In the city of Sedona, on the second floor of the Drunken Night, a small private box held a very somber atmosphere.
Hana, the Lord of Chitu City, sat slumped over his drink. Behind him stood his Chief Knight Commander, looking equally dejected. Hana had every reason to be depressed; he had been in Sedona City for over a week. He had submitted his request to see the City Lord days ago, only to find out Lucas was away. Lucas had finally returned yesterday, but it was now nearly noon, and there was still no word.
Hana wasn't even sure if Lucas would deign to see him. After all, he only had one thing of actual value to offer.
"My Lord, perhaps we should just head back," The Chief Knight suggested, his eyes involuntarily darting toward the single plate of fish on the table as his throat bobbed. "It seems the Lord of Sedona has no interest in us."
"Go back? No. I can't," Hana muttered, downing his cup in one go. His aging face scrunched up in a grimace.
He had finally seen a glimmer of hope—a chance to lift Chitu City out of its crushing poverty. He couldn't just walk away. Chitu City was destitute. It wasn't that the food here was bad or that he lacked an appetite; the reason a Lord and a Noble had only ordered a single dish was simple: they were broke.
"But what can we do?" The Knight Commander urged. "Your sons are still young, and Chitu City needs your presence." He gestured to his own leather armor, which was patched and worn in several places—a clear indicator of the city's financial state.
"Have you heard of Riverden City?" Hana asked, setting his cup down. He thought of his five and six-year-old children back home. He had to gamble on this opportunity.
"I have. It was a city slightly better off than ours," The Knight replied.
"I heard they partnered with Sedona City. Goods are flowing in, and they are thriving. Meanwhile, our land is barren. Nothing grows to full size. Our harvests are barely enough to keep people from starving, let alone keep them fed and healthy."
Hana poured another drink and took a small sip. "If we don't act now, as our population grows, people will start dying of hunger."
In this era, a full stomach was a luxury, and Chitu City was the epitome of hardship.
"Your subordinate is incompetent. I cannot share your burdens," The Knight said, bowing his head in shame.
"It is simply our luck. Our ancestors left us a cursed fief," Hana chuckled bitterly. He had come here hoping to secure some goods to resell, aiming to turn Chitu City into a trade hub for surrounding towns to collect taxes and middleman fees.
"But My Lord... what do we have to trade with the Lord of Sedona?"
"Iron ore. We have that iron vein in our territory," Hana said helplessly.
Iron was incredibly precious in this age, but he lacked the technology to mine or smelt it efficiently. He had kept the vein a secret for years, fearing that stronger lords would simply kill him and take it. The little smelting they had attempted was a disaster; the wheat required to feed the laborers far outweighed the value of the crude iron they produced.
"Will the Lord of Sedona just seize the mine by force?" The Knight asked nervously.
"I don't think so. From what I've gathered, Lucas's character is trustworthy—aside from his obsession with beastkin women," Hana mused. Like many others, he assumed Lucas's large household of beautiful beast-girls was a sign of a lecherous nature. But to a noble, that was a minor vice.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
A sudden knock at the door made both men jump.
"Who is it?" The Knight barked.
"We have been sent by the City Lord to invite Lord Hana to a banquet this evening," A voice called from the hallway.
Hana's eyes lit up. "Open the door! Quickly!"
The Knight pulled the door open to find a middle-aged man standing there. He recognized him as Ben, the head steward of the City Lord's mansion.
"This is your invitation," Ben said, handing over a golden card.
Hana took it with both hands. He knew from rumors that these invitations were status symbols, sometimes worth hundreds of gold coins on the black market due to the exclusive nature of Lucas's inner circle.
"I will certainly be there on time," Hana said with utmost seriousness.
"Then I shall not disturb your meal further," Ben smiled politely, bowed, and departed.
Hana watched him leave, then pumped his fist in the air. "Finally!"
"My Lord, what gift should we bring?" The Knight asked.
Hana's expression turned solemn as he made a difficult decision. "We will bring that item as a gift."
"What?! But My Lord, that is..."
"It doesn't matter," Hana shook his head. "This is our only chance."
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