"...Is this what you call a fair exchange?" Robin raised a single eyebrow, his hands neatly clasped behind his back in a calm yet assertive stance.
"Things between true partners aren't weighed like commodities. It's not about keeping count—one favor just equal for another. When you choose to walk the same path as someone and your fates become intertwined, you support them unconditionally when they need it. No negotiations. No expectations. And when you're the one in need, they return that support in kind, no questions asked. That's the kind of bond that makes a partnership unshakable." Hedrick smiled warmly as he spoke, his tone sincere.
Robin gave a slow shake of his head. "You're neither my partner nor my friend. This is a business discussion, plain and simple. Even partnerships, no matter how deep, must be built on fairness and clarity. If one side keeps giving endlessly while the other only ever receives, then that's not a partnership—it's exploitation."
