Is It Possible To Fill This Empty Space In Ourselves?

Chapter 12

Houses in the elite residential area that passed Ernest was built not close together and had a decent distance between residents. Each one was fenced and had guards just like the gate he passed through.

More than half of the list of addresses that newspapers need to send are in the area. Ernest took almost an hour to make all the deliveries there—given he needed to feel his way to find a suitable address.

Fortunately they seemed to have gotten used to shipping from Milar so there was someone waiting in front of their home post so he did not have to wait too long to give the newspaper.

When he returned to the gatehouse, Ernest took back his employee identification and thanked the guard there.

Ernest needed to go to some other residential area for the rest of the addresses on the list. Four to five houses that he did the next delivery can be directly found in one entrance to the residential area, some are separate, and some only find one address listed in one residential area.

That experience led him to discover that the first housing he went to was the only area of the population that required surveillance in and out, while other areas are still mixed housing where not all who live there are rich families, there are also ordinary ones.

Ernest estimated that more than an hour had passed when all the addresses he had sent.

Seeing that there were still some newspapers in his hands he felt a bit confused thinking about whether to offer them to someone else or bring them back, he felt a bit confused thinking about whether to offer them to someone else or bring them back, but feeling the weight of money in the pocket he had accumulated from the shipment made Ernest feel a little uneasy and uneasy from worry.

Finally without slowing down his steps, he immediately returned to the Kolfan Shop.

By the time Ernest got there the doors and windows of the shop had been opened like never before when he came. He stepped in and happened to cross paths with someone who came out carrying a newspaper.

Ernest saw the situation inside empty with only Milar reading the newspaper behind the counter.

The guy noticed his presence, “oh, it's done?”

“Yes,” Ernest walked over and put down the rest of the newspapers he brought onto the table, “what is usually this grocery store?”

“How else, only a few residents of this district have the ability to read.”

“Then why set up a bookstore here? What is no loss?”

“Hey, don't ask me,” Milar folded the newspaper and put it down, “that's boss's decision.”

“You're right.”

“You finished faster than me.”

“I'm used to walking fast or running,” Ernest responds to Milar's praise calmly, “by the way, where is the boss? I'm giving up the money.”

“Wait a minute, I'll tell him.”

“Can I read your newspaper?”

Milar waved casually, “it was the shop newspaper, just read,” and stepped towards the door that seemed to lead to another space—both the printing place and the boss's own office.

Ernest picks up Milar's folded newspaper and lets himself lean against the cashier's desk while opening and reading the latest printed news. There was no news of the North nor any further news related to the village bandits from the newspaper four days ago, but it was said that the borders of each district were further tightened in terms of entry.

Good thing he's been in the district before this mess gets blown up.

There are other news also about small crimes that occur in this district such as theft at home x residents, theft by thugs in some village or sub-district markets, fights between residents a and b, and, and others.

In addition to the news there are also some interesting advertisements such as skin care and bleaching, clothing models, and subscription offers for the sale of milk from cow farmers. The ads are clearly aimed at families being given that in this district the people who can read are the rich.

But what makes him surprised is some space that contains short but interesting stories.

Ernest lowered the newspaper in his hand as the corner of his eye saw the door Milar had passed through open. He looked up and saw Mr. Gatra and Milar coming out of there.

“You finished sooner than I expected considering you didn't use the vehicle.”

“I hope it is a good thing,” Ernest responded to the compliment calmly.

“Of course it's a good thing,” Pak Gatra approached until he and Ernest faced each other with the cashier table as a separator.

Ernest folded the newspaper in hand and placed it on the table, he also took out the money collected from the mailing of the newspaper as well as the paper containing a list of previous addresses and put it adjacent to the rest of the newspapers he brought, “there are 38 addresses that became the destination of delivery, he said, with 8 houses asking for 2 copies of the newspaper and the remaining 1 newspaper. The total is 46 copies sent and leaves 4 to be returned here. Each newspaper costs 40 Flo so the total is 1,840 Flo.”

Gatra watched Ernest count and arrange the money at the table by separating it according to the number.

Flo currency is more widely circulated in ordinary society than Gilden which tend to be used by entrepreneurs and governments because of its higher value for large transactions. Flo itself consists of nominal 1, 5, 10, and 50.

Ernest looked to his future boss and took a step back from the cashier table when all the income collected from the mailing of the newspaper in his hand was composed.

Gatra nodded but did not immediately take the money, but instead handed over the two sheets of paper he brought from inside the office, “ini your contract, you can see it first.”

Ernest politely picked it up and carefully read the two in turn. The papers were supposed to have the same contents, but he kept checking and comparing them due to Arsyana—'s warning even when the two were in an uncomfortable silence before he left earlier. He had also indeed heard about cheating on contracts that caused harm to ordinary citizens.

“I get 5 Flo from every newspaper shipped?”

“Ya.”

“So my daily payment depends on how many newspapers are sent through my hands,” Ernest concluded.

“Or do you want to replace it with a fixed fee per day?”

Ernest frowned thinking about it. Both conditions have their own advantages.

“This is good,” in the end Ernest still choose the one listed on the contract. Moreover, it is written clearly the day and hour when he needs to be on alert to send newspapers, nor is it said that he should only be bound by this work so that the rest of his time can be used for other work.

“You can write your name and give him a thumbprint there,” Gatra gives an image to Milar to remove the necessary ink.

“True.”

“That means after 3 months— contracted time I directly stop.”

“We can see it later, if it is needed of course there will be a new contract, but yes after 3 months of contract in your hand it will no longer apply to both parties.”

Three months. A rough calculation of the minimum time he would need to settle in Lutua County. Of course it was not an absolute deadline, he was free to choose to leave after those three months as long as he managed to finish all his affairs in this county. One of them is the sense of debt he has towards Arsyana.

However, if he could choose he hoped to have another choice. Whatever it is that he doesn't want to admit clearly.

“That's good,” said Ernest in a low tone, put away his thoughts for a while, “can I borrow a pen?”

Milar pointed bamboo glass in the corner of the table used as a container of some writing equipment specially prepared for administrative purposes, “use only those there.”

Ernest took the pen and wrote his name in the space provided on the two contract papers, slipped his thumb into the ink and stamped it there. He looked up to Pak Gatra and saw the older man approaching and sealing with a stamp. There is a series of letters that appear after.

Seeing that, Ernest put down his uneasiness. At least for the next three months he will have income and no longer fully dependent on Arsyana. Maybe not much to be able to immediately pay off the debt— considering this job is only done twice a week and payment depends on how many newspapers he sends, he said, but he could start doing the gathering to pay the woman.

Of course he will also be looking for a side job for another empty day.

“Milar, you are in charge of receiving money collection from Ernest and calculating the payment.”

“Good Sir.”

Gatra looked towards Ernest, “you can take your pay today.”

“Thank you Sir.”

Gatra nodded then turned around with a contract paper and disappeared behind the entrance. Ernest shifted the other contract closer, temporarily leaving it on the table to wait for the ink on it to dry.

Seeing the departure of his boss, Milar immediately pulled a chair behind the cashier table and sat there. He took the newspaper that Ernest brought back, made sure the number matched the one he reported back handed it to Ernest, “please put this to the newspaper place.”

Ernest picked it up and walked a few steps to the side then placed it onto the shelf where the newspapers were stacked. By the time he returned to the table, Milar had collected all the money there and separated out some of what seemed to be his pay for today.

“You sent 46 newspapers today,” Milar said while handing over the money he had split, “230 Flo.”

Despite having predicted it, Ernest was still somewhat in disbelief when he received the money.

“What's up?”

Hearing the question from the person in front of him made Ernest a little embarrassed, “nothing.”

“Shocked?”

“Can be said like that.”

Milar hummed lightly while taking and saving the rest of the money and then doing the necessary recording, “before you, many are interested in this job.”

“Then why took so long to find it?”

“Because we want those who know letters and unfortunately in this district people who can read most have had a job either in the government office or even their own family business.”

“What because need to go to various addresses you need people literate?” asked Ernest who was a little curious about the requirements.

“Iya, early opening delivery system we offer on those who usually come to the store buy the newspaper and as long as the person does not mention the termination then the newspaper will continue to be sent to his address, the,” obviously Milar, “or if at the time of one of the days of delivery the person did not receive it then on the next day of delivery the house was no longer visited.”

“What if there is a new person who wants to register?”

“They can come here on the day before delivery and write down the address, then since then they will always go to the shipping list until there is confirmation of termination.”

“So the list given to me can change,” Ernest node, “therefore you need a literate person to find new addresses that may appear.”

“You can say it like that.”

“You can use people who know all the streets or residents in the regency.”

Milar opened the newspaper he had previously read, “that was our last choice if you didn't come yesterday, but how many people like that? You already know if there is housing that needs permission to enter and so far the most customers come from there.” he said casually.

“You're right," agreed Ernest in passing and lightly changed the conversation, "by the way, what books are here?”

“Various kinds.”

“Example?”

“Why don't you see for yourself what's on display.”

“Can?”

“Of course, as long as you don't break it,” replied Milar waving his hand, intending to expel Ernest so as not to disturb him reading.

“Thank you,” Ernest turned towards the shelf and closet where the books were on display.

There was a small smile appearing on his face as he turned away from Milar.

***