In the southwest of the Dimon Kingdom stood Gray Silver Fortress.
Built when war between the Dimon Kingdom and the Tartun Empire had seemed imminent, the old fortress had once been a place the people of Dimon avoided. But as the Ratfolk invaded and thriving cities became burning ruins, its strong walls and garrison had made it the largest city-state in the kingdom's southwest.
August 14, evening.
Gray Silver Fortress received a guest... a group of guests... an entire city of guests.
Anyone in the city who looked up could see the magnificent Floating City hovering outside Gray Silver Fortress.
People on the streets watched several nobles and a party of mages walk from the Floating City into the fortress castle. Before long, the Floating City had set up a Portal outside the walls and announced that there was no entry fee: anyone could visit Free City for free.
At first, no one believed it. But after several refugees from the north stepped through the Portal and the Guards of Gray Silver Fortress helped keep order, they had no choice but to believe.
Olmedo spoke with the general inside Gray Silver Fortress's castle in his capacity as Deputy City Lord.
It would not be hard for Free City to grow to a population of one hundred thousand in the Dimon Kingdom. But if they wanted a hundred and fifty thousand, they would need to give the kingdom advance notice.
After all, they were poaching its people.
Meanwhile, on a street outside the castle, Annan walked beside Illymoyas, who had taken human form. He wore a mage's cloak, and Lemon followed behind them.
It had been Olmedo's suggestion. Nothing in the world had more vitality than a Dragon. With Illymoyas there, no plot or curse could harm Annan before he summoned