The waiting room in Pi?ata Central was brightly decorated and well furnished with comfortable, quality furniture. I’d checked in with the receptionist, a nice old woman garbed in a brightly colored dress decorated with triangles, squares, and swirls before sitting down in one of the chairs. I was re-reading the flyer, trying to memorize everything written on the parchment when the sound of a door opening caught my attention and prompted me to look up and witness the man who opened the door. He was a very green colored man, with green clothes and hair, red-brown eyes, a purple tie, and a long pointed nose. His appearance was strangely froggy overall but the man himself wasn’t offensive to the eye, unlike the pink-obsessed woman I’d purchased my boat ticket from on the mainland.
“Good morning. Can I help you young man?” I nod and stand up, folding up the flyer and putting it in a pocket.
”I’d like to think so. My name is Cephas. I arrived on the island today and I’m looking to become a gardener. I was told that in order to register I needed to sign up with Pinata Central.” The froggy man gave a wide smile at that.
”Then you came to the right place! I’m Langston Linkavoad, chief pi?ata wrangler and official representative for Pinata Central.” He stuck out his hand for a shake. “I can help you get set up if you have time. My first scheduled appointment isn’t until after lunch and I’m always happy to help out a new arrival.” I took his hand and shook it with a firm grip, just like my father had taught me.
”I appreciate the help Mr. Linkavoad.” The froggy man released my hand and stepped to the side, motioning for me to enter through the door.
”Please, Cephas, call me Langston.” I nod as Langston leads me through the hallway, making several turns before motioning toward an arch on the right. “My office is just through here.” He opens up the door at the end of the hall and reveals a sparsely furnished but well decorated corner office. “Please,” he speaks while closing the door behind us. “Take a seat and we’ll get started.” I sat down in one of the stairs while Langston sat behind the desk and booted up his computer.
”So,” He began. “You wish to register as a Gardener, correct?” I nodded. “Splendid. Now, how familiar are you with the job?” You wiggled your hand back and forth.
”Not as much as I’d like. I originally bought my ticket to come here expecting to work as a helper for sometime until I did a little more research while on the boat. From my understanding, gardeners grow flowers, various kinds of produce, such as fruit, vegetables, milk, and honey, but they’re primary job is providing Pinata Central with pi?ata’s for parties. I became more interested in the position when I found out Pinata Central can loan a new gardener land at a reduced price in exchange for regular payment.” Langston nodded.
“That’s about all you really need to know as a new gardener. There’s more to the job obviously, but most learn that kind of knowledge while actually working on the job.” Langston reached down and opened up a draw before pulling out a packet of paper. “Now, actually registering as a gardener is extremely simple as it’s only a matter of a registration fee and some signatures. Getting a land loan used to be a lot more complex but it’s simplified recently thanks to some internal reviews and reforms.” He glances up as he continues to prep the form. “How many cacao coins were you planning on putting down for your deposit?”
”Originally I was willing to put down one thousand Cacao coins-” Langston stopped writing and looked up at me with a troubled look on his face.
”One thousand? That’s… I’ll be honest with you Cephas, that’s not a lot for a deposit. You're not gonna be able to loan a good piece of land and with favorable rates for that. For only 1000 cacao coins, you’re gonna have to pick between one or the other.” I smiled at the concern he showed.
”Don’t worry, that was originally. I don’t think I actually need to apply for a land loan now. After I arrived on the island I found a piece of land that I’m interested in for sale by the owner.” I pulled out the flyer and put it on the table. “Here’s the flyer I found. It was hidden behind several others so I’m hopeful no one’s bought the land yet.” Langston stared at the flyer for a minute or so, his face twisting through various complicated expressions before he pushed the flyer back toward me and looked up with an uncomfortable expression on his face.
You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.
”I… cannot in good conscience recommend this plot of land. I would recommend selecting one of our loan properties and placing a deposit down on one of them instead.” I raised an eyebrow at the comment.
”Why? Is the garden land truly that bad?”
”Well, no. It’s definitely not in good shape but it’s not unfixable…”
”Is the land in a bad location?”
”No, the opposite really, the garden is on a prime piece of property…”
“Do the sellers have a terrible reputation or are known crooks or something’s?” Langston looked positively offended at the question.
”Absolutely not! The Huerta’s may be suffering from hard times but they’re one of the most well respected and honorable families on the island! To accuse them, of all people, of cheating or dishonesty…” He scoffed at the very idea.
”Then why are you telling me not to buy their property?” Langston’s face immediately took on a ‘deer in the headlights’ look as he realized he’d just undermined his own argument. The look faded as a tired one replaced it and he sighed in exasperation.
”…Fine. I’ll give you four real reasons not to buy the property. Number one,” He held out one finger. “The property was originally advertised as for rent for one year, where its cost steadily decreased each month, before the listing was changed to for sale with a starting price of 50,000 cacao coins and some strict stipulations, which steadily decreased to the current price of 500 cacao coins and the extremely lax stipulation it’s currently advertising.” He holds up a second finger. “Number two. In the two years the property has been up for rent and sale, there has not been a single inquiry from any of the island residents, new gardeners included, about purchasing the property.” He holds up a third finger. “Number three. Professor Lester, the richest man on the island and owner of ‘Professor Lesters Perfect Plantations,’ has made a public statement that he is interested in purchasing the Huerta property and has given them a static, standing offer that is, in his own words, extremely generous.” He holds up a fourth finger. “Finally, number four. According to another statement he has given, the Huerta family have not attempted to contact Prof. Lester to accept his offer, despite the current asking price of their land.” I raised an eyebrow at the list of reasons Langston had just given to not buy the Huerta land, and I had to admit, they weren’t insignificant ones. I looked down to stare at the flyer as I thought.
For such land to go not only unpurchased for so long, but for there to not be a single offer over the two years the property had been advertised stank of behind-the-scenes events that I didn’t have context or knowledge of. The fact that the Huerta’s hadn’t taken Lesters ‘generous’ offer told me that there was either significant bad blood between the Huertas and Lesters, the offer was somehow even less than 500 cacao coins. Honestly, it could even be a combination of both. Still, this left me in a bit of a pickle. On one hand, I could purchase the property, most likely directly snubbing the richest man on the island in the process, or I could choose a different plot of land, place myself into debt in the process, and leave the Huertas to their fate. I looked up at Langston with a smile on my face. “Thank you for the information Langston. I appreciate your warning, it has certainly helped me make my final decision.” Langstons face softened into one of relief.
”I’m happy to hear that Cephas. Now, let’s start looking at-“ I placed my hand on the flyer and pushed it forward, causing Langston to look down at it and stop speaking.
”I wish to purchase the Huerta’s land.” The froggy man looked between me and the flyer several times before speaking up.
”You know the land is in extremely poor shape?”
”Given the size and price, I figured.”
”You know this will cause tension between you and Lester once he finds out?”
”Yep.”
”You know this will place you at a starting point even lower than other gardeners?”
”Sounds about right.”
”And yet you want to purchase it anyway?”
”Absolutely.” Langstons dumbfounded face stared into my confident one for a minute or so before he shook his head in defeat.
”Alright then, if you insist. I’ll call Leafos and let her know the land has a buyer.” I raised an eyebrow at that.
”Leafos?” Langston nodded.
”The Huerta family member who’s been trying to sell the land. She’s had to step up and take over for her father and elder brother since the Huerta’s started going through their hard times.” He finished putting in the phone number and waited for a few seconds before speaking. “Leafos? It’s Langston. No, no, I’m actually calling with good news this time. I’m registering a new arrival to the island as a gardener right now and he’s interested in buying your land. No, he has no connections to Lester, he arrived this morning. He knows the basics but is a clean slate when it comes to actually gardening skill. Look, Leafos, I know its not ideal, but not only has no one else showed an interest, but he’s been insistent to buy the land. Ok. Ok, I’ll tell him. Alright, good-bye.” Langston hangs up before focusing on me once more.
”Alright then. She’s not exactly thrilled that the land will be sold, but considering the circumstances, it’s understandable. Now, she told me to tell you to come over as soon as we were finished here so you could look at the land and get started.” Langston signed a few places on the contract before turning it around and giving it to you. “Once you’re done filling this out, I’ll finish my section and get the final approvals. After that, you can be on your way.” Filling out the paperwork took another half-hour, but once it was done, I was officially registered as a Novice Gardener.
”Thanks for all the help Langston.” I held out my hand to shake. “I appreciate it.” Langston reached forward and grasped my hand with a firm grip.
”My pleasure Cephas. I wish you the best of luck.” I try to pull away only for Langston to tighten his grip. “But before you go, there is one last thing I want to tell you. Leafos has been working very long and very hard hours for a long time to try and make enough money to keep her family’s land and keep the family itself afloat. She’s unfortunately been unable to do the former despite all the effort she’s put in. You better treat her and her family’s land well, you hear?” Your face turns stern at the statement before you nod.
”I will, I promise.” The froggy man stared at you for several seconds before giving a satisfied grin.
“You’ve got guts and grit, kid. Glad to see it. You get along now, your new land is waiting for you.”
