Chapter 164: The Coastal City (3)
A month had passed since the primates dwelling in the Deep Sea asserted their dominance over the nearby waters. During that time, the city had been completely cut off from utilizing the ocean. For a coastal settlement that relied heavily on sea trade for the distribution of most goods, problems with food and supplies should have been inevitable.
Yet, the Bulkan Estate appeared remarkably stable—more so, even, than the capitals of many kingdoms.
“Come to think of it... you’re right,” Aquaz murmured, the realization dawning on her as well.
Lord Bulkan visibly flinched. His eyes darted around frantically before he managed to stammer out an explanation. “W-We were well-prepared with stockpiles beforehand, so there are no immediate issues! The land routes are still open, so we’re managing to procure supplies somehow.”
“Even so,” Ketal observed calmly, “using routes you don’t normally rely on must be considerably expensive. You don’t seem overly burdened, though. You must have amassed quite a significant amount of capital.”
“Uh, well...” the lord began trembling like a leaf caught in a storm.
Ketal beamed. “Well, I suppose it’s all thanks to your excellent governance. Consider it genuine praise. Don’t worry about it.”
“Th-Thank you...” The lord managed, his voice barely audible, sounding utterly defeated.
Aquaz found his reaction peculiar but decided not to comment. With the threat from the Demon Realm presence being the primary concern, the lord’s financial situation didn’t seem particularly important at the moment.
Ketal and his companions left the reception room.
Left alone, the lord waited until the sound of their footsteps faded completely into the distance. Only when silence enveloped the room did he finally slump down, relief washing over him.
“I thought... I thought I was going to die...” He gasped, spitting the words out. Despite his initial fears, the conversation itself had concluded without major incident. He had secured their promise of help, and they hadn’t made any coercive demands. All things considered, it was the best possible outcome.