As they settled in for the night, Halven's mind began to wander back to Sophia. He couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to her than met the eye.
Just as he was starting to drift off to sleep, Halven heard a faint scratching sound coming from the window. He sat up in bed, his heart racing, and looked over at Kurten.
"What was that?" Halven whispered.
Kurten's eyes were already open, and he was staring intently at the window. "I don't know," Kurten whispered back, "but I think we're about to find out."
As they watched, a small piece of parchment was slipped through the window and landed on the floor with a soft rustle.
Halven got out of bed and picked up the parchment, examining it carefully. It was a note, written in a code that Halven didn't recognize.
Kurten took the note from Halven and examined it carefully. After a moment, his eyes lit up with understanding.
"It's from Sophia," Kurten whispered. "She wants to meet us at the old windmill on the outskirts of town at midnight."
Halven's heart was racing with excitement. What could Sophia want with them at midnight? And why was she being so secretive?
As they waited for midnight to arrive, Halven couldn't shake the feeling that they were in for a wild adventure.
Z
As the clock struck midnight, Halven and Kurten made their way to the old windmill on the outskirts of town. The wind was blowing strongly, and the creaking of the windmill's blades echoed through the night air.
When they arrived at the windmill, Sophia was already there, her figure silhouetted against the moonlight. She beckoned them to follow her, and they made their way inside the windmill.
The interior of the windmill was dimly lit, the only sound the creaking of the blades and the rustling of the grain that was stored there. Sophia led them to a small room at the top of the windmill, where a single candle flickered, casting eerie shadows on the walls.
"What's going on, Sophia?" Halven asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Sophia's eyes gleamed in the candlelight. "I have a proposal for you," she said. "One that could change your lives forever.
"What kind of proposal?" Kurten asked, his eyes narrowing slightly.
Sophia smiled, her lips curving upwards. "I have a contact who is willing to invest in your trading business," she said. "But there's a catch."
Halven's heart skipped a beat. "What's the catch?" he asked.
Sophia's eyes seemed to gleam with excitement. "The investor is willing to provide a significant amount of capital," she said. "But in return, they want a share of the profits. And not just any share."
Kurten's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean?" he asked.
Sophia's smile grew wider. "The investor wants a majority share," she said. "They want control of the business."
Halven's mind was racing. A majority share? That meant they would have to answer to the investor, and they would have limited control over the business.
"What do you think?" Sophia asked, her eyes glinting with curiosity.
Halven looked at Kurten, who was frowning thoughtfully. "I don't know," Kurten said. "It's a lot to give up."
Sophia nodded. "I understand your concerns," she said. "But I think this could be a great opportunity for you. The investor is willing to provide a significant amount of capital, and they have connections that could help you expand your business."
Halven's mind was still racing. He didn't know what to do. Part of him wanted to take the risk and see where it would lead. But another part of him was hesitant, unsure if they were making a mistake.
As he looked at Kurten, he saw that his friend was thinking the same thing. They exchanged a glance, and then Kurten spoke up.
"We need to think about this," Kurten said. "Can we have some time to discuss it?"
Sophia nodded. "Of course," she said. "I'll give you a day to think about it. But after that, the offer will be off the table."
Halven nodded, feeling a sense of relief. They had a day to think about it, to weigh the pros and cons. And then they would have to make a decision.z
As they left the windmill, Halven and Kurten walked in silence, each lost in their own thoughts. They didn't speak until they were back in their room, the door closed behind them.
"Well, what do you think?" Kurten asked, breaking the silence.
Halven shook his head. "I don't know," he said. "It's a lot to give up."
Kurten nodded. "I know what you mean," he said. "But we also have to think about the potential benefits. With that kind of capital, we could really make a name for ourselves in the trading world."
Halven sighed. "I know," he said. "But I just can't shake the feeling that we're taking a risk."
Kurten clapped him on the back. "We'll figure it out, kiddo," he said. "We always do."
But as they settled in for the night, Halven couldn't shake the feeling that they were standing at a crossroads, and the choice they made would determine the course of their lives forever.
As they drifted off to sleep, Halven's mind was still racing with thoughts of the proposal. He couldn't shake the feeling that Sophia was hiding something from them, and that the investor's offer was too good to be true.
The next morning, Halven and Kurten decided to do some research on the investor and the proposal. They spent the morning gathering information and talking to people around town.
As they sat down to lunch, Kurten looked at Halven with a serious expression. "I've been thinking," Kurten said. "I don't think we should do it."
Halven's eyes widened in surprise. "Why not?" he asked.
Kurten leaned in, his voice low. "I've been asking around, and I found out some things about the investor," Kurten said. "They're not exactly reputable."
Halven's heart sank. He had been hoping that the proposal would be a way for them to make a name for themselves in the trading world, but now it seemed like it might be a recipe for disaster.
"What did you find out?" Halven asked, his curiosity getting the better of him.
Kurten hesitated, as if unsure of how to proceed. "I'll tell you," Kurten said finally. "But you have to promise not to tell anyone else."
Halven's eyes narrowed. "I promise," he said.
Kurten took a deep breath. "The investor is involved in some shady dealings," Kurten said. "They're rumored to be connected to the black market, and some people even say they're involved in smuggling." And you know what we've been through in avna.
Halven's eyes widened in shock. He had never suspected that the investor might be involved in something like that.
"What are we going to do?" Halven asked, feeling a sense of unease.
Kurten's expression was grim. "We're going to turn down the proposal," Kurten said. "We can't afford to get mixed up in something like that."
Halven nodded in agreement. He knew that Kurten was right. They had to be careful, and they couldn't afford to take any unnecessary risks.
But as they left the tavern and walked back to their room, Halven couldn't shake the feeling that they were making a mistake. He had a feeling that Sophia and the investor were not going to take no for an answer...