The Ironcrest Company and Darius exchanged brief looks before the discussion resud.
"So," the rchant began, resting his elbows lightly on the table, "my scouts reached the territory of Velmora and inspected what remained of the Crimson Wyrm. From what they reported, the corpse was... badly damaged. Almost unrecognizable."
Darius leaned back in his chair, hiding a faint smile as the rchant spoke.
That was putting it lightly.
"Even so," the man continued, sliding a parchnt forward, "there are still parts worth recovering. Here is a list of what I am prepared to purchase."
He tapped the page with a finger.
"Talons. Most of them survived. Strong, dense, perfect for high-grade weapon crafting."
He moved down the list.
"Fangs as well. Fewer in number, but still valuable for enchantnt bases."
"Segnts of the wings. The mbrane is torn, but the skeletal structure remains intact. That alone has multiple uses in reinforcent and alchemy."
Arlen leaned closer, scanning the list.
"...How many usable pieces are we talking about?"
The rchant did not look at him.
"Enough to make the operation profitable," he said calmly. "Not perfect, but far from useless."
He continued without pause.
"Scales. This is where the bulk of the value lies. Even damaged, they retain heat resistance and durability. Smiths will pay a premium."
He traced further down.
"Rib fragnts, sections of the spine... so survived the impact. Not all, but sufficient."
Garrick folded his arms.
"So anything that wasn’t turned to ash."
The rchant inclined his head slightly.
"That is an accurate summary."
He clasped his hands together.
"Taking into account the damage, transport costs, processing, and resale margins..."
He paused.
Letting the weight of it settle.
"I am prepared to offer eighty million kinah for the entire lot."
Silence filled the room.
Lyra blinked slowly.
"...That’s..."
Arlen’s brows rose.
"...Higher than I expected."
Garrick let out a low whistle.
"Now that sounds like a real deal."
Seris remained still.
But her eyes sharpened.
Darius leaned back, doing the math in his head. Eighty million sounded massive at first, but divided among them, it shrank fast.
Still worth it.
Still clean.
The rchant reached into a case beside him and pulled out a docunt.
"As expected," he said, placing it neatly on the table, "I do not rely on spoken agreents."
He slid it forward.
"A formal contract."
Arlen raised a brow.
"...You had this ready already?"
The rchant smiled faintly.
"I prefer to be prepared."
Seris stepped forward and picked up the docunt, reading line by line.
"Read carefully," the rchant added. "It grants full ownership of the remains."
Darius leaned forward slightly.
"Define full ownership."
The answer ca without delay.
"Collection, transport, processing, and resale. Once signed, everything becos mine."
Garrick scoffed.
"So after that, it’s completely out of our hands."
"Yes."
Lyra hesitated.
"...And paynt?"
The rchant tapped the contract lightly.
"Eighty million kinah. Paid imdiately after signing."
Arlen crossed his arms.
"No delays?"
"None," the rchant replied. "I do not repeat the mistakes of others."
Darius gave a faint smirk.
"At least you’re honest about it."
Seris continued reading, her expression focused.
"Transport risk falls on you," she said.
"Correct."
"And if the remains are worth less than expected?"
The rchant t her gaze.
"Then I take the loss."
That made Arlen raise an eyebrow.
"So you’re betting it’s worth more."
The rchant smiled slightly.
"I do not invest in losing outcos."
Darius exhaled quietly and reached toward the table.
"...Alright," he said. "Looks clean."
Arlen glanced at him.
"That fast?"
Darius shrugged.
"It’s simple. We get paid now. He handles everything after."
Garrick nodded.
"Works for ."
Lyra still looked unsure, but she stayed quiet.
Seris t Darius’s eyes.
"You’re certain?"
He nodded once.
"Yeah. We take it."
That settled it.
He picked up the quill.
Dipped it into ink.
And signed.
Darius Vayne.
No hesitation.
He slid the docunt forward.
Arlen took it next.
"Guess we’re rich," he muttered as he signed.
Garrick followed, gripping the quill with firm hands.
"About ti," he said.
Lyra signed carefully, her handwriting neat.
"...I hope this is the right move."
Seris was last.
She read the final clause once more.
Then signed.
"It’s done."
The rchant retrieved the contract and checked each na.
One by one.
Then nodded.
"Good."
He stood and walked to the back of the room before returning with a heavy chest.
He set it down with a dull thud.
From his coat, he produced a key.
"As agreed."
A click echoed.
The lid opened.
Inside, gold coins stacked in dense layers, catching the light.
"Eighty million kinah," he said. "You may count it if you wish."
"No need," Seris replied.
Garrick smirked.
"And if it’s short, we know where to find you."
The rchant showed no reaction.
"I have no intention of inviting conflict with your group."
Garrick nodded once.
"Good."
Seris rested a hand on the chest.
"Then we’ll take our leave."
The rchant inclined his head.
"A pleasure."
They stood and turned toward the exit.
Then—
"Darius."
The voice cut through the room.
Darius stopped.
The others slowed.
Arlen glanced back.
"He’s calling you."
Darius adjusted his grip on the chest and turned his head.
The rchant stood by the table.
Watching him.
Not the group.
Just him.
"Yeah?"
Seris studied the rchant for a mont.
"We’ll wait outside," she said quietly.
Darius nodded.
The others stepped out, leaving the door ajar.
Now it was just the two of them.
Darius stepped back toward the table.
"What is it?"
The rchant spoke calmly.
"My sources tell you were the one who killed the Crimson Wyrm. Given your rank, that should not have been possible."
Darius tilted his head.
"And?"
"That makes you valuable," the rchant said. "Which is why I want to hire you."
Darius raised a brow.
"You want specifically?"
"Yes."
"For what?"
The rchant folded his hands.
"I have a shipnt that must pass through the Blackroot Expanse."
Darius frowned slightly.
"...The place no one goes near?"
"Correct."
"And you want to send cargo through it."
"Yes."
Darius let out a short breath.
"Why not take another route?"
"Because ti is a factor," the rchant replied. "Going around would delay delivery by a month. That would breach my agreent and cost more than this job ever will."
Darius crossed his arms.
"So you’d rather gamble."
"I prefer controlled risk."
Darius stared at him.
"You’re asking to escort sothing through a place even top-tier parties avoid."
"Yes."
"Alone."
"Yes."
Darius raised an eyebrow.
"You’ve got confidence."
The rchant shook his head slightly.
"I have data. You accomplished sothing others could not. That changes the calculation."
Darius went quiet.
Blackroot Expanse.
Bad terrain.
Unpredictable threats.
No safe paths.
"...What’s the cargo?" he asked.
The rchant’s expression did not shift.
"Sealed."
Darius narrowed his eyes.
"That tells nothing."
"That is intentional."
Darius exhaled.
"So I walk into a death zone carrying sothing I know nothing about."
"Yes."
"And I’m supposed to trust it’s worth it."
"I will pay accordingly."
That made Darius pause.
"...Define that."
The rchant stepped closer.
Lowered his voice slightly.
"One hundred million kinah."
Darius’s eyes flickered.
That was more than the dragon.
For a single job.
And it would all be his.
"...That’s high," he said.
"The risk is high."
Darius thought it through.
Fast money.
High danger.
Unknown variables.
Then he nodded.
"Alright," he said. "I’ll do it."
The rchant smiled.
"Good."
"But I want half upfront."
No hesitation.
"Agreed."
Darius narrowed his eyes.
"You didn’t even think about it."
"I expected it," the rchant replied. "Anyone capable would ask."
Darius gave a small nod.
"Good."
The rchant returned to the table and pulled out another docunt.
"Then we formalize this as well."
He placed it down.
"Escort contract. Blackroot Expanse. One hundred million total. Fifty million upfront. Fifty upon delivery."
He slid it forward.
"That will be the agreent."
He placed it down.
"Escort contract. Blackroot Expanse. One hundred million total. Fifty million upfront. Fifty upon delivery."
He slid it forward.
"That will be the agreent."
He placed it down.
"Escort contract. Blackroot Expanse. One hundred million total. Fifty million upfront. Fifty upon delivery."
He slid it forward.
"That will be the agreent."
"Why not take another route?"
"Because ti is a factor," the rchant replied. "Going around would delay delivery by a month. That would breach my agreent and cost more than this job ever will."
Darius crossed his arms.
"So you’d rather gamble."
"I prefer controlled risk."
Darius stared at him.
"You’re asking to escort sothing through a place even top-tier parties avoid."
"Yes."
"Alone."
"Yes."
Darius raised an eyebrow.
"You’ve got confidence."
The rchant shook his head slightly.
"I have data. You accomplished sothing others could not. That changes the calculation."
Darius went quiet.
Blackroot Expanse.
Bad terrain.
Unpredictable threats.
No safe paths.
"...What’s the cargo?" he asked.
The rchant’s expression did not shift.
"Sealed."
Darius narrowed his eyes.
"That tells nothing."
"That is intentional."
Darius exhaled.
"So I walk into a death zone carrying sothing I know nothing about."
"Yes."
"And I’m supposed to trust it’s worth it."
"I will pay accordingly."
That made Darius pause.
"...Define that."
The rchant stepped closer.
Lowered his voice slightly.
"One hundred million kinah."
Darius’s eyes flickered.
That was more than the dragon.
For a single job.
And it would all be his.
"...That’s high," he said.
"The risk is high."
Darius thought it through.
Fast money.
High danger.
Unknown variables.
Then he nodded.
"Alright," he said. "I’ll do it."
The rchant smiled.
"Good."
"But I want half upfront."
No hesitation.
"Agreed."
Darius narrowed his eyes.
"You didn’t even think about it."
"I expected it," the rchant replied. "Anyone capable would ask."
Darius gave a small nod.
"Good."
The rchant returned to the table and pulled out another docunt.
"Then we formalize this as well."
He placed it down.
"Escort contract. Blackroot Expanse. One hundred million total. Fifty million upfront. Fifty upon delivery."
He slid it forward.
"That will be the agreent."
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