Previous Chapter Recap:
In Chapter 56, Zayd strengthened his bond with Jamal ibn Farooq, the city lord's third son, by sponsoring him in a horse race. Jamal impressed the crowd by securing second place, a feat that drew new respect from nobles and merchants alike. Zayd reminded Jamal that his rise had only just begun—and that loyalty was expected. Meanwhile, Zayd anticipated Fahad's countermove through whispers and manipulation.
📍 Scene: Merchant Council Hall – Basra – Morning
The marble hall buzzed with tension. Merchants in silks and turbans sat in rows, scribes took notes, and city officers stood as silent witnesses. At the center, Amir Fahad ibn Rashid, gleaming in embroidered robes, spoke with calculated calm.
Fahad: "Respected council members, I bring troubling news. It has reached my ears that a certain young merchant—" (his eyes slid toward Zayd) "—seeks to buy influence not with honest trade, but with coin placed in the hands of noble sons. This, I say, is corruption, a danger to our city's order."
Whispers spread like wildfire. All eyes turned to Zayd ibn Suleiman, who sat quietly with Qadir at his side and Aftab standing behind him, arms crossed like a sentinel.
Zayd rose slowly. His movements were unhurried, deliberate. He let the silence stretch until the council leaned in, waiting.
Zayd (calmly): "Amir Fahad ibn Rashid accuses me of corruption. Let me ask—what is corruption? To pay bribes so officers choke new businesses? To buy inspectors so rivals are ruined? If that is corruption, then perhaps the council should check whose gold lines the pockets of our city scribes."
The words struck like an arrow. A few councilmen shifted uncomfortably—some had indeed taken Fahad's gold.
Fahad (coldly): "You dare—"
Zayd (cutting in smoothly): "I do not dare, Amir Fahad. I simply trade as I always have. I invest in people others ignore. I saw promise in Jamal ibn Farooq, the city lord's son. I supported him openly. That is not corruption—it is faith. Faith that our city's strength does not belong to only the eldest or the richest."
He turned to the council.
Zayd: "Tell me, what is more dangerous? A man who gives gold to a forgotten son to build his name—or a man who secretly pays officials to strangle competition?"
The hall was quiet. Even those loyal to Fahad avoided his gaze.
📍 Scene: Private Alcove – Council Hall – Later
After the session, Zayd slipped into a side room with Jamal ibn Farooq, who had witnessed everything.
Jamal (awed): "You turned their accusations back on him. Even the council feared to speak. How did you know they would not challenge you?"
Zayd's expression hardened, his voice dropping lower.
Zayd: "Because before this day, I already placed gold where it mattered. The record keepers, the junior clerks, even one of Fahad's inspectors—they now carry my coin. If Fahad had pushed harder, proof of his bribes would have been laid on the council's table today. He did not know this, but he felt it. That is why he stepped back."
Jamal blinked, stunned. "So you set the stage before he even spoke…"
Zayd (smiling faintly): "Exactly. In trade and politics alike, you must not only prepare your goods—you must prepare the battlefield. By the time your rival attacks, he is already standing on the trap you set."
📍 Scene: Zayd's Residence – Evening
Back at his home, Zayd met with Qadir and Aftab.
Qadir (grinning): "You crushed Fahad in front of them. He looked like a fool."
Aftab (serious): "But Fahad won't stop. Today you embarrassed him. Tomorrow, he will come at you harder."
Zayd leaned back, his eyes cold but sharp.
Zayd: "Let him. The more he moves against me, the more enemies he makes in the shadows. He believes this is a duel between us—but I am turning it into a war he cannot win. His silk empire is vast, but its foundation is rotting. All I need to do is tug at the cracks."
Qadir and Aftab exchanged glances. They had always known Zayd was clever. But now, watching him play politics as ruthlessly as he played trade, they realized he was something more—a man who could bend the city itself to his will.
End of Chapter 57