The Verge Of An Empire

46

- First, I am ready to listen to the proposals of the audience. After all, they didn’t just come to listen to me, perhaps they have worthwhile ideas.

There were not so many worthwhile ideas, most of those present preferred to remain silent, and Thane el'Vanshar was frankly bored in general. He was whispering quietly to his colleagues, el'Balog and el'Farhash, the same sharks of the eastern financial world. If Mork were around, he could see real cold-blooded predators. Echoes of rumors reach the mother country about exactly how the company operates, gutting the Maldese markets for spices and fabrics, but as long as money and goods flow in an unceasing stream, the rulers of Mescia do not care. If we face the truth, we are no better than Malodius, the same parasites who live at the expense of others. But the Malodius are weak and vulnerable, and we are a huge and strong bloodsucker that cannot be stopped. This is if you look at the truth. But we can't look.

"If I may be allowed, I will m