The dreaded deadline ended. Ryan didn't need to open his stat screen even after the chime sounded to know what had just happened. Walking towards him was the relaxed form of the personality of the day.

"Umm, Leo. Could you excuse me for a moment?" Ryan said, as he preferred to deal with the issue without Leo finding out.

He thought it best to confront the smug-looking and relaxed walking form of Mr. Coman before the tax man could make it to his shop.

"Why?" Leo asked, surprised, not understanding the situation that Ryan was currently in and what was making Ryan all flustered up and acting weird.

"Nothing that you need to be bothered about," Ryan said, already heading out the door.

The gap between his shop and Mr. Coman was only a stone's throw away, and Ryan couldn't entertain the idea that Leo would be present for the conversation that would ensue between the pair.

Walking as fast as he could, Ryan got out of the shop and began walking towards the tax man who was headed his way. Ryan wasn't so sure if the man was shocked to see Ryan exit his shop and try to meet him in the middle of the street, but if he was, he did a pretty good job of hiding it, and Ryan honestly couldn't tell.

Ryan puffed up his cheeks and tried to match up to the tax man's aura and his gait. It took a moment for him to compose himself, but he did. He had to have a poker face if he was going to have a slight chance at negotiating more time. Else, he could kiss his shop goodbye, and at least this time, he'd only have to start over from scratch instead of being in debt to someone or owing someone money he could not pay.

"Mr. Lionheart," the smug-looking Trader's Guild tax man said, not bothering to hide the glee that escaped his lips. Ryan could hear the glee ringing in his ears, no doubt the tax man already having written him off. Realistically, there'd be no way for a small-time merchant to raise that kind of money within a limited amount of time like what Ryan had, and even though Ryan hadn't completed the money, he was pretty darn close, which said a lot about his current conundrum.

He'd risen from a broke man to someone that was making something out of his life. He'd started making deals in gold, and no matter what happened to his shop, the skills that he'd learned belonged to him and only him. No one else would have such an easy time raising that gold.

It wasn't as though Ryan was special; more like he was lucky enough to meet the right people in the right scenario, and he couldn't help but thank Veron for guiding him this far in life.

"Mr. Coman," Ryan replied, offering up a hand for the man to clasp.

"I see that you are in good health and of sound mind," Mr. Coman said.

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

Ryan could hear the unasked question in the man's words. The Trader's Guild tax man was probably surprised in how Ryan wasn't looking tired, sleep-deprived, and overall shabby. In fact, Ryan was sure that his new cloak would've caught the tax man's eyes, and he knew that gears were most likely turning in the man's head as he assessed the situation they were currently in, considering the different options and possibilities.

Ryan, sensing the opportunity that the new circumstances provided him, decided to take advantage of it. He ran a hand through the fabric of his new cloak under the watchful gaze of the tax man.

"Of course, I don't think that I was supposed to be any other way," Ryan said, as though ignorant of the hustle game that was being played by the two.

If Ryan moved his pieces right, he wouldn't even have to tip his hand and beg for more time; the tax man would give him that without him having to beg. Sometimes confidence was more important than gold, and he'd just have to bluff his way through this. Shouldn't be hard; after all, he'd just have to sell an illusion, nothing more, nothing less.

"True," Mr. Coman said without much fuss, the man placing a hand on his chin as though in thought. "I suppose it's time to head to your shop so that we can iron out the issue that remains."

Ah, now that was the bone of contention. How would Ryan go about convincing the man to discuss terms out in the open without losing composure? His entire frame shivered. He'd definitely not thought this through. Maybe it would've been better if he'd sent Leo out instead; that way, they'd have a place to do business privately without judging eyes and ears.

"Actually, I'd prefer to do business out here in the open," Ryan said, internally wincing even as the words left his lips. A chuckle escaped Mr. Coman as the Trader's Guild rep seemed to take in Ryan's words.

"I assure you, Mr. Lionheart, I would not lay a finger on you if you don't have the money ready right now," Mr. Coman said calmly.

Well, that's... interesting, to say the least. Ryan wasn't scared of being beaten up, as that only happened to the stubborn shop owners in Denair, those who refused to pay what was owed. Needless to say, the tax man's words calmed him down and made his heart quit racing so fast.

"Now, your business, on the other hand..." Mr. Coman said, spreading his hands apart in dramatic fashion. "Is fair game."

Ryan almost sunk into the ground at the words of the man. He'd just built him up only to throw him down without another word, but it was the standard practice in Denair, and anyone who wasn't compliant with doing things the easy way would surely have to do business the hard way. Ryan knew which way he preferred to deal with the guilds.

"Of course, Mr. Coman. I wouldn't dare accuse one from such a fine establishment as the Trader's Guild of being unfair," Ryan said. If confidence couldn't work, he'd try flattery. No doubt someone like Mr. Coman, who was always in the position of power in negotiations of this kind, was used to such things.

"Kind words, Mr. Lionheart, but I fear that flattery has long lost its influence on me," Mr. Coman said, his tone turning businesslike. "Please lead the way so that we can finish up. I have other matters to attend to."

"Please, hear me out before y—" Ryan started.

"Mr. Lionheart, you are proving to be stubborn, and the patience I have for this charade is running thin. So either lead the way, or I'll be forced to leave and return with a less pleasant tactic."

Jig's up, Ryan thought. Making sure to hide his displeasure from his face, he made his way to the shop where Leo was. The big man throwing Ryan a questioning look as he brought in his guest.

"Mr. Buckly," Mr. Coman said, "I didn't know that you are acquainted with this..."