The women were also stunned. They hadn't expected Amanda, who had conceded during their first meeting, to be so assertive now. On one hand was the prospect of earning tens of thousands of Gold Coins annually, and on the other, endless trouble. The woman wasn't foolish. After setting her emotions aside, she made her choice, realizing that cooperation benefited everyone.
"I hope what you're saying is true," the woman replied. She hadn't completely softened, but her tone had lost its initial harshness.
Seeing the woman agree, Amanda's attitude softened somewhat. "I'll give you a few more pieces of information that will be very useful to you," she said, immediately tossing out a piece of news. "Bastia aims to exploit the Empire's internal strife, ally with the Barbarian Tribes, launch an assault, and seize the throne to become the new Emperor."
