Chapter 152: The Offer

The stranger smiled.

"One you won’t be able to refuse."

Aria stared at him.

Then at Kelme.

Then back at the stranger.

"I can refuse."

The stranger’s smile remained.

"Of course."

"Good."

Aria turned around.

"Then we’re done here."

She started walking away.

Kelme followed.

The Duke blinked.

The stranger blinked.

Even several of the former slaves looked confused.

Kelme hurried after her.

"Wait."

"What?"

"You’re actually leaving?"

"Yes."

"But you just said—"

"I know what I said."

"You didn’t even hear the offer."

"I heard enough."

Aria kept walking.

Kelme looked back at the stranger.

"Sorry."

Then he hurried after her.

The stranger’s smile disappeared.

"Wait."

Aria stopped.

She turned around.

"What?"

The stranger stared at her.

"You don’t even want to know what I’m offering?"

"No."

"Why?"

"Because people who say ’you won’t be able to refuse’ usually have something terrible in mind."

Kelme nodded.

"That’s actually a very good point."

The stranger sighed.

"I meant it as confidence."

"You failed."

The Duke stepped between them.

"Enough."

His voice carried across the clearing.

"Who are you?"

The stranger finally looked at him.

"My name is Vincent."

Aria froze.

Kelme froze.

The Duke noticed.

"You know him?"

Kelme slowly pointed at Aria.

"She knows him."

Aria’s expression became uncomfortable.

Vincent smiled.

"It’s been a while."

Aria crossed her arms.

"What do you want?"

"Business."

"No."

"You haven’t heard the offer."

"I already said no."

Vincent laughed softly.

"You haven’t changed."

Aria narrowed her eyes.

"You don’t know me."

"I know enough."

That answer made her uncomfortable.

Vincent stepped forward.

The Duke immediately raised his hand.

Two soldiers moved between them.

Vincent stopped.

"I have no intention of fighting."

"Then explain why you came here with armed men."

"Protection."

"Against what?"

Vincent glanced toward the forest.

"Everyone else."

The Duke’s expression hardened.

"You’re surrounded."

Vincent smiled.

"So are you."

The Duke looked around.

Only then did he notice several more figures standing between the trees.

Not dozens.

Enough.

They weren’t soldiers.

They weren’t wearing uniforms.

They were merchants, smugglers, travelers, and people who looked far too comfortable standing in a forest with weapons.

Aria’s stomach tightened.

Vincent had not come alone.

He had brought an entire network.

Kelme whispered,

"That’s bad."

Aria nodded.

"Very."

The Duke noticed them too.

"You’re threatening us."

"No."

Vincent calmly shook his head.

"I’m demonstrating why my offer matters."

Aria frowned.

"What offer?"

Vincent looked at her.

"You stopped making sugar."

"Yes."

"You destroyed your equipment."

"Yes."

"You burned your recipes."

"Yes."

"You want to walk away."

"Yes."

"And yet you still have something valuable."

Aria’s eyes narrowed.

"What?"

Vincent pointed toward the settlement.

"People."

Silence.

Aria’s expression changed immediately.

The Duke noticed too.

Vincent continued.

"You have dozens of people here who need food, clothing, tools, medicine, shelter, and work."

Aria’s hands slowly curled into fists.

"You’re offering to provide those things?"

"I’m offering resources."

"In exchange for what?"

Vincent smiled.

"Your cooperation."

"With what?"

"Trade."

Aria stared at him.

"Legal trade?"

Vincent laughed.

"No."

The Duke’s soldiers immediately became tense.

Vincent raised a hand.

"Not what you’re thinking."

The Duke looked unimpressed.

"Then explain."

Vincent pointed toward Aria.

"She has something unique."

Aria frowned.

"I don’t."

"You do."

"I don’t make sugar anymore."

"I know."

"You just said that."

"Yes."

"Then what do you want?"

Vincent’s expression became serious.

"I want your knowledge."

Aria went quiet.

Kelme looked at her.

Vincent continued.

"You created a product that merchants across the kingdom wanted."

"I stopped."

"But you learned how."

Aria said nothing.

"You understand purification, refinement, production, distribution."

Vincent took another step.

"You understand something most merchants don’t."

"What?"

"How to create demand."

Aria’s eyes narrowed.

"That’s not what happened."

Vincent smiled.

"Of course it is."

"No."

"You found something people wanted."

"Because it was banned."

"Exactly."

"And I nearly destroyed my life over it."

Vincent nodded.

"That’s why you’re valuable."

Aria stared at him.

"You want me to start again."

"No."

She blinked.

"No?"

Vincent shook his head.

"Sugar is finished."

Aria relaxed slightly.

"Then what?"

"Something else."

The Duke stepped forward.

"What something else?"

Vincent looked at him.

"Products."

"What products?"

"Whatever she can make."

Aria frowned.

"That’s incredibly vague."

"Because I don’t know what you know."

"I know enough."

Vincent smiled.

"Then show me."

Aria immediately shook her head.

"No."

"Why?"

"Because I don’t trust you."

"Good."

She blinked.

Vincent’s expression remained calm.

"You shouldn’t."

Kelme whispered,

"I actually like him less now."

Aria nodded.

"Same."

Vincent continued.

"I don’t expect trust."

"Then what do you expect?"

"Profit."

At least that was honest.

Aria considered him.

"What happens if I say no?"

Vincent looked toward the settlement.

"Nothing."

Aria narrowed her eyes.

"Really?"

"Yes."

"You won’t hurt them?"

"No."

"You won’t report us?"

"No."

"You won’t tell the authorities about my past?"

Vincent smiled.

"Why would I?"

Aria stared.

That was not the answer she expected.

Vincent continued.

"Your past is useful to me."

"I don’t understand."

"You think the sugar made you valuable."

He shook his head.

"It didn’t."

He pointed at her.

"You did."

Aria was silent.

"You created the sugar."

"You organized the operation."

"You adapted when things went wrong."

"You escaped the army."

"You manipulated criminals."

"You took down Colston."

"You freed his slaves."

"You then turned around and tried to build them a new life."

Vincent’s eyes narrowed slightly.

"You make decisions quickly."

"Sometimes badly."

"Yes."

Aria frowned.

"But you make them."

He smiled.

"That’s rare."

Kelme looked at Aria.

"He’s complimenting you."

"I noticed."

"That’s suspicious."

"Very."

The Duke stepped forward.

"This conversation is over."

Vincent looked at him.

"Why?"

"Because you’re attempting to recruit a criminal."

Aria raised a finger.

"Former criminal."

The Duke looked at her.

"Former?"

"I destroyed everything."

"You still committed the crimes."

"I know."

Vincent smiled.

"I can see why you like her."

The Duke’s expression darkened.

"I don’t."

Aria looked offended.

"You don’t?"

"You are a walking problem."

She looked at Kelme.

"Did you hear that?"

"Yes."

"He likes me."

"No."

The Duke sighed.

Vincent almost laughed.

Then he became serious again.

"Aria."

She looked at him.

"If you refuse, I’ll leave."

She waited.

"And if I accept?"

"You come with me."

"No."

"You misunderstood."

Vincent pointed toward the settlement.

"You don’t."

Aria frowned.

"I stay here?"

"Yes."

"Then what do you want?"

"You build."

Aria’s eyes narrowed.

"You mean this?"

She gestured toward the settlement.

"Exactly."

Vincent’s voice became quieter.

"You have people who need work."

"You have people who need supplies."

"You have people who need a future."

He looked toward the former slaves.

"I can provide the connections."

Aria slowly understood.

"You want to turn this place into a business."

"A trading settlement."

"Using my people."

"Using willing workers."

Aria shook her head.

"They’re not mine."

"Then ask them."

She turned around.

Everyone was watching.

The former slaves had heard everything.

Aria walked toward them.

She stopped in front of the group.

"Did you understand what he said?"

Several nodded.

"He wants to provide supplies."

"Yes."

"He wants us to work."

"Yes."

"He wants to make money."

"Yes."

Aria sighed.

"At least he’s honest."

One man stepped forward.

"What would we make?"

Vincent answered.

"Anything legal."

Aria immediately looked at him.

"You said you didn’t want legal."

"I said I don’t require legal trade."

He smiled.

"But if you’re trying to build a legitimate settlement, legal trade is considerably easier."

Aria looked at him suspiciously.

"You’ve thought about this."

"I’ve been thinking about it for weeks."

That sentence changed everything.

Aria stared at him.

"Weeks?"

"Yes."

"You’ve been watching us?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Because you were interesting."

Aria’s expression hardened.

"That’s creepy."

Vincent shrugged.

"Probably."

Kelme nodded.

"Definitely."

Vincent ignored him.

"I watched you fail."

Aria frowned.

"I didn’t fail."

"You tried to make money without a plan."

"That’s not—"

"You tried to rob people."

Aria stopped.

"You couldn’t find a suitable target."

Kelme quietly whispered,

"He’s right."

Aria elbowed him.

Vincent continued.

"You discovered sugar."

"You built a network."

"You became hunted."

"You used the army."

"You manipulated criminals."

"You freed slaves."

"And now you’re trying to build a settlement."

He smiled.

"Your plans are terrible."

Aria’s eye twitched.

"But somehow," Vincent continued, "they keep working."

Kelme raised his hand.

"Sometimes."

Aria looked at him.

"Stop helping."

Vincent reached inside his coat.

The soldiers immediately raised their weapons.

He stopped.

Slowly, he pulled out a folded document.

He held it between two fingers.

"A contract."

Aria didn’t move.

"I’m not signing anything."

"Good."

He held it out.

"Read it."

She took the document.

Kelme leaned over her shoulder.

Aria scanned the page.

Her eyebrows rose.

"No debt."

"No."

"No ownership."

"No."

"No forced labor."

"No."

"Workers get paid."

"Yes."

"Settlement keeps control of itself."

"Yes."

"And I get a percentage of profits from anything I help distribute."

"Yes."

Aria looked at him.

"That’s surprisingly reasonable."

Vincent smiled.

"I told you."

"You’re still suspicious."

"That’s fine."

She handed the contract to the Duke.

"Read it."

The Duke took it.

He read silently.

The longer he read, the more confused he looked.

Finally, he looked at Vincent.

"This is legitimate."

Vincent nodded.

"I said it was a business proposal."

The Duke looked at Aria.

"It appears so."

Aria crossed her arms.

"So what’s the catch?"

Vincent smiled.

"There is always a catch."

She knew it.

"I knew it."

"The catch," Vincent said, "is that I expect results."

Aria stared.

"What happens if I don’t produce anything?"

"Nothing."

"What if I produce something useless?"

"Then we don’t sell it."

"What if the settlement makes no money?"

"Then I stop investing."

"What if I change my mind?"

"You walk away."

Aria looked at Kelme.

He looked back.

Neither spoke.

Finally, Aria turned toward the settlement.

The people were watching her.

They weren’t waiting for Vincent.

They were waiting for her.

She hated that.

Because it meant the decision wasn’t only hers anymore.

She looked at the contract again.

Then at Vincent.

"What do you want first?"

Vincent smiled.

"Something simple."

Aria relaxed.

"Good."

"Medicine."

Her expression changed.

"For what?"

"A common fever."

Aria frowned.

"You need medicine?"

"I need something affordable."

She stared at him.

"For ordinary people?"

"Yes."

"Not nobles?"

"No."

"Not soldiers?"

"No."

"Not some secret poison?"

Vincent laughed.

"No."

Aria looked toward Kelme.

"Can we make medicine?"

Kelme shrugged.

"You’ve made medicine before."

"For Kira."

"Yes."

"Different."

"Everything is different until you try."

Aria thought.

She knew basic chemistry.

She knew how to make several simple preparations.

But medicine wasn’t sugar.

Mistakes could hurt people.

She looked at Vincent.

"I’ll need ingredients."

"Name them."

"Equipment."

"I’ll provide it."

"Books."

"I’ll find them."

"Someone who knows medicine."

"I’ll find one."

Aria stared.

"You really have connections."

Vincent smiled.

"I told you."

She looked at the contract.

Then at the settlement.

Then at the Duke.

Then at Kelme.

Kelme shrugged.

"It’s your decision."

Aria hated that answer.

Because it was exactly the right one.

She took a deep breath.

"Fine."

Vincent’s smile returned.

"But," Aria said.

His smile stopped.

"I have conditions."

"Of course."

"No weapons near the settlement."

"Agreed."

"No threatening workers."

"Agreed."

"No forcing anyone to work."

"Agreed."

"No touching my people."

Vincent paused.

Then nodded.

"Agreed."

"And no sugar."

Kelme looked at her.

Vincent laughed.

"Agreed."

Aria held out her hand.

Vincent shook it.

The deal was made.

The Duke watched them.

"You understand this means you’re entering a commercial agreement with a man whose business dealings I don’t entirely trust."

Aria nodded.

"I know."

"And you’re trusting him."

"No."

Vincent raised an eyebrow.

Aria smiled.

"I’m trusting the contract."

For the first time, Vincent looked genuinely impressed.

"Good answer."

Aria released his hand.

"Now leave."

Vincent blinked.

"Excuse me?"

"You got your deal."

"I did."

"Then leave."

He smiled.

"Tomorrow, I’ll send the first supplies."

"Fine."

He turned.

His people followed.

But before disappearing into the forest, Vincent looked back.

"One more thing."

Aria sighed.

"What?"

"The name."

"What name?"

"For the settlement."

Aria stared at him.

"We don’t have one."

"You should."

"Why?"

"Because if you’re going to build something, people need something to call it."

He disappeared into the forest.

Aria stood silently.

Kelme walked beside her.

"You should name it."

"No."

"Why?"

"Because naming things makes them feel permanent."

Kelme looked around.

The shelters.

The people.

The soldiers.

The small patches of farmland.

The fire pits.

He smiled.

"Aria."

"What?"

"It’s already permanent."

She stared at him.

Then looked away.

"I hate you."

"No, you don’t."

She smiled.

"Don’t push it."

Behind them, one of the former slaves approached.

"Aria?"

"Yes?"

"What should we call this place?"

Aria looked toward the settlement.

For a long moment, she said nothing.

Then she sighed.

"I don’t know."

The man smiled.

"You always say that."

Aria looked at him.

"Maybe we should stop asking me questions."

Everyone laughed.

Even the Duke.

Aria looked around at them.

For once, she didn’t feel like running.

She didn’t feel like hiding.

She didn’t feel like planning her next escape.

She simply stood there.

Looking at something that had begun with chaos.

Something she never intended to create.

Something that now belonged to more people than just her.

Then, from somewhere inside the settlement, a child shouted:

"WE NEED A NAME!"

Aria covered her face.

"Oh, for the love of—"

Kelme laughed.

And somewhere beyond the trees, Vincent smiled.

Because the sugar business was over.

But Aria had just entered a much bigger game.