Lana seemed lost, looking from Nikolai to Oswald and then back again to Nikolai.

Nikolai turned pale. He had been right: they were not ready for this. The mayor only seemed like a con man on the outside. But beneath all of that obesity and politics, a cunning man laid in the dark, observing like a predator simply waiting for a chance to strike. And struck out he did. How could this man have possibly known about him?

The young man's eyes flitted to the guards standing in the corner. Could it have been the soldiers patrolling the city? Was he on some sort of watch-list? It couldn't be just him specifically. But then, that would mean everyone was being watched.

"I'm willing to part with..." Oswald said, seizing Nikolai back out from his thoughts. The mayor pulled open his desk drawer. He placed a vial of green liquid onto the desk. Watching Nikolai closely, he reached for a second bottle and placed it directly beside the first one. Lana's eyes widened, turning quickly to Nikolai with concern. "This," Oswald said, "is what I offer. A reasonable exchange."

There was a pause that seemed to go on forever. His mind had gone blank. His right hand closed around the bulge from his pocket as he stared at the two glass vials sitting right there before him. His heart throbbed, beating hard against his chest.

"Well?"

Nikolai looked up at Oswald. The mayor had picked up a yellow rock and was rubbing it with his thumb as he watched him. While he had masterfully crafted his blank expression, he couldn't hide the malice that danced in his eyes. Nikolai looked back at the vaccines. Was this the answer? If he had attempted to sell it at any other marketplace, it would fetch him nowhere near a thousand Silphs. Gold was everywhere; though Avarician Gold did raise its value... Oswald knew. And he knew it wasn't about the gold. It was about its value; what it meant; the symbol behind it...

"T -- three."

Lana, who had been quiet all this while, turned to look at Nikolai. She searched his expression but he maintained eye contact with the mayor.

"Come again?" Oswald said, leaning forwards.

Nikolai drew a deep breath and cleared his throat. "Three," he repeated himself. "I want three vials."

"I'm afraid that's not possible," Oswald said. The malice had turned into condescension, and it was amplifying in his voice.

Nikolai stepped forward. Oswald recoiled, dropping the rock in his hand to the floor as he squealed, which resulted in the two guards reacting as well. They reached for their swords but Nikolai ignored them. He drew the golden watch out of his pocket and dangled it in front of Oswald. Two could play at that game.

"You KNOW what this is," the young man said grimly. "That means you know who I am. That itself is a high enough price I'm paying."

Calming down, Oswald smoothened the creases on his pants. He pulled onto his coat, giving Nikolai the stink eye. "You hold yourself a little too highly, young man," he said. "Who you are is of no importance to me. I'm only interested that it's Avarician Gold and nothing more. It could be from the King of Bineswall for all I care."

Nikolai lowered the watch, letting it hang from his side. He gritted his teeth, loathing how things continued to dance just beyond his reach. It was clear Oswald wanted the trinket for more than just a different type of gold. Quoting the Freydon family name had given him away at that and yet, because he wasn't the one in a desperate position, he had all the bargaining power.

It was all about power again.

"No deal." Nikolai whipped around in surprise. "It's not up for trade," Lana said coolly.

A pause. Oswald shrugged, but it was evident he was unhappy. His face worked up a sneer as he took the antidotes and placed them as slowly as he possibly could back under his desk. He closed the drawer and clasped his fingers together, watching them calmly.