Chapter 421 421 Don't worry
"I owe you and your family so much and at the same time I trust you more than anyone else since you came to my aid even when pitted against the royal family. So, I couldn't ask someone else before you." Sarah wasn't a fool. She knew what Zach was hinting at. He obviously intended to take a bite out of the royal family and wanted to share the profits with her and her family. Others might have perceived it as Zach needing her family's help but she knew that Zach was different. The miracles he could bring about were even coveted by the royal family. Had she not seen his potential in Elizabeth city, she might never have supported him against the royal family. Therefore, instead of doubting his capabilities, she asked, "What's your plan? If you really intend to go against the royal family, you should at least take sufficient precautions before butting heads with them." Zach already had a plan in mind. He just needed Sarah's help in determining its feasibility. Therefore, he didn't hide anything from her. He leaned in towards Sarah's right shoulder which almost caused her heart to skip a beat. Thankfully, Zach had no intentions towards her, and it was clear from his pristine expression as well. Sarah too kept herself in check so she wouldn't give away the feeling of insecurity she had felt for a moment there. Zach didn't notice the changes that took place in Sarah as he continued to whisper out the complete details of his plan in her ear. Although there was no one else besides the two of them in the dark inn. It was still necessary to take precautions against anyone listening in on their conversation. So, he whispered the crucial details in her ear instead of discussing them with her openly like earlier. Sarah too understood his reasoning as she didn't object once to his approach. The plan wasn't a short one to begin with. Since he wasn't going to be able to finish it in a short time, he urged Sarah to sit down on the worn-down couch that was at least clean enough for them to sit for a short while. Sarah didn't object as she didn't seem like those pampered ladies from upper society. If he had to compare her with someone, she seemed to be a heroic soul like Christina who believed in producing results and efficiency of a task instead of ruminating over minor details. As time passed, Sarah's astonishment turned into shock. She had previously believed that Zach was a seriously talented mage who was far ahead of his time but the detailed plans he was divulging to her were far more seasoned than any rookie. He seemed to be an expert politician and even more cunning businessman. With widened eyes, she listened to him till the end without raising any questions. It wasn't that she didn't want to interrupt him. Rather, the plan was so detailed and all-encompassing that she didn't have to ask anything or raise any objections. Zach's plan was so perfect that he was practically laying down the future in front of her with his words. She could almost see it happening before it even began. Without even contemplating it, she knew that this was a plan that could work. Zach's forward-thinking mindset really struck a chord with Sarah. She was practically fawning over him in admiration of his brilliance. The man was daring and was willing to take any kind of risk. The only thing she was worried about was the feasibility of implementation. She was wondering whether the plan would work or not as it seemed to be far ahead of its time. It was too brilliant to fail but the risk was always there. Sometimes being too brilliant could bring about the downfall of a strategy. For example, crafting an intricate plan with layers of complexity might dazzle the opposition, but it could also lead to confusion within the executing team. The brilliance that makes a strategy impressive on paper might become a stumbling block when it comes to practical implementation. "Are you really confident about being able to pull this off?" Zach had a smug but confident smile on his face as he answered Sarah's doubt. "Don't worry. I wouldn't have called you here if I wasn't sure about my plan. Although there is a possibility that the plan might fail during its implementation, it still wouldn't affect your family in any manner. Whether we succeed or not, Macrae family wouldn't suffer any kind of loss. Instead , you would be profiting from this deal either way." Zach already owed Sarah and her family. If his plan was going to involve risking their well-being, Zach wouldn't have had the face to call her for help. It would have been akin to relying on a lifeline that has already been extended generously, and asking for more might strain the bond of friendship and mutual support that has been built over time. But now that he had a risk-free strategy, he could confidently invite the Macrae family over to help him. Zach had deep ties to Elizabeth city because it was the first city he had visited since his arrival in this new world. It's like the city served as his initial anchor, helping him find his bearings in this unfamiliar realm. There was a lot he didn't know about. He learned the basic common sense of this world there as well. Elizabeth City became his guide, his introduction to the intricacies of the new world, shaping his understanding and knowledge. Therefore, he couldn't forget the help he had received in the city. It's akin to acknowledging the city's pivotal role in his journey, marking the beginning of his adventures and the formation of crucial connections. Other than the Elizabeth family, with whom he had familial ties through his wife, Zach had the next best relationship with the Macrae family. The ties with the Elizabeth family were deep and familial, given his marriage, but surprisingly, he didn't choose them this time. It was as if, despite the familial bond, there was a strategic decision at play which had caused Zach's choice to pivot to the Macrae family at the last instant. The reason was that George now belonged to the royal family. Even though he was cunning enough to avoid taking responsibility for not helping out the royal family against Zach, there was no guarantee that the Elizabeth family wasn't already infested with spies of the royal family. He couldn't risk it while he was walking such a tight rope in hopes of pushing against their suppression. He could not let the royal family have the slightest inkling as to what he planned to do. Otherwise, all his efforts and that of the Smith family might have been wasted. It was a calculated move that Zach had to make after recognizing the unique strengths and advantages that the Macrae family brought to the table. Moreover, choosing the Macrae family came with the added advantage of knowing that the royal family would not be peeping at him through them. Sarah was flabbergasted with the amount of detail and complexities Zach had included in his plan. It was to the extent that she became worried if she would be able to follow along with it. Even if she managed somehow, it was still utterly manic to assume that all their followers would be able to seamlessly carry out their required actions. Yet, Sarah found herself nodding along with Zach. She couldn't help but want to agree with him. It was such a brilliant plan and the boons her family would receive in case they succeeded were far better than she had assumed before accepting Zach's invitation. -------- Candice launched her strike at his sugar business with renewed vigor. She forced her subordinate forces to move their manpower from their other businesses in order to strengthen the little sugar industry she had developed to compete with Zach's enterprise. As a result, the prices were slashed once again and Zach's product began to settle down on the shelves slowly losing their shelf life to the waves of time. No consumer was willing to buy his product because there was a cheaper version available. It even had the tag of being operated by a scion of the royal family which not only gave it credibility but also showed them the benevolence of the royal family. The princess was trying to hit two targets with one strike. She was not only undermining his business but was also raising her reputation and the goodwill for the royal family amongst the masses at the same time. She was far too cunning than what Zach gave her credit for. But Zach believed he could handle her strong arm tactics with the help of the Macrae family. At that point, the woman wouldn't even know what hit her. As for the time being, Zach's sugar business had come to a halt practically. Except for the meager amount he was able to make in far off places where the princess couldn't yet reach, all the other markets had been invaded by the cheaper version that the princess was driving from behind. With higher market penetration, cheaper rates, and the tag of being the business of the royal family, her produce was practically heaven sent for the masses. No one was willing to even look at Zach's produce twice. Resultantly, his sales had come to a halt. Bruce and the other managers for the business grew concerned. This chapter made its debut appearance via N0v3lB1n.