svetikya Chapter 46 Tiberius: Go and inquire about it; my uncle and I have always had a good reputation.
Chapter 46 Tiberius: Go and inquire about it; my uncle and I have always had a good reputation.
Looking at the slaves before him, Tiberius quickly made plans in his mind, but a warm, spring-like smile appeared on his face.
He walked over to the merchant in charge of the slaves, pointed to the seventy-odd debt slaves who had been separated, and said in a relaxed tone as if he were buying a basket of fruit: "Here you go, boss, I'll take all seventy-eight of them. Here are one hundred and eighty gold coins, what do you think?" He casually tossed a heavy money bag onto the wooden table in front of the merchant, making a reassuring thud.
The merchant's eyes lit up, and a professional smile immediately spread across his face. He quickly weighed the money pouch in his hand and nodded repeatedly, "Yes, yes! You're very generous, sir!"
He was not dissatisfied with the price he paid for over seventy debt slaves.
However, Tiberius showed no sign of ending the deal. He stepped forward, almost whispering in the merchant's ear, entering a more private conversation, his voice lowered.
"I have another order, and I'd like to discuss it in a... well, a more private place." Tippili lowered his voice, then pulled another money pouch from his pocket.
The businessman's eyes widened in astonishment.
By the Lord of Light, this young master carries so many gold coins with him? He's truly a wealthy young master!
"Alright, alright! Young master, please come in!"
Tiberius sat imposingly in his chair and said bluntly:
"Boss, I hope you can sell me their wives and children as well..." He saw the merchant's expression change slightly and immediately raised his hand to signal him to calm down.
"Don't rush, I certainly won't shortchange you on the money... You're a reasonable person. Think about it, all the men in your family have been taken away by me, leaving behind those orphans and widows. Who will take care of them here? They have no one to rely on in this world, how pitiful. Your good deeds are accumulating virtue, and the King of Light will see it!"
The merchant's face instantly darkened, and his tone became harsh: "Young master, this is against the rules! Some of the women and children have already been reserved by other guests. No way!"
"Besides, do you have enough money to buy so many people at once? I have my doubts."
Tiberius's smile remained unchanged, but his eyes held an unwavering determination: "Listen, do me a favor, make an exception. I won't shortchange you on the money." He then took out a smaller money pouch and placed it on the table. "Here are eighty gold coins, as a deposit. It was a last-minute decision, and this is all the cash I have on me right now. I'll send the rest to you tomorrow..."
"Who do you think you are!" The merchant, enraged by his harassment, raised his voice, his tone laced with offended anger. "Pointing fingers at me? Do you think this is some backwater market where you can just buy whatever you want? Watch out, or I'll give you a couple of punches..."
His tone then became extremely disrespectful.
"Judging from your accent, you're from Westeros, aren't you? Let me tell you, this is the rule of Essos. If you don't follow our traditions, get out!"
Faced with the merchant's anger, Tiberius's smile did not diminish in the slightest; on the contrary, it became even more composed. He said slowly and deliberately, "Listen, friend, don't get angry. Why don't you ask around? My uncle and I have always had a very good reputation here in Essos, and even throughout the whole region." He paused deliberately, not mentioning his name for the time being, but his sharp gaze swept over a rather inconspicuous emblem on the merchant's robe.
"You are... a merchant from the Hein family? You work for Governor Rega Hein?"
Just as the merchant was slightly taken aback by the accurate revelation of his background, Tiberius casually raised his right hand, straightened his collar, and a delicately designed ring engraved with the Rogal family crest was clearly visible on his finger.
"What a coincidence, I work for young master Lisanro Rogáre." Tiberius's voice remained calm, yet carried an invisible pressure. "My name is Tiberius, Tiberius Mode. Some people call me 'Lightning Boy,' and my uncle is Jules Mode, the 'Keeper of Faith,' commander of the White Legion. I suppose that name is somewhat well-known?"
These messages, however, struck like a thunderbolt, instantly shattering all the anger on the businessman's face.
His face instantly went from ashen to deathly pale, then from deathly pale to a flushed, almost fawning, panicked red. He hunched over, his hands nervously wringing together, his tone becoming incredibly obsequious and ingratiating:
"Ah! This... By the Lord of Light! Ouch, ouch... Look at my blind eyes!" He wished he could slap himself twice.
"So it's Master Tiberius! My apologies, my utmost apologies! Money? Oh dear, money isn't everything! Talking about money is too hurtful!" He hurriedly pushed the small money bag containing thirty gold coins back onto the table. "Here, one hundred and eighty gold coins will suffice! Take all these people, and their families, with you!"
Seeing that Tiberius was still only looking at him with that enigmatic smile, he felt even more uneasy. Gritting his teeth, he said as if cutting off a piece of his own flesh, "Alright! Young Master Tiberius, let's be friends! Eighty coins! Just eighty gold coins! You can take all these people with you! Consider this money my tribute to you and Young Master Lisanro, as a token of our friendship!"
Tiberius finally spoke, his smile unchanged, but his tone tinged with amusement: "Really?"
The businessman almost knelt down. He knew that the Hein family and the Rojaer family were currently in close alliance. Offending the favorite of young master Lisangluo would mean that he would not only lose this deal, but he would also have a hard time making a living in Ries.
Besides, they really do have knives in their hands. In the Kingdom of Three Daughters, who doesn't know the story of how the "Trustworthy One" executed the entire family of the treacherous Tyrosi employer?
With a sob in his voice, he pleaded, "Young Master! Young Master Tiberius! Please have mercy! I won't take a single penny of the money! I'll personally deliver the person to your residence tonight, and I'll handle all the formalities perfectly. I'll even give the person a thorough cleaning. What do you say? I only ask that you put in a good word for me with Young Master Lisanluo..."
Tiberius, seeing the other man's sudden change from arrogance to obsequiousness and his near collapse, knew the time was right.
Tiberius patted the merchant on the shoulder, his smile still warm. He gently picked up the bag of gold coins on the table and stuffed it back into the merchant's hand without allowing any refusal: "Look at what you're saying! I, Tiberius Mode, never mistreat my friends. I value friendship, and even more so... dignity." He deliberately emphasized the word "dignity."
The merchant held the bag of gold coins as if it were burning coals; he didn't know whether to accept it or not. He forced a smile that looked more like a grimace, almost kneeling down: "Young Master...you...you're so generous! Alright! We'll do as you say! I'll have them all brought here right away, washed clean, and personally delivered to your residence! I guarantee not a single one will be missing!"
Tiberius nodded in satisfaction, patted the merchant on the shoulder, and spoke to him in a friendly tone as if he were talking to an old friend.
It's a bit comical that a twelve-year-old boy is filming a businessman in his thirties.
"Very good, very good. Well then, remember, we're friends now. There might be more opportunities to work together in the future."
"A glass of milk, please, with honey, but no sugar, thank you." Tiberius covered the rim of the glass with his hand as he saw the merchant about to fill Tiberius's glass with wine.
"I'm still too young, aren't I?"