Lake Fortress was bustling like never before, thanks to the Seolwoonhoe traders who had brought a treasure trove of goods.

The items were far superior in quality and quantity compared to what Bipen had provided. The variety of products was astonishing.

The eyes of the villagers sparkled with curiosity, akin to children discovering a transforming robot after only knowing toy cars.

Of course, just as those fancy toys came at the expense of parents’ wallets, the same principle applied here. In this case, Yorn was the exasperated parent.

He cast a wary eye at me, clearly suspicious of the unfamiliar …