The Ratfolk Elder's words could be trusted, but not entirely.
Annan first contacted Captain Reyne to ask him about the Round Table Brotherhood.
"The Round Table Brotherhood is involved? No wonder things are so complicated in the Broken Mining District." Captain Reyne fell silent in thought.
"You know them?"
"Yes. The Round Table Brotherhood is based at the Lake of a Thousand Lakes and has deep ties to the Templar Order."
It was an organization much like the Mercenary Guild.
"What does it have to do with the Shadow Brotherhood?" Annan asked. Their names sounded so similar.
"The Round Table Brotherhood's members are all knights. The Shadow Brotherhood is made up mainly of Rangers and Assassins."
"I see." Annan nodded. "You're a Holy Knight. You should be able to influence the Oyster Gang too."
"Normally, yes. But we're trying to overthrow them."
"You're right..."
Annan gave up hope of winning without a fight and told him about Joan's progress.
What happened at Open-Pit Coal Mountain and in the Broken Mining District had little effect on the people of Golden City.
Life went on. The temperature dropped day by day, and each day grew colder. Things close at hand mattered more to them than distant troubles.
Grain had gone up by a few more copper coins. Coal was getting harder to buy. Bosses were paying less, while tax collectors came more often...
The blockade remained in place—but life went on as though it weren't there.
After Kilian saw a Portal open brazenly on a clearing at Coal Mountain and carts of supplies roll out of it, he sent an Envoy back to the Golden Palace with a letter: if the blockade continued, they would run out of supplies before Annan's people did.
Half a day later, a Golden Guard brought