Chapter 6 – The Mining Town Part II

Yoki sat at one end of a long table while Gilbert sat at the other with a plate of food in front of him.

"There's no need to stand on ceremony, eat, eat!" Yoki said.

"You seem to eat very well," Gilbert noted. "Although the town as a whole seems less fortunate."

"Well, I'm embarrassed to say that it takes us a long time to collect taxes. Plus there are many thugs like the ones you saw earlier … aha ha, ha. It's all very embarrassing."

"The people pay you taxes because you own the rights to this place – that's how it works, isn't it?" Gilbert asked eating."

"Absolutely. You see matters rather clearly, Sir Gilbert."

"Of course. It's the same as Alchemy. The way of this world is Equivalent Exchange. You can't have rights without civic duty."

"True, true," Yoki nodded. "Yes, well spoken. So that means you'll accept this as the way of this world …?" Yoki rang a bell and a man in a military uniform came in with a small bag on a cushion. "Sir Gilbert, as a State Alchemist I must imagine you must have some influence with those higher up. Please accept a token of my gratitude …"

"This is …" Gilbert picked up the bag, which had what sounded like coins in it. "… What some would call a bribe is it not?" He asked, almost looking bored.

"It's gratitude," Yoki replied. "I don't want to spend the rest of my life as a petty official in this country town. I'm sure we understand each other."

XXX

"Well then … Please have a good night's sleep," Yoki said to the albino.

"Thank you."

As the Alchemist was about to turn the corner a soldier walked over to Yoki, "Lieutenant Yoki … this isn't the first time we've have problems with Halling's Inn. Every night there's a bunch of loudmouths there, talking about stirring up trouble."

"Hmph. They've always been rather rebellious haven't they? What a bother …" Yoki said. "Burn it down."

Gilbert glanced backwards as he was led down the hall as though he had heard those very words.

XXX

A group of miners and the brothers stood outside the remains of Halling's Inn.

"How awful," a miner commented. "Last night I saw some of Yoki's underlings hanging out around the inn."

Halling stood next to his kneeling wife who was clutching the sign of the destroyed inn.

"Dammit … what a dirty thing to do …" The brothers turned to Khayal who sat near them. "… The reason dad tried to learn alchemy was because he wanted to save this town." He turned to Gilbert. "Hey, Gil. You're good enough to create gold, right? Can't you just whip up some gold to help my dad … and this town …!"

"No."

"Come on …" Khayal said. "… It's not like it's going to cost you anything!"

"The Foundation of Alchemy is Equivalent Exchange. Why should I give you free money?"

"Why you …" Khayal stood up and grabbed Gilbert's lapels. "You scumbag! You call yourself an alchemist?"

"'Alchemists work for the people' … right?" Gilbert asked shoved Khayal's hand off his lapels. "If I have you money now, it'd just end up as taxes in Yoki's vault. I don't feel like being used by all of you just to get by," he fixed his red coat. "If you're that desperate, then leave town and find another job."

"Kid, I know you can't understand," Halling said, ruffling his son's hair, "but the mines are our homes … and our graves."

Gilbert paused as he walked away before continuing his walk.

XXX

"Hey, big bruder! Hold on!" Ludwig ran to catch up with his brother who stood in front of a cart. "Are you really going to abandon these people?"

"West. How much clum do you think is here?"

Ludwig looked at the cart. "One ton … maybe two tons?"

Gilbert then started to climb up into the cart.

"Okay. I'm going to do something slightly illegal now so you just the other way for a second."

"… You want me to be an accomplice?" Ludwig asked.

"What, you won't?" Gilbert asked, clapping his hands.

"You're gonna do it even if I say no, right?"

Gilbert then started transmutating the clum.

"Aaah, if we don't get caught, we won't get caught."

"Aren't you supposed to set an example for me …?"

XXX

Yoki was much more than surprised and speechless when Gilbert had returned to his house, this time with his brother and many solid bricks of pure gold.

"Now … I'd like you to sell me the rights to the coal mines," the albino had asked.

"Is this real gold?" one soldier asked.

"It's not enough?" Gilbert asked turning to Yoki.

"P-P-Please don't be absurd!" Yoki said. "With this much gold I can say good bye to his miserable post …" 'and I'll bribe the higher-ranking officials at Central, and then …' he added in his head. "And also … um … if you don't mind …" Yoki added.

"Oh yes!" Gilbert said grinning. "Of course I'll put in a good word to my superiors."

"Oh, thank you, thank you! My dear alchemist!" Yoki said shaking Gilbert's normal hand.

"But making gold is illegal so … in order not to get caught, I would appreciate it if you would write a document saying 'the rights were peacefully transferred free of charge' …"

"Oh, I wouldn't mind at all! Well then, let's do the paperwork right away," Yoki agreed. "My, you really are a sly one, Mr. Alchemist, sir!"

"No, no, not compared to you lieutenant!" Gilbert agreed, smirking.

'Seems like they're enjoying it,' thought Ludwig who had been silently watching his brother and the lieutenant unnoticed.

XXX

"Why not, dad!" Khayal asked, slamming his fist onto a barrel. "Why can't we do it?"

"Because I said so," Halling said. "I won't allow a raid!"

"Even if you're against it, Chief, I'm still going," a miner said.

"Yeah, I've had enough," a woman agreed.

"Even if we fail, I'm gonna punch that rotten Yoki in the face at least once!" A second man said.

"No!" Halling yelled. "I can't allow all of you to become criminals!"

"But …!" Khayal started.

"Hi everybody!" An extremely cheerful Gilbert came through the door with his armored brother not far behind. "What a lot of gloomy faces! You're looking cheerful today!"

Everyone other than the brothers suddenly became even unhappier for some strange reason.

"… What are you doing here?" Khayal asked.

"Hey, hey. Should you be speaking like that to the new proprietor of this joint?" Gilbert asked.

"What the hell are y …?" The man was cut off by Gilbert shoving a bunch of papers into his face. "What's this …?"

"Ownership papers. They confer on the holder the rights to mining, sales, distribution, and all subsidiary businesses in this town," a smug Gilbert said.

"How did you get this …? Hey! And it says it's been signed over to Gilbert Beilschmidt!"

"What!"

"Correct," Gilbert said. "So from this moment on … this coal mine belongs to me!"

"No way!"

"Believe it. But we're just a couple of vagabonds going from place to place," Gilbert explained.

"These documents will just be in our way," Ludwig continued his brother's thought. "So …"

"You want to sell it to us?" Halling asked "How much?"

"What …?" Gilbert asked smirking. "Afraid you can't afford it? If you want something, you have to pay the price. After all, the deed is printed on high quality goatskin parchment, stamped with a gold seal. Not only that, but in a spectacular feat of craftsmanship, the deposit box is inlaid with powered jade. Hmm … this is the work of a true artist. And hey! The key is made of real silver!

"Well this is just a layman's opinion … but taking all of this into account," Gilbert said putting the papers on a barrel. "… How about the price of one night's stay and two meals for two at your place? Would that be fair, Chief?"

"Oh, the Equivalent Exchange," Khayal said. Halling laughed, slapping his hands over his eyes.

"You're right, that is expensive! I'll buy it!"

"Sold!" Gilbert said, slamming his hand on the barrel.

At that very moment Yoki came in with two underlings and holding a handful of rocks.

"Mr. Alchemist, sir, what is the meaning of this!" He half yelled, half asked.

"Well, well, lieutenant, I just sold the deed to the mine to the chief here."

"Whaaat!" Yoki felt his jaw drop but recovered. "No, but that's not what I'm here for! The gold bars you gave me have all turned to rock! Can you please explain that!"

"… When did you change it back?" Ludwig whispered to his brother who had a devious look on his face.

"Right before I left," he replied in a whispered before stating loudly, "I don't know anything about any 'Gold Bars'."

"Please don't act dumb! We exchanged the pile of gold for the ownership documents. This is fraud!"

"Huh? The deed was given to me free of charge. See, you signed it!" He pointed at a spot on the paper. "It says so right here."

"This deal is null and void! You two!" He pointed at his guards. "Take those documents from them now! Huh?"

A heavily muscled miner stood in front of the three soldiers.

"It's not right to try and take someone's property by force."

"Abusing your power, eh?" Another added.

"Sh-shut up! Out of my way, scum! If you don't want to get hurt you better …" Yoki stopped when he saw the amount of miners in front of him.

"Lieutenant … it's not good to underestimate the strength of Coal-Miners."

Yoki watched as his guards were knocked unconscious.

"Oh, Lieutenant …?" Gilbert asked. "I'll be sure to tell the higher-ups about your corruption and incompetence too. So please look forward to it," the teenager had an innocent grin on his face as Yoki fell to his knees in despair.

"All Raaiight!" A miner yelled.

"We did it! Bring out the booze!" All of the miners were yelling and celebrating.

"Dad …" Khayal started. "Gil hadn't sold his soul after all."

"Yeah, I guess your right," Halling said, looking down at his son before turning to Gilbert who was being harassed by the Miners to drink the booze.

"Drink up! You'll never get big unless you drink!"

"Don't give alcohol to minors!" Personally Gilbert would love to drink the booze, but it was his brother who forced him not to, saying that it would be unfair if Gilbert got to drink and not him and the added rule that it was illegal to drink if you're not of age.

"What! When I was your age!"

XXX

"I can't eat another bite," Gilbert moaned, lying on his back on the floor. Almost everyone one had passed out. The only ones were the people who hadn't drunk (mostly women) and Ludwig.

"You're sleeping with your stomach out again!" Ludwig said. "Mein Gott, East! You're so sloppy!"

To Be Continued …

Just a small note; while everyone calls Gilbert 'Gil', Ludwig calls him 'East' because it makes more sense for him to call his brother that if Gilbert calls him 'West.'

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