Dragon Ball: Saiyan's Gourmet Journey

Chapter 61 Local People’s Persuasion
"Is this Katisi? It feels like we are in a desert area."

Two days later, they arrived in the Katisi area.

The ground beneath my feet was sandy, and there was a dry riverbed not far away.

The surface of the riverbed is cracked and it is unknown how long it has been dry.

"Brother, I can't find any water."

Luosang went to look for water, but after searching for a while, he couldn't find any.

"If I had known, I should have fetched water from the stream we passed by yesterday at noon."

"It's no use saying this now. Who knows that after coming here, there will be no water source at all."

The water was drunk up in the morning, and many people felt thirsty in the midday sun.

"I'll go back and get some water."

Broly isn't thirsty yet, but that's just because he has a higher tolerance.

“No need to go back for water, Brother Broly, the nearest town is just three kilometers ahead.

We can probably see it once we climb over the hill over there, and when we reach the town, we can replenish water there."

Nahashu held the map, wiped the sweat off his face with his hand and said.

"Let's go, it's so hot and sticky."

Maillard also urged.

"I'm going to take a shower when we get to town."

"There are some fruits in the car. Who wants some?"

At this time, Hei Tong poked his little head out of the carriage and asked.

"Give some to those who are thirsty, and feed some to the cart horses, but do not let them collapse from thirst."

After Nahas made arrangements, the group of children continued to move forward. After they crossed the mound and saw the town surrounded by some green vegetation, the children's spirits were lifted and the horses sped up a little.

The three-kilometer journey passed in a flash, and after paying the entrance fee, Broly and others passed the town gate smoothly.

"Excuse me, where is the well in this town?"

Nahasu stopped an elderly man and asked him about the situation.

"You came from outside. What are you doing here?"

The old man looked up at them and asked directly.

"We are from outside. We are here to look for our relatives."

Nahashou answered this question.

"Come to Katisi to look for your relatives. I hope your relatives are still alive."

The old man muttered.

"Grandpa, what did you say?"

Since he was mumbling in the local dialect, no one could understand what he was saying.

"Nothing, I mean, there's no free water for you in town."

The children were surprised at first, but soon expressed their understanding because even the river had dried up in this place.

"It's OK if you need to pay."

"Then let's go to Sonny's Tavern in the east of the city. A liter of water there only costs 7 Imperial Coins."

"Eh?!"

"Don't complain about how expensive it is. The owner of the tavern is related to the sheriff, so he can get such cheap water. If other people go to the well in the center of the town to fetch water, a bucket of ten liters of water will cost 100 imperial coins, and there is no bargaining."

"Uh……"

"Where is the place to take a shower?"

Maillard asked.

"Ha, take a bath, what a strange word, I haven't heard it for a long time, little girl, people in the Katisi area rarely take a bath, when they get dirty they just rub it with clean sand.

As for taking a bath, only the nobles and the rich can afford it. For us common people, taking a bath with drinkable water is too luxurious. "

The old man shook his head as he spoke, and his words reminded Broly of himself on Planet Wampa, where he also lacked water and had to bathe with sand. He nodded in agreement.

"This grandfather is right. If there is too little water, we can only use it for drinking. It is really a waste to use it for bathing."

Maillard: “…” Not to mention the water that costs ten imperial coins per liter, even if the price of water increases ten or a hundred times, she can still afford to take a bath.

But Broly thought it was a waste, so it was better not to waste it. Maillard then started complaining about the high price of water in Katisi.

She seldom came here before, and although she had some knowledge of the major cities in the Western Territory, she was not familiar with the local prices in some areas.

"Who says it's not true? It's all because of that damn iron mine."

The old man sighed.

“What does water shortage have to do with iron ore?”

Akagi felt that there seemed to be no connection here.

"Why did I tell you so much?"

The old man pursed his dry lips and didn't want to say anything more to this group of outsiders.

I was able to help with directions just now because the people asking the questions were a group of children.

"We'll ask you to drink some water, Grandpa."

Marin said at this time.

"What are you waiting for?"

The old man immediately sat on their carriage and urged: "Go to Sonny's Tavern, drink the water you paid for, and I will tell you about the situation in Katisi."

. . . .

"Tons, tons, tons~"

When they arrived at the tavern, the old man named Victor drank a glass of water generously. After asking for another glass of water, he told Broly and others about the connection between the iron mine and the water shortage in Katisi.

“At first, Katisi was still an oasis, but because of the discovery of rich underground iron ore resources, the nobles here joined forces with some wealthy businessmen to open a large number of iron smelting factories.

The iron smelting factory needs charcoal to smelt iron ore, so a lot of trees were cut down in Katisi, burned into charcoal and sent to the factory.

At that time, everyone thought it was a profitable business, and no one cared how many trees were cut down here, until the wrath of the God of the Katisi Oasis arrived. "

"The wrath of the god of the Katissi Oasis?"

"The fertile soil has turned into sand, the riverbed that once flowed through the oasis has gradually dried up, some wells can no longer produce water, and the rainfall has been decreasing year by year until it has become what it is today. Is there any other explanation other than God's wrath and punishment?"

The group of children looked at each other, as if there was really no other explanation.

"superstitious."

Maillard muttered something. She remembered that the God of Oasis seemed to be created by a religion that had recently emerged here.

Old man Victor heard it, but he was not angry.

"Maybe. Anyway, the Katisi region suffered retribution and has no water."

"Isn't there still water?"

Hei Tong was a little confused and drank the water with sour fruit and sugar in small sips.

The sweet and sour feeling seemed to make all the fatigue from the journey disappear.

"This water costs money."

"Seven Imperial coins for a liter of water. Is that too much?"

The group of kids were a little confused, mainly because their eldest brother had just made over 27 million a while ago.

Of course, it’s also because they eat a lot. Basically, the daily food expenses in a prosperous city are close to 10,000 imperial coins. Some of it is because they are used to the high consumption level brought about by such a large appetite.

"Seven Imperial Coins for a liter of water isn't a lot, but the problem is that people can't live without water every day. Water used to be free, but now it costs money. Everything that requires water has become more expensive."

As old man Victor spoke, he gave a vivid example. He ordered a large piece of bread and started eating it directly.

"For example, this piece of whole wheat bread I'm eating now, I remember the price was 35 Imperial coins three years ago, but now it has risen to 70 Imperial coins. This overall surge in prices and the reduction in people's income have led to the decline of people's livelihood in the Katisi region..."

Grandpa Victor talked while eating, gradually introducing the situation of this area's decline from prosperity. When he was full and ready to say goodbye and leave, he suddenly stopped.

"Eating your food is at least a warning to you. If you are here to look for your relatives, there are still ways out there. And if your relatives haven't died in this damn place, then take them and leave quickly. There is no future and hope in Katisi anymore."

As soon as they arrived at the first local town, they were persuaded to leave by an old man, and the group of children looked at each other in confusion.

"I told you, this is not a good place."

Maillard said again.

　Thanks to all the book friends who have rewarded and voted for the monthly ticket.
　　
　
(End of this chapter)