Crimson Threads ♡Sinbad X Oc♡

Chapter five: The rules of business

"HUH! What's going on?" Ja'far looked up in incredulity at the shop in front of him. The Imuchakk merchandise was on full display with prices that made Yunalesca's eyebrows raise. "Our merchandise..is being resold in someone else's shop... and at ten times the price no less!" Vittel yells in disbelief.  "We've been cheated! That merchant said he had ways of going around, but he's just reselling our stock! Isn't this fruad?" Hinahoho yells, annoyed.
"I'm afraid this merchant is making easy money by reselling the stock of merchants who can't sell legally." Sinbad crosses his arms. "So by reselling, he gets all the profit."

Although Yunalesca already knew this, hearing it out loud filled her with indignation. "Did you notice this already?" Ja'far asks. "Yeah. I knew it when I signed the contract." Sinbad sighed. "Then why didn't you say anything?!" Ja'far yells frustrated. Yunalesca opens her mouth to defend Sinbad,  but he answers first.
"Even if I knew, without anyone introducing us to the guild, we still can't sell legally. We would have suffered an even greater loss if we kept the merchandise stocked and it began to rot. We had to cut our losses and take his offer. Sadly, we can't make a large profit here. "Sinbad explains calmly. "And if we keep making such small profits, saving up funds to build a country would just end up as nothing but a fantasy."

His words catch Yunalesca's attention. 'To build a country? ' She thinks to herself, dazed. "What's wrong, everyone?" Sinbads voice pulls her back to reality. "It's just vexing.. this happened because we didn't know anything about business." Vittel responds frustrated. "We underestimated doing business.. we never had experiences like this in the organisation.." Ja'far says despondently,  his face showing his disappointment. Ja'fars words left Yunalesca puzzled. 'What did he mean by organisation?' She wondered. "I've only ever studied doing business... so fieldwork is new to me as well.." Rurumu adds, holding her face in her right palm. "We're complete amateurs." Hinahoho says dispirited.
Looking at everyone's disheartened faces, Yunalesca realised that she didn't really know these people. They were her friends, and yet, they were strangers. Her heart dropped, and she could feel the tears begin to well in her eyes.

"What's with the long faces?" This whole situation is what makes business interesting!" The excitement in Sinbads' voice baffled Yunalesca and the others. "What's so interesting about it? We got cheated!" Ja'far raised his voice.  "That's why it's interesting!" Sinbad answers, placing his hand on Ja'fars shoulder. "Powerfull, aren't they? Money makes the world move, and merchants move money. Who stands at the forefront, discerning the trends of society and calculates without resting? Merchants! " Sinbad answers his own question, his voice full of child like wonder.

"So in a way, merchants make the world move.." Yunalesca meets Sinbad's eyes. They were shining with a kind of resilience that swept away any lingering feelings of hopelessness she had.
"Exactly! And we're competing against great foes like this! Isn't it fun?" Sinbad clenched his hands into fists. "We don't really know anything about business, but as we learn more, it would become more interesting! Don't you think so?" Sinbad's says with a wide smile. The crescent moon shining above him gave him a silvery glow. The sight gave Yunalesca butterflies, and she couldn't help but smile with him. This man intrigued her. She wanted to know more about him. "Sometimes I don't get your thinking. " Hinahoho laughs, scratching the back of his head.

                               ~~~~~~~
"Sinbad, are you sure this is alright? " Hinahoho says from aboard the ship. "Yes. You and the others will go back to Imuchakk to restock our merchandise. I'll stay here and look for a way out." He answers, standing on the pier. "A way out? What so you mean?" Hinahoho asks confused as Yunalesca joins him out on the deck. "It takes months for you do get back here, so in the meantime, I'll look into the guild and firm business." Sinbad answers. Hinahoho furrows his brows in concern. "Alone?" Sinbad nods. "It's fine. I signed the contract with the reseller, so the responsibility is on me. I lost the merchandise everyone went through so much trouble for to get here. I'll make up for it." Sinbad explains to Hinahoho.
"I'll stay too." Yunalesca suddenly yells back, surprising both Sinbad and Hinahoho. "It'll be easier if someone stayed to help." She says as she half-runs down the board to the pier to join Sinbad.
"I see. We'll leave everything to you two then." Hinahoho shouts as the ship departs for the horizon.

                                 ~~~~~~
"No fair, I wanted to stay too. Lucky bastered." Ja'far mumbles as Sinbad and Yunalesca fade into tiny specks. "No Ja'far you can't stay.. and what's with that language? Studying will straighten that bad habit out." Rurumus hand looms over Ja'fars head. Bracing himself for the impact, he is met with a soft pat on the head. "I'll study too, of course. We've disgraced our lord. We still have much to learn." She says softly.

                                ~~~~~
Back on shore, Sinbad's unwavering gaze was still set on the horizon. 'That's right. I still have so much to learn. Not only about this country, but about the world and the people in it. As for why? Because I will become king!' His thoughts are interrupted by the growl of his own stomach.
"Well, time for some supper." He glances at Yunalesca, who is looking at him and trying to suppress her giggles. He tries his best to keep up a cool facade, but his stomach betrays him, letting out a loud rumble. "Let's go grab a bite to eat." Yunalesca laughs as they walk back into the town together.

'Only three copper coins.' Sinbad notes, holding the money in his hand. 'I gave the rest to Hinahoho for restocking, so we'll have to survive on only this..'  He looks over at Yunalesca standing at a jewellery stall. She was looking at a golden bangle, no thicker than his pinky finger. The soft glow of the lantern dancing in her eyes. The sight spread a warmth within Sinbad's chest. Just then a commotion caught his attention. "Let's see what's going on." He beckons Yunalesca to follow him into the crowd.

Pushing their way to through the crowd, Sinbad and Yunalesca see two men arguing. One was a shopkeeper, and the other had a dark hood pulled over his head. 'Wait... isn't that the man from the market?' Yunalesca recognised the man. "Let's see if you'll continue to mock me after I break your nose!" The shopkeeper shouts, raising his fist. "Wai.." But before Yunalesca could finish her sentence, Sinbad had already stepped in between the men, grabbing the shopkeeper by the wrist. "Stop it." He says.
'Whoa, he's fast!' Yunalesca's eyes widen in surprise.
"Mind your own busines,  kid!" The shopkeeper shouts, looking Sinbad straight in the eye. Sinbad's intense stare startled the shopkeepe,  and he stepped back. 'Please don't start trouble.' Yunalesca pleads in her mind.

"I apologise in place of this man for treating your merchandise carelessly. Merchandise is the lifeline of a merchant, so please take this as a token of my apology. " sinbad say,  placing the three copper coins in the shopkeeper's hand. Eyeing the crowd, he begrudgingly accepted the money. "As long as you understand." He grumbles before going back into his shop.
Yunalesca sighs, relieved that the conflict is resolve,  but a foreboding feeling takes root in her stomach. The hooded man was looming over Sinbad.
She rushes to his side and grabs his sash, her hands trembling. This man scared her, but she wasn't going to let Sinbad face him alone.

Noticing her trembeling hands, Sinbad places a reasuring hand over Yunalesca'  before looking back at the hooded man with a smile. "Are you alright, sir? Better be careful.." Sinbad start,  but the hooded man cuts him off. "If money would'vesettlede it, I already said I'd pay. You got too excited. " His attitude was cold. 'What's that for?' Sinbad thinks taken aback. " Well, we're going this way, haha.. " Yunalesca chuckles nervously, pulling Sinbad away.
As they walk away from the man, Sinbads stomach growls loudly. 'Oh yeah.. I just gave all the money we had away.' Sinbad thinks embarrassed. The man's sudden laughter startled Sinbad and Yunalesc,  and they turned to look at the man. "Well, I suppose I should thank you, young man. This wa,  please. I'll treat you and your lady friend to a place that I frequent." He says, gesturing to them to follow him.