Dimensional Supermarket - Chapter 93

Kurt runs three horses to death before he finally devises a plan to persuade Claire to return.

However, before Kurt can do anything, Claire is killed in a bloody clash between nobles on the way back to the city.

Although it’s common for nobles from two territories to clash over water sources and other reasons, it’s rare for anyone to actually die in such a fight. Slaves’ fates are disregarded, and no one expects Claire to be so unlucky. He isn’t even involved in the battle, but a stone flying through the air strikes him in the head.

No one knows which strongman throws the stone, but it strikes Claire first before hitting anyone else.

Claire dies quickly, leaving no last words behind.

After confirming Claire’s death, Kurt couldn’t care less about the aftermath. He says a few perfunctory words to the captain of the knights and rides off.

He never actually intends to go to Claire’s territory.

Now that Claire is dead, his many sons will fight for inheritance.

After all, he has many illegitimate children.

But Claire’s death is too quick, so bizarre and convenient that Kurt can’t help but wonder if it’s the Moon God’s doing.

Claire only returns because of the issue of succession—Kurt advises him to go back and settle the matter. After all, Kurt plans to stay long-term in Ryan’s domain, and although Kane is nominally the lord, Claire is the de facto ruler.

It makes sense, and Claire quickly agrees—he has six sons, not counting the illegitimate ones.

Though the inheritance system favors the eldest son, Claire doesn’t like his eldest. He thinks his eldest is a fool, ruined by too much reading.

In contrast, Claire favors his youngest son, who has never done any serious work. The youngest loves hunting, especially hunting young slaves. It’s challenging, but he always succeeds, making the slaves “high-quality prey.”

Claire believes his youngest son is braver than the eldest and has the potential to make the family more glorious.

So Claire quickly orders the knights to prepare and sets off immediately.

Although the eldest and youngest sons are both legitimate, if Claire wants to promote the youngest, he has to find a way to remove the eldest son.

Toward his sons, aside from the youngest, Claire has no paternal affection.

Only the youngest has been barely raised by him. The first five sons are like sheep on the prairie—left to roam free.

Kurt considers himself a fraud, but even so, Claire’s complete indifference toward his own sons is something he has never encountered before.

When Claire falls off his horse and dies without a word, Kurt even thinks it might be the Moon God’s doing.

The knights carry Claire’s body back. The weather is hot, and the knights suffer greatly during the journey. The smell of decay lingers with them as they transport the body.

Kurt continues his journey and, after nearly a month, finally returns to Ryan’s territory. By the time he arrives, he looks no different than a beggar. His hair and beard have grown back black, as he has no time to bleach or dye them.

So when Kane sees him, he doesn’t recognize the thin, middle-aged man standing before him.

“Lord Moon God left?” Kurt asks, his eyes widening. He walks toward Kane and grabs his wrist with all his strength, but then remembers Kane’s identity as a divine messenger and doesn’t dare to be too rude. “When will Lord Moon God return?”

He thinks he has simply missed a visit from the Moon God.

Kane shakes his head slightly. “I don’t know.”

Before leaving, the Moon God tells him that if he can’t lie well, then he shouldn’t lie at all.

There are two prerequisites for lying: one is that you must not be exposed, and the other is that you must not fear exposure if it happens. If you can’t satisfy either of these, then you should tell the truth.

Kurt doesn’t look at the village that appears at the top of the mountain, nor does he glance at the supermarket, which is a towering presence in the distance. His mind is consumed with what he should do now that the Moon God has departed.

He can’t farm or work. He has spent half his life as a conman. Asking him to support himself through hard labor is like asking a porcupine to mimic a lion—something he will never do.

He knows how to deceive people, but not how to work.

Kane watches him calmly. Behind him, a vast stretch of farmland unfolds, where farmers bend low to toil in the earth.

“Lord Moon God has told me about your arrangement,” Kane says, breaking the silence.

Kurt regains some of his composure and backbone. He releases Kane’s arm and bows his head respectfully again.

Kane continues, “You can stay here, but you must live like them. You must step into the land, grow food with your own hands, and devote your life to the Moon God. After you die, Lord Moon God will personally take you to the temple.”

Kurt’s gaze lifts, his eyes wide with astonishment.

Kane looks at the horizon, where his god resides. He stares at the clouds that obscure the sunlight, his expression nostalgic. “Lord Moon God wishes to see a new world. One day, He will see it.”

Kurt opens his mouth several times, but this is the will of Lord Moon God, so he can only close it again, bowing his head in resignation.

Kane adds, “If you wish to leave, I won’t stop you. You are free to go at any time.”

But Kurt doesn’t ask to leave, as Kane expects.

Kurt only speaks, calmly, “I will obey the will of Lord Moon God.”

Though he has never worked a day in his life and has no desire to, the idea that Lord Moon God will personally escort him to the temple after his death is far too tempting to ignore.

Before he comes here, he has never found a place where he can settle for long. Instead of wandering, relying on luck to deceive the nobles, it seems better to stay here.

Changing his way of life might not be such a bad thing.

Kane smiles. “Go take a bath and rest for a couple of days. We’ll build a waterwheel soon so we don’t have to carry water to irrigate the farmland anymore.”

After Kurt leaves, Kane reflects on the Moon God’s true purpose for him.

The Moon God tells him that Kurt is a useful man, very useful indeed. Smart, though misusing his talents, and lacking any moral compass. But if given a task he thinks will benefit him, Kurt will carry it out without hesitation—even if it means harming others.

Such a person can be of great value.

But if the day comes when Kurt’s harm outweighs his usefulness…

Kane draws a deep breath.

He can’t disappoint the Moon God, and he can’t allow these civilians to become slaves again. No matter how difficult the path, it is one Kane will walk until the end of his days.

Later, after leaving instructions for Kane, Ye Zhou takes Zou Ming and the others back to the supermarket.

In addition to the cash register, there is an intercom that can directly connect to Ye Zhou. Like the cash register, the intercom is powered by light, whether sunlight or firelight, and can be used as long as there is light.

The guns and ammunition are also handed over to Kane. Ye Zhou teaches Kane how to use them, though whether Kane can master them depends on his talent and how much time he is willing to dedicate to practice.

“You didn’t hire any employees here?” Sarah asks Ye Zhou on the way. “Don’t you feel bad for them?”

Ye Zhou looks puzzled. When had he ever hired someone out of pity?

He can only reply, “I think the current staff is enough. And even if more are needed, hiring people here would be a hassle. Though Cao’er and the others are illiterate, at least their culture is similar to my original world, so communication is simple. It’s completely different here. Besides, if I need a European face, you’re enough.”

Sarah immediately smiles. “Yes, I’m enough.” She glances at Zou Ming and notices his lack of reaction, so she emphasizes again, “I’m enough.”

This time, Zou Ming does react, though not in the way Sarah expects. He glances at her and smiles, a rare expression for him. But the smile is so sarcastic in her eyes that she wants to pounce on him and bite him to death.

But she holds herself back. She knows that even if she tries, the chances of actually biting him to death are slim.

Ye Zhou interrupts, “I’m going to go to Chen State in the next plane.”

The two planes they’ve encountered this time are Chen State and the Cobul Empire.

Along with a name, the system provides Ye Zhou with two texts, giving him a general understanding of the destination before making the time-space jump.

Ye Zhou is almost moved. After all, the system has oppressed him for so long that he now considers any small piece of information a great favor.

The era of Chen State is similar to the Warring States period. It was one of the weakest vassal states. Its first marquis—the ruler—had once been the king’s horsekeeper. When the king successfully founded a nation, the horsekeeper received a small territory and became a marquis.

Chen State isn’t poor; in fact, it’s quite rich, ranking in the top three among the vassal states. It’s an agricultural state, with 96% of the population working the land.

However, despite its wealth, Chen State is small and lacks military power. It can’t compete with the larger nations in manpower or combat strength.

Thus, it survives by flattering the bigger states and giving food to anyone who asks.

In short, Chen State is rich, but also poor.

Ye Zhou doesn’t want to go to Chen State, fearing it might be attacked if he does. But after reading about the Cobul Empire, he quickly decides on Chen State.

The Cobul Empire, or the Cobul Sakala Wenli Elf Empire, is similar to the Middle Ages and has magic, a subject Ye Zhou has always been curious about. But the empire is at war—specifically, fighting against wizards.

Ye Zhou spent one second weighing the pros and cons, then decided—better to go to the one that might soon get hit.

At least the war hadn’t started yet.

At least there, he will be safe, for now.