Daniel wanted to kick off his quest before the sense of urgency left him and he became complacent. He decided he would immediately pay a visit to the man who seemed to have the most of anything resembling power in Otapiapia - Midas.
Midas seemed to have a lot of wealth without actually doing any work, unlike other rich tradesmen. His primary business was providing all sorts of money-related services including lending, storage and safeguarding. He had a team of well-trained guards who protected merchants, their goods and money when they traveled to other towns for business. However, Daniel suspected his money business was not his only source of wealth. He had to be involved in something else. It was this "something else" that Daniel was most eager to discover by visiting him.
That evening, he paid a visit to Midas' home. "Good evening, sir" Daniel greeted when he was ushered in to see Midas. "Good evening, young man. If I'm not mistaken, you are the son of the Council Man Danta, the baker?"
"Yes sir. I am his son, Daniel," Daniel replied.
"Welcome to my humble abode. Please take a seat," Midas continued. "I assume your father sent you to see me on his behalf. Does he have any intentions of expanding his business soon?" Midas inquired.
"No sir. My father did not send me, I came of my own accord."
"Really? You seem to be a responsible young man, what would you want with a man of the note like me?" Midas asked, surprised.
"I did not come for anything related to money. Huh.. actually, I did come for something related to money, just not borrowing it." Daniel replied, almost losing his nerve.
"That's interesting. What can I do for you? Please try to go straight to the point, I am pressed for time as I have some urgent money-related matters to see to," Midas said, with a mischievous grin.
"Umm...sir, what I need from you might take some time. Maybe I should come back when it is more convenient for you," Daniel said, with no trace of the conviction he had when he first entered. It was somehow unnerving being in the presence of this man.
"Young man, Daniel is your name right? I granted you audience because I thought your father had sent you but I still wouldn't want the time I have spent so far to be wasted. Tell me, directly, what you want." Midas said, with a much more serious tone of voice.
This brusqueness emboldened Daniel. He could feel the courage seeping back into him as he made to reply.
"I want to be your protege. I want you to mentor me and show me how you became the great man you are. I have heard it said that you were not always like this, but started from relatively humble beginnings.", Daniel responded, his new-found courage resonating in every word he said.
"Hmm, that is indeed a strange request. Most of the young men who come to me see either come to borrow money for business or to seek work. None has been as bold as you - I like that. For me to show how to be like, I must first tell you about how I was once was and how I manged to become who I am today. The story is long and I can't tell you now. Come tomorrow evening and I will tell you all".
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