At his blatant threat, the Chimeroi opposite Zeke clenched their fists or gripped their weapons. Even so, he wasn't fooled. Their tense postures and flighty eyes told him all he needed to know. They weren't confident in their chances.
It was highly likely that the only thing that had allowed the Blackthorn Covenant to rise to their current position were the two Archmages. However, compared to Ravi and Moros, they didn't seem all that formidable.
"If you think that we are so easily cowed, then you have gravely miscalculated," Naida said in a frosty tone.
Zeke turned to face her. "Don't take this the wrong way, Miss, but I don't think you stand much of a chance."
Naida bristled. "Even if you have the upper hand at the moment, don't you know that a merchant's strength lies in his connections? By going against us, you'll offend our entire network."
Zeke shook his head, not intimidated in the least. "That is a bluff. You have no connections and no backing," he stated with the utmost confidence.
Before Naida could retort, Hilda interrupted with a question of her own. "What makes you think so, young man?" she asked in a calm tone. Of the two, the dwarf seemed more cautious, and Zeke was grateful for her presence, as she wasn't as easily swayed by emotions. If he played his cards right, there might be a chance.
"Oh, it's quite obvious, really," Zeke asserted. "The reason I know that you have no allies is the mere fact that such an ally simply cannot exist. My Ember Scar Cartel controls the West, while Mr. Moros controls the South. In all of Undercity, the only party powerful enough to lend you aid is the Venomous Cabal in the North. But let's be honest, the notion of those fanatics siding with you is utterly laughable."
Zeke clicked his tongue while counting off the different business practices they were engaged in: "Illegal death matches, forced prostitution, Chimeroi meat markets…"
"You can't pin that on us!" Naida interjected angrily. "We didn't start any of those businesses."
"I don't think they care much, Miss," Zeke interjected, momentarily silencing the woman.
"What makes you think we don't have allies outside of Undercity?" Hilda asked during the pause, bringing the conversation back on track.
"Let me ask you a question of my own, Miss. What kind of an Archmage chooses to live in a place like this?" The dwarf remained silent, but Zeke wasn't expecting a reply anyway. "The answer is simple: An Archmage who does not have a choice. There's no prestige to be earned, minimal resources, not even sunlight. With powerful allies, would anyone willingly stay in this dreary place?"
Zeke waited for a moment, giving her a chance to object. When she didn't speak, he continued his reasoning. "What's more, even if you had allies in the capital, would they really come down to fight for you?"
"Why wouldn't they?" Hilda questioned.
Zeke chuckled. "I already killed two Archmages this week, and I don't think there are many people bold enough to risk their lives for what they consider little more than a garbage dump."
The room fell into a tense silence at his declaration. It wasn't just because of the implied threat of having killed two Archmages, but also because there were no words to counter his logic. How many Archmages living in luxury and splendor would risk their lives in a territorial dispute over this place? The answer was simple: None. Undercity wasn't worth such a risk.
They were indifferent to whoever was in charge as long as the goods kept flowing. Whether it was the Ember Scar Cartel or the Blackthorn Covenant who provided that service didn't matter. The only thing that mattered was that the Chimeroi kept working, and the goods kept streaming into the capital. After all, this was the basis of the abundant wealth of Swarnaloka.
The two women's expressions turned grim. Gone was the facade of confidence. They didn't even try to hide the fact that they had been bluffing. Zeke had stripped away all their lies, bluster, posturing, and maneuvering, leaving them with nothing but the reality of their situation: They were alone and outmatched—a cornered beast with its back against the wall and nothing left to lose.
Zeke could discern the tension in their eyes. A single word could potentially push them over the edge. However, that wasn't his intention. Not at all. He hadn't come here to provoke a fight but to negotiate. Thus, he shifted his approach. Having presented the stick, it was now time to reveal the carrot.
Zeke lightly clapped his hands.
It was a soft noise, easily swallowed under normal circumstances. However, in this tense silence, it sounded like a thunderclap, drawing everyone's attention to his carefree smile. "Well, that's enough of that," he said cheerfully. "You still haven't heard my offer, have you?"
Hilda smiled bitterly. "Aren't we long past such formalities?"
Zeke shook his head. "Let me assure you: I came to negotiate with you in good faith."
"Even if that was true, how could we trust your words?" Naida sneered. "After we transfer our Slaves and assets, what would stop you from killing us?"
Zeke nodded solemnly. Trust was a critical factor in business dealings. However, instilling it in others, especially while holding a knife to their throat, was no easy feat. Nevertheless, Zeke had to make the attempt. He had to convince them that there was a better way out of this.
Zeke began to pace, his gaze wandering as if lost in thought. After moving around for a while, he pointed at Ravi and Moros. "How do you think I managed to convince those two to help me?"
"What?"
Zeke looked at her. "Do you think I forced those two Archmages to serve me with my overwhelming power?"
Naida blinked, uncertain how to respond. However, there was no need to answer. The mere notion of Zeke coercing the two Archmages into compliance was absurd.
"Doesn't sound likely, does it?" he asked with a grin. Naida looked at Ravi and Moros, her gaze turning thoughtful. He let her think for a moment before speaking up. "Well, it's not really a secret. I made them an offer, and they accepted."
Naida looked at him with a dumbfounded expression. Whatever she had been thinking, it had apparently not been this. "Is it really that simple?"
Zeke shrugged. "Why wouldn't it be? As long as our interests don't clash, there is no reason to be at each other's throats."
"How can you claim that our interests don't clash when you've come to take everything from us?" Naida spat, though her voice had lost much of its edge.
"I am not after your wealth or life, Miss Wellenreiter," Zeke reassured her. "In my experience, as long as there are no such fundamental disagreements, it is possible to find common ground."
Hilda seemed to have gotten interested upon hearing his words. "Then… what is it that you are really after?"
Zeke took a moment to collect his thoughts. Answering that question wasn't easy, but he had to do his best to explain if he wanted them to trust him. "Control," he eventually said. "I want to have complete control over Undercity."
"Why?"
Zeke smiled broadly. "Because it is profitable."
Hilda and Naida stared at him in open-mouthed surprise, and he could feel the gaze of his allies drilling into the back of his head as well. Nonetheless, Zeke remained undeterred. "Did you know that roughly 80% of all the goods available in the capital are produced in Undercity? However, right now, less than 1% of the gold is flowing back in exchange. Do you know why?"
Zeke didn't wait for an answer and told them the reason right away. "It is because you are divided." He paused for a moment, letting that information sink in. "You fight over the scraps they toss you while they lavishly feast on the fruits of your labor."
He had seen the opulence on display in Swarnaloka, the sheer abundance. While the people above entertained themselves with mock battles in the arena, the people in Undercity were fighting for their lives. The reason this was possible was simple: one side was united, while the other was not.
How could one demand fair prices when a dozen others were already waiting, ready to work for less? It seemed impossible. No, to challenge the capital, they needed to stand together, and for that to happen, they needed unity.
And that was where he came in.
Hilda pondered for a moment before speaking up. "So, you want to form a sort of alliance? A cooperation?"
Zeke shook his head decisively. "No. I'll be the one in charge." There were actually good reasons for this, but Zeke didn't want to convince them with logic. He had to establish his dominance as early as possible.
The dwarf frowned. "Why does it have to be you?"
"Because I am the only one who can do it," Zeke declared confidently. "It's not as if anything I've said here is new information. You've all known about what the capital was doing. Yet, nobody did anything. Why? Because you couldn't."
Zeke's gaze first found Hilda's, then Naida's. Strangely, none of the two Archmages could meet his eyes for long. "I took the Ember Scar Cartel from the hands of that lunatic, negotiated with Moros, and after I am done here, I am going to convince the members of the Venomous Cabal as well," he declared.
"Now, this is my offer. I will buy all your slaves and assets for a fair market price. Even so, you'll be free to use all the facilities. Furthermore, the Slaves I have purchased will continue to work here, just as before."
Both Archmages looked at him with strange eyes. "That doesn't seem to be a very good deal for you," Hilda said cautiously as if worried he would change his mind.
"That's not all," he continued, "from now on, you'll only sell to me. You are forbidden from selling to anybody else. To compensate for that, I promise to buy as much as you can produce for twice the usual price."
"What?" Naida burst out, unable to hide her astonishment any longer. "Aren't you going to make a huge loss like that?"
Zeke shook his head. "Initially, maybe. But even if the merchants refuse to buy the goods at such a price, I have my own channels. I can still make a significant profit by selling in Tradespire."
The atmosphere had relaxed noticeably, and both women were deep in thought. Zeke smiled. He was confident that they would accept his deal—they would be fools not to. Even so, Hilda had another question. "Then what's the point of even buying our Slaves and assets?" she asked. "At that price, we would have been willing to sell to you even without the threats."
"It's to ward off temptation," Zeke explained frankly. "No matter who comes to you with an offer after today, you will not be tempted anymore."
Hilda's eyes twinkled. "That's a nice way to phrase it."
Zeke didn't say anything, and there was no need to. They both understood what he meant. This arrangement gave him enough leverage so they couldn't turn against him in the future. While they still profited a lot, it would all depend on their alliance.
The silence stretched on.
"I agree to those conditions," the dwarf said suddenly.
Naida looked at her with a hint of resentment. Now that Hilda had spoken, she had been put in a difficult position. "Shouldn't we have discussed this?"
Hilda shook her head. "You heard the young man; it's either gold or blood, and I know which of the two I prefer."
Naida's frown eased slightly. "What if he goes back on his word?"
Zeke raised an eyebrow. "I would have to be an idiot," he told her bluntly. Naida snapped her mouth shut. He continued. "Where else could I get two Archmages of your caliber to work for me at that price? Even with those favorable terms, I am still the one benefiting more."
"Besides," Hilda threw in, "he did not need to explain his plans if he was going to kill us. Of course, there is still a risk, but how do you think his allies would react if he went back on his word? His plan can only work if there is trust."
Naida looked from Hilda to the broadly smiling Zeke before heaving a heavy sigh. "Very well. I also agree."
Zeke beamed at those words. "Lady Silveraxe and Lady Wellenreiter. Welcome aboard."