Chapter Two: Brokerage Firm

The discontent involving the development of weaponry between the Potioneers and the Dark Masters have taken its toll on the free mobility once enjoyed unhindered between the vast lands and the pristine lakes, and the construction of border fences that covers the territories of either side has started without any further delay, while the fate of the Treaty of Materials is hanging by a thread. The cold war has already started, but no mention of the intent to abrogate the Treaty was ever made just yet.

While territorial security has been heightened due to the developing feud that has produced numerous diplomatic protests that have been lodged by both sides to criticize provocative actions made by either party, the inevitable interest in the trading relationship needed to persist, nonetheless. The long-standing Brokerage Firm that was established after the Strange Epidemic phenomenon a long time ago, which affected the majority of the population of the Potioneers, has been given a new mandate to moderate and administer the provisions of the Treaty of Materials, much to the dismay of many merchants.

The Dark Masters have repeatedly asserted that the Steel of Willows have been made without the need of stealing any secret potionmaking knowledge from the Potioneers, but this representation is highly dubious and grossly fraudulent. The Potioneers have clearly manifested that the Steel of Willows was made by the manipulation of the alchemic properties of potionomer, alongside the many "foreign" objects and ingredients that could not have otherwise been found in this present world.

The general sentiment is that the Dark Masters were starting a hidden battle, and the stakes are high.

However, this is not rather confirmed, and the present condition warrants close monitoring in order to maintain the status quo. The rhetoric of both sides are strongly worded, but no question of an actual war actually exists. The Brokerage Firm still remains free and independent of any undue influence from the leadership of the Dark Masters, and this status will remain to be at the heart of its existence in the spirit of free trade, as publicly announced by the establishment.

The Potioneers were not convinced, no matter how persuasive the Dark Masters can be. And there is a fair reason why.

The Dark Masters have been rather cunning in most of their dealings, and history is replete with all the facts to support this inconvenient truth. Although things have changed in the past, the Potioneers were not contented with how the Dark Masters have responded with all of their current Note Verbale. It seems like this secrecy is clouding the true intent of their actions, and an impending doom is about to take place.

The Dark Masters may be using the Potioneers for a much bigger purpose, and manipulation may already be happening. They are using the Brokerage Firm as a pawn to a silent war that they are secretly waging, and it may be too late before it was brought into the light of day.

It may be confirmed by this narration that all the speculations on something grotesque and pure evil is about to happen. Secretly. Invisibly. Legendary. Regal.

A secret narrow door may be found somewhere.

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The Chapter is sponsored by Prada.