slightly, then withdrew from the room, closed the door and went to his own private office.  He may have looked calm on the exterior; on the inside he was seething at Tom’s rudeness … “That man is only half my age!  How impertinent he is!  He feels that he can do anything to anybody because he is rich and his father powerful … I pray to be around when he gets what he deserves …” the manager muttered to himself.

Tom only had to wait a few moments before his father’s face came into view in the crystal ball.  His father had been expecting his call and had hurried to get it.

“Hi Father,” Tom began.  “We had our meeting with the king this morning … I knew you would be anxious to hear the outcome.  The king has proposed a registry to help out those who have been using their tribute money for food; he will use royal reserves to help them but only if they agree to pay the taxes they owe.  His plan seems to address the money flow issue which should keep First Level happy.  He hasn’t found out who killed the bishop as yet but says he is still working on it.”

“Very good, Tom,” responded William.  “You are right, of course; I was anxious to hear what the king had in mind.  Thanks for your quick report.”

“No problem, Father.  The manager bent over backwards to make sure I was able to contact you directly,” Tom replied with a smile, thinking about how anxious the embarrassed man had been to comply when he learned who was asking.

“Tom, I am going to need you to stay on to make sure that the king’s registry system is working and that there is no further interruption in the flow of tribute.  We want to make sure that he keeps a firm hand on the poor who have been rebelling … we can’t let them be seen to prevail against the establishment,” his father said.  “I have arranged for you to have whatever funds you need to fulfill the mandate of your mission available from the Chamber of Commerce there in Aldo.  I have also transferred monies to an account in your name, for your personal use.  Since you have done such a great job, so quickly, why don’t you take some time to enjoy yourself?  You can report back to me in a week, or sooner, if there are any new developments,” the elder man said.  He hoped that Tom was not able to see the worry on his face … the Second Level Chamber of Commerce was not the safest place to be these days; he needed Tom to stay down on Third Level to keep him out of harm’s way.

“OK, Father,” Tom replied.  “Be well.”

“And you, as well, Tom,” William replied.  After the connection was broken, he repeated to himself, “And you, as well, Tom …”

As Tom was walking back from the communications room, he saw the manager’s office door slightly ajar.  He pushed it open without knocking.  The manager, who had been seated behind his desk, rose at the sudden intrusion.  “I am done in there.  Now I need you to get me the equivalent of two hundred gold coins, in some smaller denominations. from the account my father set up for me at this branch,” Tom said.

“I will be happy to take you to one of our tellers who will be able to do that for you,” the manager said, his smile a tight line on his face.

“No,” Tom replied.  “I am asking you to get it for me.  I am not about to stand out there in line with all the locals.  You can do the paperwork and just bring me the money.  I will wait here.”  With that, he sat down in one of the client chairs in the manager’s office and put his feet up on the matching chair.

The manager scurried to make the withdrawal … anything he could do to get this insolent fellow out of his hair couldn’t be done fast enough.  He returned with the coins in a small pouch and handed them to Tom.  Tom stood, smiled slightly, as he accepted the offering.  “Thanks,” he said, and walked out to the street.

From the bank, Tom decided to make his way back to the town square and see what he could see.  He had heard that the square was the centre of activity for Illad and Tom always wanted to be where the action was.  The local gossip also held that this was where the rioting had started, and where the bishop had met his demise.

When he got to the square, Tom looked around.  He was disappointed because it certainly wasn’t anything like the bustling crowds in the squares of Manfar.  He saw that, unlike the Second Level, most of the merchants conducted their businesses indoors because of the cold weather.  The only “open air” vendors were those using wooden market stalls with overhanging awnings to protect from the elements.  They were peddling hot food and drinks as well as locally produced hats, coats and mittens to citizens and visitors to the capital.        

Tom had nothing but time on his hands so he sauntered through the square, checking out the what they had to sell.  He stopped at a booth offering some hot food and made a selection of beef on a bun, flipping a couple of coins from the pouch visible at his waist, to the vendor.  The spiciness of the sandwich was not to his liking so he simply dropped it on the ground and wiped his hands to remove any lingering sauce. 

He walked to a vendor a couple feet away.  He picked up a roasted chicken drumstick and a hot beverage.  Again, he was obvious as he reached into his pouch and flipped a few coins over the actual cost of his selections to this vendor … this food was more pleasing to his palate. 

Tom continued around the square, visiting any booth or store which piqued his interest.  He bought several other food items, paid for them, and if they weren’t to his liking, he would throw them in the nearest trash can.  His purchases included a hat, some warm gloves and a woolen scarf … now at least he could be warmer as he swaggered through the square.  He was unaware of the attention that he had attracted from three men who had been noting his movements, as well as the pouch on his hip.