Chapter 159: The Business Proposal.

Bianca leaned in, her eyes wide as she picked up one of the glowing stones. She turned it over in her trembling palm, frowning in disbelief. "I’ve hunted for years for years__ but I have never seen a white energy stone this milky! It looks like solidified crystal moonlight! What kinds of beasts have you all been hunting out here?"

Achilles pushed past her, his eyes practically turning into golden coin symbols as he stared down at the crate. He reached out to touch the stone, gasping as a wave of incredibly dense, pure energy surged right up his forearm!

"Jackpot__" Achilles breathed, his voice barely a whisper before bursting into a wild grin. "This is an absolute jackpot! High-grade white energy stones are some of the rarest things on the entire continent! Do you have any idea what these could do?!"

Zyra shook her head. She was not in the business of research, and she had not come across such stones in her last life. So, she had no idea, but she was looking forward to finding out.

He gripped the edge of the crate, pointing a trembling finger at Zyra. "If we sell these to the high-tech light manufacturing companies in the capital, they’ll fight each other to the death just to pay us astronomical prices! Or better yet__ we don’t sell them! We use them to start our own light production company! We’d control the entire market!"

"And they generate their own cold, meaning they can make ice," Bianca added. "You are thinking small Achilles. These should not be used for lights, we have enough damn lights. These should be used to power portable coolers and refrigerators. In this heat, so many poor people will be able to live comfortably."

Achilles swallowed hard, wiping a drop of drool from the corner of his mouth. "There you go again with the poor people! You need to be rich first in order to help the poor, Bianca." He rolled his eyes and grinned as Zyra, like a wolf. "Zyra__ my favorite sister-in-law please tell me there are more where these came from."

Zyra gave a calm, nonchalant nod. "If we hunt high-rank beasts in the frozen wildlands, sure. But to be honest, most of these were actually gifted to us by the beasts we saved."

"Gifted?!" Achilles squeaked, his voice cracking like a rusty door hinge. He looked at Zyra like she had just claimed pigs could fly and sing opera. "Wild beasts__ giving away their energy stones?! Out of the kindness of their hearts?!"

"Yes," Zyra said smoothly. "Like the giant panther in the outer forest. We healed its cub, so it smashed a wall full of these energy stones. There were other beasts we saved from the tyranny of snow wolves and they gave these as a thank-you gift."

Achilles stood there with his mouth wide open, completely frozen. He turned to look at Bianca, hoping his sister would help him call out this ridiculous story.

Bianca just stared at the glowing stone in her hand, letting out a long, amazed sigh. "Brother__ as crazy as it sounds, I believe her because I’m literally holding the proof in my hand. Everyone knows wild beasts love their energy stones more than their own lives. They’d rather tear a human to pieces than let anyone touch a single pebble! To get this many, is a miracle."

Zyra just shrugged her shoulders, completely unbothered by their utter shock. Suddenly, a loud, clear rumbling sound echoed through the chilly freezer room. Zyra casually patted her stomach without a hint of embarrassment.

Achilles blinked, snapping out of his shock as his own stomach let out a pathetic growl in response. He rubbed his nose and let out a dry laugh. "Well__ it seems my stomach agrees with yours."

"Good," Zyra said, turning toward the heavy exit doors. "We can eat breakfast while we discuss your business proposal. I think better on a full stomach anyway."

Bianca nodded firmly to herself. Hunter isn’t here to protect his wife, so I’ll do it! I won’t let my slick brother trick her with his fancy snake words!

A short while later, the three of them sat around a warm wooden table loaded with steaming porridge and fluffy fried dough sticks.

Achilles took a sip of porridge with a spoon, puffed out his chest, and began his pitch. He painted a grand picture of the Thorn Guild__its power, its trading routes, its underground influence.

"So, Zyra," Achilles said, leaning forward with a charming, practiced smile, "with the endless supply of strange goods you have, it only makes sense for us to join hands completely. I want to bring you in as a share holder of the Thorn Guild. What do you say?"

Before Zyra could open her mouth, Bianca slammed her hand on the table, making the bowls rattle.

"Don’t listen to his fancy talk, Zyra!" She blurted out, glaring at her brother. "He left out the most important part! Hunter is the biggest shareholder of the Thorn Guild! Achilles is only second in line! If he wants you to join, he needs to give you what you’re actually worth! It is Hunter that you should deal with."

Zyra nodded slowly, "I kind of figured that out a long time ago." She looked at Achilles. "No offense but Hunter is way smarter, and all that sneaky talk between you two was suspicious. Besides, the men you brought kept calling Hunter boss, like they address you. And they are way more afraid of Hunter than you."

"He’s the dumbest of the bunch, how do you think I followed him here." Bianca added

Achilles nearly choked on his porridge. "Bianca! Whose side are you on?!"

"I’m on the side of fairness!" Bianca snapped back. She turned to Zyra, her eyes shining with excitement. "Zyra, with your beast supplies and these white fruits, the Thorn Guild is going to shoot straight to the skies with your supplies! You shouldn’t settle for a tiny slice! You deserve half ownership!"

Zyra blinked, then a faint, amused smile tugged at the corner of her lips. She was really starting to like this girl. Bianca certainly knew how to throw her own brother under the bus.

"Half ownership?" Achilles shrieked, his voice cracking like a cracked bell. "Are you insane, Bianca?! Half the guild?! Do you know how many years of blood and sweat I put into building that empire?!"

"You mean Hunter’s sweat and blood in those pits while you collected the money?" Bianca smirked

"Bianca is right," Zyra said calmly, picking up a piece of bread and taking a small bite. "I bring the stock, the valley, and the fruits and my dungeons. If you want me on board, pay me what I’m worth. Half."

Achilles pulled out a silk handkerchief and furiously wiped the cold sweat breaking out on his forehead. "This is insane! Absolutely insane!"