Just as the two of them were talking about many things, the door of the Baron’s residence opened. Viviene stepped inside, her eyes focused on Gideon.
She bowed her head, giving respect to Earl Ashfield and Baron Gideon. She also apologized for disturbing them.
"Forgive for the interruption, my Lord."
"Hector has arrived in Rockvalley. He intends to et with you," Viviene said.
Hector? What is he here for?
"How should we respond?"
Gideon fell silent for a mont, studying Ashfield carefully. He nodded in agreent, not minding if Hector ca in to speak with him.
"Bring him in," ordered Gideon.
Viviene cleared her throat. She stepped out to invite Hector in as Gideon commanded. Norton asked about Hector, and Gideon explained to him.
In short, Hector was a wealthy businessman who owned a textile factory in Dergon. He had beco the richest man there, though his carelessness had polluted the river.
Norton had never heard of Hector. He was not a noble, nor was he a businessman Norton knew of.
Perhaps Hector was acquainted with Viscount Duncan, since this land had once fallen under Liam’s control by Nozel’s orders.
The Baron’s door opened again, revealing a man of balanced build, neither fat nor thin. He wore fine green clothing and was accompanied by two loyal servants carrying a dium-sized yellow chest.
"My warst greetings to Baron Gideon," Hector said.
Gideon looked at him sharply, then invited Hector to join him in the lounge. But before sitting down, Hector spoke.
"Congratulations on your new status as Baron, replacing Nozel. Compared to Nozel, you are far better," Hector praised.
"This is a small gift from to celebrate the arrival of a new Baron."
His two servants opened the chest, and Gideon studied it carefully. Inside were piles of gold, silver, and copper in fantastic amounts. There were also swords, gems, jewelry, and other valuables within the chest.
Norton’s eyes widened. Hector had co to secure Gideon’s approval to keep his business running. He had brought a chest full of gold in an attempt to bribe Gideon.
No sane man would turn down such a gift. What will you do, Captain Gideon?
Gideon smiled. He rose from his chair, holding his half-full glass of wine. He walked closer to Hector, his gaze drifting over the gold in the chest.
Hector remained obedient, lowering his head as Gideon stood beside him. He knew money and power could not be separated, both were tied together.
This was far more than he had given to Nozel before. He had heard rumors of Gideon’s strict, anti-corruption stance. This was the mont Hector feared most.
Suddenly, Gideon shut the chest, leaving both Hector and Norton confused. Gideon’s eyes no longer fixed on the shine of gold, but on Hector himself.
"How close were you to Nozel?" Gideon asked coldly.
"Only the relationship of a businessman to the ruler of the land, my Lord."
"I want you to work for now," Gideon replied.
"Of course, my Lord."
"I want to own half of your factory shares," Gideon said.
"What?"
Not only Hector, but Norton as well did not understand what Gideon ant. To Gideon it was natural they wouldn’t. Modern finance and stock investnt systems did not exist in their ti.
"Bring that whole cake," Gideon ordered, and the maids obeyed.
One of them placed an untouched cake on the table, complete with knife and plates. Hector and Norton grew even more confused.
Gideon took the knife and cut the cake into two parts, like a pie chart. Both parts were nearly equal, though Gideon’s share was slightly smaller by a few percent.
"Think of this cake as your yearly inco. I will take 45% of your profits," Gideon explained.
"45%?" Hector gasped.
"Yes. Do you object?"
"But that’s a huge number if you calculate it against my total profits."
"If you object, then fine. I’ll revoke your production license for polluting the environnt," Gideon threatened.
"Polluting the environnt? What exactly are you talking about, my Lord?"
"The textile waste you dump in the river makes it unusable for irrigation. It causes crop failure and famine in Dergon."
"The famine shows the damage has been left unchecked for years," Gideon continued.
"If you refuse, I’ll take your factory by force with the military," Gideon added.
Hector realized the danger of his position. The textile factory in Dergon was the only business supporting him and his family. If Gideon seized it, all his work would be ruined.
"P-Please, my Lord. I’ll do anything, just don’t take my factory," Hector pleaded, kneeling.
"Do as I said."
"You will give 45% of your yearly profit," Gideon said.
"Say your net profit reaches 500 gold coins. I will only take 225."
"I’ll round it down to 200. Use the extra 25 to pay your business tax."
"How about it?" Gideon asked, his tone intimidating.
In short, Hector would still keep two hundred seventy-five gold coins for himself, since the inco and housing tax of his workers was their own burden. It was a large sum for a single family.
"Of course, my Lord. I accept," Hector said quietly.
Gideon smiled. He turned and ordered Viviene to draft an official agreent to be signed between him and Hector. The docunt would serve as protection if either side broke the terms.
"In return, your factory will remain yours. You may keep running your business as usual. But I order you to build a waste reservoir."
"All your factory’s waste must not be dumped in the river. It must be stored in the reservoir and disposed of properly without harming the environnt," Gideon said firmly.
"Do you understand?" he asked.
"Of course, my Lord. I fully understand."
Gideon smiled and nodded, pleased with Hector’s decision to comply. Viviene would prepare the agreent that night. Hector was ordered to return tomorrow to sign it.
"Take the chest back. Keep it for yourself."
"B-But this is ant for you. I gave it as a gift," Hector protested.
"You need it more than I do."
"You may leave."
"Yes, my Lord," Hector answered.
He bowed and left the Baron’s residence with his two servants, carrying the chest once again. Viviene escorted him to the front gate, leaving Norton still with Gideon.
"You intend to grow rich from this?" Norton asked.
"I will not use the money. The profit will be added to the Baron’s treasury and used for the needs of the people," Gideon answered, sipping his wine.
"There is much I must do. I also need a great deal of money to carry out my plans."
"Sharing profits with Hector is a step toward independence," Gideon said.
Norton nodded, pouring more wine into his glass. "That man nad Hector looked shocked. He surely never expected this."
"Yes, he did not."
"I must admit, I’ve beco very interested in you and your plans," Norton said.
"You will see the mont when the southern border becos the safest place in the Moko Kingdom."
"We must work together to defend Moko’s last hope," Gideon said firmly.
"I completely agree with that."
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