Chapter 1209: Anthony On Tour - The Unforgettable Sight

Chapter 1209: Anthony On Tour - The Unforgettable Sight

I suppose to some, it might be considered appealing sort of. Others, perhaps some would say, those with better taste would call it tacky! Overdone! Gaudy, even!

Then again no, no, I will not admit it! There's no tunnels! How can any place be considered the best without nice, wide tunnels? It can't, end of discussion. The roads do seem nice and spacious, though.

Bah! Who would ever want to dwell in a house covered in metal? Nobody! Even if that metal was so soothing, and emitting such a glorious, ephemeral light.

DAMMIT!

I connect a mind bridge to Eran Thouris who is leaning against the railing next to me, looking smug.

[Well?] she asks.

[It's nice.]

[Nice?] she asks, raising one scaled brow.

[Very nice.]

That's all she's gonna get out of me.

Mount Atreum, heart of the Atreum empire that bears its name, rises tall and imposing from the shimmering waters of the Lake before us. From the waterline up, the great and glorious Silver City covers the slopes. And I do mean covers. There isn't a single square inch that hasn't been developed, all enfolded within six rings of mighty walls. That's not to say there aren't any green spaces, oh no, there are frustratingly luscious and attractive-looking parks all over the damn place! The rest of it is large, well organised buildings connected by clean, wide streets. All of it, ALL of it (not the trees, obviously) is covered in what I'm told is Soul Silver.

And it is absolutely stunning.

Stupid city with its stupid shininess. Thinks it's all that! Well, it's not!

[Oh look. I think the clouds are going to part. We should get a good look at it now,] Eran says, enthused.

[Good look at what?] I grumble.

[If we have, it's just as much a surprise to me as it is to you.]

[We should be fine. The Atreum can be a little bureaucratic, but they are a well-run and organised sort of place. We have all our documents sorted well in advance. We're the kind of merchants who are especially welcome here.]

Such optimistic words, of course, doom us before we even arrive.

After Eran and the high-ranking brathians go ashore to finalise arrangements, we quickly find out things have gone awry.

[They want further guarantees of safety after what happened at Greystone,] Olivis tells me, after communicating with the shore party.

[Like what sort of guarantees? They want me to grind the edges off my mandibles or something?]

[Financial compensation,] Olivis says. [If any damage is caused to the city by the Colony, they are demanding the Brathian Island Conglomerate agree to pay damages.]

[Well that doesn't seem unreasonable.]

[We already agreed to such terms, they are now inflating the price.]

Oof.

[How how much?]

[If you repeat your actions at Greystone, the entire conglomerate will be bankrupt.]

Double oof.

[I'll be careful.]

[You'd better be.]