Chapter 79: Splitting the Loot
At the gates of Iron Fortress, a familiar carriage rolled slowly along the stone path. The wheels rumbled against the pavement with a steady, rhythmic thrum.
Hans sat at the driver's bench, his face wearing a grin of irrepressible smugness. Behind him sat two men he had scouted in Silvermoon City: Sinclair and Tate. During his time there, Hans had realized these two were natural-born actors. Their over-the-top performances and perfectly timed bickering had manipulated the crowd's emotions with surgical precision.
Hans wasn't a man to let talent go to waste. He had extended an invitation to join the Sunflower Merchant Guild, and the two had accepted without a second thought. To them, it didn't matter where they went as long as the coin followed.
As the carriage entered the city, Hans noticed subtle shifts. The streets felt more "alive" than when he had left; the new drainage systems and public water stations were fully operational, giving the city a sense of modern efficiency.
He drove straight to the temporary headquarters of the Sunflower Guild. This time, there was no stew pot. He ordered his men to drag the largest table in the courtyard to the center. Hans hauled a bulging leather bag from the wagon and slammed it onto the wood with a heavy thud.
Clatter—!
The brilliant radiance of gold momentarily blinded everyone present. Hundreds of gold coins were piled into a miniature mountain on the table.
The guild members were all there—Grog the apple vendor, the blacksmith, the carpenter, the herbalist... They stared at the pile, their breathing hitched in their throats.
"Is... is all of this...?" Grog's voice was a shaky whisper. In all his life, he had never seen so much wealth in one place.
"Every single coin belongs to us," Hans declared. His voice wasn't loud, but it radiated a sense of absolute security. "The venture to Silvermoon City was a total triumph. According to our agreement, it's time for the payout!"
Hans used a wooden bowl to scoop out and distribute the gold. Grog received five gold coins. The blacksmith received four. The carpenter and the herbalist were handed three each. Every member who had contributed to the production of the Benediction's Kiss walked away with gold in their palms.
They clutched the coins, feeling as if they were trapped in a lucid dream. A year! No, several years! Even if they never ate or drank, they could never have saved this much in their previous lives.
"Hans... Chairman... I..." Grog, the burly brute, actually had wet eyes as he stared at the gold.
"Take it. You earned it," Hans said, watching their excitement with a deep sense of satisfaction.
"Everyone, listen up! This is only the beginning!" Hans raised his voice, commanding the courtyard. "The Sunflower Merchant Guild will grow! We will become the strongest! I need you to spread the name of Sunflower to every corner of this city! Tell everyone you know: join us, and you strike gold!"
"From today, we implement a new rule!" Hans's eyes glittered with Kararagi-style cunning. "For every person you recruit into the guild, your share of the next dividend increases! The more you bring in, the more you earn!"
The courtyard went quiet for a heartbeat. Then, an earth-shaking cheer erupted.
"HAIL THE CHAIRMAN!"
"LONG LIVE THE SUNFLOWER GUILD!"
A fever took hold of them. Recruiting means more money! It felt like a gift from the Heavens.
Over the next few days, a "Sunflower Craze" swept through Iron Fortress.
"Hey, Wang, still wasting away at that boot stall? Listen to me—join the Sunflower Guild. I got three gold coins in the last payout!"
"Did you hear? The guy selling grass-rope joined Sunflower. He's eating roasted meat every single night now!"
"Just sign the contract and you're rich! Where else are you gonna find a deal like that?"
More and more residents swarmed the guild headquarters. In a matter of days, the membership exploded from a few dozen to over three hundred. Hans watched the ledger grow, laughing until his sides ached.
The Lord's Mansion, Greed's Office.
Greed sat behind his desk, listening silently to Hans's report. Hans stood in the center of the room, recounting every detail and profit margin of the Silvermoon expedition. He spoke with animated gestures, radiating the aura of a man who had conquered a kingdom.
Greed's face remained an unreadable mask. Before Hans had set out, Greed had viewed him as a mere tool—a human screwdriver to be used and discarded once the job was done.
But now, Greed's perspective was shifting. He remembered his conversation with his Master, Kaito.
"Think, Greed. Think on the value of life."
The value of life...
Greed watched Hans. This human was cunning, avaricious, and utterly ruthless when it came to profit. But he possessed a vibrant, bursting Vitality. It was a drive to survive and thrive that sparked a unique brand of wisdom and action. It was a quality the undead inherently lacked.
"You have done well," Greed said, his voice a calm flatline.
Hans felt a massive weight lift from his shoulders. "I am honored by your guidance, My Lord!" He bowed deeply.
"Your 'recruitment' model is effective," Greed continued. "However, it is insufficient. It lacks structure."
Hans leaned in, all ears. "Please, enlighten me, My Lord!"
Greed tapped his desk rhythmically. "Relying solely on headcounts will make the guild bloated and chaotic. You must establish a hierarchy of ascension. Common Member, Senior Member, Core Pillar, and Regional Overseer. Different ranks enjoy different dividend ratios and carry different weights of responsibility. Use their own greed to drive them upward. Make them create greater value for the Guild in their pursuit of status."
As Greed spoke, Hans's eyes grew brighter and brighter. This... this is a masterclass in empire building!
"Furthermore, your inventory is too limited." Greed stood and walked to the window, looking out over the bustling city. "You have three hundred artisans under you now. Every one of them is an untapped gold mine."
Greed turned back to Hans. "Go. From this day forward, as long as you do not violate the Laws of the Empire, you may use any means necessary to expand the Sunflower Merchant Guild."
Hans knelt on one knee, his voice trembling with suppressed excitement. "This subordinate... obeys!"
The first thing Hans did after leaving the mansion was sprint back to the Sunflower House. He rounded up all the children and marched them into the largest clothing boutique in the district.
"Pick whatever you want! Three outfits per person!" Hans slammed a coin pouch onto the counter.
The children erupted into cheers. Lily picked out a brand-new princess dress and began spinning in front of the mirror. Miguel changed into a crisp, sharp suit; though he muttered about it being a "waste of money," he couldn't hide the beaming smile on his face.
After the shopping spree, Hans took them to the finest restaurant in the city. Roasted meat, delicacies, and fruit juices filled the massive table. The children ate until their faces were slick with grease, glowing with a happiness they had never known in the slums.
Hans laughed loudly, grabbing a giant piece of meat. "Watch close, kids! I'm gonna show you how a real merchant eats a pig in three bites!"
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