The people of the North initially saw Arad's pulp manufacturing and printing technologies in simple terms: a means to produce more books at cheaper prices.

“In the Empire and the Kingdoms, they have something called a Gazette. Large merchant guilds or royal courts publish it once a month, compiling news about the world.”

While cheaper and abundant books could undoubtedly spread information more efficiently, the advancement of paper manufacturing and printing carried benefits beyond mere dissemination of information.

It heralded the birth of the mass audience.

And if one were to pick the most effective business venture to capitalize on …