Jessica Robinson
Stories
9
Chapters
2,697
Words
1.2 M
Comments
0
Reading
4 d, 6 h
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From the outside, Saniya's new stock exchange didn't look like much. The building made of cheap brick and cement was certainly large, but it looked no different from the countless manufactories which had sprung up around the city these last few years. After all, this was the cheapest way to quickly build something of this size, so every large building ended up looking roughly the same. Still, even among manufactory buildings, this one didn't look particularly large, nor particularly special. "Are you sure…-
138 •
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As it was a city by the sea, any westerly and northerly breeze would carry salt and moisture through the streets of Saniya. Every breeze would cleanse the streets and buildings. Thus, Saniya had always been a relatively clean city by medalan standards, even when it had been a neglected backwater under Sawo's control. After the city's sewer system had been built and several sanitation measures had been taken, the city became even cleaner than before. Even here, in a rather ordinary neighborhood near the…
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138 •
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8th year of Strife, late spring. The air in the carpentry manufactory was incredibly stuffy all year round. However, that was especially true this time of year, when the air outside was still pleasant in comparison, but the sun was already heating up the inside of the workshop like an oven. Even so, Sami ignored the sweat running down his brow and greedily took in the smells of sawdust and glue which deeply permeated the entire building. In the distance, he could see the many workers of the manufactory…
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138 •
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In the king's office, time stood still. While Fadelio was waiting for an answer, Corco could only sit there, numb to his core. What was this nonsense story his friend had just told him? Courting her? Winning her over? This guy was clearly trying to piss her off. "Master?" Fadelio tried again. "Could you tell me how long until the maid will come back, ready for our engagement?" Finally, the prime minister's repeated calls woke Corco up from his shock. "I never taught you to start negging her!" he…
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138 •
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For the rest of the Year-End Meeting, nothing outrageous happened. Some good numbers were presented, some old laws were tweaked, but by and large, last year's determined direction for the kingdom's development over the next five years was only reaffirmed. After the last war, they had temporarily removed most internal disruptions and external threats to the kingdom's stability. This year had been no more than a cleanup of the mess the rebels had made. Thus, their progress had been quite steady and smooth.…
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138 •
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"You're saying it'll take decades?" Corco tried to confirm that he hadn't misheard Atau's assessment. However, in defiance of his king's hopes, the admiral just crossed his arms and shrugged at the absurd estimate. "Mostly depends on how determined our enemies are," he explained in a dry voice, one which proved that he had thought about this before, and that his numbers hadn't come from nothing. "As I said, we cannot take down their leaders by just hunting them. They're too slippery. So, until their…
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"Since we're on a roll already, maybe we should keep up the good news," Corco said, and turned towards the figure who lazily leaned against the wall in the corner, the only one in the room who didn't look tense or excited and stood far away from everyone else. "What's the newest development in our conflict on the Verdant Isles? Admiral Atau, How close are we to victory?" Corco asked with great expectations, though his cousin's response robbed the room of the previously gleeful mood. For a few seconds,…
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"Has everyone understood that? Anyone need another explanation?" Corco asked, as if to imply that anyone with a question was an idiot. "Please spare us, master. We have all understood," a tired Fadelio whined. "You plan to use cultivation as an incentive to prevent an accumulation of private power through the use of an inheritance tax." Maybe, Corco thought, his explanation had been a bit too thorough after all? No, that was impossible. How else would Fadelio have been able to summarize his plan so…
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Soon after Corco's return to Saniya, his spirits were lifted, almost by accident. Although the king had only come to this military training yard to check on the progress of his troops — and of course to catch up on the developments he had missed during his vacation — the image in front of Corco was far too spectacular for him to stay glum. No one could possibly be unhappy in the face of such magnificence. Before the king's eyes, an entire company of Saniya's finest men — the legendary army which had…
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"I burnt it," a motionless Corco said, as he stared at the blackened vegetables. "They're not too bad. The base ingredients are good, so a bit of char isn't a big deal," Sumaci argued back, and shoveled some more food into her mouth with gusto. "I burnt it, and the fish is dry as well," Corco added this time. "If you don't want it, you can give your portion to me," Sumaci teased him. "I burnt it, the fish is dry, and I'm hungry," Corco said, as he finally started eating. As he ate and fooled around…
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