Chapter 122: War
Golden port had remained as prosperous as ever on the surface over these past two months.
The port docks were always crammed with merchant ships coming and going, sails snapping in the wind while the cries of the stevedores rose and fell one after another.
At the Drunken Dolphin tavern, Benjamin would occasionally meet with Old Gray and get some street-level intelligence from him.
"The border's getting restless again lately, Jack." Old Gray drained his malt beer in one gulp, wiped his mouth, and lowered his voice. "There've been constant little clashes on the front with the Orcs. Those green-skinned bastards were beaten like dogs by the wizards before. Now that the wizards' offensive has slowed, they're getting cocky again."
Benjamin merely nodded calmly. "I heard those nobles intend to renege on the supplies they originally promised?"
"Heh, that's nothing new." Old Gray looked utterly disdainful. "Those nobles even screw over their own people, let alone those green-skins."
He took another swig of beer. "Still, I have no idea what those nobles are thinking. They dare to be so brazen while the war's still going on? They've gone mad. Aren't they afraid the Orcs will retaliate?!"
"Perhaps... greed has blinded them." Benjamin shook his head.
He could sense that this city's nerves were gradually slackening.
The local nobles—especially those who had made fortunes through smuggling and hoarding during the planar war—had lately been living in extravagance, turning a blind eye to external threats.
Perhaps it was not that they failed to see the danger beyond their walls, but that immense profits had clouded their minds and forced them to ignore the dangers that might exist.
"Still... according to the intelligence Amy and the others sent back, the camp has already halted its offensive and even begun drawing