Chương 1686: [1583] – Y07.083 – A Man of Silvers VIII

Two million copper. Two hundred thousand silver. Twenty thousand gold. The average Joe, working near daily for sixty years straight, would be able to earn half that coin in their life. It was that much coin the half elf had spent on such a weapon, a weapon which could be considered a step below his own axe, and if he had sold his axe to the Faro, she would not have spent so much coin.

"It seems we underestimated your pockets, Mo," Mohammed said, pouring the half elf the last of the kafa, while pushing forward the plate of desserts, wondering just how deep the half elf's pockets went.

"I hope you understand, that for the sake of my grandaunt, I needed to spend at least that much coin," Adam replied, with a sudden calmness about himself. It wasn't because he had spent roughly half his wealth on a singular object, nor that it felt evil to possess so much wealth, but that he had kept his promise to spend at least a hundred thousand silver, which was enough to satisfy his daughter's thirst for blood.

"Are we certain your name is not the Crazy Grandnephew?"

"If I'm crazy, what else matters?" Mohammed killed the ache within his heart, for what else could he do? If it was this half elf who wished to spend such coin, there was little he could do but to consider it a temporary loss. They had stepped onto the battlefield, and it was he, the one many thought a fool, the one called the Crazy Father, who was willing to overspend by several thousand gold upon a fine blade.

'I'll have to take good care of them,' the half elf thought, sipping his kafa lightly, before pushing a plate of fruit towards the older merchant, all the while the older Muhammed, who had bid against him a couple of times, kept the half elf within his gaze for a long moment. The Faro remained silent, for she had taken great losses during the auction, but her greatest losses came from the inability to spend as much coin as she wished.

However, there was only so much she was willing to spend, especially when she needed to prepare for the Reavers, and then, the inevitable war beyond. Twenty five thousand was roughly the price of fielding a company for two seasons, perhaps three if the company was to remain nearby.

However, if that blade was within the right hands, it would have been worth such, for a company was decent, but once an army was large enough, they would need greater warrior for greater matters, and such a blade might have been worth it in the hands of one of her elites, even her personal guard. It was a small wound to lose it, for the next sword… She could not allow the next blade to slip through her fingers, however.

Adam let slip a gasp, glancing aside to his wife for a moment, before reaching into his inner robe, taking out his book, flipping through the pages, jotting a number, completing the maths.

"What is wrong?"

"Well, you know…" The half elf bit his lower lip lightly.

"I mean… I can't use the business' wealth for that sword, since it's a gift from me to my grandaunt."

"Do you not have enough coin?"

"Darling, please," the half elf replied, wiggling his brows.

"I wouldn't have stepped up unless I could personally afford to take on such great merchants in a singular auction. However, you know how it is. I…" Vonda raised her brows. Stolen novel; please report.

"I just remember that I gifted some coin to certain… you know." The half elf had only just remembered he had gifted a princely sum to Urkina.

"I am certain Jirot will forgive me, for I have spent so much of my personal wealth on spoiling her greataunt."

"I am certain," Vonda half joked, shaking her head lightly, a small smile slipping across her lips.

'Just how vicious is his daughter?' Mohammed thought, for when he spoke of his children bullying him, it was only ever the one name. Alluard Emarak reached up to rub his chin lightly, his eyes darting between the other merchants and nobles, those of whom were ready for the next longsword. He would no need to worry about the fool of a half elf. It was that sword, after all. It was beautiful.

It was made of dreams, the steel bright, shimmering with purple, handle wrapped in leather as pure as untouched snow, the pommel bejewelled with an amethyst.

"It is said this blade formed out of the will of one's heart, and though the figure is unknown, we know they were active millennia ago, a time before the mountains had even formed within Aswadasad!" Dina's voice remained bright and vibrant as she spoke.

"This blade is considered Greater Enhanced, though its blade reaches further, and it holds capabilities to defend oneself several times each day!" Sword of One Heart (+2 Greatsword) Requires Attunement Deals 2D6 slash damage. Heart. The weapon's range is increased by 5 metres. Slumber. Three times each day you may Cast the Shield spell. This ability recharges with Mana, or at dawn.

'It's damage is fine, but…' The half elf couldn't help but consider the blade's range, as well as its ability to cast Shield, and not just three times per day, but as many times as one could recharge it. It wouldn't be a surprise to him if this sword would go for two hundred thousand gold even without him bidding.

'Now that I think about it, isn't this sword perfect for…' The bidding began at one hundred thousand. The half elf considered spending the business' money on it, but at the same time, he was fairly certain that would be untoward, even if he was the one to fill its coffers.

'Two hundred thousand silver for such a fine blade is not unreasonable,' Faro al-Yasin thought.

'Jirot will forgive me if I buy it for-,' the half elf thought, but they were interrupted.

"Mother," called a voice.

"May I borrow the business' wealth?"

"You may," she replied. Adam glanced aside to Jurot, who stared at the sword, deep in thought.

"You want to buy it?"

"Yes." Adam wanted to make the most obvious joke, but seeing how intensely the Iyrman was staring at the sword, he reached into his inner pocket and brought out his book. The Iyrman's eyes fell upon the numbers, though the half elf tapped the number to the other side.

"What is the number to the left?"

"That's how much money my wife will allow me to spend," the half elf joked. Jurot blinked.

"When did you possess such wealth?"

"I bet a lot of money on Kitool winning that tournament." Pam peeked down at the book from the side, her head snapping towards it when she saw the numbers on the page, her mouth opening wide, covering her mouth quickly with a hand, her eyes darting up towards her husband, who apparently hadn't known, or had forgotten, how much wealth both his brother and the business had possessed.

"Brother, how much-," Lanarot began, though Jurot clasped a hand over her mouth.

"You cannot see, you cannot speak, you cannot hear," Jurot said, causing his sister to close her eyes, placing her hands over her ears, as Jurot leaned in to Adam.

"How much?"

"Half?" Adam offered, since they needed some wealth.

"That should be enough?"

"Okay," Jurot replied.

"Half of this number, by the way," Adam said, tapping the top corner of the book.

"Are you certain?"

"I have a few ideas on how to not go bankrupt, and also, we are about to speak with the Amira, and then on the way back, once we've left her wanting, we'll speak with the Faro," Adam whispered, but he whispered in the same way as his sister, which was to say he was behaving a fool, but his words, if left unspoken, were wise.

"If nothing else, we'll join a tournament, bet ten thousand on each of us winning, win, and then we'll come and play with the nobles and merchants again."

"Okay," Jurot said, taking a long moment while his wife was currently still in shock, having not dared to ask about the business' wealth, nor even did she consider asking the half elf, who had apparently spent eight thousand of his own wealth to gift to Urkina, and then even more of the business' wealth. Dina waited, glad it wasn't the half elf, who hadn't even thought to ask his wife to spend the coin under her name to allow the merchants and nobles to save face.

Jurot remained silent for a long moment, then as he turned to look towards the Faro, he considered her position.

'I wonder how much a castle costs…' Pam thought.

"Three hundred thousand silver," Jurot finally said, causing his wife to openly guffaw at him, the woman withdrawing slightly, pulling Lanarot closer towards her, as though the girl would protect her from the eyes of the elite of Arisa.

"Do you see how much he's bullying me?" Adam whispered.

"You deserve it," Vonda replied, bringing a piece of the soft cake to her husband's lips, who instantly gave in to her.