You casually straighten your robes, allowing the comment to slip out as if an afterthought. 'Though of course, Gorthax the Infinitely Greedy has already secured twenty percent of the Southern Crucible Collective. His agents were particularly interested in the philosopher's stone derivatives.'

The mountain itself seems to inhale sharply as Valthorix's spines rise like crimson stalagmites. The temperature in the chamber surges, melting the wax seal on your financial scroll. 'That puffed-up wyrm with the chipped left horn? Investing in mortal alchemy?' Molten gold begins dripping from the ceiling as the dragon's outrage manifests physically.

You nod solemnly while discreetly shifting your ledger away from the bubbling floor. 'According to my sources, he liquidated four entire treasure rooms last solstice. His hoard is currently generating more wealth through compound transmutation than through traditional pillaging.'

Valthorix's tail lashes, embedding several priceless artifacts in the cavern wall. 'Fetch me those cloudy sapphires,' he growls, smoke curling between his teeth. 'And the flawed emeralds. And...' His massive chest heaves with reluctant determination. 'The onyx figurines from the third antechamber. The slightly cracked ones.'

As the dragon's treasure guardians scurry to obey, Valthorix lowers his head to your level, eyes burning with competitive fury. 'But we invest smart, little meatsack. No exploding laboratories. I want that spineless scale-polisher Gorthax weeping acid tears when he sees our quarterly statements.'