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The Aedile was pleased that the woman did not deny him the pleasure of a handshake the second time around. She resembled a fading star in his eyes, a once shimmering and beautiful spectacle that had dimmed as the eras passed and the hardships came. He could admire such people as the luthiers, craftsmen that toiled all their lives and produced marvelous things, almost their own kind of artwork, but all too often fell upon hard times. But as he sat with the opened ledger in front of him he could not help but ponder the opportunity that had presented itself to him in the couple's misfortune. Perhaps the young elf was miscalculating the gains that were to be made, and maybe he overestimated his abilities too, but he certainly did not not think so. He knew deep within himself there was a profit to be made on the misfortune of others if he could turn the circumstances around. He had seen it before.
A frown settled over the Aedile's face. What was the amount of this "little other"? He knew the tactics of disreputable loan sharks in the city well and this loan could become a liability if not tended to. He spoke grimly. "I do not need to know the details, but how much do you owe on the second loan"? It was something that would have to be settled, but he would not dwell on it because he sensed the issue caused pain for the again pair.
His mind was like a set of gears in motion, clockwork, as he pondered all that was being said and devised solutions that he would expand on later. It was evident that the current location would not do. Also that more tools were required. More staff too. He did not reveal his thoughts yet, instead deciding to listen further. His own brow furrowed at word that the competition was the man's own father although he accepted it without question. Competition was competition and it was clear that family sentiments would not hinder Eraisuithon's efforts. There seemed no love between the man and his father. Strangely, despite the fact that he had found that he had a family himself that seemed to care for him, this story of estrangement did not conflict him. This man was not him, business was business.
"How proficient are your sons at crafting instruments? It is clear to me that you- we, require more workers. You say he has stolen most of your apprentices, and employs many luthiers, but their must be more in the city than what he has taken. We need more apprentices, and more trained luthiers.. if that is possible. We will employ them at a good wage, as good as Tommory I'm sure." If they could sell so cheap, they could not afford to pay exorbitant wages, and he had doubts as to whether they're products were of great quality either. That however, could be irrelevant in the greater scheme of things.
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