The Deal Made [Pt 2]

"My subordinate was approached by an 'Affiliate' of yours who ran the transaction while he waited outside."

The moment Aldred heard this, he was stunned.

'An Affiliate? Did his subordinate fall prey to one of those con-artists?'

There was no way this esteemed man did not know who this 'Affiliate' he spoke of was, yet he still referred to him as that.

Why?

'It's not our establishment's fault that his subordinate didn't exercise due caution in his trade. Nothing in the Unspoken Rules covers such a thing as that.'

In essence, it was his loss.

However, Aldred could not even dare to think—let alone speak of—such a thing.

"I-I see…" Was all he could say.

"It came as a surprise to me. I thought your establishment perhaps was unaware of the transaction, so I decided to forgive you and personally came to give you a second chance."