Drawing Cakes

Loans and collateral credit?

Angst froze for a moment at Vivian’s words.

Her merchant instincts quickly caught the subtle shift in terminology—not “payment,” but “discussion.”

“Exactly.”

Vivian nodded, leaning forward slightly, her hands elegantly crossed over her knees.

Her posture suggested not negotiation but the statement of an established fact.

“First, neither I nor Evernight Territory currently possess the assets to cover such a steep cost.

Moreover, I have an agreement with the Winter Demon Lord, granting Winter Territory trade priority and privileges as the first to offer aid.

Given our current state, we frankly have little to offer.”

She openly admitted Evernight’s struggles, her tone devoid of any embarrassment.

“But—Chief Manager Angst, you must recognize the value of an Evernight Crystal of this quality.”

“Indeed, a crystal of this caliber, if brought to the imperial capital for a high-end auction and timed with demand, could fetch an extraordinary price.”

Angst took a deep breath, speaking softly.

Vivian chuckled lightly, watching as the drow continued.

“Would Chief Manager Angst be interested in becoming… my, or rather, Evernight’s first investor?”

Vivian’s hands remained crossed, her tone relaxed, as if Angst’s decision were inconsequential.

“First investor?”

Angst echoed, intrigued by the phrasing.

“Correct. First investor.”

Vivian nodded.

“Evernight Territory is in the midst of rebuilding from ruins.

Over the past months, I’ve found ways to tap into the latent energy beneath this land.

Now, we urgently need manpower.”

She spoke slowly, her eyes locked on Angst’s golden pupils, each word deliberate.

“Chief Manager, I trust your wisdom understands a fundamental truth:

A hand extended to one mired in hardship is worth far more than a thousand praises heaped upon success.

Aid in times of need is remembered for a lifetime, while flattery in times of prosperity is mere fleeting mediocrity.”

Her fingers rhythmically tapped the nearby table, producing crisp sounds.

“With my honor and reputation as Demon Lord as my bond, I guarantee that investing in Evernight now will yield returns far exceeding this ‘loan’ in the future.”

With that, Vivian tossed the price list back to Angst and sat back, awaiting her response.

Her offer was on the table; now it was up to Angst to take the bait.

Truthfully, this was a classic empty-handed gambit.

The Evernight Crystal she’d presented was scraped from the mine’s core—

Or rather, not quite “scraped.” Strictly speaking, it was the “shed skin” from the core’s [transformation], something like that.

Even so, the core’s material far surpassed market value.

Evernight’s crystals were undeniably improving in quality—a recognized fact.

This was Vivian’s strongest card in attracting “investment.”

As for further development? That was still a distant dream, pure rhetoric to entice Angst.

But in investments, the greater the risk, the richer the reward.

Vivian had laid out the stakes; now it was up to the ruthless drow merchant to decide.

Angst fell silent.

She no longer gazed at the crystal that had sent her heart racing.

Her silver-white hair fell forward, obscuring much of her face, revealing only a taut jawline and pursed lips.

Her fingers absently traced the edges of cold gemstones set in her attire.

Time seemed to stretch, the incense’s scent creeping back to fill the stifling silence.

Aria, standing beside Vivian, held her breath, tension mounting.

“…Interesting.”

Angst rubbed her chin, a playful smile curling her lips after a moment of thought.

Her voice returned to its usual languid tone.

“Your Highness, this empty-handed gambit of yours is truly intriguing.”

‘As expected, she saw through it,’ Vivian thought.

Yet her heart remained unruffled, even finding it predictable.

“Of course.”

A drow who’d risen to Chief Manager of the Goldmelt Caravan’s First Division, commanding such a formidable force, was no fool to be swayed by mere “future” promises.

Vivian hadn’t expected a few words to secure Angst’s full support.

This was an open gambit—she’d shown her cards, betting on whether Angst would risk the potential rewards.

This wasn’t a deception, though.

If Vivian’s plans succeeded, Evernight could indeed yield immense value.

Her reforms, now months in motion, had proven effective in restoring the territory.

Her approach was sound; all it needed was time to translate into tangible results.

“Your proposal is… very intriguing. The potential returns could set any ambitious merchant’s blood ablaze.”

Angst’s tone shifted, her golden eyes glinting with shrewdness.

“But this is a weighty matter, and I cannot decide immediately.”

She sat up straighter, meeting Vivian’s gaze directly.

“With just this one crystal, I cannot make a decision.

This requires approval from the caravan’s headquarters.”

“…And?”

“Seven days.”

Angst replied slowly.

“Within seven days, we will give Your Highness a definitive answer.”

“To show my personal sincerity and the Goldmelt Caravan’s initial optimism toward Evernight’s rebuilding…”

She chose her words carefully.

“As First Chief Manager, I’m authorized to lend a portion of this caravan’s goods—approximately three hundred laborers with basic skills and one hundred sturdy war slaves capable of heavy work—to

Evernight City for temporary use.

Consider it a ‘deposit’ or ‘trial’ for our early cooperation.

No immediate payment is required.

We’ll settle accounts after the decision in seven days.”

“Seven days? Fair enough.”

Vivian wasn’t overly surprised by the response.

“Use these seven days to observe Evernight City and the territory.

See if my domain is worth your investment.”

She spoke confidently, certain of Evernight’s current state.

The seven-day timeline was reasonable—Angst’s spies were likely already gathering intelligence across the territory.

Vivian never underestimated her opponents, even allies within the Demon Clan.

The offer of a “trial” was unexpected, though.

But free labor was not to be refused, especially with Evernight’s dire need for workers.

Vivian saw no reason to decline.

In return, she produced a few more high-purity Evernight Crystals, plucked from the mine’s core, and handed them to Angst.

“Consider these a deposit.”

Vivian smiled faintly at the dark elf.