Chapter 82: Scam Revealed
High Merchant Creseul had known from the minute that he had seen this charcoal was an incredible find it was, realizing this — and knowing how powerless Tardide was, he had plans to turn Tardide into his golden goose.
His plan had been to tie Tardide to a lifetime contract with himself, forbidding them from supplying charcoal to anyone else, then selling the charcoal to the Merchants' Guild through an intermediate party.
He had made Elder Ryunzo a ridiculous offer of one gold per sack of charcoal, knowing that he could easily arrange for the Merchants' Guild to purchase the charcoal for fifty gold per sack, and the guild would have been able to sell that on for seventy-five or even eighty gold.
With the huge profit he would have made for himself, he would have become the wealthiest man in Telia, and with the profit he made for the Merchants' Guild he expected that President Andillevé would have handed over the guild to him when he retired, as everyone knew that President Andillevé only son had no interest in inheriting the guild, he was more interested in politics.
Even when Elder Ryunzo turned down his offer, he wasn't perturbed, as he knew that the only other avenue that Elder Ryunzo had was to approach the auction house, and his brother and nephew worked at the auction house.
High Merchant Creseul had already sent a runner with a letter to both and had arranged for either one of them to meet with Elder Ryunzo. They had been instructed to refuse to accept the charcoal, making High Merchant Creseul the only one willing to "risk" buying the charcoal from Elder Ryunzo.
High Merchant Creseul had been so confident in his plan, but now because of the fiasco in the Merchants' Guild hall, everything was falling to pieces. Not only had his golden goose escaped from his greedy hands, but he stood to lose everything once President Andillevé found out everything.
Pale and sweating buckets, High Merchant Creseul tried to salvage the situation.
"Ah President Andillevé, it is just a small misunderstanding," High Merchant Creseul said hurriedly.
"Elder Ryunzo and I are still negotiating terms, that is all ... isn't that right Elder Ryunzo?" he asked turning to look at Elder Ryunzo pleading with his eyes.
Elder Ryunzo was not a pushover, while he was a compassionate man, he was highly disgusted with High Merchant Creseul attempt to defraud the villagers of Tardide. If it had been himself involved he most likely would have backed down and given High Merchant Creseul a chance, but when he thought of the villagers under his care and the amount of suffering that had to endure over the past couple of years, he was furious.
"No High Merchant Creseul, we were not negotiating, the terms you offered were an insult, not only to me but to every villager of Tardide" Elder Ryunzo stated clearly and decisively.
"I have already refused your so-called generous offer" he carried on, emphasizing the words generous offer sarcastically.
President Andillevé was starting to become angry, he thought that he had left the Merchants' Guild in good hands while he enjoyed his semi-retirement, but the people he had trusted to look after his life long work had abused their power and were intent on destroying everything he had built over the decades.
"Elder Ryunzo, please don't be hasty" President Andillevé begged.
"What terms did High Merchant Creseul offer you? I am sure that I will be able to make you an offer that would satisfy both parties" he coaxed.
"Your High Merchant Creseul offered my one gold per sack of charcoal, and insisted that I sign a contract with him personally restricting Tardide from selling our charcoal to anyone else but him."
When President Andillevé heard the ridiculous terms offered by High Merchant Creseul a red haze covered his brain, it didn't take a genius to figure out what High Merchant Creseul had been up to.
Turning to High Merchant Creseul he said furiously "Creseul you are fired. Get your f*cking arse out of my guild, and expect to be blacklisted you greedy little turd."
Counsellor Andillevé was shocked at his father's crude behavior, in all of his life, his father had acted like a gentleman, he had never seen his father so angry in his life.
"Father please calm down" Counselor Andillevé begged. He was really worried about his father's health, especially seeing how red his face had become.
"This..this f*cking arsehole tried to use his position to scam the villagers of Tardide and the Merchants' Guild, just how much gold has he stolen from the guild over the years" President Andillevé yelled.
High Merchant Creseul fell to his knees in front of President Andillevé and prostrated himself. He was petrified. If he was blacklisted everyone in his family would be harmed.
"P..p..lease forgive me President Andillevé, I swear I have been loyal to the Merchants' Guild, it's just this one time, I swear that I allowed greed rule me" he cried.
"Get out, get the f*ck out of here!" President Andillevé roared, pointing to the door.
Seeing that President Andillevé wasn't interested in his abject apology he turned to Elder Ryunzo.
"Please Elder Ryunzo forgive me, I really was foolish" he begged, slapping himself in the face, tears leaking from his red eyes he carried on.
"I beg of you, speak to President Andillevé on my behalf — I have wives and children that are dependant on me, if I am blacklisted, they will end up on the streets. You are a kind and compassionate man, would you really allow my innocent children to suffer."
Jayde could see that Elder Ryunzo was weakening in front of High Merchant Creseul's begging and pleading.
"And what about the woman and children of Tardide?" Jayde asked coldly.
"Where was your compassion for them?"
Snorting snidely she said "Men like you are contemptible, you are more than willing to step on anyone, to crush them beneath your feet. You show them no mercy or compassion, but now that you have to pay the price for your reprehensible actions, you expect us to show you mercy"
Weaving a small fireball in her hand she threatened.
"You heard President Andillevé, get the hell out of here."
Seeing the small fireball in Jayde's hand, High Merchant Creseul looked around at the people in the room, his eyes pleading for assistance. Seeing everyone looking at him with disgust he resigned himself that he was finished, not wanting to risk his life by being burned alive by Jayde fireball, he quickly scrambled to his feet and fled.
The citizens of Oldstrand who were standing around the Merchants' Guild hall, gossiping about the Lastorm's had heard President Andillevé roar. Shocked most of them had frozen on the spot, and stared at the meeting room door, wondering who had been stupid enough to upset President Andillevé to such an extent.
Seeing the door open, and a disheveled High Merchant Creseul running out the room, with snot and tears covering his face, they were astonished.
In little under an hour, they had seen two of the most powerful men in Oldstrand stripped of their power, becoming little more than beggars. Most of them were thrilled that they had decided to visit the Merchants' Guild today.
They were witnesses to the biggest scandal to ever hit Oldstrand. Their standing in the upper echelon of Oldstrand nobility would rise. Everyone would want to invite them to their functions just to get a first-hand account of the happenings today.
And they were right, the people who were there became the hottest items in Oldstrand for weeks to come, when most of them returned to their homes that evening, they were greeted with a stack of invitations to the latest gatherings being held by every noble within Oldstrand.
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