You turn the peculiar copper coin over in your trembling fingers, stepping closer to one of the flickering torch sconces embedded in the cavern wall. The firelight reveals the intricate etchings more clearly - not just words, but an entire contract written in impossibly tiny script encircling the coin's edge. Your breath catches as you decipher phrases like 'compound interest in perpetuity' and 'collateralized by firstborn descendants.'

Valthorix's low chuckle vibrates through the chamber as you nearly drop the cursed currency. 'A collector's item, isn't it? That was old King Vorgen's solution to his treasury problems. Clever little spellwork.' The dragon stretches his massive wings, sending shadows dancing across the piles of gold. 'I acquired it during the sacking of Silver Spire. The previous owner was quite... attached to it.'

As you examine the coin's face, the torchlight catches an eerie glow from within the metal. The depicted monarch's eyes seem to follow your movements, his mouth twisted in a silent scream. The abacus suddenly stops its frantic calculations with a final ominous click. Its wooden frame splits down the middle, beads scattering across the stone floor like frightened insects.

'Oh dear,' Valthorix murmurs with mock concern, his tail twitching with barely contained amusement. 'That was my fourth abacus this week. They do tend to... disagree with certain assets in my collection.' He leans down until his smoke-tinged breath ruffles your hair. 'Tell me, little accountant - does this change your valuation of my liquidity situation?'