Aglaea nodded slightly, unsurprised by Yan Huan's actions.
"A very reasonable arrangement. Establishing authority requires some tangible ties."
She turned and quietly gave a few instructions to the civil officials who had hurried over.
The officials immediately departed to carry out her orders.
The cleanup below the city walls continued efficiently.
Bound prisoners formed a long line, hanging their heads as the Okhma Guards escorted them toward the temporary prisoner camp designated within the city.
The ice sculptures were also carted away one wagon at a time, awaiting appraisal after they thawed.
Ladon's representatives were separately imprisoned in a reinforced cell under special guard.
The elder with relatively greater authority among them now had nothing left but vacant eyes and the occasional unconscious twitch.
The man with the slicked-back hair received preferential treatment. He was taken to a relatively clean room, where there was even a cup of water before him.
Zhao Gao sat across from him, a cryptic smile on his face.
"So, sir," Zhao Gao began unhurriedly.
"Now, we can have a detailed talk about what you know—the resource reserves of the various city-states, their trade routes, and all those dirty little secrets within them."
"Rest assured, your willingness to cooperate will directly affect the discount on your ransom, as well as your future prospects in the Holy City... and even throughout Amphoreus."
"Really?!"
"Fine! I'll talk! I'll tell you everything!"
The man with the slicked-back hair perked up as though he had seized a lifeline and began talking without pause.
From the public tax revenues and granary locations of every city-state to the shady dealings of certain nobles, their mutual conflicts and grudges, and even secret rumors and legends, he spilled everything like beans from a bamboo tube.
Meanwhile, Okhema's communications system operated at high speed.
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