Night fell in the study of the Lord's Mansion.
Velin leaned back in his chair, observing the two men before him.
Before him, Ryo and Valerius were arguing nonstop over a matter crucial to the territory's future: how to pave the roads connecting Newly Town to the outside world.
"No, absolutely not!" Valerius's grizzled beard trembled as he pointed at the sketch Ryo had drawn. "Using the 'Earth Binding Skill' to reinforce the soil and then inscribing basic 'Solid Runes'? Ryo, that's a method for country bumpkin landlords!"
"A road like that will turn to muck within three days of the rainy season! And it won't be able to bear the weight of heavy carriages. How are we supposed to transport our ore and timber out?"
Ryo's face flushed red. He argued back in a low voice, "But Master, this method is the cheapest. We could quickly lay more roads..."
"Quickly lay a pile of trash?" Valerius cut him off bluntly.
