[I really don’t think this is appropriate, Anthony.]
[What do you mean? You used to be a merchant, didn’t you? You’ve negotiated for us a ton of times and been fantastic at it. What’s the problem now?]
[I was negotiating with towns and cities that you’d conquered! It’s not exactly hard to force a fair agreement down their throats when there’s a set of mandibles locked around them!]
[I’m fairly sure there weren’t ants standing around with their jaws poised to behead your negotiating partners….]
[Not literally, you oversized ant! I’m just saying I had the upper hand in those talks. And I was only talking to other merchants and petty city lords, not brathians!]
[What’s the difference?]
[Brathians are… different! They’re just different!]
[I mean, how have you even met brathians? I thought you’d never been this deep in the Dungeon?]
[I haven’t. There’s brathians at every level and also on the surface.]
The old woman sighed and pinched her brow. How could she explain this to this obstinate insect?
[The brathians are famous for being skilled negotiators, even in Liria. They cut hard deals and would sell the scales off their own back for the right price.]
[So they’re ruthless when it comes to money. So’s just about everyone who doesn’t have six or more legs. The bruan’chii excepted.]
[It’s pretty much a religion to them! They don’t even live in kingdoms or empires. They form trading blocs, caravans and conglomerates instead. Their leaders are usually the best and most successful traders. I got fleeced by the brathians I met on the surface, what do you think is going to happen to me down here?!]
coming on. Then an enormous antenna attempted to rest
[Too heavy,] she grumbled.
really care. It seems like they want to peacefully coexist with us, so that’s great, they just want to strike some sort of deal for our
Enid frowned. [They want
giant ant shifted a
like they make anything that we’re all that interested in. We don’t wear clothes, don’t eat fine cuisine, are only interested in ant-themed artwork and besides that, we make all our own stuff already. Even
goods from you… and then onsell them
of things
people your legs? Can
the Colony has any idea what they’re doing with currency or trade. Alright? We depend on your wisdom and expertise once again. If you feel like you can’t succeed, then just stop, tell us you can’t do it, and we’ll
in. The Colony had done so much for her and her people, and
are
been waiting for us
[WHAT!?]
minutes later, a bedraggled and flustered Enid shuffled into the meeting hall, her back aching and her face
did you even keep them occupied while I was coming?] she demanded of the big ant sitting idly on one
them we were waiting for
DID just
them ants have their own pace of doing things and
own pace, and it wasn’t slow…. Rather the opposite, the ants worked
ants managed to bake so well when they couldn’t
of professionalism to her side of the negotiations, Enid approached the table and sat as gracefully as she could. She even managed to stifle her little groan as the weight came off
slumped comfortably in the corner. Across the table sat an array of clearly high ranking brathians, bedecked in gossamer silks that
were dressed so well! I would have tried to spruce up
are? I can’t
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