Chapter 1590: Alterra’s New Toolmakers (Part 2)
The group arrived at the beautiful villa area. They couldn’t help but look around, seeing the large houses with beautiful gardens inside a walled area.
As people from Cities, they had naturally seen villas and small palaces, but they hadn’t seen so many beautiful and warm ones in a single area.
After walking for a bit more, passing by a few more villas, they stopped in front of one.
"This is our home, but because a lot of my children have their own homes now, we do have spare rooms," Zaol said. "Excluding the rooms where Margaery and Marcus would each be staying, the rest of the rooms are dormitory style.
"We modified the rooms to smaller ones so we could fit more, so unfortunately, we can’t provide you with a room for now."
This villa was retrofitted so that the friends and servants who’d choose to take refuge in Alterra would have a good place to stay temporarily, while they built their lives up in the new place.
The toolmakers felt shy. "We don’t want to impose."
"No, it’s fine," Zaol said. "You are also our family.
"Besides, with the contribution points toolmakers earn, you’d be able to buy houses of your own eventually. We’re just here as a bolster to help the start of your journey be a little bit easier."
...
After some small talk, the group sat down in the living room, and the maid arrived to bring some snacks and tea.
The guests gulped and took a few pieces, and then another, and so on. Menzon was eating quietly, very much humble amidst the real greats. He was curious and enjoying himself though.
It has to be said: being sane after being unable to make an inherited tool he got for years required thick skin, and it was showing right now.
"How was life where you were? And...how was your mother?" he asked, looking at Margery first. They had caught up a lot when they met back in Bleulle, but a lot of things must’ve happened since then.
She then explained what happened before they left.
Zaol sighed. "Zinnia had such a kind heart," he said. "She knew Octavia was practically alone in a foreign land and she took her as her own."
That didn’t particularly comfort Margaery, who was admittedly a bit bothered by her mother ’adopting’ another woman her age—one of the people responsible for their family’s fall.
"It’s fine. Besides, she has Silva with her," Zaol said. It would be a lie to say he wasn’t disappointed, but he also understood. Not to mention, if all of them had disappeared, then the search for them would’ve been much harsher than it was now.
"Now...we plan on what to do next," he said. "You may have to dye your hair for a while like we do," he said. The siblings wore coats on their way here. "Is there anything you wish to do? We will fully support you."
The siblings looked at each other, in a daze.
It seemed like...they hadn’t really thought of it before?
All they thought about growing up was to survive and not to irk anyone who could make their lives miserable...
Seeing this, Zaol and the rest smiled, but it was one of heartbreak rather than amusement. "Well, take your time," he said. "You can relax, explore Alterra, and talk to its people—you will find your next path someday."
The two nodded. They didn’t really understand it on a fundamental level, but they would do as they were asked.
That was enough for Zaol. After that, he turned to the young lad. "How is your schooling?"
The boy told them what was being taught—which was what Oslo and the others had back then as well.
The curriculum was, in large part, the (embellished) history of the City, the ruling family, etiquette, and a few subjects related to fighting and survival (though that was the primary responsibility of the household).
There was no such thing as critical thinking, and many subjects that would promote individual thinking. Obviously, this was so it would be easier to control the populace, especially nobles.
Alterra was not like that.
"You will go to the school here," he said. "You will like it."
This made the siblings surprised. After all, they both grew up in cities and habitually didn’t think institutions from a Town—a level 1 at that—could be superior to that of a City.
However, they trusted their family.
"Yes, Uncle."
...
While the family was talking, the toolmakers were eating and drinking tea at the side.
"Won’t Bleulle find us, though? It seems quite lively, and eventually, some people will recognize you."
"Of course they do," Oslo said. "Those who tried to report had already been handled, the others wouldn’t want to get into Alterra’s—and our—bad side."
As for how the reporters were handled, that was Orion’s job and specialty. There were many misleading clues everywhere, successfully burying some of those that came from Alterra.
However, there were those who sent news to their own parties, targeting the goods here instead. Eventually, those people who had been looking for the source would be tipped off, and it was only a matter of time before they were found out.
By that time, Kalfene, Sleuth, Hoffen, and the others would also be exposed soon after.
One could imagine how angry Bleumrick would be.
Oh, if Kahonn was important in Hassen, then Hassen City too.
Of course, it was common practice for people to move around as long as they had the ability. Technically speaking, the Cities shouldn’t do anything too extreme, like setting off massacres because they felt ’slighted’.
If they did, they would build a reputation of ’imprisoning’ professionals, which experts might be offputting. This would, in turn, cause challenges in recruiting new talent in the future or maybe even keeping the ones they had.
This would also give other rivals the advantage because they could pirate those professionals right under their noses instead. It was a lose-lose situation, so even if there were subtle and hidden movements here and there, they wouldn’t escalate to something like a war.
However, both lords could get quite vindictive. Even if he or his city could not make a direct move, they’d find a way to torment or otherwise inconvenience them somehow.
The thing was, they had no control over this area. Alterra was also self-sustaining and could not be threatened by taking away imports.
Regardless, they just had to be stronger before that happened, so nothing could shake them anymore.