Soon, as all sides continued to develop, time reached Cold Star Moon of the latter half of the year. (November) winter was approaching. Cold winds swept dry fallen leaves across the bluestone streets of Silver Moon City, making passersby instinctively wrap their coats tighter around themselves.
Small vendors and newsboys still shouted their wares, hawking their respective goods. The wooden wheels of magic carriages rumbled down the middle of the road, kicking up clouds of dust.
At this time, Silver Moon City's population had grown considerably, with many outsiders arriving to take refuge from the chaos of war.
Compared with half a year ago, the Federation's situation had become even more chaotic due to the deliberate inaction of numerous high-level figures.
The effects of Anvis previously selling military constructs at low prices had now begun to show.
Once several Small Kingdoms had acquired abundant military supplies at rock-bottom prices, their neighboring countries had no choice but to grit their teeth and purchase large quantities of constructs as well, temporarily creating an arms race.
This was a severe test of the kingdoms' finances. Moreover, buying so many constructs was not for display alone; the costs of maintenance and upkeep were also no small sum.
The smell of gunpowder between the many Small Kingdoms had grown stronger, and small-scale wars occasionally broke out along their borders.
Some of the larger kingdoms not only declined to intervene, but even fanned the flames from behind the scenes. The major construct merchant associations, meanwhile, made fortunes from the war.
What added the most fuel to the fire was the appearance of Players. A large group of Players who feared the world was not chaotic enough went around provoking incidents, directly raising the intensity of the conflicts by an entire level.
Disguising themselves as enemy assassins