The main difference between Midas and Hamlet was the terrain. Midas was a series of mountains and valleys, with many more streams and lakes along the way. The main problem for Midas was agriculture, and the main problem for Hamlet was metal. So there was a strong bond of trade, metal for food. And skills one way or another. They both had place for both, but the balance towards one and the other was clear.

There were many more forge towns on this side of the border. As well as shepherds for goats and sheep rather than grains, and fruits. Joshua had suggested to Carl an idea of a refrigeration, with magic filling the building. Bring down the temperature. This means the fruit would fresher further and longer. Apparently inside the cave system the goblins had similar rooms to keep food longer. But the process worked for fruits as well.

And that was the money maker in the end, the big haul of fresher fruit safe from all the handling of travel, and then easy to move a major heavy weight of a lot of metal. You couldn't just load up a cart with metal ore and expect a horse to pull it like it was fruit. Physics doesn't allow it.

It was beautiful though, the peaks and valleys, even if the movement was rough. They had broken a wheel on the trip to the next town and had to stop. Jerry had a replacement but they took the rest of the day off, and were delayed.

Their carriage arrived like any other, they had more guards then before as the force also wanted to escort them, and it would make some interactions easier.

The first town still seemed to be a normal trade town, many people may have not wanted to do business right at the border, there were large fields and hills before the range of mountains started taking more of the land. The land was more slanted everywhere.

The town had a lot of meat around, butchers and wholesalers. This would be something the goblins would enjoy. He had to think about expanding his hiring to add flocks of lambs and their shepherds if possible. That might be difficult, the Shepard seems a little bit in their ways.

But Carl took them to the best leg of lamb he'd ever tasted. And lamb was a rarity in his life. It was delicious as always. He felt weird they were now guarded for these diners now. It was hard for Kurt to not get noticed anymore and go into a crowd.

So when he was going back home and there was a woman about five years older than him, blonde hair in a ponytail wearing some glasses, looking at the gate he was surprised to see her.

"Ohh, I'm sorry, I just, it's so weird right?" said the woman.

"Yeah, you get used to it?"

"Ohh you're one of the guys that stay over there?"

"I guess you could say that."

"Must be nice, I mean living in a new world, seeing new places, even having to move all that freight," the woman looked at Kurt, "I guess that's how you get a build like that," she said, straightening her glasses. "The name's Betsy by the way." Giving out a hand.

"Nice to meet you. What do you do here?" Shaking her hand in greeting.

"Ohh nothing special, mostly paper work. I'm the manager's assistant.," she sighed.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing," she looked around, " it's just I should have been the manager, Stacy competent, but some of it will go to her head. Just better looking in the end." Betsy looked down at her small breasts and sighed.

"Ohh," said Kurt, "so mostly just numbers."

"Yeah, keep track of this, how much that costs, a lot of math. I don't want to bore you. But things wouldn't run right without someone like me."

"Ohh I get it, people mistake prices and how many people are around."

"Yeah you get it, try talking to a worker your boss forgot about that week. Like I didn't do it."

"Why don't you tell me more about it," said Kurt gesturing to go through the gate.

"You mean like over there? I don't think I have permission. The guards and those goblins, I'm just an office worker, I just have to know about it because well, numbers you know, this is something I'd find out about."

"Trust me it will be fine," said Kurt.

"Well I always wanted to, you sure you can just bring some girl back with me. Not that I'm like that mind you, but if that is the part to play…well…just pretend," she looked Kurt up and down, "your not my type anyway."

"Good. So let's go. And you don't have to do any of that."

They walked through the gate, and Kurt signaled Joshua to do the translation spell for her.

"Thank you very much Mr. Goblin sir," said Betsy.

"You're welcome. You can call me Joshua," he said.

"Ohh, that's going to take a bit to get used to," the translation spells worked over top of what was being said and can be a little weird the first few times, "but yes, Thank you. Joshua, I'm Betsy," and Joshua bowed to them both. "Ohh can I see the warehouses?"

"Sure," said Kurt.

Betsy had looked at the warehouses and took out a little notebook and made notes. She seemed to think something was a little off. But had found a few things eventually.

"It's mostly okay, there are always some mistakes. Better ways but I don't know everything happening."

"Come all the way to another world to see a safe house?"

"Well, it's not like the whole place is available. Man imagined living in that pillar, the waterfall and everything. It must be beautiful," said Betsy. "I'm sorry I never got your name."

"Don't worry about that now, so you wanna see it."

"What the waterfall? Yes please. But don't be getting any ideas mister. I won't fall for that nonsense. I took you to the beautiful water fall now come to my room, I don't think so."

"I'm engaged."

"Good."

As they walked to the pillar they had talked more about Betsy's job and how much she did. Betsy kept trying to get Kurt change the subject thinking it was rude to talk so much about work. And they made their way into the pillar. And without knowing it they had reached the top.

"Are you sure this is okay? I don't want to get fired."

"Of course," said Kurt pointing at his house, "see that."

"Yeah."

"That's my house."

"But that would mean your," she pointed at him, " your…your…"

"Yes."

"I didn't mean to say that about my boss, please don't tell her. I'm fired, aren't I." She started pacing, "I'm not going to go to the love den."

"Love den?"

"Ohh my gods," said Betsy, "I said that out loud, stupid, stupid."

"Stop, stop, I'm not here to take advantage of you?"

"Then why bring a nobody like me? Here?"

"Because I need some help?"

"Help with what?"

"Bookkeeping."

"Are you trying to hire me?" Betsy said with a strange glance.

"Yes."

"What do you mean?"

"Well it would involve living here." Betsy turned towards Kurt's house. "No not like that I mean, like on this side of the gate. We have room, we can make something for you actually."

Betsy took a hand to her chest, "ohh thanks the gods, I thought I was in so much trouble."

"I was hoping the opposite, the problem is, there is really no way to do it unless you live here, again on this side of the gate, not in my house. We travel a lot."

"So what kind of bookkeeping?"

"Like all of it."

"All of it?"

"I need someone I can trust, knows what they are doing, and can trust with money," said Kurt, "and let's face it, you're not going to steal from me." Betsy shook her head, saying no never.

"So, what's they pay?"

"Okay that," said Kurt running the back of his head, " might take a bit of going in the house. Because…I'm not sure."

"Have you been just keeping your money under your mattress?"

"Well…not the mattress…exactly. I have a room, it's a big house," Kurt waved his hand at his large house, "look at it."

Betsy started laughing. And looked at him. "I mean I'm contracted to the Montgomery Company, I'd have to…"

"Don't worry about that you can start today."

"But…"

"Carl will do what I say," said Kurt.

"Master master!!" said Harvey. Betsy screamed in terror.

"Ohh this Harvey, and Harvey this is Betsy."

"Betsy…Betsy."

"Which one is Harvey?" said Betsy looking at the three heads.

"Ohh they mostly share a consciousness. They are all Harvey. He's friendly, right Harvey? Be nice to miss Betsy for me, okay."

"Kay master, Harvey, protect pretty human lady."

"Pretty," one of the heads came closer to Betsy, "um can I pet you?"

"Go ahead," said Kurt. And Betsy had one of Harvey heard purring, as much as Harvey could, from her strokes.

"Awww," said Betsy, "when like this he is not very scary at all." She rubbed Harvey's forehead and he smiled about it.

"So I expect a substantial salary. And bonuses."

"Listen, the more I make the more you can make."

"I'm going to need a bit, but I'm not opposed to the idea. Who would I report to?"

"Me."

"Okay, and who do I ask about where I'm staying?"

"Where do you want to stay?"

"It's like that?"

"Sure."

Betsy, rubbed her chin a bit. "So you're saying I'm like the manager on this side?"

"Whatever title you want!"

"Title, my lord" she smiled up. Kurt recognized this look from, now, Dutchess Sara.

"The office manager is fine."

"Okay, but we will have to tell Carl and my boss."

"You don't have anyone you want to bring?"

"My cat? Is that okay?"

"Harvey, don't eat Betsy's cat," said Kurt. And Betsy stared at Harvey.

"What's a cat?" said Harvey, "I can protect the cat, where is the cat?."

"You might want to make a room, you can take one of the rooms in the pillar, but we will be in town for a while, so there is no rush."

"It would probably be best if I was near the warehouses, could we make a normal office there? Main office, can I have the upstairs room?"

"That's fine, I can show you how to make that work, it will take time."

"Of course. I would want to be involved in that."

Kurt felt good about Betsy. She seemed like a workaholic, the exact kind of person he needed. And helpless enough to know stealing would be a worse situation for her. Plus she seemed to have the head for numbers he needed.

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