Greed And Loyalty.

They had never dealt with a crude man like Elias who did not know censure and decorum. Was he not taught any etiquettes?

"That is enough, let's end this matter here and tell us if you really want to invest or not. If not, I will leave. I have other tasks to attend to." chimed another. Though they all were allured by the gold. They were not going to fall deeper for it.

Elias watched them with an unhurried smile as if every word they spoke was expected. He just opened the chests and let the gold shine. He noticed how they gulped and their eyes were bound to the chest. They were reluctant to let the gold go.

"I will pay well if you all support me." he repeated in a tempting voice, almost like the whisper of a devil. They all looked entranced and their eyes wavered.

Velmore who had been confident earlier noticed the change too. His eyes darkened and hatred started to burn them.

Lord Velmore's fury boiled over.

"You fools," he snapped, turning on the gathered traders like a wolf cornered. "Are you truly so dim-witted as to believe this show of his? He is only using his wealth to buy you over? He is trying to get rid of me today, there is no guarantee that he would not try the same trick on you again. He is only trying to sow discord between us. Would you give him this chance by proving yourself as a fool?" 

His cane struck the marble floor with a sharp crack that echoed through the grand hall, but it failed to silence the murmurs already beginning to bubble up.

But the traders did not look as determined as before, their faces were full of temptations.

One of them shifted uncomfortably as his gaze flitted between Velmore and Elias. "You said he wouldn't come," he muttered, barely loud enough to be heard, but it silenced the room more effectively than Velmore's cane.

Velmore turned slowly, his mouth twitching. "What did you say?"

The bearded merchant licked his lips, then straightened with reluctant courage. "You were certain he wouldn't survive. You said the deal would be void because the gold would never arrive." He glanced at the heavy chests lying like thunder in the center of the court. "But here he is with an injured body. Someone had stopped him from coming here. We had not done it then only one person is left." The man looked hesitant at Lord Velmore, but his indication was clear.

A ripple of unease moved through the gathered traders like wind through dry leaves.

Another merchant, younger and draped in silks, added cautiously, "And we never asked how you were so certain he wouldn't arrive today. We all thought you knew something we didn't. Now I wonder if that's… not just a coincidence."

"Do not twist my words!" Velmore shouted, his voice cracking. "You have all known me for years."

"Yes," a third trader interrupted in a firm voice. "Which is why we know just how far you are willing to go when you want something. And what you want right now is Crestford."

The accusation hit Velmore like a slap. His jaw fell slack, then snapped shut as he turned redder than before. "This is absurd. I am being slandered!"

But no one responded to his defense. Their attention was already returning to Elias, whose posture hadn't changed. They all waited for him to nod in satisfaction as their decision was clear. Elias watched them all quietly, like a man who knew the ending of the story long before it was told. He didn't interrupt. He didn't need to. Greed was speaking louder than Velmore ever could.

A fourth merchant cleared his throat and stepped forward, hesitant but unable to tear his gaze away from the glinting gold. "And… if Lord Elias is offering better returns than previously promised, I don't see why we wouldn't consider the proposal again. Especially given the risk he took to deliver this gold personally."

Velmore stared at him, aghast. "You traitor. After all I have done for your shipping business!"

"Which was years ago," the merchant shot back with surprising firmness. "You've grown fat on our obedience, Lord Velmore. But what have you earned lately? This man is much better than you." he pointed at Elias, "he had earned our respect today. You only demanded it." A chorus of quiet nods followed, and that was all it took.

The atmosphere had turned. The once-unbreakable wall of noble loyalty was crumbling before Elias's silent resolve and the undeniable weight of the gold he had delivered.

Velmore's fingers trembled around his cane. "You are making a mistake! You are all making a damn mistake! This boy won't last a month! He doesn't know the games we play here!"

"I don't need to," Elias finally said, stepping forward. His boots echoed in the silence. "Because I don't play games, Lord Velmore. I will end them."

His words struck like iron. Velmore opened his mouth, but no sound came out.

"Your control over them is weak," Elias continued, his tone low and cool. "They only stayed at your side because you fed them crumbs and fear. But now that they see what real power looks like, they won't go back to your leash."

He turned slightly, addressing the traders now, his voice rising just enough to be heard without shouting. "Support me, and I will pay you tenfold over time. Stand against me, and I will still win. The difference will be whether you stand at the banquet or scrape for leftovers."

The traders said nothing but their silence was filled with assent. Velmore's face had gone pale. The cane was no longer steady in his grasp.

Elias's gaze returned to him with a smirk. "I always wondered how it would look," he said, almost thoughtfully, "to see a man like you fall without a single blade with just truth and greed."

"Baron Elias," one of the royal attendants finally spoke, trying to maintain protocol, "Shall we begin the formal drafting of the trade transfer documents?"

"Yes," Elias said with a nod, not taking his eyes off Velmore. "Let's make it official. But before that, please complete my complaint against lord Velmore for attempting to murder of a noble with equal rank."