Age 21: When spring arrived, the restless mutant beasts quieted down once more, and the vast wilderness returned to how it had been. Because of your experiences the previous winter, you made several more trips to the city during summer and autumn, buying and selling supplies.
You began to get to know some of the city's merchants. You heard them discussing the Old Councilor who had helped you, and learned that he had served as a councilor for decades. He had an excellent reputation in De Nuo City and considerable influence in Federal Central. Every mayor De Nuo City had ever had needed to consider his opinions.
You gained little that year. After investing a great deal of time and effort, you discovered that the goods you sold in the city fetched less than if you had sold them directly to the Trade Caravans in the wilderness. You realized there was an invisible barrier between you and those shrewd city folk.
Age 22: Opening up a trade route to the city was not easy. Fortunately, the leader strongly supported you. That year, you and the leader's daughter entered De Nuo City several more times. You began to understand the real market prices in the city and realized that the merchants who had initially traded with you had indeed been deceiving you.
But De Nuo City was a small city. Only those merchants purchased goods from the wilderness, and they effectively formed some kind of alliance. You did not really understand what the city people meant by "consortiums," but you knew they were all in this together.
After running into walls several times, you spoke with a merchant on the street and saw the Old Councilor again.
You immediately seized the opportunity and greeted the Old Councilor. He gently asked about