017: Clang!

At dusk, the sky above Feiyan City was dyed a deep blood-red by the setting sun. The long streets were eerily quiet, with only a few hurried passersby lowering their heads, avoiding eye contact, as though fearing being targeted by someone.

Rumors had spread recently about people disappearing inexplicably in the city, and reporting it to the City Guard was utterly futile. Some even whispered that the new Count had sent men to do it, and no one wanted to be the next target.

Most of the shops along the streets had their doors tightly shut, with only a few still struggling to remain open. Even the shopkeepers of those few establishments had faces etched with exhaustion and fear, appearing deeply dejected and as though on the verge of collapse at any moment.

Ever since Count Lucien took over Feiyan City, taxes had been raised repeatedly, forcing most merchants into bankruptcy. Those that remained could barely scrape by.