Omens of War

Upon hearing that it was time to eat, Eileen's angry expression vanished instantly. She tugged at Ye Weian's sleeve and shook it, "Master, Master! How about we go to 'Dragon's Jaw'? It's not far ahead!"

Ye Wei'an glanced at her sideways and smiled helplessly, "Dragon's Jaw again. I bet you're craving their caramel lamb chops and wheat pancakes again, aren't you?"

"Hehe, Master saw right through me." Ellen scratched her head sheepishly, then proceeded to educate Lina, "Sister Lina, let me tell you, the food at Dragon's Jaw is delicious! The head chef there supposedly used to work in the royal palace. Although it's considerably more expensive than the 'Golden Goblin' restaurant we went to this afternoon, it's incredibly reasonable compared to the aristocratic restaurants in the upper city. It's practically the best value place in Susar!"

Amidst laughter and conversation, the group crossed the walking trail following the flow of people.

The Dragon's Jaw Inn boasts an excellent location, just across from the Royal Court, offering a quiet retreat amidst the bustling city, and overlooking a neatly trimmed grove of bushes.

Pushing open the heavy revolving door adorned with a roaring dragon design, a wave of warmth accompanies the elegant sound of a harp.

Lina looked around, a hint of approval in her eyes: "The owner of this place has excellent taste."

The decor here doesn't pile up too many luxurious elements, but instead makes extensive use of dark walnut wood and exquisite wrought iron wall lamps, creating a style that is both dignified and tasteful.

The thick carpet absorbed the sound of footsteps, making the hall exceptionally quiet.

"This shop is really good," Lina commented softly.

This is a gathering place for the middle class and powerful figures in Susar. The guests are well-dressed, reserved, and converse in hushed tones under the warm yellow lights.

Ye Wei'an glanced around and saw wealthy merchants checking accounts, nobles in plain clothes, lower-ranking officials who had just finished get off work at the court across the street, a few knights in light armor, and even spellcasters with spell rank insignia embroidered on their sleeves talking quietly in a corner.

"This...can this really be called a tavern?" Volodya tugged at her clothes somewhat awkwardly, muttering in a low voice.

In his mind, a tavern should be a place full of crude jokes, cheap alcohol, and spittle flying everywhere, but the Dragon's Jaw in front of him was so quiet that he wanted to run away.

"The Dragon's Jaw isn't a place for drunkards to drown their sorrows, Volodya," Yevian explained as he unbuttoned his cloak. "This place is all about high-end exclusivity; it's a renowned venue for Susar's secret meetings and major business deals. If you want to know which lord in the city has gone bankrupt, or which caravan has struck it rich, spending a night here is far more useful than asking the patrolmen."

At this moment, a dwarf behind the counter attracted everyone's attention.

He was wearing a very well-tailored dark red velvet suit and a neat bow tie. He was checking the ledger with a small monocle, and his every move exuded a sophisticated elegance.

Ye Wei'an walked straight up and tapped the countertop with his finger: "Good evening, Genome. Are there any rooms available?"

The dwarf looked up at the sound, and was startled when he saw Ye Weian. He then smiled and said, "Oh! Look who this is? Mr. Ye Weian Xia Xing! I thought you'd been bewitched by some charming lady. I haven't seen you for two whole months!"

"My father has passed away." Ye Wei'an's tone was calm, revealing little emotion. "I went back to the Eastern Territory to attend his funeral."

Gnom's joking expression immediately vanished. He removed his glasses, bowed slightly, and said, "I am very sorry to hear this news. Please accept my condolences, sir."

"It's all in the past." Ye Wei'an waved his hand noncommittally.

Gnom then turned to Elaine beside him, greeting her with a smile. His gaze then swept over Lina, Volodya, and Kreb, finally settling on Yevian: "It's been two months. It seems your situation has improved considerably? These... are they all your attendants?"

"My subordinates are also my trusted friends," Ye Wei'an introduced, "My head maid, Alexandrina Sabassian, and my knights, Volodya Sabassian and Kleb Sansen."

"Tsk tsk, look at the aura of these gentlemen. I can tell they're no ordinary people. Looks like you've really struck gold." Genome flipped through the reservation list deftly, snapping his fingers at the waiter beside him. "Now that you're a big patron, you can't just order tarts and ribs tonight. The chef just got a batch of succulent foie gras from the Soldiers' Green Estate; it's a hot commodity there in Susar. And how about adding two bottles of ten-year-old Zilong wine for your men to try as well?"

"Then let's do it your way." Ye Wei'an nodded with a smile. "By the way, Genome, I also need to formally thank you for taking care of me in the past. Back then, Ellen and I didn't have much money in our pockets, and we could only afford one meat dish each time. If you hadn't always 'accidentally' added more food, turning one dish into a two-person portion, my life would have been even more difficult back then."

Recalling the impoverished days of her predecessor, Ellen stuck out her tongue somewhat embarrassedly.

Back then, the two shared a meal, and Gnom would always pile the meat dish up like a small mountain, in a way that maintained the self-esteem of a fallen nobleman's son.

Grom, his old act of kindness exposed, blushed slightly and awkwardly adjusted his tie, muttering, "That was...that was leftovers from the kitchen. It would be a waste to waste it. I'm a shrewd businessman; I never do anything that loses money."

Ye Wei'an smiled, not exposing the dwarf's stubbornness, but instead deftly pulled out a handful of gold lion coins.

"We'd like a top-of-the-line deluxe single room, plus a spacious four-person room. Dinner should be enough for seven or eight people, and in addition to the foie gras and aged wine you mentioned, we'll serve all of the restaurant's signature dishes."

With Gnom personally leading the way, Ye Weian and his party settled into a private room by the window on the second floor.

Before long, the table was covered with the rich foie gras from Soldier's Green Ground, the sizzling caramel ribs, and the full-bodied Zilong wine.

On the exquisite dark walnut wood table, steaming dishes were served one after another.

"Wow! This tastes better than anything I've ever eaten in Firefall Territory!" Volodya's eyes widened as she carefully cut off a piece of foie gras and put it in her mouth, not even wanting to chew it too quickly.

Although Claybe remained silent, his hands moved quickly as he devoured a plate of sturgeon that was glistening with oil.

Ellen, on the other hand, had already switched to "battle mode," placing caramelized pork ribs into Lina's bowl while mumbling her assessment: "Lina, you have to try this! The meat is so tender it's practically falling off the bone. The food here is comparable to what you make!"

Eileen's lively ears suddenly twitched. She had been happily gnawing on a rib, but now she paused, her expression turning serious.

"What's wrong?" Lina keenly put down her wine glass, her hand unconsciously sliding towards the dagger hidden at her waist.

Ye Wei'an made a shushing gesture and signaled to everyone to be quiet.

As a monk, Ellen can hear whispers from dozens of meters away in quiet environments, and can also hear additional information.

"Master, the people at the next table are talking about news related to 'war,' which seems to be of useful information to us."

"Ellen, eavesdrop a bit," Ye Wei'an said in a low voice.

The dining table fell silent instantly, except for Ellen, who turned her head slightly and held her breath.

After a moment, she withdrew her gaze and solemnly repeated to Ye Wei'an:

"They're talking about the situation in the south. The remnants of Netheril's Shadow Clan have been infiltrating and invading Zambia for decades, and now... it's finally over. Just a few days ago, Shadow City completed its complete takeover and control of Zambia's core government. The whole of Zambia is now the backyard of those Shadow Monsters."

(The image shows the City of Shadows)

"And Cormier's reaction?" Ye Wei'an asked.

"They say the high command of the Purple Dragon Legion is in an uproar. Two border garrisons have already secretly moved south, and Cormier's eastern and southern borders are now in a state of quasi-war. The wealthy merchants are frantically selling off real estate for gold, and they think... war will soon be at our feet."

Hearing this, Volodya's expression turned serious: "The City of Shadows is not easy to deal with. I've heard from veterans that their soldiers are mostly spellcasters, and they also possess a strange form of shadow magic. If Cormier really goes to war with them, both the eastern border and Susar will become meat grinders."

Crabbe added, "What's worse is that if war breaks out, food prices will skyrocket, and all resources will be prioritized for the military. Our current expansion plans will become ten times more difficult."

"And once war breaks out, the king will definitely conscript all the lords' armed forces." Lina pointed out the key point astutely. "Master, what we newly established pioneer territories fear most is being drawn into a war between great powers before we have even established a firm foothold."

A moment of silence fell over everyone; even the delicious foie gras now seemed somewhat heavy.

Ye Wei'an picked up his wine glass, his gaze becoming deep as he looked at the dark red liquid swirling within.

"The situation is changing faster than I imagined. However, this is not only a crisis, but also an opportunity for us."

Ye Wei'an glanced around at his trusted confidants and said firmly, "In chaotic times, power and titles are meaningless. If we want to survive in this great power war, or even get a share of the spoils, we only have one path—"

He held up three fingers and said, slowly and deliberately:

"Build high walls, store up plenty of grain, and train your troops thoroughly."

"As long as our territory is strong enough, our granaries are full enough, and our soldiers are elite enough, then no matter who wins or loses, we will have the confidence to speak."

These words acted as a reassurance, instantly dispelling the confusion in everyone's eyes and replacing it with a strong sense of crisis and fighting spirit.

"Cheers, to the future of Thun!" Ye Wei'an raised his glass.

"Cheers! To our lord!"

Everyone clinked glasses and drank it all in one gulp.