Our Story of Seasons: Pete X Claire

Chapter 9: The Basics

Two people were standing in front of their house. One had a familiar red hat, and the other was a new face.

"Good morning, Pete and Claire!" Thomas greeted them with a welcoming smile.

"Mayor Thomas?" Pete's eyes widened in surprise. They didn't expect to see him first thing in the morning.

"It's good to see you two have settled in." Thomas tipped his hat. "I know we had a rough start yesterday, but I would like to officially welcome you as residents of Mineral Town!"

"Oh, thank you." Pete and Claire exchanged glances with each other. They smiled at the mayor. Start of our life in Mineral Town, huh?

"And... Claire." Thomas hesitantly handed her a small pouch filled with gold coins. "I didn't want come bearing bad news again, but... I've reached a compromise with MT Realtor. Here is... 500 gold as partial compensation for your troubles." He apologized sincerely. "While I couldn't secure a full compensation, you don't have to worry about paying the rest of the 40,000 gold as per your agreement with them."

"Mayor Thomas..." Claire accepted the pouch and stared into its contents. Perhaps a laughable amount compared to what she had to pay, but the full cost of the farm would no longer burden her financially. How did he manage to reach a solution in such a short amount of time? It left her appalled.

"It seems when you're friends with the Mayor, things move quickly, eh?" Pete gently patted her shoulder. "I think it's... fair enough, given your circumstances. Maybe you can see this as an opportunity for a fresh start."

"T-Thank you so much, Mayor Thomas!" Claire bowed her head, visibly grateful. While it's not the most ideal outcome she hoped for, she believed it was more than fair. I'll learn to live with this, I guess. "And, uh... I'm sorry for almost trying to... hurt you. I wasn't in the right state of mind yesterday."

"It's all water under the bridge now." Thomas waved his hands. That was what drove him to try his hardest in acquiring the compensation. The crazy things I can do when my life is potentially on the line.

"Did you come here just to greet us and return her gold?" Pete asked. "I hope it's not a bother."

"It's simply my responsibility as the mayor," Thomas answered. "And you two must be new to farm life, so I'd like to explain a few things!"

Thomas explained some basics to them. He said that the old man's equipment was in the chest (or more accurately, the toolbox) which Pete found out yesterday. There were also various shops spread around the town which they could buy items from as long as they were open.

"Ultimately, the farm is in your hands, and you can do whatever you'd like with it."

"Hmmm, we haven't decided what we're going to do." Pete folded his arms.

"May I recommend focusing on earning a little money first to make life a touch easier? Thomas suggested. "There are many things in the forest you can forage and ship for a little pocket change, for example."

With the 1,000 total gold they had on hand, it should be enough to start from zero. Though they would have to figure out how to build a steady source of income.

"And once you're free for the day, I suggest taking a stroll around the town and meeting the local residents." Thomas turned to the farm's entrance. "If you follow the road from the farm to your right, you'll find several of your neighbors. I'm sure they'd be eager to chat or give advice."

"Thanks for the tip, Mayor Thomas." Pete gave a thumbs up.

"We'll be sure to explore what Mineral Town has to offer!" Claire smiled.