RinoZ
patreon
Chapter 1324 - Anthony On Tour - Tourists, but Ants
🕑 Added 2024-03-10 09:36:19 +0000 UTCThe sack of the Silver City marked a point of no return in the great war. Though the ants turned back, and did not commit the final blow against the Child-Emperor, none within the Atreum Empire could ever tolerate peace from that moment onward.
I believe the Colony knew that. I believe they never intended for there to be peace in the first place. It was simply their way of letting the rest of us know the stakes they were playing for.
- Excerpt from ‘Reflection on the Great War’ by Gonvas
Smithant was in heaven, or hell depending on the moment. Everywhere she looked, she was surrounded by fabulous metalwork that she didn’t understand, which was good! On the other mandible, everywhere she looked, she was surrounded by fabulous metalwork that she didn’t understand, which was bad….
“Reveal your secrets to me!” she demanded, staring at a rubbish receptacle.
“It’s lucky the humans can’t pick up what you’re saying,” Cobalt observed, “none of them would trade with us because of your babbling.”
Smithant clacked her mandibles in irritation.
“Metal talks,” she replied flatly. “By observing the patterns, the lines in the metal, the sound it makes when struck, there are a thousand ways to learn about it through observation.”
“That doesn’t mean you should go around threatening people’s front steps.”
“Metal talks, and I like to talk back,” Smithant said, unbothered.
Cobalt laid a sympathetic front leg on the back of her friend’s carapace.
“You’ve been too lonely, haven’t you?”
“Get off of me.” The smithing expert shrugged off the leg, waving her antennae in irritation. “Stop being ridiculous and focus on what the Eldest asked us to do. We have a guide, let's make use of the time and get what we came for.”
“Of course. Just stop yelling at the lampposts.”
“Fine.”
[Everything all right?] the brathian mage, Irisod asked.
[Yes, of course. Is it this way to the metalwork district?]
[Yes. This is Silver street, and just up ahead you can see where the district starts.]
Indeed, it wasn’t that difficult to discern, due to the large, extravagant arch that crossed over the road. Smithant gazed up at it in awe. There were at least thirty different kinds of metal woven into the pattern, each expertly used to complement those around them. The level of artistry on display was staggering.
“I have to find out who was responsible for this work. I refuse to believe everyone in this city is capable of smithing at such a high level!”
Such a thing would be a blow to Smithant’s pride. She knew she was younger than most of the smiths in the world, but she believed her love for metal and her dedication to the craft were second to none.
“Why don’t we ask? Irisod can translate to the guide for us.”
“Will they just tell us?”
“There’s only one way to find out.”
[We would like to ask if it’s known who was responsible for creating the arch above us.]
[I’ll ask.]
The three members of the trading group were under escort when moving around the city, as all ants were required to be. Not that the two ants felt threatened, their guide was an old lady who volunteered for the role, apparently.
She and Irisod exchanged words for a moment before the reply came through.
[It seems the majority of the public works in the Silver and Golden city were to some extent the work of the smith Gyllan. He was the lead smith commissioned by the Child-Emperor to construct the capital, along with the many sculptors and architects.]
She continued after a moment’s thought.
[I probably could have told you that myself, but I wasn’t certain. Gyllan is a legend, even to this day. The method he used to shape the Soul Silver and Heart Gold to create the twin cities died with him. I shouldn’t be surprised that something like this was his work.]
The method was lost? Smithant slumped for a moment, all her enthusiasm gone. She was dying to know how it was done!
No matter, time to get moving. There was an entire district of metalwork to see.
Gathering herself, she followed Cobalt and Irisod under the arch and stepped into the district proper. Immediately, she felt at home. The roar of the forge, the ring of the hammer, the sound of singing steel all around her. It was just like being back in the workshop. Except there was less noise here. In the nest, there were thousands of forges running day and night.
There were many people in the street here on business, and many of the shops had displays out the front, or people talking constantly, appealing to the people passing by.
Plentiful noise, colour and light, which in Smithants opinion, distracted from the purity of the craft. Though it appeared to get Irisods attention.
[This is perhaps the best place in Pangera to come for metalwork of all kinds. It’s famous, and can be extremely expensive,] she told them.
Smithant and Cobalt paused for a moment.
[Expensive in a way that’s justified? Or not?]
They hadn’t forgotten their previous trading experience. Paying more than a thing was worth went against their fundamental principles!
The mage looked at the two of them and sighed.
[The question of price is more nuanced than what you two seem willing to accept,] she began. [Prices are inflated on this street, because of the reputation that it has, and the number of customers willing to pay. There’s no shortage of people in this city willing to pay high prices for good work.]
Smithant snapped her mandibles together.
[If we can get what we want somewhere else without paying more, then why wouldn’t we do that? Inflated prices are inflated prices.]
[But they aren’t inflated. Well, some of them are, but for the most part, this is what people in this city are willing to pay, so the prices are correct. It’s all about the local market.]
The two ants waved their antennae as they considered.
“Let’s just see what we can find,” Cobalt suggested. “If we judge they are overcharging, we can look elsewhere.”
“Fine,” Smithant ground out, now eyeing the whole district with distrust. “This place better live up to its reputation. I don’t want to have gotten all excited for nothing.”
Comments
Spirit Stones
Welp, the war needs to come faster
Gopard
Thanks for the chapter!
Marter
Can’t wait to find out how the war started with the city
KopiCAT
Yup, she did. But iirc there was never mentioned a date or anything like that. So this could be happening quite a bit in the future. And calling it the Great War means that it's gotta be rather significant too. Probably when the Colony goes head to head with the Legion, Rocky and whomever else joins in.
KopiCAT
Made off with half the city huh?
KopiCAT
As others have pointed out, it can be spelled both ways. So you are both correct, and incorrect at the same time. Quite the conundrum. He did indeed misspell color, but spelled colour correctly.
KopiCAT
This has been mentioned hundreds of chapters earlier btw. If not more. I don't quite remember what chapter, but a war with the Silver Cities and the ants doing something to it has been mentioned quite some time ago. So this isn't anything new. Still, I respect your feelings on it, despite not agreeing :) It doesn't bother me at all. But I've also never had any problem with spoilers personally. Knowing the destination, doesn't affect my journey.
ManguKing
I do hope that Anthony is not related to the cause of said great war. Be nice for a change for him to not be the main cause behind it all lol
ManguKing
Historiant wrote on her journal that the silver city fell. Don't recall the details tho
ZaneofBane
The great war is a trade war I bet. That's why it was first mentioned during the Marathon saga.
RinoZ
We love the letter u in the uk and aus
Lothspell
I don't think the Great War will be happening for quite a while. Remember Tolly was stated to be from the Silver City and I imagine she would've brought up such an event if it already happened.
Runaway_Cactuar
Well, there was a reason RinoZ placed Silver City as the last city on the tour. It was always destined for another damn Crusade. 10 bucks say the Child-Emperor talked shit about the Queen, and the Ants responded by taking away the silver~
Tsunami
Perhaps they'll learn to recreate the technique.
Roombot
Anthony would NEVER do something so irresponsible yes definitely it is gonna be his fault
David Burchfield
I wasn't crazy, I called this lore drop at the beginning of the arc when the silver city got mentioned.
Roombot
The sack of the silver city marking a point of no return in the war suggests that it happened AFTER the war began, so the sack probably isn’t gonna happen during this tour
alt31415
iirc, colour is just the british spelling.
BallsDeep69
You misspelled color
Bradley Roope
Who started this war? Not the colony as they don't do things for no reason and do want peace. Since they wouldn't who did? The Legion striking at Anthony? The Atreum Empire demanding compensation for non-existent damages? Or the Church kidnapping and trying to drain EXP from a colony member? Are the named colony members safe? I don't think so. While I remember that we have confirmation that Anthony and the council are safe we don't about other named members. There is alot that is up in the air and in this case starts building suspense as we now know there is a bomb under the table that will go off. What and who will get caught in the blast?
alt31415
Last chapter: "I'm sure everything will be fine." This chapter: "The sacking of the Silver City..."
CUI13
I predict that it won't be Anthony's fault
crusaderstar
I'm often of two minds about the pre chapter teasers, but this one I really didn't like. It gives away way too much of the future, removes a bunch of possibilities and tension. Also makes me not care what happens on this visit, if they eventually just sack it.
Dan K
I could believe that haha. “We need more metal for the war!” “I know where we can get some that is not being used properly…”
Desmond Cheong
How you find a chapter so easily? I find Patreon difficult to navigate when I want to re-run past arc…
Nathan Patrick
So about that insurance policy they have with the Brathians....did they only care about Anthony or did they specify any damages done by The Colony? Lawyers are about to gain some levels on this one.
Gonvas
Big thanks RinoZ
Jac Onue
So, did the ants strip all the silver (and possibly gold from the Golden City) and then left? lol, I knew I was getting those vibes from the previous chapter: "wow, look at all this soul silver coating every surface... that's a lot of soul silver just being wasted here.... I bet the colony could put it to a much better use..."
Gonvas
"Excerpt from ‘Reflection on the Great War’ by Gonvas". ❤️❤️❤️
Gonvas
It's confirmed, the great war that took down Silver City is with the Colony
Gonvas
It's in character. Read the excerpt of Chapter 619 - In the dark, but not alone.
forwad Nothing
Hmmmm, I wonder what will happen next
Kiongku
Hmmm…. Dark Rinoz… so much teasing
DeadSlime
Oooo a mysterious future Great War
Sean Hibbitt
Ahh the teasing of the war...
Shaitan
Also seems super out of character for the ants to leave a job half finished and let the empire rebuild and prepare for further war…
Shaitan
Well that intro just kind of changed my entire expectation for the next several books…
CentaureHeart
They are definitely going to do something against Anthony
Ether's Blessed One
Well, I eye Anthony and the Legion as the fuse of this Great War.
Buck
Really interested to find out more about this Great War referred to in the intro to this chapter.
Buck
Just waiting for the other shie to drop in Silver City. Can’t help but think it is going yo be especially bad. Great writing, RinoZ. TFTC!
