Orcus Town used to be a place frequented by Mermen and Draconians alike because of the Golden Road trade, so Beth and some of the elderly people in town recognized the presence of dragon blood in these strangers.
With just one look, they knew that the Dragonborns were overflowing with magic and talent, which was indicative of their draconic lineage.
"Excuse me mighty beings," Beth said, respectfully approaching the Dragonborns. "Can we have the honor of knowing your name?"
Among the Dragonborns, the only one who could answer her question was Sheina. Jaku was bored, stretching his body. Umisu was too scared to talk to anybody. And Zion was busy showing off his skills to his fellow children.
"We represent the Reborn company," she answered proudly.
Beth and the rest of the elderly looked at each other, realizing that they had never heard of this company before.
"We are honored that you have chosen to land in our town, but I am afraid that we do not have the resources to properly welcome a party of your lineage. We hate to make your years-long voyage in vain, but our town isn't doing well at all."
The rest of the locals in Orcus Town bowed their heads towards the Dragonborns, apologizing for their inadequacy.
Welcoming an envoy from the Draconian race needed a week-long feast of sheep and cows at the very least.
"It was nothing. Just a few days at most," Jaku said, casually leaning against the automobile.
Beth tilted her head. "Just a few days?.... Forgive me for asking, but did you not come from overseas?"
The Dragonborns shook their heads. Sheina then pointed behind them, towards the flat plains just beside the tall mountain regions splitting the continent.
"We came from the Kings region," Sheina answered.
This made the locals even more confused. If the Dragonborns came from the Kings region, then the only place they could have traveled through was the Dwarven Kingdom. But it was common knowledge that the Dwarven Kingdom refused any business even from the mighty draconian race.
"Has the Dragon Queen convinced the Dwarven King of an agreement?" Beth muttered to herself.
"Dragon Queen?" Zion interjected. "Nah. It's our boss that made an agreement with the Dwarven King."
Beth couldn't be more confused. "A company was able to ally themselves with the Dwarven Kingdom? That would explain the metallic carriages…what is this Reborn company?"
Even in the peak of the Golden Road, she had never heard of any Dwarven representative participating in the trade. Even when profits could have surged in the millions of gold coins for the dwarves, they never budged in their closed-door policy.
Now, a single company was able to change the minds of those stubborn dwarves? Not the entirety of the dragons nor the elves, just a single company.
If the Golden Road was still established, this news would have broken out and been spread all over the Queens region. It would only take a few days at most before everyone would come knocking at the Reborn company's doors to inquire about dwarven materials.
Damascus Steel, for example, would be an extremely hot commodity. Even in the Golden Road, there would be a bidding war whenever it was brought out into the market. The Hephaestus company was famous for their ability to throw money in the wind just to buy out all the Damascus they could get their hands on.
"A lot has changed in the market after the Golden Road disappeared," Beth commented. "But as we said, our town is not in good shape to welcome your party. Please relay our apologies to the Dragon Queen."
"We don't serve the Dragon Queen," Sheina replied quickly.
Beth looked at their faces full of draconic influence. If they weren't part of the Dragon race, then what were they?
"I believe I can solve this misunderstanding," a female voice said.
Yuna and her Ogre escort Agnes came out of the automobile behind Michael's camper van.
"Youngest daughter of the Montgomery family!" Beth remembered.
She remembered when the little girl visited them a few weeks back. Since she was a Montgomery, Beth and the locals treated Yuna with a lot of respect. After all, their family was famous for handling a lot of the conflicts and quarrels happening on the Golden Road every single day.
They had the authority to decide the outcome of dispute cases, meaning that they held a lot of power in every territory of the Queens region.
"Lady Yuna," Beth curtsied, and Yuna curtsied back. "Can you please explain the Reborn company to us?"
As expected of Yuna, she quickly caught the locals of Orcus Town up to speed with what had been happening in the Kings region in terms that they could understand.
She told them all about the Nation of Reborn, and how water and food were abundant in every territory that harbors a Reborn market.
Beth and the kids gasped each time Yuna told them each feat the Reborn company was able to accomplish. From flat concrete roads to free-flowing water, everything seemed like a dream.
"A city of stars?? Woah…" one kid uttered, his eyes glistening.
"In that place, everyone can get to ride the metal carriage with just a few coins?"
"I want to go there! I want to live there!"
Zion began telling all kinds of stories, some lies, some exaggerations, and some truths, about his boss called 'Bro Mike'.
The kids ate them up, listening to his stories with amazed expressions.
Meanwhile, Beth looked at Yuna with a disbelieving face.
"Are you affiliated with the Reborn company?!"
Yuna nodded. "I'm helping them out a little bit."
Beth couldn't believe it. As a Montgomery and a diplomat, Yuna was supposed to be an unbiased judiciary that held no bias for or against any one party.
The Montgomerys acted like judges. So, there were a lot of people who tried to curry favor with them in the hopes of having their backs whenever there was a case involving them.
Some royals and rich businessmen tried and failed to get the favor of a Montgomery.
But now, a single company from the Kings region was able to gain the favor of the youngest daughter of Montgomery, the very girl poised to become the next successor of her grandmother.
Yuna could become the Supreme Judge of the entire human race!
And if Reborn company had a person of her stature on their side, then it could easily put them into an extremely unfair advantage!