Village Head's Debauchery

Orion nodded thoughtfully before turning to Patriarch Rylan. "There's something I've been meaning to discuss with you but haven't found the time," he mentioned.

"What is it?" Patriarch Rylan's interest was piqued.

Orion elaborated on the Village's efforts to collect wires and metal scraps, particularly those of the warriors, who, during their exploration, scouted new lands and brought back broken parts for the Four-eared elves to exchange for services when their caravan arrived.

Hearing Orion's question, Patriarch Rylan nodded in understanding. "I see why you're asking. Accepting only Kalna fruits as payment might have seemed suspicious, so we added metal scraps to make the trade appear more balanced. These scraps weren't useless, though. Scavenging for metals is a thriving business. Once refurbished, they can be used to repair parts of the Runaway City or traded lucratively with other Runaway Cities in need," he explained.

Orion nodded in understanding. He had wondered about the metal scraps' purpose and found Patriarch Rylan's explanation logical and convincing.

"Do you happen to be familiar with Stronghold Leader Drakar?" Orion asked, transitioning to his next topic.

Patriarch Rylan nodded knowingly. He anticipated Orion to someday ask this question, having previously discussed this matter with Village Chief Brane. They had delved into it the night they arrived to handle the situation involving the gods' chosen who had betrayed the Four-eared Elves race.

"The Village Chief has already informed me of everything. I regret disclosing more about the outside world in exchange for Kalna fruits. Had I known that he would betray the Village and jeopardize your life and the lives of others for such a trade, I would not have taken that action at the time," Patriarch Rylan responded.

He explained the details of the conversation and how Stronghold Leader Drakar had coerced them into making a trade despite their prior agreement with the Village Chief. Therefore, he had only shared limited information regarding the outside world, including the deal involving the rare magical beast sold to Stronghold Leader Drakar.

"Nonetheless, I believe his decision to leave the Village is foolish. Having lived outside that world for a long time, I can assure you that it's filled with suffering, pain, hunger, and the persistent struggle to survive. If I were given a choice between staying out there, even with a Grade 2 or the Grade 3 Runaway city, I'd choose here every single time," he added, sighing wearily.

Upon hearing that the Village Chief had already discussed such matters with Patriarch Rylan, Orion wasn't surprised. However, as Patriarch Rylan explained the trade with Stronghold Leader Drakar, he nodded in understanding, finding his response satisfactory.

"So, you also trade magical beasts?" Orion asked, raising a curious eyebrow.

"Yes, of course. As I mentioned earlier, survival drives us to do everything possible, including breeding and trading various rare magical beasts with other Runaway Cities. However, our primary focus lies in the 'Elixir of the Four Ears,' a unique brew exclusively sold by the Four-eared lone Rabbit Runaway City, along with 'The Fruit of Complete Fulfillment'," Patriarch Rylan explained, casting a glance at the Kalna fruits on the table.

"Each Runaway City specializes in something unique, offering it to the outside world. This strategy helps control scarcity and product costs and provides a vital lifeline for survival. Everything else serves to bolster our chances of survival."

Orion nodded, absorbing Patriarch Rylan's words. "What about the sanctuaries? Do you have any information about them?" he asked. Having gained some knowledge from Captain Seig and Evadne, he was keen to hear if Patriarch Rylan had additional knowledge about them.

Hearing Orion's question, Patriarch Rylan glanced at the curious expressions of his daughter and the others around him. It was obvious that they were all eager to delve deeper into the topic of the sanctuaries.

"My knowledge about the sanctuaries is limited, but I do know they are the home of gods, divine apostles, and demigods—the safest haven in the world. Those living within a sanctuary do not need to worry about food, water, or survival; they experience the best life, passing down this privilege from one generation to the next. Legends depict it as an entire world shielded from the dangers of the Vylkr vines. However, it's something I doubt I'll ever witness in my lifetime," Patriarch Rylan responded, exhaling deeply, his expression tinged with sadness.

After absorbing Patriarch Rylan's explanation and realizing he had limited knowledge about sanctuaries like Evadne, Orion asked his next question: "Do you know how many grades of Runaway Cities there are?"

With their imminent reconnection to the outside world, gathering information about the current state of affairs was crucial, and this was one piece of the puzzle.

"I know there are Grade 1, Grade 2, and Grade 3 Runaway Cities. However, I've only seen a Grade 3 Runaway City once in my life, during my travels with my father. It was significantly larger than two Grade 2 Runaway Cities and more breathtaking than any city I've ever encountered. As for the existence of a Grade 4 Runaway City, I'm not certain. If it does exist, I wouldn't be surprised if it were a sanctuaryin itself," Patriarch Rylan replied.

Orion's curiosity quenched, and he focused on concluding their discussion. "Is that everything you know about them?" he asked.

Patriarch Rylan nodded regretfully. "I wish I could provide more information, but that's all I am aware of," he admitted.

Understanding the limit of his knowledge, Orion responded gratefully, "That's all I wanted to know, Patriarch Rylan. Thank you for answering truthfully," he said, finishing his Kalna fruit before rising from his seat.

"Also, remember that this territory will soon surpass any sanctuary. It will be a 'Paradise.' So, I hope the Four-eared elves remain loyal until then. Otherwise, we won't hesitate to sever our ties," he added, signalling to Isadora that their meeting was concluded.

"I'll take your words to heart, Mr. Orion," Patriarch Rylan replied, rising from his seat and watching as Orion left the building with Isadora.

Patriarch Rylan turned to his son and the gods'chosens, who wore curious expressions as they absorbed everything they had just heard.

"I need you to ensure that our discussion remains a secret. No one else should know what was said here. Do you understand?" Patriarch Rylan said firmly, eyeing two small figures peeking from the corner of the room.

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