"Additional investment in Class A goods has exceeded 259%. And that's only the tally from yesterday. Investors are going to surge again over the next two days.
"It seems the civilians and small merchants who were still waiting and watching have finally opened their wallets."
In the top-floor office of Mistsea Trading Company, Ivankov stood before the floor-to-ceiling windows, a cigarette between his lips and his hands in his pockets. He watched the crowds below, lined up around the storefront as if they were waiting to shop at some famous fruit company's store during the millennium in another world. He didn't need to hear a thing. Just looking at the sea of people was enough to tell how frenzied these wealth-hungry investors had become.
He said quietly,
"Sigh. I really did give them a chance to walk away."
"I told you before, Ivan. What you gave them wasn't a chance. It was a more lethal poisoned bait. Civilians are always cautious. They won't be swayed by the exaggerated promises that the self-important lords believe. They only care about what they can see with their own eyes.
"They're practical. But a lot of the time, being practical just makes them more vulnerable to the temptation of what's right in front of them.
"Yesterday's dividends proved that investing in Class A goods really could make money. All they have to do is pour their life savings into a beautiful dream, then wait to get rich overnight.
"And those who actually received dividends are even less likely to quit while they're ahead. In fact, fewer than fifty customers took their dividends yesterday and stopped investing."
The shadow elf secretary, Gwynevere, stood beside Ivankov with a folder in her arms. There was no pity in her eyes as she looked down at the crowd,