The Bitter Bargain

The Elysian Islands had never been a place for peace. Not for its people, not for its land. The islands were wild—bitter winds, dry soil, and an oppressive sun that made even the bravest men squint and sweat. But it was home to a different kind of wealth—hidden beneath the earth, waiting to be unearthed by the kind of men who didn't mind getting their hands dirty.

The Bernard Empire, driven by its insatiable hunger for oil, had made its move. The recent discovery of the oil fields at Site Alpha-7 had shaken the region to its core. Word spread fast—fast enough to bring the vultures down from the hills.

Local lords, each a petty king in their own right, had long claimed dominion over the land and its resources, but now, they were being told they had no say in the matter. Not anymore. Not when the Empire had their greedy hands on what was about to be the biggest oil deposit the world had seen in decades.