Chapter 220: Getting Paid and New Contract

The Ironcrest Company and Darius exchanged brief looks before the discussion resumed.

"So," the merchant 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 merchant spoke.

That was putting it lightly.

"Even so," the man continued, sliding a parchment 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 enchantment bases."

"Segments of the wings. The membrane is torn, but the skeletal structure remains intact. That alone has multiple uses in reinforcement and alchemy."

Arlen leaned closer, scanning the list.

"...How many usable pieces are we talking about?"

The merchant 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 fragments, sections of the spine... some survived the impact. Not all, but sufficient."

Garrick folded his arms.

"So anything that wasn’t turned to ash."

The merchant 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 merchant reached into a case beside him and pulled out a document.

"As expected," he said, placing it neatly on the table, "I do not rely on spoken agreements."

He slid it forward.

"A formal contract."

Arlen raised a brow.

"...You had this ready already?"

The merchant smiled faintly.

"I prefer to be prepared."

Seris stepped forward and picked up the document, reading line by line.

"Read carefully," the merchant added. "It grants me full ownership of the remains."

Darius leaned forward slightly.

"Define full ownership."

The answer came without delay.

"Collection, transport, processing, and resale. Once signed, everything becomes mine."

Garrick scoffed.

"So after that, it’s completely out of our hands."

"Yes."

Lyra hesitated.

"...And payment?"

The merchant tapped the contract lightly.

"Eighty million kinah. Paid immediately after signing."

Arlen crossed his arms.

"No delays?"

"None," the merchant 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 merchant met her gaze.

"Then I take the loss."

That made Arlen raise an eyebrow.

"So you’re betting it’s worth more."

The merchant smiled slightly.

"I do not invest in losing outcomes."

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 me."

Lyra still looked unsure, but she stayed quiet.

Seris met 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 document forward.

Arlen took it next.

"Guess we’re rich," he muttered as he signed.

Garrick followed, gripping the quill with firm hands.

"About time," 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 merchant retrieved the contract and checked each name.

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 merchant 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 merchant 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 merchant stood by the table.

Watching him.

Not the group.

Just him.

"Yeah?"

Seris studied the merchant for a moment.

"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 merchant spoke calmly.

"My sources tell me 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 merchant said. "Which is why I want to hire you."

Darius raised a brow.

"You want me specifically?"

"Yes."

"For what?"

The merchant folded his hands.

"I have a shipment 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." 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

"Yes."

Darius let out a short breath.

"Why not take another route?"

"Because time is a factor," the merchant replied. "Going around would delay delivery by a month. That would breach my agreement and cost me 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 me to escort something through a place even top-tier parties avoid."

"Yes."

"Alone."

"Yes."

Darius raised an eyebrow.

"You’ve got confidence."

The merchant shook his head slightly.

"I have data. You accomplished something 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 merchant’s expression did not shift.

"Sealed."

Darius narrowed his eyes.

"That tells me nothing."

"That is intentional."

Darius exhaled.

"So I walk into a death zone carrying something 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 merchant 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 merchant 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 merchant replied. "Anyone capable would ask."

Darius gave a small nod.

"Good."

The merchant returned to the table and pulled out another document.

"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 agreement."

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 agreement."

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 agreement."

"Why not take another route?"

"Because time is a factor," the merchant replied. "Going around would delay delivery by a month. That would breach my agreement and cost me 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 me to escort something through a place even top-tier parties avoid."

"Yes."

"Alone."

"Yes."

Darius raised an eyebrow.

"You’ve got confidence."

The merchant shook his head slightly.

"I have data. You accomplished something 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 merchant’s expression did not shift.

"Sealed."

Darius narrowed his eyes.

"That tells me nothing."

"That is intentional."

Darius exhaled.

"So I walk into a death zone carrying something 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 merchant 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 merchant 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 merchant replied. "Anyone capable would ask."

Darius gave a small nod.

"Good."

The merchant returned to the table and pulled out another document.

"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 agreement."