Although the City Hall stood in the middle of Central Avenue, directly opposite Light's Embrace Church, and was nominally Harrison Port's military and administrative center,
in truth, Viscount Grant's estate was the real heart of the city.
A stern-looking middle-aged man arrived at the viscount's estate. After surrendering the twin swords at his waist and a hand cannon, he was led by a servant to the second-floor meeting room.
The man had graying hair and wore a set of lightweight leather armor. He was imposing in bearing, but his face had been weathered by hardship. A faint scar ran across his right eye all the way to the corner of his mouth.
Harrison Port's city defense commander and chief constable, Sir Yam, had once been the apprentice of a knight under the old Viscount Grant. His teacher had been slain by the venomous stinger of a totem spirit while protecting the old viscount during a battle against the natives. Yam himself had grown up training alongside the current Viscount Grant, and with the viscount's support, had become an Ascendant.
They were master and retainer, childhood friends, and comrades who had fought side by side through life-and-death battles.
When Yam entered the meeting room, he discovered that he was somehow the last to arrive. Viscount Grant himself, along with the viscount's aide and treasurer Lamar, were already seated in their places, discussing the details of disaster relief and gathering the people from nearby villages following the native attack.
Meanwhile, Pude, elder of the White Folk, and Imur, head of the Harrison Port Merchant Alliance, were pointing at the map of the Southern Ridge hanging on the wall, though no one knew what they were discussing.
The spacious hall was filled with a fresh, invigorating incense. This costly spice's greatest use was