Chapter 106

"The only reason that we wanted your merchant group to take in all of the experts as village guards, was because we were not just in a vulnerable position, but who would put strangers in charge of their own protection? I wish to hear how you will repay us for not causing your merchant group to disband and exit our village before you even try to start speaking on buying an entire fourth of the land in our village." the elder told Timothy with an angry look on his face.

"My merchant group would be more than happy to leave Fog Village which is still in a time of need. I wonder how many rumors would spread and how quickly that you both pushed out someone who not only helped rebuild the economy of the village, but who also would be responsible for taking with him almost every single guard within?" Timothy asked casually before continuing.

"Your Fog Village needs my merchant company much more than we need you, especially since we have just landed a trade deal with the coliseum in Tornado City. With a trade deal in our hands for such a massive entertainment company, do you really think that we do not have options as a company moving forward?"

"Sure, be angry all you like, but I am offering you both a bright future as well as the rest of the villagers in this village. And before you even speak, I would like to mention that I was prepared to offer you both proper employment to my merchant group as simple teachers who would help all of our employees on their path towards immortality since you both seem to be at the very peak of the Advance stage of cultivation."

Without giving either one of the elders a chance to speak, Timothy withdrew two contracts that were for each one of them with an offer. "Here are two contracts that have my offer attached. If you choose to decline my offer that is fine with me, but if you accept, I expect you both to play your roles to perfection because not a single person who spoke to me with such hate in their eyes, have been able to get away with it."

Timothy offered both elders a total of twenty thousand gold pieces each for their lifelong employment to his merchant group with a signing bonus of three thousand gold pieces each. Such a fortune was rare for even a Master stage cultivator to have on hand. Seeing Timothy's offer had both elders speechless because it was clear that he would be overpaying them simply so that one day there would be no resistance when he purchased Fog Village completely.

"I am unable to speak for him, but I am willing to sign immediately." the elder who seemed to side with Timothy all of this time said as he quickly signed the contract and received a total of twenty five thousand gold pieces. As for the other elder, he felt like he had no other choice since Timothy now had the other elder in his pocket and had enough wealth to possibly even pay the villagers off to not side with him!

A moment later, the other elder reluctantly signed the contract as he received twenty five thousand gold pieces. The two elders were now completely dedicated to Timothy and his company which meant that when the time came for him to take the village for himself, not a single soul could resist his take over. And so Timothy left the two elders so that he could update Cole and to head out of the village.

It was indeed very possible for the two elders to try and act against Timothy's merchant group while he was gone, but it would come with many consequences. Just him being affiliated with so many influential powers was enough for them to treat him kindly and respectfully, but to be affiliated with the coliseum which was less than a week's travel away from them just expelled any thoughts they would have had to double cross Timothy.

"You really did that to the two elders without thinking about any consequences?" Cole asked Timothy as he was updated on what Timothy had done only a few minutes prior to them meeting once more. "Are you not afraid that in your absence, they will do all that they can in order to suppress our growth?"

"Cole, you joined me because you were confident that I was a good leader who would lead you to your goals, right? Then just await for both elders to make their way over. They will be in charge of helping our strength increase by being hands on with all of our members. However, do remember that you are technically above them in seniority in the company, just do not push their buttons too much at least for now. They also agreed to allow our merchant group to directly hire anyone we wish to."

"As for what I will be doing, I wish to head out to see my friend immediately. From the information I have on his mercenary group, it is currently possible to hire quite a few Advance stage cultivators as long I am able to pay them enough. Your new task will be to fix up the entire eastern section of Fog Village so that when it is time for us to truly grow and prosper, it can be done with less road blocks along the way."

"I also want you to be in a position to give out contracts for those who wish to start another small business that we do not currently have with the other six subsidiaries of ours. Therefore, take this one hundred thousand gold pieces. It is a large sum of gold, but this will be a test because in the future I may ask you to manage even larger amounts. Also, any business you are able to grab for our merchant group, I will allow you to personally take one percent of the ten percent our merchant group would gain from them."

Hearing Timothy's words, caused Cole's mouth to have some drool hanging out of it. One percent may not have seemed like a large amount, but when the businesses continued to become larger and expand, it would stack up very nicely. What he did not realize was that Timothy was more concerned about finding excuses for him to have so much wealth so that eventually no one would openly question him.