"Hm."
Gasco nodded and said to the kneeling merchants, "Rise."
The merchants trembled as they slowly stood, huddling together and casting fearful glances at Gasco and Steward Loren.
It was as if staying close could grant them some sense of security.
Thud.
Loren followed behind Gasco and tossed Netron's corpse in front of the merchants.
The body rolled a few times, finally coming to rest face-up.
The merchants could not help but glance at Netron.
Blood scabs covered his forehead; streaks of blood ran down his face; foam stained his lips; his chest caved inward…
He had died so miserably…
"You guild members have found the person I sought. According to the task I issued, I will pay you one hundred thousand gold coins as your reward."
"Viscount Gasco, our respect for you is as towering as mountains, as vast as the ocean."
"We are honored to serve you, and require no payment."
"Yes, yes, Viscount Gasco, we do not need payment."
Hearing the elder's words, the remaining merchants quickly echoed, as if fearing that hesitation would earn them the same fate as Netron.
Gasco furrowed his brow and snorted.
"What are you doing?"
"Do you think I cannot pay your reward?"
"No, no, Viscount Gasco! How could you not pay? It's just that—"
"Then that settles it."
Gasco waved his hand, interrupting the white-haired elder, and said to Loren, "Loren, settle their payment."
"Yes, Viscount Gasco."
Loren bowed slightly to Gasco, then approached the merchants. He reached into his robe and pulled out a purple-gold card, handing it to them.
"This is a Purple-Gold Card from the Imperial Bank. With this card, you may redeem one hundred thousand gold coins at any branch of the Imperial Bank."
Loren's heart bled.
This one hundred thousand gold coins had been painstakingly gathered—twenty thousand coins saved over the years serving Viscount Gasco, and eighty thousand coins skimmed from Netron's task reward.
To avoid raising suspicion, Loren had exchanged these coins for the Purple-Gold Card at the Imperial Bank in Gelmu City before Gasco went to meet Netron.
Yet, in the end, Gasco had seen through it.
Loren knew that Gasco bringing only twenty thousand coins in a bag, yet paying the merchants one hundred thousand coins, was punishment.
If he failed to hand over the full amount, Netron's fate would serve as a warning.
"Th-thank you, Viscount Gasco."
The elder hesitated, then bowed before Gasco and cautiously took the Purple-Gold Card from Loren.
Applying a bit of force, the elder was surprised—he couldn't even pull the card from Loren's hand.
As the elder tried to release his grip, Loren took a deep breath, pushed the card forward, and let go, slowly returning to Gasco.
"Viscount Gasco, their reward has been paid."
"Hmm."
Gasco nodded, then addressed the merchants.
"Our transaction is complete. Payment and goods have been settled, correct?"
"Yes, no issues, Viscount Gasco."
Seeing the Purple-Gold Card in the elder's hand, the merchants exhaled in relief.
Since Gasco was willing to pay, they were likely to survive.
However, Gasco's next words caused their hearts to tighten.
"Now, let us discuss the next matter."
"You may wonder why I killed Netron even though he completed the task I issued."
The merchants were puzzled; how could they know Gasco's reason?
Clatter…
Gasco tossed the gray money pouch in his hand, and coins spilled from it.
"I was delayed by certain matters, so I had Steward Loren withdraw one hundred thousand gold coins from the treasury to settle your reward."
"These coins are what Loren gave Netron. You may inspect them."
"This…"
The merchants glanced at one another. Finally, the elder stepped forward and lifted the pouch.
Immediately, his expression changed.
The amount was wrong!
One hundred thousand gold coins could not weigh so little.
As merchants accustomed to handling large sums, the elder knew instantly—this pouch contained barely twenty thousand coins.
A reward of one hundred thousand gold coins, yet less than twenty thousand had been delivered…
"So ruthless!"
The elder imagined that if he were in Netron's place, being so openly cheated, he would feel helpless.
Even more concerning—if Netron had left with just twenty thousand coins, how would the guild handle him?
Without the minimum foundation of trust, could the guild survive?
"I was about to properly thank the person who completed my task once I finished my affairs."
"But I was unexpectedly bumped right at the door."
Gasco adjusted his collar, showing the merchants the slight disarray from being struck by Netron.
Sss…
Hearing this, the merchants understood exactly how Netron had met his end.
"Viscount Gasco, we apologize regarding Guild President Netron."
It was obvious that after Loren's trick, Netron, in his panic, had violated one of Gasco's taboos.
"Hmm."
Gasco nodded, then addressed Loren:
"Loren, you have served as my steward in this city for many years. You have labored tirelessly and contributed much."
"Considering all your years of service, I will not kill you. However, from now on, you are no longer my steward."
With that, Gasco turned and walked into the mansion, hands behind his back.
Loren's expression changed drastically.
He had never imagined that Gasco would dismiss him over a mere eighty thousand coins!
"No, Viscount Gasco, I was wrong. Please, give me another chance…"
(End of Chapter)
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