When Prince Eric's succession to the throne became a certainty, many people in Bunta City could not help feeling alarmed.
Princess Royal Servini was Bunta City's lord, making the city practically her own backyard, a loyal supporter and source of backing.
Now that Prince Eric had successfully claimed the throne, convention dictated that he would settle old scores. A city like Bunta City, which had openly supported Princess Royal Servini, would inevitably become a particular target.
Of all the merchant guilds in Bunta City, the one that caused the most concern was naturally the Xinfei Merchant Guild.
The Xinfei Merchant Guild had the closest relationship with Princess Royal Servini of anyone in Bunta City. Its president, Xu Yi, was an exceptionally staunch supporter of hers. He had publicly rejected overtures from Prince Eric's faction several times and had all but severed ties with Prince Eric completely.
In everyone's eyes, the Xinfei Merchant Guild was undoubtedly a thorn in Prince Eric's side. Once he inherited the throne, it would never escape his reckoning.
Precisely because of this concern, even Xu Yi had been forced to make contingency plans. He had halted development plans for Falling Rain Valley and transferred some of the Xinfei Merchant Guild's most valuable resources to its base in the Stantin Duchy, guarding against an attack from Prince Eric.
Yet reality took everyone by surprise.
After Prince Eric ascended the throne, he took no excessive measures against Bunta City. Not only did he refrain from making the Xinfei Merchant Guild his first target, as everyone had expected, but he even issued a special statement commending its outstanding contributions to Bunta City's development. It nearly made everyone's jaws drop.
Moreover, although Bunta City's new city lord, who succeeded Servini, had been personally appointed by Prince Eric... well, he should