I Have An SSS-Rank Service System: Hire Me For Anything!-Chapter 12: An Extended Deal

Dory wanted to frown but calmed himself. He was expecting to end with millions from using the five usages, but it seems the five usages were a gift from awakening the system and he had only one usage left.

’Maybe if I rank up, I’ll come back to the five usages.’

Ranking up in the sense that he had to move from F to E; furthermore, if that was the case, then he shouldn’t be expecting millions from the multiplier anytime soon.

’Three thousand, six hundred and fifty coppers isn’t a bad start either.’ He grinned and wore the tunic Liam had placed on the bed while he was bathing.

’I wonder how they have my exact size. Hey, maybe I should get Maya a dress? Sounds swell. But I really don’t want to spend lavishly. What are you saying, Dory? This is loveee. Argh, okay, okay, I’ll use Service Points to find a fashion-making related package.’

He left the room, the smile never fading from his face.

Dory stepped into the main room, the warmth of the hearth and the heavy, salty aroma of roasted pork wrapping around him like a blanket. Horg was already mid-swing with a heavy iron knife, carving thick, steaming slabs of pig onto wooden trenchers.

"Sit! Sit before Liam inhales the whole leg!" Horg shouted, his face still a celebratory shade of red.

Liam didn’t even look up; he was busy gnawing on a crackling rib, his eyes shut in pure bliss. Dory slid onto the bench next to him, and Horg immediately thudded a plate in front of him, piled high with meat, roasted roots, and a dollop of sharp mustard.

"Eat," Horg commanded, leaning back with a groan of satisfaction. "Today, we eat like the Baron himself. No, better. The Baron has to worry about his borders. We only have to worry about how much iron we can hammer out by sunrise."

Dory took a bite, the fat melting on his tongue. It was a far cry from the dry bread and watered-down pottage he had been eating since he got to this world.

’Well, this makes it three days of good food.’

"Master Horg," Dory said between mouthfuls, "the pig is excellent. But we need to talk about the neighbors. That pile of copper on the mat is enough to make a saint turn thief."

Horg’s laughter died down into a low rumble. He took a long pull from his cider mug, wiping foam from his mustache. "I know. I saw Old Man Gurney peeking through the shutters when you boys rolled the cart in. He’s got a nose for coin, that one."

"Then we make him a partner in our peace," Dory replied calmly. "Tomorrow, take a portion of that. Go to the village council. Tell them the Eagle Workings had a blessed day and we want to sponsor the new well repairs. Give the rest to the church or the tax fund. Let the whole village see you being ’generous’ with your luck. It’s harder to rob a man when you’re drinking the water he paid for."

Horg stared at Dory for a long moment, then let out a sharp bark of a laugh. "You’ve got a head for more than just prices, don’t you? Fine. I’ll play the big-hearted smith tomorrow. It’ll be a nice change from being the ’grumpy hermit at the edge of town’."

Liam finally came up for air, wiping grease from his chin with his sleeve. "Does this mean I get to buy that new whetstone I wanted? The one from the city?"

"Buy two," Dory said, nudging him. "And Liam, tomorrow after the chores, I need you to show me where the seamstress lives. The one who does the fine embroidery for the Chief’s wife."

Liam paused, a mischievous glint entering his eyes. "The seamstress? For a dress, I bet? Is this for a certain girl with yellow ribbons in her hair?"

Horg let out a booming laugh, slapping the table so hard the mugs danced. "Aha! So that’s where his mind is! The boy makes a fortune and the first thing he wants to do is drape it over a girl. Good! A man needs a reason to keep his pockets full."

Dory just smiled into his cider, letting them tease him. Behind his glasses, his eyes flickered toward the corner of his vision where the system menu was still glowing, waiting for him to browse the fashion and craftsmanship packages.

"I just think she’d look good in something that isn’t patched wool," Dory said simply. "Call it an investment in... goodwill."

"Investment, he says!" Horg roared, reaching for the cider jug. "Pass your mugs, boys. Tonight we celebrate. Tomorrow, we build an empire."

"I can’t... eat anymore," Liam muttered in his sleep. He was laid back on the floor, his stomach looking like it would burst at any second.

Horg cleared the table and came back, sitting in front of Dory, ready to hear today’s gist.

Dory, who was lost in searching for a package, immediately flinched and regained composure, dismissing the system.

"So Dory..." He pushed a large amount of coins to him. "Here’s your remaining pay."

Dory stared at it for a while before pushing it back. "Keep it. No, don’t get the wrong idea. I’ll still collect my pay, but not now. We still have a lot to do. I would love to extend the contract. In fact, I’ve extended it!"

Horg raised an eyebrow. "What is that supposed to mean?"

Dory yawned. "Yes, we sold a few ingots separately, but do you know who the desperate customer was? An armor forger from Valerius. Turns out he was the one who was awarded a contract by the military of Valerius."

Horg was about to faint, but Dory wasn’t done.

"He should be visiting in two days’ time to finalize a deal. I guess he loves good iron. Well, that’s normal since he would want to offer the best to the military so as to gain another contract."

Dory yawned again. "Well, that’s that. I’ll go get some shut-eye now."

As he was about to stand up, Horg swayed before eventually falling to the ground and fainting.

"Eh? Horg?"