Chrysalis

No matter how she tried, Enid couldn’t keep the smile from her face, so she eventually stopped trying. The legendary Silver City, heartbeat of the most populous stratum of the Dungeon, had turned out to see the Colony go to work, and go to work they did.

Ants were everywhere, forging, chopping, carving, shaping, using their Skills honed through evolution, mutation, and most importantly, relentless hours of experimentation and practice. Around every stall was a small crowd of fascinated onlookers, watching, enthralled, as the monsters displayed their wares and abilities, a brathian merchant close at hand to smile and speak, avarice gleaming beneath the surface.

And it was working. Deals were being struck everywhere. People were walking away with goods tucked under their arms and satisfied expressions, merchants were haggling for distribution rights left and right. In the middle of it all, Eran found her, looking like the cat who got the cream.

“It’s all going well, then?” Enid laughed.

“Fabulously,” the brathian purred, eyes alight with the glow of gold. “Our reputation has preceded us, and the people are flocking to see what all the fuss is about.”

Enid’s eyes widened as she finally realised what had been happening.

“You expected Anthony to cause issues at the previous stops?”

By the time they reached this destination, the final and most critical of the trip, word of mouth had done the advertising for them! The crowds around Anthony weren’t just there to see a powerful monster up close, they wanted to see the monster who’d done such damage to Greystone, out-pettied the Magpei, and gone undefeated amongst the Folk.

“Well, I didn’t expect him to destroy half a mountain,” Eran scowled, “but yes, we anticipated that there would be some… activity… that would help to build a little buzz by the time we arrived here.”

“You weren’t worried his antics would scare people off instead?”

looked around at the crowd with satisfaction. “I knew if we managed to get eyes on the Colony’s work, then we would

any idea just how much wealth they were about to receive as a result of their trade. A flood of cores would flow into their nests,

misappropriated; report

with the trip, then?” she asked the

we’ve done about as well as we could have hoped,” Eran replied, narrowing her eyes

you’d be out there, trading more

The purple-scaled brathian smirked.

with me directly. They’ll avoid exchanging words with me like others avoid disease. After my people have settled on preliminary terms, they’ll turn negotiations over to me. I can’t be cut out of the process entirely, since I have final say on all contracts involving the

people stretched and sat down next to the older human. Enid scooted over a touch to make space and they both

to thank you for allowing me to accompany

Eran brushed her away.

don’t need to be thanking me at all; the Colony insisted you

who allowed

around them, an island of calm in the midst of the swirling rush

places like this,” Enid said. “There’s more exchanged than just currency. Little moments,