[DanielSong39]

Originally Posted by serenade_beta

Spoiler:

They aren't after their money.
Like they say, they are eliminating the threats (Horo, Nora, Lawrence) so that any of the three will not tell anyone they smuggled gold.

Spoiler for Lemerio:

It may look that way, but the pieces still don't fit. Horo, Nora, and Lawrence have no incentive to tell people that Lemerio company smuggled the gold. And even if they did, they can be bought at a very cheap price.

Let's not forget that he didn't kill Lawrence, Nora, or Horo - and while they might still be in danger, there's still a decent chance that they can escape and spoil his plans. And being (seemingly) betrayed would surely give them the incentive to turn the tables on him.

When it comes down to it, the risk/reward ratio looks horrible and I'm having a hard time understanding his actions. That's why I'm leaning towards "clever plan" rather than "outright betrayal". It remains to be seen what happens in Episode 13, but I envision Nora starting a new life with 20 Lumione, a debt-free Lawrence, and Horo getting her first taste of honeyed peaches - let's see what role the Lemerio guy plays in all of this.