Time returned to the present.
By the time night had fully fallen over Faoken, the Governor's Office had arranged a small outdoor banquet to welcome the delegations. It was held in a part of Revival City far from the residential districts.
Mage lights set up in advance cast a soft glow across the newly opened courtyard. The scent of food mingled with the sea breeze, while Beastfolk minstrels played unfamiliar music, filling the banquet with a relaxed, cheerful air.
John sat at the head of the table, raising his glass to the elders of the two clans and casually fielding their flattery.
Yet his thoughts kept returning to his conversation with Marda after the midday demonstration.
She had told him everything. He now knew that the L391 Mineral had come from a new vein Doran had recently discovered.
He still wondered why a mineral Caroline and her partner had needed several rounds of development to produce in the game had appeared naturally in Faoken—and, by such a coincidence, ended up in his hands.
But it had happened. There was no point dwelling on it.
Besides, rather than ponder the strange workings of fate, there's something else I need to focus on right now.
With that thought, John smiled and clinked glasses with Elder Rock Hoof, who had come over to flatter him. He drained his drink, then glanced as if by chance toward a patch of darkness.
With his sensory spell active, he could clearly detect the faint trace of magic coming from there.
Someone was watching the banquet from the darkness.
John felt no concern. Instead, a faintly amused smile touched his lips.
He glanced toward the Morning Star Clan elders in the distance. Listening to the report coming through the miniature communicator in his ear, he murmured to