Being led around by the nose was no fun at all, Mike had no idea that he was being roped into being a state paid yes man. It was not something he ever would have chosen back on Earth. Mike was a Texan, where people got fired for sucking at their jobs. Pride was a matter of course, a large pocketbook, or an inflated sense of Ego were also par for the course depending on who you spoke to.

"I have no idea what you guys expect from me, could you at least give me a clue about what it is that you want me to do?" Mike inquired but remained alert, a dream could turn to nightmare at any time.

"Your job is to create things the Kingdom needs, or make others make them.. whatever is the case. Currently the problems we have are laid out in this manual, pour over them and let me know. Also, I want some of that Cannabis you had earlier for study." Elder Po was standing right beside Troeg.

Demanding what he wanted seemed like it would be the way to get it so Mike pressed into the subject briefly before they left.

"I have a list of requirements for my Herb Garden, A list of personnel I'll need and other things. I can write them down and pass them along before this evening so that we can get started." Mike agreed and postured for further benefits.

Troeg bore a smile on his face, he hadn't expected Mike to accept so readily. "What do you have in mind?"

Mike couldn't help but relay a few implausible demands. What was more shocking to Mike was how quickly Troeg accepted his demands and tried to meet or exceed them.

Putting his foot in his mouth because he was sure that he just undersold himself Mike pleaded with Troeg once more for a generous salary, of course Mike had no idea just what he would use the currency for but that wouldn't stop him from getting paid for his work.

Troeg wasn't worried about Mikes demands, If he failed to meet expectation his death would be his atonement and not one person would be worried past that moment.

"The consequences of failure are high. I suggest you look over the needs of the Kingdom, and seek some solutions. Meanwhile I'd like to ask you for some of that Cannabis Concentrate you have readied. My elders wish to test its potency and efficacy on several matters." Troeg whispered gently to Mike.

He could just take what he wanted if he needed, But Troeg wasn't interested in creating enmity, perhaps Mike would become an integral part of his Kingdom. Bringing him harm not would not serve the Clan in any way.

"I can give you a few grams for testing, but honestly its all that I have and I do not know if you have the materials and Methods available to make more. Consider it a gift that I cannot reproduce at the moment." Mike had to keep his own supply as well, so he shifted the amount to his favor.

Even if he was dreaming, he'd still have something to medicate with. Mike quickly passed a weeks worth of Dabs to Troeg in a silicone container.

"What a strange substance. This material the container is made out of is very flexible. What animal did you carve this out of?" Troeg wasn't making heads or tails of the Silicone Container.

Mike interjected with an explanation that was pretty quickly summed up by saying "Its not an animal, its closer to tree sap and rocks.. but not."

"Interesting" Elder Po commented.

He picked up the small barrel like container and kneaded it in his hand, it flexed with the substance inside and didn't fall apart.

"Amazing, I have matters to attend to." Elder Po was like a fat rat with some Cheese.

Grabbing the Container and putting it into his robes, Elder Po strode off into the corridor. It left Prince Troeg with Mike, Alone and without direction.

'Cough, Cough' Mike interrupted the awkwardness and asked.

"So, Where am I sleeping?" Mike had the truck, but he still wanted a room and so he had to ask.

Troeg looked at Mike, It was still daylight. "Sleep, Do you really need to sleep on your first day at work?"

Troeg knew exactly what button to press. For a Texan, pride and workmanship were among the highest priority for skilled laborers. Mike had done a lot of odd jobs as a kid in the sticks, His family didn't have much. What they did have was a lot of excess car parts and wilderness to get lost into nearby.

"No, I suppose not. I will need someone to show me to my accommodations when the time is right. Is there a place I can read these?" Mike lifted the books he was given earlier.

"Feel free to study anywhere you want, but I would advise against going out until you're familiar with your laws and customs. You're... a bit rude." Troeg was to the point and correct.

Mike thought about it some more 'Hmm... maybe I should try to be a little less abrasive.' before he said. "I understand, The people of my homeland are quick to get to business and save pleasantries till after the work is done."

It wasn't a lie, so he didn't feel guilty. Coming from the south was a matter of pride, You had a set of skills that no one else had. The skills to get things done without griping was the best seller after the California exodus in 2015, liberals ransacked the state and tried to take over its policy making.

They were quite unsuccessful to get even a single vote at the state level due to a lack of content in the arguments. It pushed back negatively, and they could barely handle judgment from California let alone Texas. Mike decided to play it safe and treat them like snowflakes.

"No problem, How will I find you when I'm done with reading?" Mike had to know.

"You won't finish today, Just do what you can." Troeg was sure of his statement and left.

'Smug things aren't they.' Mike thought to himself briefly and opened the books.

"This shits in ENGLISH!" Mike's outburst caught the attention of a passing Elder.

"What's English?" He couldn't help but ask..

The elder had been reading the books in the library and he had never heard the word English, Before Mike could respond he had another statement disguised as question.

"Is English a type of method or formula?" The Elder was genuinely confused.

"English is what we are speaking, these words inside the book are written in English." Mike almost burst into laughter, but noticed the serious face on the Elder.

"Oh? Our language of the Ancestors is called English where you're from? We only have to pour our spirit into the book and pictures come into our heads no matter the language its written in. However If you can truly read these words, our Elders would want a report on the matter as well.

"Spirit?"

Mike shook his head.

"I don't understand what you mean by Spirit, Could you please get me material on that and bring it over. I'm afraid i have no idea what you're talking about. It sounds like you're saying to pour a type of magic into the book, but I have no magic. No human does."

Mike was sure, sure of the truth of the universe. That the universe had no magic. Science dictated everything. In a quick retreat, the Elder scrambled to a nearby shelf and brought out a book on Spirit.

Mike started reading it immediately, If it could save him time then that would be for the best. Staring at moldy pages in a halfway dark room was already trying his patience.

Reading from the book inside his head Mike worked out some details.

'Exhale and clear your mind, focus on the task at hand'

'Focus your ass! Does this thing really just mean concentrate..haha, concentrate' Mike was starting to lose focus and stopped himself short.

"Concentrate." Mike let out a deep breath and put his hand on the book while closing his eyes.

The contents of the book were slowly taking shape in his mind, slowly he came to understand a lot of what Troeg was inferring. If Mike had gone out earlier, he would have made a compete fool of himself.

The Dog-like race were called the Poocha, they had settled this area a few hundred years ago after a large scale war that claimed many of the Kingdoms people. Mike was sure that he would have called them Dog, and gotten a terrible reaction. There were also customs and grooming habits to avoid unwelcome inquiries into where he had been. The noses of the Canine were sensitive and Poocha were no exception to the rule.

It was actually considered a mark of approval for some higher tiered males to piss on females, which really disinterested Mike. One taboo was to mess with the Ears or Tail of another Poocha, as they were extremely sensitive and somewhat sexual.

Dismayed by the last statement Mike Closed the book for a moment and sighed. He really wanted to pet some of the people he saw, they were positively cute and it was his dream but now even in his dream laws were getting in the way.

'Laws.' Mike heaved another heavy sigh as he picked up the book to continue reading with his spirit.

The Law and Customs book was pretty short, It mostly talked about what not to touch and were to away from otherwise the Beta Force would run amok looking for you in response.

"What a strange world." Mike pulled his Dabs out and medicated quickly.

Having a lot of material to cover, Mike looked around and noticed that most people had left. He thought about the book he had just read and remembered what time it was. It was dinner time, Mike hadn't eaten since he left Colorado.

"Excuse me, Can I get some food brought to me." Mike made an error in judgment as five eagerly awaiting females rushed up with food.

"Why so many?" Mike was confused as to why so many women rushed up to give him food. He had only just asked about it, it was like they were waiting.

"We are your servants, Prince Troeg has selected us to serve you in whatever manner you require. Please instruct us as you need." One of the more pretty ones bowed politely and the remaining four did the same right afterward.

"Huh. EH.? Servants?" Mike stopped what he was doing.

"No. No slaves, Hard pass. I'm not doing this. Go get someone in charge of you other than me."

Mike was furious, He asked for assistants.. not slaves.

"I don't want slaves, or servants. If I'm going to be doing work, I need confident and capable people. Not people who will be whipped for not complying fast enough or to my satisfaction." Mike spat at the girls and sent them off.

It wasn't buy another 20 minutes until Elder Po arrived, confused.

"Why have you sent away your slaves? We were busy collecting alchemy books." Elder Po seemed annoyed but Mike stopped him cold in his tracks.

"I was clear about my needs to some degree, what makes you think that I want slaves. No one works well under a whip." Mike spat again at Elder Po then continued.

"We tried slavery in the my Homeland long ago, It ended badly and even now the descendants of the ancient slaves still complain about it." Mike pushed the matter away like a ticking bomb.

"No way am I supporting slavery, What I want are assistants. People who can work under orders, but do an excellent job with incentives to make them work harder and efficiently. And don't send me a bunch of beautiful women, send me smart ones if you think they have to be women." Mike threw a rant, Elder Po had blown his high.

"You can't be serious"

Elder Po was dumbstruck.

"I'll have to discuss this with the Prince. Please return to your studies while I resolve this matter." Elder Po walked out of the room.

In a few minutes he returned with a few sheets of paper tightly bound and sealed.

"These are their slave contracts, Rip them up if you want.. or burn the girls.. do whatever you want, but they are yours. The Prince will not change our ways to suit your tastes, our system works. These women were once captured, they are expendable." Elder Po spat at the girls and walked away.

"Is this really how things work in this world?" Mike looked at the girls who had come back up.

"Yes, Master." One of the girls replied quickly again calling him master and Mike nearly lost it.

Tearing the contracts to shreds in front of the girls, he could see special markings clearing up on their faces and arms. The slave seal was destroyed on all of them.

"Why?" Mike exclaimed and then went back to his book like it was only natural.

"You have freed us. I, We, don't understand." The group of girls stood there in awe.

All of them stood in front of Mike with strange looks on their faces. They had been chased during hunts, pushed down and raped, and even traded blows with each other for entertainment from time to time. No one had ever considered them anything but excess weight that ate.

"Stop calling me Master, I have a name.. Its Mike, What are yours?" Introducing himself Mike tried desperately to alter the situation, he would feel awful and that would not be good for his focus levels.

"I am Mona."

"Cara"

"Jodi"

"Rissa"

"March"

The girls all gave their names and waited patiently for Mike to give another order, but nothing came. Mike just sat there reading his book and doing his work. From time to time he would eat some of the food they had brought over.

When he finally ate something the girls took it as a sign that the previous issues were resolved for the moment. They all sat down beside him at the table and waited for his instruction. Mike noticed it pretty quickly and passed them each a book from a nearby shelf.

"Read, better yourselves. If you're my assistants, You had better know whatever you can. I want you reading at all times until you know things that I need to look up, then you'll be very helpful to yourselves and not just me." Mike finished talking, took another bite of his sandwich and felt a little better.

The sandwich was dry, It needed Mustard. Mike choked a bit.