Chrysalis

Enid enjoyed spending time with Eran Thouris, though the brathian negotiator was often busy, such as now. But the retired merchant was content merely to be present and soak up the energy of frenzied trading. It reminded her heavily of the old days, a young Enid fighting for every scrap of gold she could get her hands on.

The secret to the brathian conglomerate's success seemed to be: they always brought that level of energy. No matter how much wealth they amassed, they were as hungry for the next sale as they were for their first.

"Have the table dressings arrived? I wanted to see the samples two hours ago!" Eran demanded.

"Not yet. There have been issues with the supplier…."

"Inform them we will be cutting their payment by twenty percent as per our contract. Timing of the delivery was stipulated very clearly."

"They may not like that. What if they drag their feet even further?"

"That's what the second, thirty percent delay penalty is for. Have the ants approved the proposed layout for the market?"

"They have."

Eran made a humming noise of approval.

Enid smiled. The Colony loved being organised. They were likely just as appreciative of the brathian obsession with logistics.

"You seem to be putting more attention into this stop than the others," Enid observed.

Eran turned to her.

"The other cities were important, and we made some good deals, but they were just rehearsals for the Silver City. As much as it pains me to admit it, this is the richest city in the world. Even a small slice of the market here will be as profitable as the rest of the trip."

Truly, the beating heart of the Atreum empire was an incredible sight to behold. Enid had sat and watched the gate network in action, a vast number of people coming and going constantly, even at night. The docks were just as busy, an endless flow of ships unloading cargo and people, tourists, merchants, monster hunters, all coming to see the sights and seek their fortunes.

"It truly is a remarkable place," Enid sighed. "I certainly hope you find success here."

The brathian smirked.

"Me too," she said. "There's so much money on the line I can practically smell it. If all goes well, the Colony will see an influx of cores greater than they ever expected."

All of which would flow to the grubs, empowering the next generations of ants. It would be interesting to see what sort of difference this trade mission would make to the Colony. So far, they had subsided purely on what they could gain for themselves by harvesting the Dungeon. Enid believed they would be shocked to see what they would gain by engaging in commerce.

"Eran, the samples have arrived."

"Finally! Let me see."

A sweating merchant stood by several mockup stalls nearby, an apologetic expression on his face. The Eran was not in a forgiving mood, stalking around the stalls with a critical eye. The lace didn't hang properly. The trim wasn't up to standard. The sculpting on the legs wasn't fully symmetrical.

To Enid's trained eye, the complaints were legitimate, but only barely. To the Eran's eye, even the the slightest issue was as glaring as an ink stain on a cotton blanket.

Eventually, her approval was given, but only begrudgingly. Had the contracts not already been signed, the formidable brathian would surely have demanded even further discounts.

"Have you decided on a venue?" Enid asked when the inspection was complete.

"Of course. The Tescilan Dome was booked before we departed the Conglomerate," Eran replied with satisfaction.

"I presume that is a good thing?" Enid laughed.

"It's a great thing. It cost a fortune, but it's well worth it. The Dome is a prestigious and beloved venue here in the Silver City. Just being there will draw many eyes and increase our exposure."

"It seems things are going well, then."

"Let's not count our gold before it's in the vault," Eran cautioned. "There is still much to be done. How is Anthony, by the way? I heard you went to visit him earlier in the day."

"I think he's struggling with isolation somewhat," Enid replied after a moment of thought. "He doesn't cope well when he can't move around, in my experience."

Eran nodded.

"That's my sense as well. I hope he can hold on a little longer. One more day, then our stalls will open, and of course I want him present. A visible sign of the Colony's strength and majesty."

"Don't describe him like that when he can hear you," Enid warned her. "He's puffed up about his appearance enough already."

The brathian laughed.

"Yes, well it can't be helped. He is a very impressive monster, no matter how we slice it. The people here aren't easily impressed, but even they will flock to take a look at the strongest ant monster in the history of Pangera."

"And hopefully buy some tea and furniture while they're there."

"Of course," the Eran flashed a grin.

"Are there any concerns about security?" Enid asked quietly. "I had a discussion with some of my people earlier, and they warned that some in the city would be hostile towards the Colony."

"There are always those who are hostile towards monsters," Eran replied. "Not that we aren't cognizant of the danger. With Anthony lying low, the risks of an incident are greatly reduced, but we are doing our best to ensure all members of the Colony are escorted whenever they leave the compound. So far, there haven't been any issues, but we will continue to be cautious."

"Good. I think I will go and let Anthony know. It will put his mind at ease."

"Please do so. Remind him to be on his best behaviour tomorrow. One day of trading will make or break this partnership. I want everything to be perfect."

"I'll let him know. I'm sure he didn't come all this way to ruin things at the last moment."

The moment she said the words, Enid felt a chill run down her spine. She should know better than to make such proclamations where that particular ant was concerned.

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