Roderick rode his horse through the bustling construction site, where dust and the smell of sweat filled the air.
He was followed by only thirty guards, but the heavy money chests on a few packhorses made their every step remarkably solid. When he saw Arthur, the young lord was standing in front of a newly built wooden house, discussing a rough blueprint with Barna and Evelyn.
Roderick dismounted, his expression constantly changing, a mix of excitement, the fatigue of travel, and a hint of barely concealed ambition. He was considering how to tell Arthur about Tyrell Family. Originally, this young lord could have become wealthier than some great nobles with this treasure, and so could he.
Roderick clenched his fists, truly unwilling.
"Lord Arthur," Roderick sighed, bowing, his voice a little hoarse.
Arthur looked at the travel-worn Roderick and his large chests, a smile on his face.
Inside the Lions Den, the council hall was extremely simple, with a long wooden table and a few rough chairs. Several of Roderick's guards carried a heavy wooden chest and placed it on the table. The moment the lid opened, although there was no golden light, it almost stung people's eyes, and people gasped.
"This is the payment from Tyrell Family for the purchase! One thousand Gold Dragons!" Roderick's voice trembled slightly. He stared intently at Arthur's face, trying to catch a hint of greed or ecstasy, but he was disappointed. Arthur was indeed happy, but he did not lose his composure. His gaze lingered on the Gold Dragons for only a moment before turning to Barna.
Arthur said in a calm tone, as if ordering dinner, "Count out three hundred and give them to Sir Roderick. He deserves them."
Roderick was startled. Three hundred Gold Dragons. He hadn't even brought up the topic of a share, and the other party had so straightforwardly honored their initial verbal promise. In Westeros, the promises and credibility of nobles and merchants were often cheaper than the love of a courtesan; defaulting on debts and deductions were commonplace. This young lord's decisive action made him feel a sense of unreality and immense shock.
Arthur interrupted his rambling, gesturing for him to continue: "Now, let's talk about Tyrell Family's conditions."
Arthur knew that great nobles were not easy to deal with, and Tyrell Family's money was not that easy to take, especially from that old woman.
In this delicate atmosphere, Roderick took a deep breath and recounted Lady Olenna's agreement word for word:
"During the period that Tyrell Family produces replicas, you cannot produce this item, nor are you allowed to sell this item to anyone else."
Roderick chose his words carefully, each word like walking on a knife's edge. He observed Arthur's reaction, but the expected rage, unwillingness, or humiliated resentment did not appear. The young lord merely listened quietly.
When he finished, the council hall fell silent. People looked at Arthur.
After only a moment, Arthur looked up: "Yes!"
Roderick suspected his ears were playing tricks on him: "What did you say? My Lord?"
"I said yes, I agree," Arthur confirmed again, his tone as calm as if he were saying the weather was nice today.
Roderick was completely stunned. He almost blurted out: "My Lord! You... you just gave up like that? This is a mountain of gold! A mountain of gold that could make your family rich for countless generations in an instant!"
Arthur looked at Roderick strangely, not understanding why he was more agitated than himself.
"Have you heard an old saying from the Riverlands, 'A snake trying to swallow an elephant because of insatiable greed'?" Arthur said steadily, his voice not loud, but clearly reaching Roderick's ears.
Roderick shook his head blankly, while Evelyn's eyes widened. Where were there elephants in the Riverlands?
Arthur felt that Roderick seemed a bit off. He paused, his gaze sweeping over the dazzling Gold Dragons on the table, and kindly advised:
"I just happened to pick up a huge piece of gold by the river, but I don't have enough strength to protect it. If I cling to it, soon, the vultures, hyenas, and those stronger lions who smell it will all come to feast on me."
"Insatiable greed is like a snake trying to swallow an elephant."
These words left Roderick speechless. He felt that he was not facing a young lord from a small place, but he was still unwilling and said urgently, "Then, My Lord! Now Tyrell Family is willing to buy all your existing stock at a high price! As long as you can provide more! The profits will still be astronomical!"
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