Amara's smile turned enigmatic. "Perceptive as always, young master. Yes, Matthias and I have a... history."

Elysian leaned forward, his curiosity piqued. "Care to elaborate? I find it hard to believe you'd bring someone to meet me without good reason."

"Matthias and I go back many years," Amara began, her eyes distant as if recalling memories. She then delved into a tale of her past, one that Elysian found both intriguing and illuminating.

After Amara's mother had passed away, the Velvet Chamber had fallen into turmoil. Vultures, sensing weakness, had gathered to pick apart the business her mother had left behind. Being just a child at the time, Amara had been vulnerable and powerless to defend her inheritance. It was then that Matthias, a friend and acquaintance of her mother, had stepped in, providing the crucial support she desperately needed.

As Amara continued her story, Elysian learned that the Valfort family had deep roots in Ironspire, predating even his father's ascension to the barony. Once noble and wealthy, their fortunes had followed a familiar trajectory of decline over generations. However, this fall from grace was only apparent on the surface.

"While their legal enterprises crumbled," Amara explained, her voice low and measured, "their clandestine operations flourished. The Valforts transformed their misfortune into opportunity, cultivating a vast network of illicit trade that now spans much of Thorin."

Elysian's eyebrows rose. "A clever deception. To appear weakened while growing stronger in the shadows."

Amara nodded, a hint of admiration in her voice. "Indeed. Whether this was all planned from the beginning, I cannot say. Matthias keeps his secrets close, shrouding himself in mystery like a second skin."

The young noble absorbed this information, his mind working to fit this new piece into the complex puzzle of Ironspire's power dynamics. "And you trust him?" he asked, echoing his earlier question but with new weight behind the words.

Amara paused, considering her response carefully. "Trust is a luxury in our world, young master. But if there's anyone outside our immediate circle I would place my faith in, it's Matthias. He saved the Velvet Chamber when he had no obligation to do so. His actions have consistently aligned with his words."

Elysian nodded slowly, respect growing for this enigmatic figure. "A man of his word in a world of liars. Rare indeed."

Elysian drummed his fingers on the table, his mind working furiously. "His arrival is timely, considering our recent... actions. I did well in orchestrating this meeting."

Amara's smile widened at the compliment. "Thank you, young master. With our operations growing, we need reliable partners to handle the increased flow of goods. Matthias is uniquely positioned to help us in this regard."

"I see," Elysian mused. "And what does he gain from this arrangement?"

"Profit, of course," Amara replied. "But also influence. By aligning himself with us, he gains a foothold in what's quickly becoming the most lucrative operation in Ironspire."

The young noble nodded, a small smile playing on his lips. "A mutually beneficial arrangement, then. Well played, Amara. This is a new relationship that we need to cultivate."

"Thank you, young master," Amara replied, a hint of pride in her voice. "I must say, you handled yourself admirably during the meeting. Matthias was quite impressed."

Elysian's smile grew, a mix of satisfaction and humility playing across his features. "High praise, coming from such a shrewd operator. I look forward to working with him." He paused, considering his next words carefully. "Given your close relationship with Matthias, I think it's best if you handle the negotiations. I trust your judgment in this matter."

Amara's eyes widened slightly, pleasantly surprised by Elysian's show of faith. "I appreciate your trust, young master. I'll ensure our interests are well-represented in any dealings with Matthias."

With that settled, they turned their attention to more pressing matters. The room's atmosphere shifted, becoming one of focused contemplation as they delved into the details of their burgeoning business and interest.

"Now," Elysian began, leaning forward with his fingers steepled, "let's discuss the important events that require our immediate attention."

Amara nodded, producing a leather-bound ledger from her satchel. As she flipped it open, the pages revealed a complex web of figures and notes—a testament to the scale of their operations.

Eventually, the conversation turned to their accumulated wealth. Amara presented a detailed breakdown of their assets, the numbers far exceeding even Elysian's optimistic projections.

"Impressive," Elysian murmured, his eyes scanning the figures. "The question now is: where do we invest it?"

They spent the next hour debating various investment opportunities—from expanding their legitimate businesses to acquiring key properties around the city. However, both felt a sense of hesitation.

"Perhaps," Elysian said thoughtfully, "we should hold onto our resources for now. With Matthias entering the picture and the city in flux, a golden opportunity might present itself soon—one that aligns perfectly with our interests and promises an even greater return."

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Amara nodded in agreement. "A wise decision, young master. Patience often yields the sweetest fruits."

As their meeting drew to a close, Elysian couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation. Big things were changing, he could feel it in his bones.

"Keep your ears to the ground, Amara," he said as they prepared to part ways. "In this chaotic time opportunity will surely present itself."

Amara smiled, a glint of excitement in her eyes. "As always, young master. Rest assured, when the opportunity presents itself, we'll be ready to seize it with both hands."

As Elysian watched Amara leave, he turned to gaze out the window at the sprawling city below. Ironspire, with all its complexities and hidden currents, lay before him like a chessboard.

After a period of quiet contemplation, watching the ordinary people go about their business below, Elysian let out a soft sigh before a smile crept across his face.

'I thought I was wasting my time again with unnecessary, mindless retrospection, but...

I feel good. Very good, in fact. My mind seems to have relaxed and rested for the first time in quite a while.'

"Are you alright, young master?" Bran asked, leaning back after his relentless assault on the food, yawning and clearly ready for nothing but sleep.

"I'm fine, big fella," Elysian stood up, stretching slightly. "Since you're done, let's go."

Elysian smiled fondly as his two companions followed him towards the door. As they stepped outside the private room of the Silver Feast, the first thing that caught his attention was a loud voice echoing through the restaurant, drawing everyone's gaze.

Immediately recognizing the voice, Elysian's interest was piqued. Who could warrant such a response from the man? Curiosity getting the better of him, he followed the source of the commotion.

As they rounded a corner, the scene unfolded before them. Thomas, the source of the shouting, sitting beside Amara, his face flushed with anger. Opposite them was Lucas, one of the captains of Ironspire's military, wearing a smile that seemed an attempt to calm the situation. Behind each group, their respective forces sitting while glaring at each other, tension thick in the air.

Elysian's mind raced, analyzing the unexpected confrontation between Thomas and Lucas. Taking a deep breath, he stepped forward, his youthful features arranging themselves into a mask of innocent curiosity that belied the sharp mind working behind his eyes.

"My, my," he said, his voice carrying just enough to draw attention, "what seems to be the excitement here?"

All eyes turned to him, the sudden silence almost deafening. Elysian noticed the subtle shift in Amara's posture, irritation flickering in her eyes—not directed at him, but at Thomas. The thug, still bristling with anger, seemed to struggle between continuing his tirade and showing respect to the young noble.

Lucas hurriedly stood up, bowing respectfully. "Ah, young master Elysian," he smiled awkwardly. "It's nothing. Just a friendly discussion between friends."

Elysian immediately caught the derisive snort from Thomas at the mention of 'friend'.

"Really?" Elysian raised an eyebrow, turning to the thug, who seemed more forthcoming with his opinion.

"I'm no friend of his," Thomas scowled. "May you ask him, young master, why he's always here? He's just going to upset our usual patrons. He isn't wanted here."

"Thomas!" Amara scowled at the thug in reproach. She quickly bowed shyly in apology, which the captain returned with the same sheepish expression.

Elysian quietly observed their interaction before a knowing smile crept up on his lips.

"I'm sorry, sir, if our presence has caused such unintended disturbance," Lucas apologized to the thug before turning to the young noble. "After you treated us here last time, young master, we've taken a liking to the food. That's why we keep returning."

'Liking the food? More like liking Amara. Well, well, a love triangle. Tsk, I don't want to get involved in this.'

Elysian chuckled, looking at Amara, who blushed when she realized he had seen through the situation. "Well, good day to you, my lady." He turned around and teasingly added, "Good luck."

"Young master!" Amara called out, but Elysian's only reply was a laugh as he walked away.

As Elysian retreated, leaving the awkward woman behind, he couldn't help but shake his head in amusement. The complexities of adult relationships were something he found both fascinating and slightly ridiculous.

"Young master," Bran whispered as they made their way out, "shouldn't we have done something?"

Elysian patted his large friend on the arm. "Sometimes, Bran, the best thing to do is nothing at all. Besides," he added with a mischievous glint in his eye, "I have a feeling that we would see something quite entertaining in the days to come."

As they stepped out into the bustling streets of Ironspire, Elysian's mind was already moving on to more pressing matters. The little drama they'd just witnessed was amusing, but it was a mere distraction from the reality and the future he was about to face.

----------------------------------------

Elysian exhaled slowly, watching the steam rise from his body. Since his last encounter, he had advanced to Novice level 6 in cultivation, just one level shy of entering the next stage. This progress had taken considerably longer than his first three levels, but given the life-threatening dangers he'd faced, ninety days—nearly a month—was a bargain. He now had eighteen nodes at his disposal, yet remained undecided on how to use them.

Reflecting on his journey back in time, Elysian realized that his previous fighting style and abilities might not be the most suitable for his current path. Those choices had been born of desperation, focused solely on survival without consideration for the future he now hoped to build. With this second chance, he needed time to carefully consider the direction he wanted to take.

One crucial decision was his choice of weapon. In the past, he had primarily wielded swords and occasionally daggers, but this was more a product of his environment than personal preference. Everyone around him had used swords, and he had simply followed suit. However, Elysian had never been a cultivator purely focused on combat. In both his younger years and later life, he had been more of a merchant, relying on his men to do the fighting when necessary. It would be an exaggeration to call him a master swordsman; rather, he had been proficient in fighting and using his wits to emerge victorious.

Now, with ample time to reassess his choices, Elysian found that swords no longer aligned with his aspirations. He craved more reach, making a spear a more appealing option. This weapon would allow him to maintain distance from unnecessary danger while still delivering devastating blows. The choice became even more attractive when he considered having Bloodshade at his side. For close-quarters combat, a dagger proved more useful and deadly than a sword if an enemy managed to close the gap. So, a sword was a waste of time for him. It would be better to focus more on those two weapons for the foreseeable future.

As Elysian pondered these decisions, he felt a sense of excitement and purpose. This was his chance to forge a new path, one that truly reflected his strengths and the path he wanted to take.