Chapter 226: Negotiation

They spent quite some time together, with Regis remaining silent as he listened to Aurum’s stories.

Each time Aurum spoke, his voice carried a tinge of sorrow.

His tone was steeped in profound yearning, like a man teetering on the edge of madness, willing to do anything just to turn back time.

Yet as he listened, Regis remained vigilant.

’How could a human harbor this much...’

Corruption.

It felt eerily similar to the aura of those who had forged contracts with demons.

But that was all it was—similar.

It resembled mental corruption, but it had not crossed the line into actual demonic power.

Regis was almost certain: it was Aurelia who kept Aurum from losing his humanity entirely.

’If this had gone on any longer... it could’ve been dangerous.’

Regis thought so, watching Aurum’s lonely figure from behind.

At this moment, he had already finished speaking and remained silent as he gazed at the large family portrait that hung on the wall.

"Thank you, Regis."

"For what, Uncle Aurum?"

"For giving my precious Lia the chance to touch the world again, without the fear of hurting anyone. Just the thought that she can live a normal life from now on..."

Aurum paused, his voice thick with emotion.

"...that alone means everything to me."

"And for that, I owe you everything."

He grew quiet for a moment before continuing.

"However, there is something I want to ask of you."

"Please, go ahead."

But Regis’s words were met with silence.

It was not because Aurum ignored him.

In fact, it felt quite the opposite.

Regis could hear him exhale deeply.

From the subtle movements of his shoulders and the stillness in his stance, Regis could sense it— a quiet nervousness.

Aurum was deliberating, carefully, as if the next words might change his life.

Seconds turned to minutes as time trickled by slowly.

After a few more minutes of silence, Aurum finally turned around, his gaze meeting the blood-red eyes of the boy standing before him.

He had not spoken a word yet, but Regis could already sense a shift in the man.

It was subtle—barely there—but behind the sadness, loneliness, desperation, and longing that stirred in his eyes, Regis saw something else.

Hope.

Faint and fragile, it shimmered like the first glint of dawn after a long night.

Yet that small spark was enough to bring back a trace of youth to Aurum’s face.

His lips trembled, but he steadied himself and asked:

"What Lia said... was it true?"

Regis met his eyes, quietly waiting for him to continue.

"Can you really bring back my wife... my family?"

"That depends."

Aurum furrowed his brow, "What do you mean?"

"I might be able to, but only if their golden statues are still intact. If they’ve been broken or damaged... I don’t know what would happen."

Aurum’s response came almost instantly, "You don’t have to worry about that. Since the incident, Montrelle City has declared the area off-limits. No one’s been allowed to enter. The site remains exactly the same as it was the day it happened."

Regis’s eyes widened, "Oh?"

He had not expected that they would go so far to preserve the aftermath.

"Then, should we talk about the next thing?"

Aurum tilted his head slightly, a hint of confusion in his expression, "What do you mean?"

But it only took a moment of looking into Regis’s eyes before realization dawned on him.

"Pfft—"

Aurum let out a hearty laugh, "Pardon me. I almost forgot..."

How could he forget that one simple truth— something etched into the bones of every merchant?

If there was something you wanted, then you must offer something in return.

’Yes, this is better. Only with a proper exchange can both sides walk away without suspicion or hidden motives.’

Aurum nodded inwardly, ’A clean transaction is always better than vague goodwill.’

Regis merely smiled.

He did not mind.

After everything that had happened today, it was nice to see Aurum laugh again.

After a brief pause, Aurum calmed down and recovered his calm..

"So, what do you have in mind? You’re planning to expand into a corporation, aren’t you? Do you want me to recruit people for you, or maybe train those you handpick?"

He shrugged with a faint grin, "Whatever it is, I’ll personally see it through. Like I said earlier, I owe you everything. If you really do manage to bring my family back, the Midas Merchant Organization will be yours to count on—always."

"Wha—" Regis blinked, at a rare loss for words.

He had not expected Aurum to offer something so absolute without hesitation.

"You don’t have to go that far..."

But Aurum only shook his head, his smile turning wistful.

"Please. Anyone can tell—I wouldn’t have lasted much longer like that. My health has already taken too much damage from stress and work. Just knowing there’s a chance... a chance to see them again—it’s already given me something I haven’t felt in years: hope."

A beat of silence passed before something else came to his mind.

"By the way, have you spoken to my brother about this?"

"Fortress Commander Larkson?"

"Yes. That must be why he trusted you so easily, huh?"

"Yes..."

Aurum let out a breath through his nose, almost amused, "Figures. He’s not the type to warm up to someone without a damn good reason."

"Actually, I already have something in mind." Regis said after a moment.

"Oh? What is it?"

"I noticed in the records you gave me a few days ago—you’re still planning to bring people into the city?"

Aurum nodded, "That’s right. While most of Harmonia is still under construction, we’re already preparing to populate it. The city spans roughly seventy square kilometers, so the City Lord instructed us to begin screening potential citizens."

Regis’s eyes widened, "Isn’t that even larger than the Royal Capital?"

"It is." Aurum replied, "Some might see that as disrespect toward the Acheron Kingdom, but honestly, we can’t help it. Harmonia lies within our territory. Whatever criticism it draws, the benefits outweigh the rest."

"Besides that, he also promised that the chosen ones would receive free citizenship, along with other amenities."

"We’ve been given a quota, and I plan to go through it by the end of the week. If you know people you want to bring in, now’s the time. It’s just that..."

"What is it?" Regis asked.

Aurum cleared his throat. "The City Lord told us to avoid inviting anyone from ruling or influential houses. Those from such backgrounds will face stricter screening and may not even qualify as citizens."

"But if it’s only a few, I’m sure it’ll be fine."

"Well, you don’t have to worry about that." Regis smiled.

"What do you mean?"

"The people I’m talking about are around my age, and they don’t have any formal identity in the Acheron Kingdom. They could pass as war survivors or something."

’...though that isn’t really far from the truth.’ He added inwardly.

They had survived the war.

Only, they were not its victims.

They were the ones who started it.

The ones who left Toran City in ruins.

Survivors, nonetheless.

Aurum thought for a moment and nodded, "That makes things easier. I can arrange identities for all of them. But may I ask just how many people you’re planning on bringing?"

Regis responded by racing one finger in his right hand and two on his other.

"Hmm... 3?"

"No."

"12?"

"No."

"Then how many?"

"112."

Aurum thought for a moment, then nodded, "That makes things easier. I can arrange identities for all of them. But may I ask—just how many people are you planning to bring?"

Regis raised one finger on his right hand and two on his left.

"Hmm... three?"

"No."

"Twelve?"

"No."

"Then how many?"

"One hundred and twelve."

Aurum’s lips twitched.

’Then why the hell did you show it like that? Can’t you be a normal person?’

Of course, he did not say that out loud.

"That’s... not a number I expected, but it’s manageable considering their lack of formal identities."

He said after a second.

Then he asked, "Though I have to wonder—where are they now? If they can travel, I can help arrange their transport. Just tell me where they are."

Regis pointed to his head.

’Is this kid mentally unstable? Don’t tell me he’s just hearing voices in there...’

Aurum felt a headache coming on.

This boy was more eccentric than he had prepared for.

Regis smiled, "They’re in my consciousness."

’Turns out I was right.’ Aurum sighed internally.

"Would you like to meet them? We can also continue our negotiation there."

"Sure, sure." Aurum replied distractedly, "But seriously, can we stop joki—"

Before he could finish, the scene before his eyes shifted.

Their negotiation went smoothly.

With Aurum’s assistance, Regis finalized the plans and arrangements to provide the 112 children—once demonic humans—with new identities and a chance at a new life.

At the same time, Killian had sent a letter to House Gladius at Corelli Fortress, which the maids received.

In it, he informed them of his intention to settle in Harmonia for the foreseeable future.

And just like that, the Decadence Tea Party made their home in Harmonia.

Days turned to weeks, weeks to months, and months to years, as life began to flow with a new rhythm.