Alric's mind raced, struggling to keep up with everything he had seen. He had come here with the simple goal of finalizing a transaction and understanding the new lord better. But what he had discovered was something far beyond his expectations. Cement roads, modern structures, a cooling device, and even a spatial ring—artifacts and innovations that were unheard of. And all of them came from the very man sitting in front of him.
Kael Bryndis.
A baron, a mage, an inventor.
Who exactly was this man?
Alric exhaled, gathering his thoughts before finally answering Kael's question. "Your domain... is unlike anything I have ever seen," he admitted, his voice laced with both admiration and caution. "But I must ask—why offer a partnership to someone who did something so... unacceptable?" He met Kael's gaze, searching for the reason behind the baron's surprising generosity.
