Death!
Sarah's heart throbbed in pain. The smell of death was so strong that it penetrated her heart with grief.
She was gathering some herbs at her mentor's garden when she was suddenly overcome with great anguish.
Deep anguish will definitely flow later tonight. She mumbled as she clenched her heart.
Meanwhile, Diana hold on to the crying little kid. Her tears were a stream of river! One can feel the throbbing sorrow from her cries.
Diana couldn't say a word to comfort the little kid who just lost her grandfather. She can only embrace her tight and mourned with her.
He's dead. Simon died as soon as he relayed his final message for Liam. It pained her to received his last words instead of Liam.
Liam had been longing to see and hear the old man talk for the last time. Though he couldn't accept it yet but he knew in his heart that the man wouldn't last long. But what will he feel once he learnt that the man died while he was settling the Sven's problem? Will he hate them even more?
Diana prayed silently. Hope not.
"We will take the corpse at the Nahshon's residence." Asher went near Diana.
"Ehm." She nodded in response.
Drake came to the infirmary to assist Asher as soon as he heard about Simon's death. His grandfather told him to usher the corpse at the mansion house since it concerned Liam.
Cole, on the other hand, waited for Liam at the City's entrance.
"What do you say?" Admah waited for the Sven brother's decision. They owed him a great debt plus killing his collector was a grave sin that they must pay with their own lives.
The head of the Gadites wanted to make them his slaves for the rest of their lives. However, Liam's proposition seemed way better than his plan.
"Let them serve you by paying you seventy percent of their crops every time they harvest. As you know, they owned a vast land in Rouen but the few lands they used as a collateral won't actually do you any good. Even if you take that portion, you won't benefit from it. And even if you make them your slaves for the rest of their lives, you won't even profit from them. The fact that you lost a great portion of your wealth will never change." It was Liam's suggestion.
Admah didn't actually think about the profit since he was determined to punished the sinful family for breaching the contract. But Liam was right, he won't get a dime from them even if he makes them slaves.
Hmmm… Liam seemed wiser than what he thought.
"You are a man of your words and I truly respect you for that. Although your ways for doing your business is quite excessive but the fact that you respect your own word is something I admired the most. Not all group leaders possessed such integrity as yours."
"Ho ho!" He laughed out loud. "I didn't expect to receive such compliment from a great man. But thank you." He was sincere and Liam can sense that. "When you said excessive, what do you mean by that?" He suddenly became serious. "Do you have any good suggestion for my business?" Admah was seemingly challenging him.
"Since you asked me then I shall I voice my thought."
"Please do."
"I think the interest you are using is quite high. Forty-five percent is totally absurd. If you want to expand your business and increase your profit, why don't you lower it down? Meet your clients halfway, or better yet in an amount they can at least pay in a short period of time. If you do that, every merchant and workers might flock to borrow your money. Besides, you won't lose anything. Ten percent might be small in your eyes but once gathered together, it'll sum up to something."
"Wait. You are suggesting that I should bring it down to ten percent?" Admah raised his brow in disappointment.
"Yes. As I have told you, you won't lose a dime if you try that. Also, your clients will increase. You will not only tend the middle and royal class but even the average workers and lower class. In addition, you'll earn people's trust and respect. Isn't it better to be considered respectful than be feared because of one's ferociousness?" He grinned meaningfully.
Admah pondered at the young man's advised. "You're trying to make me look good in the eyes of men, huh." He hissed.
"Because I think you are." He chuckled.
The man was right and he has a point. Dang! he never thought that an uneducated person can be this wise. Looked like being wise and knowledgeable doesn't depend at someone's education alone. In addition, the man's sincerity resounded to him greatly. He was not trying to mess his business, in fact, he was helping him out!
"S-seventy forty?" The eldest of the Sven brothers muttered. "Isn't that a bit unfair?"
"Yeah, I told Liam that same thing!" Admah spiced up. "It should be 90-10 because I suffered a great lost because of you. I don't think that was reasonable either?"
"Wait, 90-10? That was way----" He couldn't get the courage to speak up. Admah's gaze was murderous enough that he feared he might lose his life anytime soon.
"I am against that system too but Liam told me that you have a lot of servants to feed. You should consider his grace upon you because I prefer making you my slaves for the rest of your life. But the choice is yours to decide with."
It was early evening when the deal with Admah and the Sven brothers ended. At the end, the three brothers agreed with Liam's proposition. Their pride couldn't accept their fate from Admah's hands so better go with Liam's scheme. At least they still have their freedom.
Admah made them signed a contract agreement that last for twenty-five years. Then five of his men along with one of his advisor sent the three men back to their homes. The advisor was tasked to informed the whole family about the agreement.
"Thank you for coming." Admah shook the man's hand before he totally left his territory.
***Liam sprint back to the city as soon as he bid Admah adieu. He was not sure but something within him tells him to return as soon as possible.