The Special Economic Zone Chapter 13: Switcharoo

 

Switcharoo

Rea stood in front of the temporary council in their open-air arena.

“Our food reserves are getting dangerously low. We won’t be able to harvest for another five months. We need to find ways to import more food.”

There was a commotion.

Thorn stood up. “What we need to do is spread the word that we have money and trade goods. If we get a few people, human or not, interested in selling their goods here, we won’t even have to try to procure food on our own.”

“That’s optimistic!” Pearl rose from his chair and slammed his fist. “That’s just what you think.”

Thorn shook his head. “How much food reserves do we have?”

“Enough for one more week.” Rea read off of a piece of paper.

“Then that’s good. I will send parties who will go into various human cities, posed as adventurers, and spread rumors about a new civilization in Farrow Dells.”

“Don’t you think someone else, someone less critical to the running of our city, should go instead?” Cass stood up, his arms crossed.

“I believe this is something that I should send Aki to do. I think she’s the best for the job.”

Rea sighed, sitting back down. “Election day is tomorrow. Everyone, be ready.”

There were a few more items on the docket, but eventually Thorn was able to return to Aki’s house and work on his pet project, the printing press.

Sally followed Thorn into the house as well. She looked at the unfinished printing press with awe.

“I don’t know how to read.” She hung her head. “I’m sorry.”

“We’ll have to set up a school system.” Thorn played with a bolt on the printing press. “One of the positions on the election docket is master of education. Whoever gets elected to that role will be the one to ask about that.”

Thorn spent the rest of the day working with Aki on building the printing press.

The next morning he got up early and headed to the town square. The main courthouse and administrative building had not yet been completed. Thorn watched as a trickle of people, and then eventually a flood, filed past the election box with their tickets. Each person put in a single ticket with their votes written on it. There were X positions to be filled. Two bodyguard demi-humans in full armor followed him wherever he went.

[Would you like to utilize the fantasy abstractor?]

Thorn was used to hearing that voice in his head by now.

[Yes.]

[There are X positions on the docket. Senators: 11. Members of the house: 9. Administrative duties: 4. Vice mayor: 1.]

Thorn sat down on a wooden chair and watched the process. By noon everyone had cast their vote.

The counting of ballots was done by Aki, Ron, and Rea, as the standing members of the Supreme Court. When they were done, they made the announcements. Every seat had been filled.

Aki approached Thorn, trailed by the person who had won the position of vice mayor. It was a bunny girl named Isabelle. She had brown fur with white spots and long whiskers. She held out her hand.

“I am happy to be able to work with you.”

Thorn shook her hand. “Do you have any previous experience in leadership?” He had been paying attention to the election, but her win was a surprise to him.

Isabelle nodded. “Yes, sir. I was the leader of my tribe before we were enslaved.”

Thorn nodded. “Good. I need to talk to you for a while to establish our policy.”

“If you wish.” Isabelle and Thorn entered the newly completed office wing of the main administrative building. He sat her down. Aki watched, standing behind her. The two demi-human guards stood by the doorway, holding their spears with sharp poise.

Thorn spent the next few hours reviewing his policy on everything he imagined would be important. When he was finished he stood up and shook hands with Isabelle. He left the office wing and returned to the half-done senate building. There, he stood up on the stage and presented Isabelle. He also greeted the new senators and members of the house, getting to know each of their names. Finally, he introduced himself to the four administration members: the education minister, the infrastructure minster, the policy minister, and the chief of police. Everyone seemed to be cordial when they interacted with him.

Thorn sat everyone down and stood on the stage. “Thank you for participating in this greatest of experiments.”

###

Aki stood beside Thorn, wondering what his purpose really was. As his first companion, the one who met him when he had first appeared in this world, she knew that she was the one who understood him most. And yet she didn’t understand him at all. Why had he created a government that was going to phase him out before long? Why did he insist on splitting his own powers instead of consolidating it?

Aki didn’t understand at all. And yet she knew that Thorn had the most interesting idea that had ever come out of humans: the idea that commerce should be unrestricted and without limitation.

Frankly, she smelled treasure. And dragons loved treasure.

When Thorn’s speech was done, Aki returned to her small temporary abode after making sure his guard consignment was properly organized. She put a kettle on the fire and sat down at her makeshift table. Eventually she would cart all of her valuables to the city, but she needed a good hiding spot before she would even consider moving her treasure. She was also very happy that Thorn had never once asked her for a loan of any kind.

That was one of the reasons she followed him. That, and the fact that he could uppercut her into the dream world if he wanted to.

The kettle whistled. Aki took it off and made herself some of her favorite tea. She examined the newly built printing press as she drank.

There was a knock at the door. Aki stood up and looked through the peephole. It was Rea.

Aki opened the door. Rea entered, brushing her feet on the welcome mat. Rea looked at the tea on the table and sniffed. “Do you have any of that Earl Grey left?”

“Of course I do.” One of Aki’s most treasured categories of treasure was rare teas. And rare teas were meant to be enjoyed. She poured a cup of Earl Grey for Rea. The two sat opposite each other, sipping their tea.

“I wonder when our first court case is going to happen.” Rea sipped.

“Not for some time. We still need to establish a minor court. We are the highest law in the land, after all.”

Rea chuckled. “Though it isn’t much of a land yet.” She put her teacup down. “I think Thorn may be serious about sending you on a mission.”

“You think so?” Aki put her cup down as well. “There is the food shortage. Do you think that’s what he expects me to fix?”

“He is very heavy on letting other people do the hard work.”

“I believe that it is better termed delegation and division of labor. Let people do what they’re best at.”

Rea shrugged. “Well.” She stood up. “It was nice having tea with you.”

“Goodbye.”

Rea left the house. Aki filled her teacup up with more tea. About ten minutes later there was another knock at the door. Aki opened it.

Thorn stood in the doorway.

“How can I help you?” Aki ushered Thorn inside.

Thorn sat, holding his hands in his lap. “I need you to help with the food problem. I believe that the best way to fix it would be to engage private enterprise.”

Aki pursed her lips. Thorn was always talking about private enterprise like it was some sacred cow. She did love treasure, but she was more of the type to take what she needed, when she needed it. However, Thorn’s methodology was an interesting one, and she wanted to know how it would all pan out.

“What do you expect me to do?”

“I’m gathering parties of adventurers.” Thorn cupped his chin in his hands. “I’m going to send them across the human realm and have them advocate for Farrow Dells and the Special Economic Zone by starting rumors. It will be a grassroots campaign.”

“You want to increase this country’s renown?” Aki frowned. “Wouldn’t the easiest way be to conquer and show our military might? You are powerful enough to level a city, after all.”

Thorn shook his head. “I want my city built on trade and commerce, not oppression and destruction. If I can get enough people interested in making money here, then we can solve our food problem and all of our other shortages.”

“Okay.” Aki sipped her tea. “I think I can manage that.”

“I’m sending you to Albern. You’ll be going with two demi-humans. They will be free, and you’ll make a point of that.”

“And? You want me to upend generations of prejudice against demi-humans just like that?”

“No. It’s going to be a tough road.” Thorn stood up and placed his hand on Aki’s shoulder. “And I think you can do it.”

Aki sighed. “Okay. I’ll try my best.”

Thorn nodded once. “I have other things to take care of. I’ll send your companions to meet you as soon as possible. Until then you’re free to do whatever you want.”

“About my position as a judge on this Supreme Court of yours.”

Thorn stopped. “Yes?”

“What, exactly, are my duties?”

“It will be your decision to interpret the law when there is a question regarding its implementation. Until we get such a question, you’ll be free to do other things.”

“So you’re going to let the lower level judges handle normal civil and criminal cases.”

“Exactly. I’ll put our city in your hands.” Thorn left the room and closed the door behind him.

Aki sipped her tea. Well, there wasn’t too much that could go wrong with this plan.

Ten minutes later there was another knock at the door. Aki stood up and opened it.

A bunny person and a fox person stood in the doorway. Both appeared extremely anxious, and Aki could smell their fear. She smiled disarmingly. “Come in. Have some tea.” She sat them down around her tea table. “What are your names?”

The male bunny person nodded his head. “My name is Jolly, ma’am.”

Aki replied in the demi-human trade language. “My name is Aki. I’m a red dragon, but don’t let that get to you.”

The fox person, a female with exceptionally long ears, bowed. “My name is Yeer.”

“Ah, that means “snowfall” in foxtongue.”

“Yes, it does.” Yeer bowed. “Thank you for taking us in.”

“What are your levels?” Aki had a diagnostic skill, but she didn’t deem it to be worth the effort.

“I’m a level six sorcerer.” Jolly bowed.

“I’m a level two warrior.” Yeer bowed.

“I’m a level one hundred and seventy magic beast.” Aki grinned, adding a bit of an edge to it.

Both Jolly and Yeer bowed repeatedly. “Yes, ma’am. Of course, ma’am.”

“What I say goes.” Aki continued to grin. “Get it?”

“Yes.” Jolly and Yeer nodded.

“Good.” Aki stood up. “We’re leaving tomorrow at dawn. Take care of whatever you have to, and meet me here an hour before the sun rises.” She shood them out of her house, and sat back down with her teacup.

The meeting had gone quite well. She had instilled a fear of her inside those two newborn adventurers. Now that they were part of her treasures, she would do whatever she could to maintain that. They were living beings, of course, and slavery was not allowed in the Special Economic Zone, but Aki knew how to keep people in reverence of herself. She smiled, and sipped her tea again.

Thorn. What a weirdo.