A few quiet days passed after the mysterious visit.
Ashburn had gone back to his routine—balancing ledgers, checking stock lists, supervising deliveries—but his mind wasn't fully in it.
That man's words kept echoing in his head: "My company is interested in acquiring your setup."
He'd seen businessmen before—pushy, loud, usually easy to read.
But that man had been calm. Confident. The kind that carried power like a habit.
And Ashburn knew from experience—people like that never showed their cards without a plan.
The evening breeze rolled through Ashrock, carrying a hint of dust and diesel from the highway.
Ashburn sat behind the counter, notebook open, pen tapping lightly. The numbers weren't his problem this time—he was thinking of the offer.
(If I accept, I'll lose control. But if I refuse… I'll make an enemy I don't even understand yet.)
He glanced at the ceiling fan, slow and steady, almost hypnotic.
(He said they wanted the whole setup. Not just investment. That means they want entry into Ashrock's local chain business. Probably logistics and storage, maybe retail expansion.)
(If I were them, I'd do the same—buy influence from the inside rather than compete.)
He smirked slightly. "Smart. But not smart enough."
---
A few days later, he made the call.
He didn't ask much, just a simple sentence:
"Tell your company representative I'd like to discuss the terms."
That same evening, a black sedan rolled quietly to a stop near his shop.
The man stepped out again—gray suit, polished shoes, and the same unreadable expression.
He greeted Ashburn politely and followed him inside, where the air smelled faintly of spice and tea.
Ashburn gestured to a chair. "Tea?"
"Sure," the man said, settling down. "Strong."
Ashburn poured the tea himself. "So," he began, tone calm, "you mentioned your company was interested in acquiring my setup. May I know which company we're talking about?"
The man looked up, eyes glinting slightly. "The Horizon Group."
The name rolled into the silence like a stone into still water.
Ashburn's pen stopped tapping.
(So it's really them… Horizon. The biggest logistics network in the southern region. Deep government connections. A giant in wholesale and distribution. If they want in here—it's not coincidence.)
He leaned back, thoughtful. "Horizon Group, huh. Impressive name to throw around in Ashrock."
"It's not for show," the man replied smoothly. "Our company plans to expand into mid-sized logistics and retail markets. Your shop's network, cold storage setup, and delivery structure already give you a competitive edge. We could scale that across districts."
Ashburn listened quietly, then nodded. "Sounds like a fair plan. And my role?"
"You'd manage the local operations, but under Horizon's umbrella," the man said. "You'd have salary, bonuses, full backing. But ownership would, naturally, transfer."
(Truth-Seeking — [Active])
[No deceit detected. The man's words align with his intentions.]
(Risk-Mapping — [Analyzing])
[Risk Level: 73% – Potential loss of autonomy, long-term dependency risk, future profit limitation.]
Ashburn's eyes stayed calm, but his mind moved fast.
(He's being honest—but honesty doesn't mean safety. This deal would make me an employee in my own dream.)
He smiled faintly. "I see. That's generous, but also… final."
The man tilted his head. "Meaning?"
"Meaning it leaves no room for me to grow beyond what Horizon allows."
A moment of silence passed between them, broken only by the quiet hum of the refrigerator in the back.
Then Ashburn leaned forward slightly. "Let me give you a counteroffer."
The man raised a brow. "Go on."
"I'll build my own chain," Ashburn said, voice calm, deliberate. "Branch by branch. I've already started expanding deliveries and storage. Within a year, I'll cover the outer sectors of Ashrock. After that, the nearby towns."
The man's lips curved in a polite, curious smile. "Ambitious."
"Ambition," Ashburn replied, "is free. Execution costs money."
He met the man's gaze squarely. "That's where your company comes in."
"How so?"
"You become my partner and backer," Ashburn said. "You don't invest a rupee, but you get exclusive rights to be the distributor and supplier for my chain. As I expand, your network expands. You'll earn steady profit and local influence without the cost of setup."
The man's eyes narrowed slightly. "You're suggesting a partnership instead of a purchase."
Ashburn nodded. "Exactly. No control lost on either side. You stay the giant. I stay the local hand. Together, we build something sustainable."
(Quick Appraisal — [Active])
[Opponent's composure: stable, curiosity level 48%, trust level 36%. Negotiation success probability: moderate.]
The man leaned back, studying him carefully.
"You're either very confident," he said slowly, "or very reckless."
Ashburn smiled faintly. "Confidence is what reckless people call caution."
That earned a small chuckle from the man. "You've got nerve, I'll give you that."
"I've got numbers too," Ashburn replied. "Cold storage expansion, delivery routes, profit growth—all verifiable. You can check my ledgers if you want."
"I already have," the man admitted. "You're doing surprisingly well for someone running from a small city."
Ashburn shrugged. "Growth doesn't care where it starts."
Silence lingered again.
Outside, the evening call to prayer echoed faintly from the mosque, mixing with the distant rumble of motorbikes and barking dogs.
Ashburn stood, refilling the man's cup.
"So," he said quietly, "will Horizon consider my proposal?"
The man stirred his tea once before replying. "I'll have to present it to the board. I can't promise their answer, but I'll make sure they hear your terms clearly."
"Fair enough," Ashburn said. "And tell them—my offer isn't about pride. It's about building something that lasts. Partnerships do that better than ownership."
The man nodded, finishing his tea. "I'll remember that."
He stood, buttoning his coat. "You'll hear from us soon."
Ashburn walked him to the door. The black sedan waited, engine humming quietly under the fading orange sky.
The man paused before getting in.
"You know," he said, glancing back, "most people would've taken the money."
Ashburn's smile was soft, almost tired. "Most people don't plan to keep walking after they're paid."
The man gave a short nod, then drove away, leaving a faint cloud of dust in the twilight.
Ashburn watched the car disappear into the horizon. The streetlights flickered on, one by one, bathing the road in dull yellow.
He stood there for a while, hands in his pockets, the quiet hum of the evening wrapping around him.
(So it begins again.)
He walked back into his shop, closing the shutters halfway. The familiar smell of spice and dust greeted him—his kingdom, small but his.
(Truth-Seeking) — still, the man's sincerity felt real.
(Risk Mapping) — the percentage of danger was high, but so was the reward.
(Quick Appraisal) — Horizon wouldn't reject immediately; curiosity had already hooked them.
He smiled faintly to himself.
"Let's see what kind of storm this one brings."
The system's faint whisper drifted in his mind again, quiet but clear.
> [Note: "Every alliance begins as a gamble. Only the patient make it profitable."]
Ashburn closed the shutters completely and turned off the lights.
The street outside was silent again, except for the night wind brushing against the metal boards.
Somewhere in that stillness, the next phase of his journey had already begun—
and far away, in the glowing towers of a city he had never seen, a boardroom full of men would soon decide his fate.