Chapter 121: The Merchant Guild’s Threat

Emeric’s fist slammed into the desk.

The wood cracked, causing splinters to fly. Blood welled from his knuckles.

The room went silent.

Master Vell’s smile vanished and Master Rufus’ eyes widened while the impact made the lawyers flinch.

Emeric stood.

He laughed. It wasn’t a pleasant sound.

"You have insulted this barony for the last time."

Master Vell raised his hands. "Baron, please—"

"You can’t do this. You can’t touch us." Master Rufus’ voice was sharp. But there was a tremor in it.

Emeric crossed the room. His footsteps were slow and deliberate. He stopped in front of one of the lawyers. The man who had spoken. The one who had called the villagers "beneath them."

He grabbed the man by the collar. Lifted him from his chair. Held him in the air.

"You despicable human being," Emeric said. His voice was quiet. Cold. "Even scum deserves more mercy than you."

The lawyer’s face went pale. His feet kicked. His hands clawed at Emeric’s grip.

"Please—"

Emeric took a deep breath and set him down.

The lawyer collapsed into his chair, gasping as his whole body was shaking.

Emeric turned back to the desk.

"I’m going to make you a counter offer."

Master Vell’s voice was strained. "A counter offer?"

"Yes." Emeric returned to his chair. Sat. "I have proof of your illegal practices."

Master Crane’s eyes narrowed. "You have nothing."

"I have documents. Ledgers. Contracts. Letters. Evidence of illegal interest rates. Intimidation. Seizures. Seventeen houses that I can find. Evidence of your crimes and I’m sure there’s more." He said in a slow and deliberate manner.

He paused.

"I could take you to court. But that would be playing on your field. You have the Supreme Court in your good graces. You have lawyers. Connections. Friends in high places."

Master Vell smiled. It was shaky. "Then you understand—"

"But I don’t need to take you to court." Emeric leaned forward. "I just need to make sure everyone knows how the Guild operates."

There was a beat of silence.

"I will make sure no one does business with you. No one. Not a single noble will look your way. Even members of your merchant guild will be wary of you. They will know what you are. They will know what you do. And they will stay away."

He paused.

"Let’s see how well business does then."

Master Crane’s face went white.

"You wouldn’t."

"I would."

"You’d destroy us."

"I’d destroy your reputation. Your business. Your livelihood. Everything you’ve built on the backs of the desperate and the weak."

Master Vell’s hands were trembling. "This is—this is blackmail."

"Is it?" He said, pausing with his teeth gritting for fear he might lose control. "No. This is justice."

Emeric reached into his desk. Pulled out a parchment then slid it across the desk.

"A new contract with new agreements. One million gold coins. No interest. None. Not a single percent."

Master Vell stared at it. "This is outrageous."

"Did you ever think about that? Before you did what you’ve been doing? Before you ruined all those families?" His eyes were enraged now. "You drove villages into poverty? Did you ever think—this is outrageous?"

Master Rufus’ voice was cold. "You won’t get away with this."

"I already have."

Master Vell looked at Master Rufus. And he in turn looked at the lawyers. The lawyers looked at the floor.

Finally—Master Vell picked up the pen.

His hand shook and his face was pale, but he signed.

Five minutes later, they were out the door.

Graves closed the door behind them, turned and looked at Emeric.

"That was amazing, my lord."

Emeric leaned back in his chair. His knuckles were bleeding. His heart was pounding. His hands were still shaking.

"It’s not over yet."

Graves blinked. "My lord?"

"They’ll try something. They won’t take this lying down. They’ll send someone. Or something. They’ll try to take back what they lost."

He paused.

"We need to be ready."

Graves straightened. His eyes were sharp. His expression was fierce.

"We will be, my lord."

# Chapter 69: The Voidling’s Gift

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Emeric walked back to the study.

His knuckles still throbbed but it was healing nicely.

He had won for today but he couldn’t relax. They were planning something.

He crossed to his chair and sat.

Then he felt it.

It was a low pulse that was coming from the corner of the room.

He turned.

The sword that Bjorn had made was still wrapped in cloth, leaning against the wall.

He had not found much use for it in the last week or two. But now it was glowing?

It wasn’t a bright glow. It was a faint shimmer that was not nothing but barely noticeable. It had a soft hum attached to every pulse like it was alive.

Like a heart beat of some sort.

He stood up and went towards it. He observed it for a few seconds then he reached or it.

The moment his fingers touched the cloth, he felt it. It was a violent pull that threatened to suck him in. But then it stopped. He felt it. A familiar connection.

Nyxie.

He turned and ran.

The crate was in the corner of the bedroom.

He had checked it every day, pouring as much mana into it as he could. She was still sleeping. Her small body curled in the blankets. Her breathing slow and even.

But now—

He stopped.

The crate was glowing. The same faint shimmer as the sword with the same soft hum.

He knelt down and opened the lid.

Nyxie was inside. But she wasn’t the same.

She had grown. Not much—maybe an inch. Maybe two. But she was larger. Fuller. Her midnight scales gleamed with a faint inner light. Her small wings were folded against her back. Her tail curled around her body.

And she was glowing like a heartbeat or a beacon.

What— ?

The system pulsed.

---

[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]

[SUMMONED CREATURE — NYXIE]

[STATUS: HIBERNATION — MANA SURGE DETECTED]

[WARNING: MANA REGULATION REQUIRED. THE CREATURE IS EMITTING EXCESS VOID MANA. IF LEFT UNCHECKED, IT COULD DESTABILIZE THE HIBERNATION STATE AND SET OFF AN EXPLOSION.]

Fuck! You should have led with that.

He sprung into action, unsure what to do when another information floated across his vision.

[DIRECTIVE: STABILIZE THE MANA FLOW. USE YOUR BOND TO CALM THE CREATURE.]

---

Emeric quickly read the notification.

Stabilize the mana flow. How was he supposed to do that exactly?

Damn it!