Chapter 194: TOUGH NEGOTIATIONS
Two months passed like a gust of the north wind—cold, swift, and leaving an indelible mark.
At the Iron Hearth Lightning Rail Station, the main platform was teeming with a crowd. This was no ordinary gathering; it was a meticulously planned reception orchestrated by Rumina herself. Blue silk banners bearing the Sudrath Wolf crest fluttered between steel pillars. At the end of the platform, a small stage had been erected, complete with a red carpet that stretched from the train doors to the VIP waiting area.
Rumina stood at the front, wearing a deep blue gown with silver embroidery—the same one she had worn during her first meeting with Vernazza in Meridoss. This time, there was no trace of nervousness. She had prepared everything.
Behind her, Silas stood in a sharp suit, holding a leather folder containing the final contract documents. Two members of the Nightshade—not Ember or Nyx, but two handpicked operatives—stood in the corners, disguised as reception staff. Their eyes moved constantly, scanning the crowd, ensuring no threat went unnoticed.
The train glided in. No sound. No smoke. Only the faint hum of the magnetic rails accompanied the silver carriages as they came to a perfect halt in front of the red carpet.
The door of the main carriage hissed open.
Madam Vernazza stepped down.
She wore a maroon traveling cloak with gold embroidery along the collar. Her silver hair was pinned higher than usual, adorned with a ruby-encrusted clip. Behind her, four guards disembarked—two men, two women, all sturdily built with hands never far from their sword hilts. Their aura was cold, professional, and intensely vigilant.
Rumina stepped forward and offered a polite bow. "Madam Vernazza. Welcome to Iron Hearth."
Vernazza scanned her surroundings. Her gaze lingered on the Sudrath banners, the small stage, the red carpet, and finally settled on Rumina. "You certainly know how to stage a welcome."
"You are a guest of honor."
Vernazza offered a thin smile—one that was almost sincere. "You kept your word, Miss Sudrath. That is already more than I could have expected from your family."
Rumina chose not to rise to the bait. She gestured toward the train, which sat silent on the platform. "This is the Lightning Rail. You’ve just ridden it from the border. What are your thoughts?"
Vernazza turned toward the silver vessel. She brushed the surface of the carriage with her fingertips—cold, smooth, devoid of vibration. "I heard the rumors. I read your proposal. But experiencing it for yourself... is different." She looked at Rumina. "No noise. No jolting. It’s as if one is floating above the clouds."
"It is science, Madam. Not magic."
"So you’ve said." Vernazza walked alongside Rumina toward the VIP lounge. Her four guards followed in a loose formation—close enough to protect, far enough not to intrude. "But I am not entirely convinced yet. I wish to see the rest."
Rumina smiled. "Of course. We shall begin with the crystal factory."
The tour lasted the entire day.
The mana crystal factory—a three-story building with chimneys emitting clean white steam instead of black smoke. Vernazza walked between rows of refinement machines, witnessing raw crystal chunks being transformed into sparkling, translucent violet stones. She asked dozens of questions—about temperature, pressure, filtration processes—and Rumina answered every single one without once glancing at her notes.
The steel mill—mammoth furnaces glowing bright, workers moving with a practiced rhythm, and molten metal being poured into precision molds. Vernazza stood silent here for a long time. She touched a newly finished steel bar, still warm, and offered a slow nod.
The warehouse—thousands of wooden crates stacked neatly, each labeled with codes known only to the Sudrath administration. Vernazza opened a random crate. Inside were samples of Pure Mana Crystals, identical to the one Rumina had shown in Meridoss. She picked one up, examined it under the light, and placed it back.
"The quality is consistent," she remarked. "That is the hardest part."
At every location, Vernazza spoke little. She observed, made mental notes, and occasionally asked technical questions that proved she wasn’t just a merchant—she understood production.
By late afternoon, they arrived at the conference room on the top floor of the Sudrath Administration Building. Large windows overlooked the city of Iron Hearth—chimneys billowing, trains passing by, and in the distance, a light dusting of snow beginning to fall.
Vernazza sat in the primary chair, her four guards standing like statues behind her. Rumina sat across the table, Silas beside her with the contract folder.
"You have seen it all," Rumina began. "The Lightning Rail. The crystal factory. The steel. The warehouses. Do you still have doubts?"
Vernazza leaned back, her fingers interlaced on the table. "I have no doubts. But I am not naive. This rail line will connect Northreach to the Emerald Union. It means you can send goods to us—and we to you. The question is: who benefits more?"
"We both do."
"Diplomatic words." Vernazza offered a thin smile. "I want numbers. A 20% discount for the first three years. All shipments from the Emerald Union to Northreach."
Rumina let out a breath. Here it is. "20% is too steep. The construction costs for the rail alone have consumed nearly our entire infrastructure budget. If I grant a discount that large, we will be in the red before the line is even completed."
"And?"
"15%. That is more than fair, Madam. You know yourself that building a line of this distance requires immense steel, labor, and time. I cannot cut deeper without bleeding."
Vernazza stared at Rumina for a long moment. "You are remarkably stubborn."
"I learned from the best." Rumina met her gaze unflinchingly. "And I am certain you wouldn’t offer a discount higher than 15% if our positions were reversed."
Silence hung in the air. Then, Vernazza laughed—a short, dry sound, almost like a cough. "You’re right. I wouldn’t."
"So?"
"15%." Vernazza nodded. "But with one additional condition."
"Which is?"
"Security guarantees. This rail line will pass through monster territories—I know this. I do not want my investment destroyed by a pack of Gorgons or Basilisks. Who will guard the tracks?"
"The Sudrath forces." Rumina leaned forward. "We will conduct routine patrols along the entire line. Any monster threat will be handled by our military. You will not incur additional security costs."
"Is it in the contract?"
"It is."
Vernazza looked at Silas. "Show me."
Silas opened the folder and produced two thick parchment sheets—the final contracts prepared in advance. He pointed to the seventh clause, third paragraph: "House Sudrath assumes full responsibility for the security of the rail line from Iron Hearth to the Emerald Union border. Any losses resulting from monster or bandit attacks shall be borne by House Sudrath."
Vernazza read it twice. Then, she picked up a quill from the table—a feather pen with black ink—and signed both copies of the contract.
Rumina did the same.
Once the ink dried, Vernazza leaned back, looking at Rumina with an expression that was difficult to decipher. "You know, Miss Sudrath... you remind me of myself. Thirty years ago, when I was young and hungry to prove something."
Rumina offered a faint smile. "Is that a compliment?"
"It’s a warning." Vernazza stood up. "I succeeded because I never fully trusted anyone. You must do the same. The world of trade is ruthless. One mistake, and you fall."
"I know." Rumina stood as well. "But I am not alone. I have my family."
Vernazza stared at her for a long time. Then, she gave a curt nod. "That is your advantage." She turned, gesturing to her guards. "I will stay for one night. Tomorrow morning, I depart. Send the copy of this contract to my address in Meridoss."
"Of course."
Vernazza walked to the door, then paused. Without turning back, she said, "I hope you survive the war I hear is coming. I don’t want my trade partner dead before this line is finished."
Rumina was taken aback. She knows? But she quickly neutralized her expression. "I will not die, Madam. I am a Sudrath."
Vernazza chuckled softly. "We shall see." Then she stepped out, followed by her guards.
The moment the door closed, Rumina let out a long, heavy sigh. Beside her, Silas began tidying the contracts.
"We did it," Rumina whispered.
"We did it," Silas repeated, his tone thick with relief.
That night, Rumina stood on her balcony, gazing at the city of Iron Hearth illuminated by electric lights. In her hand was a cup of warm coffee—bitter, just the way she liked it.
Two months, she thought. Two more months before the war arrives. But at least we have a trade ally now.
The crystal pager in her pocket chimed. A message from Silas:
"Vernazza is in her room. Her guards are patrolling. All is secure."
Rumina replied briefly: "Good. We escort her to the station tomorrow."
She tucked the pager away and looked up at the night sky. Snow fell thinly, white flakes dancing under the glow of the streetlamps. This city never truly slept—factories were still humming, trains were still moving, and in the distance, the faint sound of target practice from the South Paddock echoed softly.
War is coming, she thought again. But tonight, we celebrate a small victory.
She took a sip of her coffee, a solitary smile touching her lips.
One battle finished. Many more awaited.
But for tonight, she had earned her rest.