Your fingers twitched imperceptibly as you maintained your unwavering gaze with Valthorix. A single golden drachma, dislodged from the shifting piles during the dragon's movement, rolled toward your boot. With the practiced ease of a seasoned financial advisor (who may have dealt with less reptilian clients), you extended your leg just enough to trap the coin beneath your heel.

'Your Scaled Magnificence,' you began smoothly, 'I would never suggest something so vulgar as selling your treasures. But consider this - what if certain... underperforming assets could be made to work for you?' Your left hand gestured broadly while your right casually slipped the coin into your sleeve pocket. The embroidered lining muffled the telltale clink perfectly.

Valthorix's barbed tail twitched like an irritated cat's. 'Speak plainly, mortal. My patience burns shorter than a peasant's cottage.' A thin wisp of smoke escaped his nostrils, making your eyes water. The abacus began clicking rapidly of its own accord, beads moving in mathematical panic.

You pretended to consult your notes, using the motion to discreetly palm three smaller coins that had tumbled near the desk's edge. 'Take these rubies here,' you pointed to another ledger entry, subtly nudging a silver talent with your toe toward your other foot. 'If we were to lease them to the dwarven jewelers guild, they could cut and polish them, increasing their value by...'

The dragon's sudden inhalation sucked several loose scrolls toward his cavernous nostrils. You froze mid-sentence, your loot-heavy sleeve suddenly feeling terribly conspicuous.