On the bright side, Annan would only betray them if the scales of Victory tipped against them. As long as the situation in Middle Earth remained stable, he would not turn into something like Greedy Fangs Reeves or Filthy Cavern Reeves.
The War Envoy and Gandhi headed back with their assessment of Free City and a lavish gift from Olmedo—a Mountain Copper Matchlock.
It was a lavish gift indeed. Enough Mountain Copper for a gun barrel cost over a thousand Gold Narls, the equivalent of giving away two bottles of Jade Essence.
Annan suddenly clutched his chest. It hurt. Olmedo told him to look at the bigger picture: the War Envoy represented the Emperor of the Empire's will and belonged to the military. Building good relations with them mattered. If nothing else, the Military Affairs Department allocated the rewards for hunting Ratfolk ears.
"You can't catch a fish if you won't spend the bait."
Leila, walking past with a Fishing Rod over her shoulder, poked her head in. "Did I hear you talking about fish?"
Olmedo explained that sometimes you had to give something up to gain more. Leila looked thoughtful. "Like when I fish with gold?"
"You fish with gold?!" Annan's chest hurt even more.
He worked himself ragged swindling people out there, careful not to let anyone recognize him, only for the women at home to squander everything he earned!
Leila explained that a precious, rare fish lived in the sea. Ordinary bait did nothing for it; only valuable gold and gemstones could lure it in.
Annan was gullible enough to believe her. He even wondered if some Mermaid had arrived in Free Bay's waters. "Who told you that?"
"Your Blue Dragon."
The culprit was clear. Illymoyas had staged the whole thing.
Annan was so angry he laughed.