"We understand the folly of striking a bargain with a tiger, for one will only end up being devoured. To say nothing of the fact that if we become too entangled with the Tower of Secret Silver and word gets out, not only the Royal Family but also the Church Court would brand our clan as traitors. The Eastern Territory would be plunged into chaos, and its people would suffer terribly. That is absolutely not something our clan wishes for."

He looked at Murphy, his gaze frank. "Those rumors may have been deliberately spread by the Tower of Secret Silver to sow discord between our clan and the other powers of the Kingdom. Or perhaps they are merely the speculation of those who wish for nothing more than to see the world in chaos. But please believe me, Governor, while the Peric Clan may have its grievances with the Royal Capital, we would never gamble our clan’s survival and the peace of the Eastern Territory on an illusory and infinitely risky future."

"We are increasing our orders and preparing our armaments for self-preservation—to deal with the potential border chaos that the Tower of Secret Silver’s arrogant actions might trigger. We are absolutely not in collusion with them, much less acting as their accomplice."

The hall fell silent once more.

Aurora was the first to speak. "What you say is perfectly reasonable, Sir. The situation in the Eastern Territory is unique, so caution is certainly warranted."

"The Monte Territory and the Peric Clan have long enjoyed a mutually beneficial trade relationship. At a time like this, maintaining communication and clearing up misunderstandings is indeed crucial."

Murphy’s gaze lingered on Sir Harold’s face for a moment, his eyes so deep they seemed as if they could see right into a person’s heart.

Sir Harold met his gaze frankly, without flinching.

Finally, Murphy spoke slowly. "I have noted your explanation, Sir. The Peric Clan’s position concerns the stability of the Eastern Territory and, by extension, the entire northeastern region of the Kingdom. I trust that your father, the Ironspine Duke, can make the choice that best serves the interests of his family and his territory."

Sir Harold bowed slightly. "Thank you for your understanding, Governor. Our clan is willing to continue deepening our cooperation with the Monte Territory, be it in mineral trade or in dealing with the uncertainties brought by this turmoil. The gates of Blackstone Fortress are always open to our friends."

The ensuing conversation turned to more practical matters, such as the quality of the steel ingots, delivery schedules, and potential future technical exchanges.

Though no deal was struck, the discussion had become far more practical.

When Sir Harold finally rose to take his leave and retire to his guest room, only Murphy and Aurora remained in the main hall.

"What do you think?" Murphy asked in a low voice, his gaze drifting to the gradually setting sun outside the window.

Aurora walked to his side, gazing out the window with him. "His words were seven parts truth, three parts what he left unsaid."

She said softly, her azure eyes glinting thoughtfully, "It’s true the Peric Clan is dissatisfied with the Royal Family, and it’s also true they’re reluctant to tie themselves to the Tower of Secret Silver so easily. But their contact with the Tower was definitely more than a simple ’rejection.’ Perhaps there were deeper exploratory talks, or perhaps they’re still on the sidelines, waiting for the highest bidder. And that phrase, ’to deal with the potential border chaos’... its scope could be very large or very small."

Murphy nodded slightly. "The Eastern Territory’s stance remains ambiguous. However, the fact that he came to explain things in person is a gesture in itself. At the very least, they don’t want to make an enemy of the Monte Territory for the time being. They might even be trying to win us over. Their need for steel and technology is also real." 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

"We need the Eastern Territory to remain neutral, at a minimum," Aurora said, turning to face Murphy. "At least until the situation becomes clearer. Sir Harold’s visit is an opportunity. I’ll personally discuss the trade details with Annie. The girl is lively, but she’s not foolish. We might be able to get a better feel for the Peric Clan’s true intentions from her."

"Mm," Murphy affirmed, his gaze still distant. "The storm hasn’t arrived yet, but all sides are already placing their pieces. The Tower of Secret Silver, the Church Court, the Royal Family, the Eastern Territory... and us. Every step must be weighed with care."

The afterglow of the setting sun stretched their shadows long across the smooth oak floor, where they lay silently overlapping.

Outside the castle, twilight began to fall. The feeling of a coming storm seemed to drift in silently on the wind blowing from the distant Iron Ridge Mountain Range.

...

The next morning, in the faint light of dawn, the meeting reconvened in a more private, smaller hall on the east side of the castle.

An attendant served steaming mead before quietly withdrawing, leaving only Murphy, Aurora, and Sir Harold in the room.

Sir Harold had changed into a more formal, dark gray, belted tunic, but a hint of exhaustion lingered in his eyes, a clear sign he had not slept well. After a few brief pleasantries, he cut straight to the point.

"Governor, yesterday you indicated a willingness to cooperate. Today, I wish to hear the details. What price must my clan pay, and what can we expect to receive from the Monte Territory in return?"

Murphy did not answer immediately. He paused in thought for a moment before speaking slowly. "The Peric Clan needs the Monte Territory’s highest-quality specialty steel. You need it to arm Blackstone Fortress, reinforce the Eastern Territory’s defensive line, and prepare for the coming storm. Is that correct?"

"Precisely," Sir Harold nodded. "My clan needs to procure enough high-quality steel ingots to arm at least one full-strength Heavy Infantry Legion and replace critical components in half of our garrison fortresses. By a rough estimate, the value would be around three hundred thousand Gold Coins."

Murphy nodded slightly. "The Monte Territory can accept this order. We can even complete the delivery in installments within a year. But there is one condition."

"Please, Governor."

"The method of payment." Murphy leaned forward slightly, his eyes locking onto Harold. "It must be in Gold. Three hundred thousand standard Vilt Kingdom Gold Coins of full weight and purity, or gold ingots of equivalent fineness. We will not accept payment in kind, nor will we accept notes from the Royal Family or any merchant guild. No other metal currencies, either."

The air in the small hall seemed to freeze solid.

Sir Harold’s hand, holding his cup of mead, froze in mid-air. He almost thought he had misheard. After a long moment, he managed to set the cup down, his throat suddenly dry. "Governor... are you saying my clan must pay with three hundred thousand actual, hard Gold Coins for these steel ingots?"