The summit concluded with a series of historic agreements. etabsam would become the primary supplier of coal and processed iron to the Human City-States, fueling their burgeoning crafts and industries. In return, Kaelan's merchants would provide advanced logistical support and access to their wider trade networks, vastly expanding etabsam's market reach. The Elven Dominion, in a groundbreaking move, agreed to share ancient knowledge of geomancy and mana-channeling, assisting etabsam in optimizing mine stability and designing cleaner, more efficient steam engines that could also harness ambient mana. Prince Zarthus, intrigued by the prospect of industrial might, opened up rare metal mines in the Demon Wastes to etabsam's new mining techniques, offering protection for the ventures in exchange for a share of the processed materials and a direct line to etabsam's burgeoning industrial expertise.
These alliances were a massive success. etabsam's economy boomed. New trade routes, now secured by coordinated patrols from all four kingdoms, bustled with goods. The Iron Car project accelerated. Grumble and Elara, with access to new materials and Elven insights, rapidly advanced their designs. The prototype had been a carriage; now, they were working on a true Iron Serpent, a multi-wagon locomotive designed for long-distance transport. Miles of iron tracks were being laid, connecting the Dragon's Teeth mines to the capital, and planning began for routes extending to the borders of the Human City-States and the Elven Dominion. Factories began to sprout near the coal mines, producing tools, refined metals, and even early agricultural machinery, revolutionizing farming techniques and boosting food production.
Mark, now renowned as the "Innovator Prince" across Sugbu, spent his days immersed in these grand projects, his mind alight with endless possibilities. Lady Anya brilliantly managed the new inter-kingdom trade agreements and continued her tireless work of noble restructuring within etabsam. She cultivated loyalty through opportunity and merit, replacing old, stagnant bloodlines with fresh, capable talent from all races of etabsam, solidifying the kingdom's internal unity.
But as etabsam's light grew, so too did the shadow of the Black Hand. The Weaver, sensing their continental monopolies slipping, escalated their efforts. Master Theron, from his fortress in the Crimson Canyons, began launching increasingly aggressive attacks on trade caravans, not just to disrupt, but to steal new steam technology and blueprints. His agents tried to infiltrate etabsam's new factories, seeking to sabotage production or kidnap Grumble and Elara.
One particularly brazen attempt occurred at the newly expanded Royal Foundry. A group of Black Hand operatives, led by a ruthless Dwarf mercenary known as Krag Stoneheart – a former rival of Grumble's, exiled for his dark experiments with unstable alloys – attempted to steal the blueprints for the new Iron Serpent locomotive. They were skilled, utilizing powerful mana-dampening fields to neutralize Ellaine's passive wards.
Ben, however, was a step ahead. Having intercepted whispers through his intelligence network, he had anticipated a move against the Foundry. He and Alfred had laid a trap. As Krag and his operatives breached the outer defenses, they were met not by startled guards, but by a coordinated assault. Ben was a whirlwind of controlled destruction, his greatsword smashing through the mana-dampening field and striking down the lead infiltrators. Alfred, his magic-infused rapier a blur, engaged Krag directly, their blades clashing with sparks.
The fight was brutal. Krag Stoneheart was a formidable opponent, his dwarven strength augmented by dark mana. But Alfred, driven by a fierce loyalty to Mark and a grim understanding of the stakes, fought with uncharacteristic intensity. He disarmed Krag, incapacitating him with a precise blow to the head, but not before Krag managed to detonate a small, unstable mana-bomb, causing a section of the Foundry wall to collapse.
Grumble, furious, simply grabbed a scorching-hot iron bar and charged into the fray, roaring curses. Elara, despite the danger, bravely helped douse smaller fires and directed guards to cut off escape routes. The attack was repelled, the blueprints saved, and Krag Stoneheart captured, though many were wounded.
The Black Hand was relentless, but Mark's team, hardened by past trials, was equally unyielding. They were no longer just reacting; they were anticipating, striking back. The war for etabsam's future was being fought on many fronts: in the mines, in the factories, in the courts, and in the shadows. Each victory, however small, solidified etabsam's position as a beacon of progress in a world desperate for change.