Chapter - 62

Leo's hand closed around the cold brass of the door handle. He didn't hesitate. He turned the latch, the click echoing loudly in the silent office.

He was leaving. And he wasn't bluffing.

Behind him, Ryana's composure finally shattered. She could sense that this guy was not playing jokes.

Ryana was a merchant who was trying to plant her feet in a big boy's game. And these two things could help him big time.

She has spent years trying to survive among men and women, trying to cut each others' throat. She could usually spot a bluff, and looking at the back of this man, she realized that he wasn't playing games. He was genuinely, completely uninterested in dealing with her.

Her mind raced, calculating the cost of letting him walk out that door.

The Moon Shade Herb wasn't rare. But they can't be stored for long. Once they are pulled out of the ground, and when exposed to sunlight and air for long, they start to lose their effectiveness.

Even when the adventurers keep them in their guild storage or spatial pouch, the effectiveness is greatly reduced before they are able to use the herb for stabilizing the Mana Potions.

But this herb looks just so fresh, as if he had just pulled it out of the ground. And as luck would have it, she even has Master Brutus with her this time. She can make at least a batch of 20 high grade Mana Potions.

The Archmage of the Violet Tower had been stalled at a breakthrough for three years. He had offered a king's favour for anyone who helps him with the breakthrough. If she brought him that batch, the Silver Route would gain the magical protection of the Tower.

And the Iron Hide Rhino Tusk. It was much rarer than the Moon Shade Herb.

Every noble in this kingdom at some point needs something to revitalise their stamina. They get old, always in need of a desirable heir. She had heard a rumour floating around that the King's Uncle was one of them.

A tusk of that size, processed into 'Unending Vigor' pills, would secure the patronage from Lords to even the Dukes for decades to come.

What Leo was offering her was not just profits, but a chance to grow and compete with both Golden Scales and Iron Caravan in the kingdom.

If Leo walked out that door, he would eventually find another buyer. Maybe he would leave the city. Maybe he would go to the black market. Or worse, maybe he would go back to Gamon just to spite her.

She couldn't let that happen.

"Leo! Stop!"

Ryana walked forward, slammed her hand against the heavy wooden door, closing it shut just as he pulled it open an inch. She wasn't letting her chance slip through her fingers.

Leo stopped. He didn't turn around immediately. He let out a soft, audible sigh, as if he were dealing with a petulant child.

"You are making a mistake, Red Queen," he said, his voice bored, "I don't like repeating myself."

"Name your price, Mr Leo" Ryana said, her breath coming a little faster than she liked. She pressed her back against the door, effectively blocking his exit and forcing him to look at her, "No games. No lowballs, now."

Leo looked up slowly. He crossed his arms over his chest. He looked at her, his dark eyes sweeping over her flushed face and heaving chest with a mix of amusement and indifference.

"Now you want to talk numbers?" he asked, "A minute ago, you were trying to rob me."

"I was negotiating," Ryana defended, she did not want to sound guilty, "That's how business is done."

"That's how you lose business," Leo corrected.

"I am not sure I want to sell anymore," Leo said, looking at his fingernails, "I mean, Gamon was rude, but at least he was honest about being a pig."

"You, on the other hand, tried to play me. Maybe I should just grind that horn into powder and put it in my tea. Sounds like a better use than selling it to a cheat."

"Leo, please," Ryana gritted her teeth, "Stop playing games. You came here to sell. I am here to buy. Tell me the number."

Leo stared at her for a long moment, letting her sweat. Then, he sighed dramatically.

"Fine. Since I am just so nice."

He pushed off the door and walked back to the desk. He reached into his pocket, and with a shimmer of mana, the items reappeared in his hands. He tossed the Moon-shade Herb into the air, catching it casually, treating a fortune like a toy.

"Let's do the math, Ryana. Since you seem to have forgotten how to count."

He held up the herb.

"The Moon-shade Herb. It is fresh and high quality. I will give it to you for 800 Gold Coins. That's me playing it lowball, and being nice."

Then he gestured to the massive horn that he was now leaning on like a cane.

"This big thing is precisely 2,973 grams. I checked. At the nice affordable rate of 4 Gold Coins per gram, which is a generous discount from the average auction rate of 7, mind you, it comes to… Ummm… 11,892 Gold Coins."

He smiled happily thinking about the numbers.

"Since I don't want to haggle in the auction, the total comes to 12,692 Gold Coins."

Ryana paled slightly. Twelve thousand gold. It was a massive sum. It was almost the entire Gold Coins she was carrying. Paying that would mean that the money she wanted to use for establishing the Auravale branch will all be used up."

But it was worth it. The branch was already operating in the red. Let it continue the same way for a bit longer.

Because the payout was power.

Still she opened her mouth to haggle, to offer ten thousand gold coins.

"But..." Leo interrupted her, leaning forward.

He invaded her personal space. He smelled of a uniquely masculine scent that made Ryana's breath hitch in her throat.

"I am feeling generous today," Leo murmured, his voice dropping low, "You have pretty eyes, Ryana. Even if you do hide the rest of your assets under those ugly robes like a nun."

He looked down, his face inches from hers.

"I want to know more about you," He told her.

"I will give you a 200 Gold Coin discount," he whispered, "For every question you answer honestly."

Ryana frowned, suspicion growing in her eyes, "What kind of questions?"

"Simple ones," Leo grinned, his eyes dancing with mischief, "I want to know who I am doing business with. I want to know the woman, whom I have been calling the Red Queen."

Ryana hesitated. It was unorthodox. But 200 gold per answer? That could save her enough for even more wagons of grains.

"Fine," she said warily. "Ask."

Leo didn't waste a second, "So let us start your favourite game show, Who is going to be a Discount Queen?"

"Here's the first question for you! Are you single? Or is there a lucky man waiting at home?"

Ryana hesitated. She looked away, her eyes flicking to the floor, "Married."

Leo raised an eyebrow, a spark of genuine interest flashed in his eyes. Another wife? Another bird in a cage?

"Interesting," he murmured, "And here you get your Coupon Code: Leo_Is_Awesome for 200 Gold Coins."

'Coupon Code?' Ryana and the bodyguards were confused. But Leo spoke before they could ask.

"Next Question," Leo pressed on, "Is it a happy marriage? Does he satisfy you? Or is he a disappointment in bed?"

Ryana's head snapped up, her eyes blazing with anger, "That is none of your business, Mr Leo. I would expect you to know your limits."

"Tsssk!" Leo shook his head, "A shame. No discount coupon for you."

"Here is Question Three for you," He grinned, "Do you have a problem being someone's... second woman? If the man already has made a primary investment?"

Ryana's eyes widened. She frowned, offended by the implication, "I am a Guild Mistress. I am no one's 'second', and I certainly do not share, Mr Leo. I know how to snatch what's mine."

Leo smirked. "Well, even though I don't like the answer... I like the spirit. So here's the Coupon Code: Only_Leo_Can_Satisfy_Me for a total of 400 Gold Coins.."

Ryana blinked. This bastard, he was playing with her.

"Question Four is now in front of your screen," Leo said, throwing his arms, "Will you go on a date with me? You… Me… Dinner… Wine… No veil… No guards."

"No," she said instantly, without hesitation, "I do not mix business with... whatever this is."

Leo chuckled, "Brutal. But at least you are honest. Your new Coupon Code is I_Will_Take_Leo_On_A_Date for 600 Gold Coins."

"Question Five! This one's for 400 Gold Coins," Leo's eyes dropped down her body, lingering on her hips, "What color is your underwear? Or are you not wearing any under those robes?"

The two bodyguards in the corner hissed, their hands flying to their swords, "Mistress! Let us cut his tongue out!"

Ryana held up a hand, silencing them. Her face was burning, but she refused to look away. She stared at him down, her chin high.

"Not that you can ever see them," She spoke to him in a condescending tone, "You can only ever fantasise about my black…"

Ryana stopped mid way, leaving him hanging with a challenging look in her eyes.

Leo let out a low whistle, his eyes raking over her hips, "Nice. Very nice. I have a thing for black silk."

"You have another Coupon Code for a total of 1000 Gold Coins. Your Coupon Code is: I_Will_Let_Leo_Smell_Them."

He leaned back slightly, calculating, "That's four questions answered. 1000 gold off the top."

"Is that all?" Ryana asked, trying to regain her composure.

"One last question," Leo said. "The big one. Worth 1000 Gold Coins."

He reached out. His hand hovered near the top button of her green tunic, just above the swell of her breasts.

"Can you remove that veil?" he whispered, "And maybe... Unbutton the top of this tunic? Just the first two. I need to verify if the 'assets' of the Silver Route are as... bountiful... as I suspect."

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