In the Southlands, within the Alliance.
Because they lived near Freedom Street, the Amoria Family received the news before the two great Families at the Northern Mountain Passes of the Dimon Kingdom.
"Father, Father! A letter from Annan Reeves!"
At the manor on the outskirts, a young man with sun-browned skin burst into the study.
"Oh?" The middle-aged man behind the desk looked up, a pair of silver-rimmed eyeglasses from Free City perched on his nose.
He had occasional dealings with the Reeves family, but it was always Idelia who contacted them. This time, unusually, the letter came from Annan Reeves himself—his nephew, technically speaking.
"What does it say?"
"I haven't read it yet."
The current head of the Amoria Family opened the letter and scanned it, then handed it to his son, who was nearly beside himself with impatience.
"...He's calling a gathering? Why all of a sudden?"
"This is why I tell you to read the newspaper!"
"I do read it. I just don't see the connection."
His earnest son only made him angrier. "Didn't the newspaper say Annan Reeves just wiped out a Ratfolk Clan? He might be using his newfound prestige to bring us together and discuss retaking the Northern Frontier."
"What!?" the young man cried, excited but also a little intimidated. "Then... Father, are we going?"
The head of the Amoria Family snatched up a book and hurled it at him. "What kind of stupid question is that? The Northern Frontier is our home. We ran away once already. You want to run a second time? If we die, we'll die there!"
The young man clutched his cheek where the book had hit him, looking aggrieved. "I wasn't thinking of running..."
"Hmph. You wouldn't dare..."
Still, the head of the Amoria Family had no intention