Chapter 31: Integrity in Business

"Mr. Rider, I'll pay ten million for each of these five items. That's still a tidy profit for you," Jared countered.

"What? Ten million apiece?" Zyaire exclaimed. "Are you implying my herbs are inferior? You're not a serious buyer; you're here to cause trouble! How dare you accuse me of selling substandard herbs without even examining them?"

"I don't need to examine them. You should know their quality better than I do. Besides, business integrity is crucial for long-term success. Ten million per item, and that's final!" Jared looked Zyaire in the eye.

Zyaire stared back in grim silence. Noticing his anger, Zeke interjected, "Mr. Rider, my friend can assess herb quality at a glance. May I examine them on his behalf?"

Zyaire waved him off. "No need. I've seen how discerning he is. Fine, ten million per item." He refused to let Zeke see the herbs, confident in his own assessment.

Jared paid immediately, astonishing Zyaire. "I have more century-old herbs. I'll have my men bring them." He gestured to his men.

They continued their coffee in the backyard. Zyaire then turned to Zeke. "Mr. Griffin, have you heard about the pills being sold in Horington?"

"Pills?" Zeke shook his head. "No."

"They supposedly enhance strength and lifespan. I tried one; it seemed effective. But my men couldn't analyze the ingredients or replicate the process," Zyaire lamented.

"Amazing! Someone that skilled in Horington!" Zeke exclaimed. The inability to even identify the ingredients was baffling.

"I plan to visit Horington to meet this expert. Recruiting him would be like striking gold!" Zyaire's eyes gleamed with anticipation.

Jared smiled subtly, while Tommy grinned knowingly. The expert was right before them, unbeknownst to Zyaire.

A staff member approached and whispered to Zyaire, whose face lit up. "All right, you can go," he dismissed the subordinate. Turning to Jared and Zeke, he apologized. "Something's come up. Let's continue this afternoon. I promise to reserve the best for you."

Jared and Zeke departed. "I wonder what caused Zyaire to postpone such a lucrative deal," Zeke mused as they left Trinity Herbs.

He then received a phone notification. Gasping, he read, "A thousand-year-old snow lotus is up for auction! Yeringham hasn't seen one in ages!"

"Auction?" Jared was puzzled.

Zeke explained that the city's herb auction, once promising, had been plagued by counterfeits, diminishing its popularity.