Just as Levis had foreseen, at the beginning of the year after he entered his slumber, the long-standing peace of the Northlands was shattered, casting an inescapable shadow over the lives that had only just begun to improve.
In the Port District of Water-Drawing City, Khelben Blackstaff, who had already retired from his seat among the Masked Lords, stared at several corpses clearly infected with the Cataclysm Plague and a group of wounded who had been saved through timely treatment. His expression remained incomparably grim.
He could scarcely imagine it—if they had not copied Minas Tirith's disaster-prevention decrees and measures a full ten years ago, promptly located the source of infection and purified it, would Water-Drawing City have become the next Baldur's Gate?
Watching the undead wandering endlessly across the Delimbiyr River, Khelben nevertheless resolutely issued an order destined to inflict grievous losses upon the commercial economy of Water-Drawing City, and even the entire Northlands:
"Starting today, close all trade ports except those connecting our Northlands cities, Moonshadow Island, and Jenisar in Calimshan.
"Also, tell those greedy bastards to prepare for military expansion.
"And this crumbling wall of ours in Water-Drawing City—it's time we put some money into repairing it."
"But... the Masked Lords, and the Nobles and Merchants Association..."
The Blackstaff Merchant Guild assistant immediately revealed a look of utter disbelief. He had considered that, as matters worsened, the Guild Leader might adopt certain extreme measures, but he had never imagined he would be this decisive.
"Do it. Leave those idiots to me. Unless... they want me to deal with them." Khelben ground out through clenched teeth, as though he were cutting flesh from his own body.
Doing this would likewise be a devastating blow to the Arunsun Family's own holdings.
Yet he also agreed utterly with Levis's words: