It turned out that Supreme Alpha Wolfram Cindervane had visited the Crown Alpha's territory recently and taken a great liking to Edric's renovations.
These were his rewards.
Edric sank to his knees, trembling:
"I humbly thank the Supreme Alpha for this gracious bounty!"
The workers who had been seconds from rioting dropped to their knees as well, faces drained of color.
None of them had expected this.
The Supreme Alpha himself was backing Edric.
Edric reached into one of the chests and pulled out a gold ingot at random.
He tossed it at their feet:
"Take it. That's enough to cover several moon cycles of your wages.
"And if you don't get back to work and end up disrupting the territory's operations, don't be surprised when your heads roll!"
They had their money.
And the Supreme Alpha had made his position clear.
Everyone scrambled to bow their thanks and scattered.
Edric surveyed the chests of royal tribute filling the courtyard.
A cold smile spread across his face:
"Just as I thought. My approach was right all along.
"If that bastard Ashton hadn't thrown so much money at these ungrateful wretches before, they'd never have developed such an insatiable greed."