Chapter 154: The Collector

"I’ve heard you have quite an interesting collection here."

Aria stared at Lord Valen.

Her smile disappeared.

Behind her, the settlement had gone completely silent.

Even the people who had been working stopped.

Valen looked around as though he had entered a market rather than a settlement.

His clothes were expensive.

His boots were spotless.

His gloves were clean.

Not a single piece of dirt seemed capable of reaching him.

That alone irritated Aria.

Anyone who lived in the real world eventually got dirty.

Valen apparently had servants for that.

Aria crossed her arms.

"What exactly are you collecting?"

Valen smiled.

"People."

The word hung in the air.

The Duke immediately stepped forward.

"Leave."

Valen looked at him.

"Your Grace."

"You know who I am."

"Of course."

"Then you know these people are under my protection."

Valen smiled.

"I know."

"Then you also know you have no authority here."

"Authority?"

Valen chuckled.

"No, Your Grace. I don’t need authority."

He gestured toward the settlement.

"I need contracts."

Aria’s eyes narrowed.

"What kind?"

"The kind people sign willingly."

One of the former slaves stepped forward.

"I don’t know you."

Valen turned toward him.

"You don’t need to."

The man frowned.

"Then why are you here?"

"Because you have skills."

He pointed toward the workshop.

"Some of you can work leather."

He pointed toward the fields.

"Some can farm."

He pointed toward the shelters.

"Some can build."

Then he looked at Aria.

"And some can organize."

Aria didn’t like the way he said that.

Valen continued.

"You’re free now."

The man nodded.

"Yes."

"Good."

Valen smiled.

"Freedom means choosing what you do with your life."

The man frowned.

"Yes."

"And I am offering you a choice."

He reached into his coat.

A stack of papers appeared.

"Employment."

Aria immediately stepped forward.

"No."

Valen looked at her.

"You didn’t even read the contracts."

"I don’t need to."

"You should."

"I know enough."

Valen smiled.

"You’ve been told what I collect."

"People."

"Yes."

"That was enough."

Valen sighed.

"You’ve misunderstood."

"Then explain."

"I collect talent."

Aria stared at him.

"Talent?"

"People with unusual abilities."

He gestured toward the settlement.

"Farmers who can produce twice the normal harvest."

"Blacksmiths who make superior tools."

"Painters."

"Doctors."

"Scholars."

"Builders."

"Adventurers."

"People who can make themselves useful."

Aria frowned.

"And you buy their contracts."

"I employ them."

"What’s the difference?"

Valen’s smile faded slightly.

"The difference is whether they agree."

Aria looked at the former slaves.

Then at the contracts.

"Can they leave?"

"Yes."

"Whenever they want?"

"According to the terms of the contract."

"That wasn’t my question."

Valen’s eyes met hers.

"No."

Aria’s expression hardened.

"There it is."

The Duke stepped forward.

"Leave."

Valen didn’t move.

"Your Grace, you misunderstand the situation."

"No."

The Duke’s hand rested near his weapon.

"I understand it perfectly."

Valen glanced at him.

"You’re protecting them because you feel responsible."

The Duke said nothing.

"But you cannot feed them forever."

Valen pointed toward the settlement.

"You cannot provide tools forever."

He gestured toward the unfinished buildings.

"You cannot build their homes."

Then he looked at Aria.

"And she certainly cannot."

Aria’s eyes narrowed.

"Careful."

Valen smiled.

"I’m simply stating facts."

"You’re trying to provoke me."

"No."

He looked around.

"I’m trying to make an offer."

Aria stared at the contracts.

"What do they get?"

"Money."

"How much?"

Valen named a figure.

The settlement went quiet.

Several people exchanged looks.

Aria’s eyebrows rose.

That was a lot.

More than she expected.

Enough to change someone’s life.

Valen noticed her reaction.

"You see?"

Aria didn’t answer.

He looked toward the former slaves.

"A house."

"A salary."

"Food."

"Clothing."

"Training."

"Medical care."

"And a guaranteed position."

One of the workers stepped forward.

"For how long?"

Valen smiled.

"Until retirement."

The man looked confused.

"What’s retirement?"

Aria whispered,

"Getting old with money."

Kelme nodded.

"Sounds nice."

Aria elbowed him.

He stepped back.

Valen continued.

"You were slaves."

Several people stiffened.

"You had no choice."

He lowered his voice.

"Now you have choices."

One woman stepped forward.

"Why would you want us?"

Valen looked at her.

"Because you’re useful."

She stared.

He continued.

"Nothing more complicated than that."

Aria watched him carefully.

There was something strange about his honesty.

He wasn’t pretending to care.

He wasn’t giving speeches.

He wasn’t calling himself a savior.

He simply saw people as assets.

That made him easier to understand.

And somehow more dangerous.

Aria stepped forward.

"Let me see one contract."

Valen handed her a document.

She read.

Her eyes moved line by line.

Salary.

Housing.

Food.

Work hours.

Termination.

Travel.

Training.

She frowned.

It looked legitimate.

She read it again.

Then a third time.

Kelme leaned over.

"Anything bad?"

"Nothing obvious."

Valen smiled.

"Because there isn’t anything hidden."

Aria looked at him.

"That’s what someone hiding something would say."

"True."

She handed the paper to the Duke.

He read it.

His expression remained serious.

"This appears lawful."

Valen nodded.

"I make lawful agreements."

Aria looked at him.

"Then why do people call you a collector?"

Valen smiled.

"Because people like dramatic words."

Kelme whispered,

"That’s fair."

Aria ignored him.

A man from the settlement approached.

"Can I sign?"

Everyone looked at him.

Aria blinked.

"You want to?"

He nodded.

"I need money."

Another person stepped forward.

"So do I."

Another.

"Me too."

Aria looked around.

Several people were interested.

She couldn’t blame them.

They needed food.

They needed houses.

They needed clothing.

They needed stability.

Valen was offering all of it.

But Aria had learned something.

An offer could be generous and still have a price.

She raised her hand.

"Wait."

Everyone stopped.

Aria looked at Valen.

"You said people can leave."

"Yes."

"Then put it in writing."

Valen smiled.

"Of course."

"Not just ’according to the terms.’"

She pointed at the contract.

"I want a termination clause."

Valen raised an eyebrow.

"What terms?"

"Thirty days’ notice."

He considered it.

"Reasonable."

"Anyone can quit."

"Yes."

"No punishment."

"Yes."

"No debt."

"Yes."

"No taking their homes."

Valen paused.

Then nodded.

"Agreed."

"And they keep their wages."

"Obviously."

Aria looked at the Duke.

He nodded.

Valen turned toward his assistant.

"Rewrite the contracts."

The assistant bowed.

Aria watched him.

Then looked at the Duke.

"This is strange."

"What is?"

"He’s actually agreeing."

The Duke looked toward Valen.

"That doesn’t make him harmless."

"I know."

Valen smiled.

"I appreciate your caution."

Aria frowned.

"You’re enjoying this."

"Business is interesting when both sides understand the risks."

Kelme walked closer.

"So you’re basically a businessman."

Valen looked at him.

"Yes."

Kelme nodded.

"That’s disappointing."

"Why?"

"I expected something more mysterious."

Valen laughed.

"You’ve been spending too much time around Aria."

"Probably."

Aria ignored both of them.

She turned toward the settlement.

"Anyone who wants to work for him can."

Several people looked relieved.

"But."

They stopped.

Aria raised one finger.

"Read the contract first."

She raised another.

"Understand it."

Another.

"If you don’t understand something, ask."

Another.

"And don’t sign anything because you think you owe me."

The people listened.

"You don’t."

She looked at them.

"You’re free."

Her voice became quieter.

"That means you get to choose."

The first man who had asked about the contract nodded.

"Thank you."

Aria stepped aside.

The man approached Valen.

"I want to sign."

Valen handed him the new contract.

The man read it slowly.

Then signed.

Valen shook his hand.

"Welcome."

One down.

Then another person stepped forward.

Then another.

Soon, several people were speaking with Valen’s assistants.

Aria watched.

Kelme came beside her.

"You did the right thing."

Aria looked at him.

"Don’t say that."

"Why?"

"Because I don’t know if I did."

Kelme shrugged.

"Neither does anyone else."

Aria looked at the people signing.

"They’re choosing."

"Yes."

"So I have to let them."

"Yes."

She sighed.

"I hate being responsible."

Kelme smiled.

"You’ve been responsible for weeks."

"No."

"Yes."

"No."

"You literally built a settlement."

"I accidentally built a settlement."

"Still counts."

Aria looked toward the Duke.

"Are you going to let him take them?"

The Duke watched the workers carefully.

"If the contracts are lawful and voluntary, I cannot forbid them."

Aria nodded.

That was fair.

Then she noticed something.

One of Valen’s assistants was speaking with the herbalist.

The herbalist shook her head.

The assistant offered another number.

The woman looked surprised.

Aria frowned.

She walked closer.

"What are you offering her?"

The assistant answered.

"Three times the standard salary."

Aria blinked.

"Why?"

"She knows medicinal herbs."

"So?"

"She has knowledge that can save lives."

The assistant smiled.

"And knowledge is valuable."

Aria looked toward Valen.

He was speaking with the Duke.

She watched him carefully.

Then it clicked.

He wasn’t looking for workers.

He was looking for specialists.

People who had knowledge nobody else had.

People who could make something valuable.

People who could become difficult to replace.

That was why he had come.

Not because of the settlement.

Because of her.

Aria walked toward him.

"You knew."

Valen looked at her.

"Knew what?"

"You knew these people had skills."

"Yes."

"You came here before seeing them."

"I had reports."

"From where?"

"Merchants."

"Vincent."

Valen smiled.

"Among others."

Aria’s eyes narrowed.

"So Vincent told you about us."

"Vincent tells many people many things."

"Why?"

"Because information has value."

Aria sighed.

"Of course."

Valen looked at her.

"You’re learning."

"I hate learning things like this."

"Most people do."

Aria crossed her arms.

"So what do you really want?"

Valen smiled.

"You."

Aria’s expression became cold.

"No."

"I haven’t finished."

"I don’t care."

"I want your business knowledge."

"I destroyed my business."

"You destroyed one business."

He stepped closer.

"You still understand production."

"Barely."

"You understand distribution."

"Not anymore."

"Negotiation."

"Sometimes."

"Risk."

"Too much."

"People."

Aria stared at him.

"What about people?"

"You understand them better than you think."

Aria shook her head.

"No."

Valen smiled.

"You saw forty-seven people without homes and immediately started thinking about how to organize their skills."

Aria said nothing.

"You saw their needs."

"You found a way to turn those needs into employment."

"You understand that money is not the goal."

She frowned.

"What?"

"Money is a tool."

Valen’s eyes sharpened.

"Power comes from what the money allows you to do."

Aria went quiet.

That sounded like something Milo would say.

She hated that.

Valen continued.

"You could build something much larger than this."

"I don’t want to."

"That’s what everyone says before they discover what they’re capable of."

Aria looked toward the settlement.

"No."

Valen smiled.

"You’re afraid."

Her eyes snapped toward him.

"I’m not."

"You are."

He didn’t sound mocking.

"You’re afraid of becoming the person you were when you made sugar."

Aria froze.

"You’re afraid of needing money again."

Silence.

"And you’re afraid that if you become successful, you’ll eventually cross another line."

Aria stared at him.

Valen smiled faintly.

"That’s why you destroyed everything."

Aria’s fists tightened.

"You don’t know me."

"No."

He looked at her.

"But I know fear."

For a moment, neither spoke.

Then Kelme stepped between them.

"Okay."

Valen looked at him.

"Enough mysterious speeches."

Aria blinked.

Kelme continued.

"You’re making her uncomfortable."

Valen smiled.

"I apologize."

Kelme nodded.

"Good."

Then he looked at Aria.

"You okay?"

She nodded.

"Yeah."

She looked back at Valen.

"I don’t want your offer."

"I understand."

"And I’m not working for you."

"I understand."

"And you’re not buying my people."

"I am not buying anyone."

Aria relaxed slightly.

"They choose."

"Yes."

She nodded.

"Good."

Valen turned to leave.

Then he stopped.

"One last thing."

Aria sighed.

"What?"

"You’ll need a name."

She blinked.

"For what?"

"For this settlement."

Aria looked around.

Valen smiled.

"People don’t invest in places without names."

Then he walked away.

Aria watched him disappear down the road.

Kelme stood beside her.

"He’s annoying."

"Very."

"He’s also right."

Aria looked at him.

"Don’t start."

"We need a name."

"No."

"Everyone needs a name."

"The settlement doesn’t."

A voice shouted from behind them.

"Yes, it does!"

Aria turned.

The entire settlement was watching her.

Someone shouted,

"WE STILL DON’T HAVE ONE!"

Another:

"NAME IT!"

Another:

"ARIA SHOULD NAME IT!"

Aria’s face went pale.

"No."

The crowd began chanting.

"NAME! NAME! NAME!"

Kelme grinned.

Aria turned toward him.

"You did this."

"I swear I didn’t."

"You’re smiling."

"That’s because this is funny."

Aria looked around helplessly.

Forty-seven people.

Several soldiers.

The Duke.

Kelme.

Even Martha’s wagon was still visible in the distance.

Everyone was waiting.

She sighed.

"Fine."

The crowd became quiet.

Aria looked at the land.

It had started as a hiding place.

Then a camp.

Then a settlement.

Now it was becoming something else.

A place where people who had lost everything could start again.

She looked toward the unfinished houses.

The fields.

The workshop.

The people.

Then she smiled.

"Tomorrow."

Everyone groaned.

"Tomorrow?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Because I’m tired."

Kelme laughed.

The Duke shook his head.

And somewhere down the road, Lord Valen looked back at the settlement.

His expression was unreadable.

Because Aria had rejected his offer.

But she hadn’t rejected the idea.

And that was enough.

For now.