She stared at him as she said, "I will continue to force your hand for as long as I can. You either stain your hand with blood and build your character, or you abstain from doing things that will soften you. Your choice."
Arthur was frustrated. He felt frustrated that he was being forced to do things he didn't want to do.
He doesn't consider himself soft. As a businessman who can be honest with himself, he has never been soft. He has done shady things in his life.
In fact, some of the things he had done had led to the death of others. But he had been able to deal with that since it was nothing personal. It was just business.
So he wasn't soft. If he wasn't getting some benefits from giving those children bread, he wouldn't be waking up early in the morning since he was three to do so.
He did it because it helped him immensely. Just the first benefit from it has helped him reach where he is right now. So he will surely pursue it.
