Elias suddenly burst into laughter after hearing those words—a real, genuine laugh that caught Veran completely off guard.
Veran stared at him in confusion as Elias wiped a tear from his eye, still smiling.
"You really are a merchant at heart," Elias said, shaking his head. "But sadly for you... this isn't a market, and you don't get to bargain here."
For a brief moment, panic flickered in Veran's eyes, but he quickly masked it with a calm expression.
"Then kill me," Veran said coldly. "You won't gain anything from it. I know there's something you want—otherwise I'd already be dead. So go ahead, waste your only chance."
Elias let out a short chuckle again, his eyes gleaming as he leaned back in his chair.
"You really are a true businessman, Veran," he said with a smirk. "Even when backed into a corner, you're still trying to strike a deal. I respect that."
Then, the smile vanished—gone in a blink, like a mask being ripped away.
