"Legend has it that hundreds of years ago, there was a selfish, secretive but highly advanced nation that hid on this continent." Charlie said in a conspirational tone. "They had technology far beyond anything we have today, used magic that could turn the laws of nature upside down! At the center of their civilization was the Black City; and there, they sought to defy heaven."

"I thought you said there were dozens of Black Ruins scattered all over the Wildlands." Remian objected.

"There are. They're all too small to be the Black City, though. They're just outposts or something." Charlie explained. "The real Black City was supposedly immense, like a mountain."

"Has anyone seen ruins like that? Any explorers?"

"Nope. Not a clue. The largest of the Black Ruins are far to the south, and even they aren't much bigger than an average town. The Black City itself seems to have completely disappeared." Charlie cleared his throat. "Anyway. According to legend, the Black City became so powerful, they grew proud and one day challenged heaven to a magical contest. No one knows exactly what happened, but in a single moment, the Black City was gone. Nothing remained, not even wreckage, as if they were simply removed from existence. Supposedly, they were thrown out of the universe. Fearful of G.o.d's wrath, all their people fled the Wildlands. All we have left are our records, the relics, and the ruins."

"What happened to the descendants of the people who fled?"

"No idea. n.o.body's gone around publicizing such issues."

"Do you think maybe they came back? That they're the ones we just fought?"

"It's possible. At this point, anything is possible."

"It makes sense. I mean, if the Desert King's city is the nearest place anyone fleeing the Wildlands could get to. Maybe the Desert King himself is one of their descendants and simply came back looking to reclaim past glories."

"Or maybe we're overthinking it and he just wants to loot old ruins and steal technology."

"Why hasn't anyone else done so, by the way?"

"Oh, they've tried. Many have even succeeded. Magic has advanced rapidly in the past few hundred years as a result. In fact, I think most of those ruins have already been stripped clean. The exceptions are the ones in places too dangerous to explore."

"Isn't anyone afraid that in using Black City magic, they might also go 'poof'?"

"Of course. That's why it's supposedly forbidden! But every so often, you see some government-linked company use extraordinary methods with extraordinary results and you start hearing rumors… it's all very hush-hush."

"Well, someone definitely didn't want anyone to know about that dig site. The Desert King was calling Beast Waves onto us and suppressing Frontier Town. I thought it was just him, but seeing that there were six communication crystals in the camp, I have to wonder if he has partners."

"If you're really intent on declaring war on him, I'll bet you're going to find out the hard way."

There was a sort silence.

"So these relics we have here…" Remian looked over the pieces set on the table between them.

"Five of them are of similar form; I have a sense of water magic involved here." Charlie said, examining grayish crystalline gourds covered with mysterious runes. "These two over here seem to be a linked pair; I sense wind magic from the runes. The rest, I can't figure out."

"These four feel like fire magic, and these three feel like earth magic." Remian supplied. "But this last one… this one doesn't feel like anything I recognize. In fact, it feels… wrong."

"You mean, it's broken?"

"No. It looks intact and undamaged." Remian examined the canister-like shape. "But it just feels wrong."

"Well, I can't recognize any of the runes on it." Charlie said, peering at the relic. "I recognize about half the runes on the paired wind relics, and quite a few on the water magic relics, but not a single one of those on that wrongness-canister."

"Maybe Andros might recognize some." Remian mused.

"Aren't you going to get an expert look over them?" Charlie prompted.

"Not unless we have no choice. Like you said, everything about Black City magic is very hush-hush. I don't want to invite more trouble on our heads if we can help it."

"You say so, but I doubt we're going to be able to figure out these relics by ourselves."

***

Andros was actually having a rather good week before Black City magic came up. No less than six master smiths, twice as many journeyman smiths and thrice as many apprentices had joined the Burning Steel Forge recently. Along with the recent trip to Ashdale, the profits from sales of runic weaponry and the materials he'd bought there, the forge was expanding on all sides. At this point, they could churn out Tier 4 XL Ballista bolts (a.k.a. steel stakes) at a rate of six per day.

But of course, they weren't doing that, now. They were building tools, specifically workshop tools, for themselves to use for more metalworking…

It was while Andros was contemplating expansion that Remian and Charlie dropped by and invited him to the Guild Hall to study some relics.

"One thousand Lir!" Andros said immediately. "Per relic. Consultation fees."

"What?" Charlie protested. "You're already having it easy here and you still want to charge fees?!"

"Charlie, relax." Remian nudged him. "After all, they're good tax-paying citizens of Frontier Town."

"T-taxes?!" Andros gaped. "Wait! n.o.body said anything about taxes!"

"n.o.body said anything about consultation fees either." Remian mentioned smoothly.

Andros' face fell. "Fine. Forget I said anything about that. Let's just go see your relics."

"Now, now, let's not be hasty. Taxes are only reasonable, after all." Remian mused. "What do you think? A sales tax on all exports? What about materials import taxes? And land tax?"

"Exports, imports AND land?" Andros choked. "Come on! The main reason so many of my old friends joined up was to avoid taxes! I thought we were on the same side here!"

"Ah, but clearly we're not. You do still charge me for your services, so at the very least, I should charge you rent."

"Rent? For what?"

"For the land your forge is built on. Plus your houses. You seem to be wanting the entire west side, so maybe… 50,000 lir a month?"

Andros choked. "I may as well pay taxes!"

"Right on!" Remian agreed sagely.

"Wait. How high are the taxes, exactly?"

"I'm thinking 5% sales tax, 5% import tax." Remian paused. "I guess we can waive the land tax for smelting services."

"Why not just 10% on sales?" Charlie asked.

"Because we should support local suppliers over foreign goods?"

"I'm not sure 5% is enough of a deterrent for that."

"Well, I don't think we should raise it higher. Taxes do seem to be an issue with Andros' friends."

"They are!" Andros cut in at once. "Isn't there some other way we can handle this? I thought all you wanted were ballista bolts and smelting services! If you tax my sales, I'll have to charge for smelting just to balance…"

It took about an hour of back and forth before they settled.

All consultation would be free. Smelting and work on military equipment would be free. Remian would supply materials for the weaponry he asked for as a norm.

There would be no taxes or rent. The Burning Steel group could have the entire west side. Remian would supply building materials for the Burning Steel to build everything. He would also send workers to help the construction so it could be finished in a single year. He would pay all their salaries meanwhile.

Following that investment, he would also own 50% of the forge and have administrative rights second only to Andros.

Henceforth the Burning Steel would not longer be called a 'forge' but a company. Their first major project? To support Arnold in preparing the XXL Ballista in time for the next Beast Wave. Their second? Fully equipping the defenders of Frontier Town with Tier 4 weaponry and armor. This included the Iron Legion, the Adventurers, the clans, and even the Wilds if they wanted (except for Buff, Remian bet that most of them didn't).

Another new company starting up would be Vin Construction, 100% owned by Remian. Their first major project? Frontier Town's water network. Toward this, Charlie was going to try and recruit skilled workers from Ashdale and other clans from Fal'Herim. In return, Charlie received one of the five water-type relics. He was going to consult an expert about it and promised to share his findings.

Also, Charlie wanted to open a bank. For security's sake he wanted to build it right across the road from the Iron Legion camp. He and Remian would also set up their shops nearby, starting a market zone. The idea was to turn that area into a new South Side. But first, Vin Construction would need to set up a good water system. That could take at least a month.

All this was, of course, a.s.suming that they managed to fend off the next Beast Wave. This time, Remian was determined to do so.