"Has anything been happening in Steel City lately?"
"Giant Axe, you're a member of the Elder Council too. I remember documents from every meeting being sent to you."
"They're too long. I know your habits—you always insist on stretching something that could be explained in a single sentence into several pages. You may not find it troublesome, but I do. Out of sight, out of mind."
"...That's called being thorough. We need to anticipate all sorts of unusual circumstances."
"Fine, fine, everything you say makes sense. I don't care about that anyway. You still haven't answered my question."
"Nothing else, really. The Tide will be coming to Steel City after a while. They're preparing to head into the Chaos Land to investigate abnormalities in Calamity Energy, and they may need our help."
"Calamity Energy... I can feel it too. The magic in the air and that energy have indeed seemed a little abnormal lately."
"Oh, right. The White Maple Leaf Empire sent a message saying they want to stage an opera performance in Steel City."
"Opera? Is there something wrong with their heads? Aren't they worried at all about the changes in the Chaos Land? They're bringing those delicate little girls here to sing, dance, and act out stories? What are they thinking?"
"Ahem, don't put it like that. The news is still being kept under wraps and hasn't spread."
"Forget it. You people can decide. No need to explain it to me..."
When Luo Chuan came downstairs, he heard Giant Axe and Wang Gulas seemingly discussing something. He could vaguely make out words like "opera," "Tide," and "White Maple Leaf Empire."
The tavern was simply too noisy, making it difficult to hear clearly.
Strictly speaking, Steel City did not belong to any nation. Its status was somewhat like Orlan's