Three Mana Sedans, conspicuously luxurious even from the outside, drove through Babrara City's north gate, then slowly came to a stop under the eyes of a group of fully armed guards from the Xinfei Merchant Guild Guard Corps.
The rear doors opened, and Marquis Descartes, head of the Candel Empire's Commerce Department, stepped out with his entourage.
As soon as he left the car, a light breeze brushed over him. It carried no chill at all, but instead a trace of warmth.
Marquis Descartes could not help looking up at the sky. The sun was high overhead, its light bright without being dazzling, gentle without being hot. It was precisely the sort of fine weather that made early spring so pleasant.
It was already late April, with May only a few days away, so such fine weather was only to be expected.
Yet despite the warm, pleasant spring breeze, Marquis Descartes felt no warmth in his heart. Instead, traces of cold lingered there, as though the depths of winter had not quite passed.
As head of the Commerce Department of the Candel Empire, the most powerful empire on the continent, he had been sent to lead a delegation and take the initiative in negotiating peace with others. How could that fail to leave him chilled?
Marquis Descartes glanced around at the other members of his delegation and found their expressions equally displeased. Clearly, they were just as unhappy as he was.
The mighty Candel Empire had always forced others to negotiate peace with it. When had it ever taken the initiative to sue for peace itself?
After half a month of meetings and discussions, the imperial Royal Family and the Elders' Parliament had finally resolved to negotiate peace with the Xinfei Merchant Guild. As soon as that decision was announced,