The Old Man's Adventure (4)

"Fighting has been made obligatory upon you ˹believers˺, though you dislike it. Perhaps you dislike something which is good for you and like something which is bad for you. Allah knows and you do not know."

- Qur'an 2:216

Ahmed Celebi flashed a grin, picked up a grape, and set it on the table. "You see, esteemed ambassador, it's not my place to doubt your sincerity or the intent behind your gesture of goodwill, of course. But I understand a bit about commerce. When someone offers something benevolent to a stranger, or even an adversary, they likely expect something in return... In conventional commercial exchanges, if I give you this grape," he said, placing the grape on Apostolos' plate and locking eyes with the elder statesman, "then I would anticipate something of comparable value in return, be it a raisin or a Churchkhela sweet..."