A Time of Tigers - From Peasant to Emperor

Chapter 717 The Use of a Village - Part 6

"Right..." Oliver said, nodding. He'd overlooked that possibility. In his head, he'd planned to finance the entire thing himself, and had wondered just how much it might cost. He'd been a little bit anxious about the numbers in all honesty. But Nila was right. To attempt to do things all himself would be to neglect the bigger picture, to use his resources inefficiently.

Nila was looking at Greeves with an intense amount of pressure in her eyes. The merchant heaved a long sigh, eventually relenting.

"I suppose I could send some coin your way as well... though it runs contrary to my plans of expansion in Ernest, I suppose there's ways that I can make it work in my favour," Greeves said, clearly bemoaning any coin that he would have to part with. "Eh, what about this? I'll get those other little rats to loosen their purse strings a bit, so how about you expect a little less from me."

"Greeves..." Nila growled.

"Just a little less," Greeves said. "It'll get done, but just because I've coin don't expect me to spend it all in one fell swoop. I'll get the others involved to share that damn burden."

"I get it," Oliver said. "You don't have to overturn all your plans for mine, though your assistance in the matter would be appreciated. Organizing it as well might have to fall to you..."

"I don't mind doing work like that. I'll talk to some of the construction boys and send an estimated price your way when I can. You should be saving your coin and looking to recruit some good serving men as well. I say serving men... But some tough peasants would do just as good, wouldn't they?" Greeves mused. Find adventures at My Virtual Library Empire

"If they were experienced. The Serving Class have been trained – for the most part – at the Academy, though. There'll be a difference in quality," Oliver said.

"Pah. Judas is way more useful than any of those Serving Class louts, ain't he?" Greeves said.@@@@

"Probably... But where are you going to find fifty or more Judas'?" Oliver pointed out.

"It will be of use to me as well, somehow, I have no doubt," Greeves said, with a satisfied smirk.

"Couldn't be a little bit more loyal..?" Nila said, twisting her lips.

"Come now, the boy understands me, don't you, Oliver? I'm a changed man, in some respects – but not at the cost of my ambitions. I will serve you more usefully than any man, as long as you carry me in that direction. I'm more a partner, than a true servant. That works just as well, doesn't it?" Greeves said. "You have enough retainers bowing to you already."

"Well, I suppose it does work well enough," Oliver smiled. "But the day you raise a hand against me, Greeves, will be the day that those dreams of yours burn. Even with our history, I will not show you mercy."

The gold flecks in his eyes made that point rather clear. Though there was a clear sheen of sweat on Greeves' head at the threat, he took it well enough otherwise.

"And that fuckin' look there is why I have no intentions of betraying you..." Greeves said.

"Not even when you know the High King would pay a handsome amount for information on any of these little chats that we've had?" Oliver said.

"The High King?" Greeves scoffed. "You think I'm the sort to value a man on mere title? The man was born with a silver spoon in his mouth. If I were to look him in the eye, I'd find only weakness there, and scorn for me. Naw, you need not waste your time fearing that. My hatred for their types is about the only thing that outweighs my greed."

"Awfully honest, aren't you?" Oliver said, smiling thinly.

The merchant shrugged. "So are you. If I weren't honest, you'd no doubt get suspicious. I'm aware that I have that effect on people, and more aware still of what a little nightmare you can be when we're aiming in opposite directions."