The Butterfly's Wings Fluttered in Bernier City

Bernier City was the capital of the Kafhoka Great Plains region. For centuries, this land of lush grass and abundant water had been known across the continent as a major grain-producing region. During the several Black Calamities of the past, it had always been a crucial strategic area.

Even when the Bone-Biting King rampaged across the continent a hundred years ago, ravaged Kafhoka had been among the first regions reclaimed.

Even the Bone-Biting King, who had led the way with plague barrels, hadn't wantonly destroyed the place. Lord Phile knew perfectly well that after the age of the gnollfolk arrived, he would still need this land to provide food for his empire.

Now, Nordtov had occupied Kafhoka for nearly half a year, and the region was still fulfilling its former purpose. Especially after a batch of new lords had been sent there, the ecology of this grain-producing region hadn't been damaged. Under the new lords' "enlightened rule," it was actually operating a little more efficiently.

Of course, that wasn't to say those northern lords were especially kind. After all, rebellions had never stopped since they occupied Kafhoka. But that wasn't a bad thing for the lordly masters. Wherever a rebellion broke out, it meant the people there were disloyal to the Wolf Queen, and the brave Winter Wolf Legion had to be sent to dispatch every last rebel.

Then more fertile land would be added to the lords' great estates and distributed among their loyal servants.

This allowed the northern nobles and estate owners to gradually consume Kafhoka and establish a relatively stable system of rule. As for how the dispossessed farmers driven from their land for "rebellion" would survive the harsh winter, that obviously wasn't something the masters needed to consider.

Just look at the market in Bernier City.