Valerius began by describing the entire incident briefly, wanting to make sure he didn't leave out any important details.
While Seraphina and Gavril listened, their faces showed pleasant surprise.
Cassian, on the other hand, looked irritated and surprised at the same time.
Elmsworth's face remained expressionless.
Cassian scoffed, "Oh, congratulations, Lord Brother! Your dim-witted son has not only regained his ability to speak and form coherent sentences at the ripe young age of eighteen, but he has also mastered the art of giving a report!
Now, young master, do you have a point to make, or are you done interrupting our important discussion with your display of intelligence?"
Seraphina gritted her teeth. She wanted to kill Cassian right then and there.
Elmsworth's face turned pale.
Valerius nodded and replied, "Yes, I believe the idea of negotiating with the pirates is unwise."
Cassian's eyes burned with anger, "No one asked you to share what you believe!"
But Gavril stopped him, "I think we should hear the young Lord. Lord Elmsworth took control of the family business at sixteen, and the young Lord is his own blood. We should listen to him!"
Cassian slammed his hand on the table, "Are you even listening to yourself? This kid couldn't even speak yesterday, and now he's allowed to give his opinion today just because he learned to talk? Are you serious?"
"Silence!" Elmsworth shouted, "I am not dead yet. If you are so eager to assert your dominance, come up with a good plan to kill me, or launch a coup to remove me from power, and then do whatever you wish.
But as long as I am in power, no matter how much it hurts you, no matter how much it tears at your heart, you will behave in front of me!"
"Brother..." Cassian stammered. He had never seen Elmsworth this angry. In fact, no one ever had.
"Forgive me, brother. I just lost my temper because of the ongoing tension. Forgive me, I won't speak out of turn again!" Cassian said timidly, and then fell silent.
Elmsworth, his eyes still filled with anger, looked at Valerius, "Are you waiting for a formal invitation from me to speak?"
Valerius nodded, and in an unfazed tone, replied, "Whatever their origin, whether they are real pirates or just a shadow group for some other state, they are criminals who want to feed off us.
If we negotiate and pay them tribute, it would create two problems.
First, it would encourage more criminals to try to force us to pay them tribute.
Second, it would only embolden the pirates, and next time they may demand even more tribute. And at that point, it would be much harder to deal with them, since we would have strengthened them with our own money!
Dealing with the devil will always be deadly!"
Everyone in the room was speechless, including Cassian.
Gavril broke the silence, "That's a great insight, young master. But what would you suggest? They are hurting our trade."
Valerius said, "Indeed. There are three things we have to do.
First, investigate their origin, and also where they are selling the stolen goods.
Second, contact other city-states for cooperation, since their trade may also be affected by this activity.
Third, in the meantime, find alternate routes for our trade.
Fourth, improve our naval combat ability, or even hire mercenaries if possible, to fight them!"
Cassian spoke again, "This just shows how naive you are! If we ask other cities for help, it will reveal our weakness to them!"
Gavril replied on Valerius's behalf, "It would be less shameful than begging for mercy from pirates and paying them tribute.
And, if I'm not mistaken, the young master said 'cooperation,' not 'help'!"
Elmsworth finally spoke, "I have heard all of your arguments. I will announce my final decision tomorrow morning. Now, you may finish your breakfast and leave. I need some time alone." With that, Elmsworth left the table.
Cassian drank his coffee in one gulp, gave Valerius a strange look, and also left the table.
Gavril spoke to Seraphina, his voice filled with emotion, "Now this old man can rest in peace.
I was always worried seeing the young Lord in his previous state, and dreaded what would happen if Cassian took control of the family after our Lord.
Now I know the family will be in good hands!"
He bowed to mother and son and took his leave.
Seraphina gently stroked Valerius's hair and kissed his forehead. Suddenly, Valerius felt very weak. He excused himself and returned to his room, with his mother's help.
Lady Seraphina's heart sank. She was afraid that just as her son's intelligence had returned miraculously and suddenly, it would vanish just as abruptly and miraculously. After putting Valerius to bed, she rushed to Elmsworth's room to confront him.
Elmsworth was lying on a couch, on his back. Seraphina glared at the maids and servants who were in the room, and they quickly hurried out.
"What is the meaning of this?" Seraphina demanded of Elmsworth, "Why are you treating our son, our only son, with such contempt? It's as if you're not happy at all! Why are you doing this?"
Elmsworth was silent. But Seraphina was not one to calm down without an answer.
Finally, Elmsworth broke his silence, "Because I am tired. I'm tired of losing! I don't want to lose hope anymore!"
Elmsworth sat up on the couch, his head in his hands,
"Gavril said at the breakfast table that I took control of the business when I was sixteen.
But the truth is, ever since then, I've just been trying my best to survive.
After my parents' death, everything has gone downhill.
I am just trying to keep everything together, and I'm failing.
Valerius was my last hope, as the Bishop predicted he would bring about a new change.
And he, too, from birth, fell silent and became a soulless, dumb husk of a boy!
I'm not going to let any more heartbreak shatter me! I just know he will fall silent again!"
Seraphina shouted, "Noooo!" She suddenly remembered the fear she had felt just a short while ago.