336. Slave By Choice

As the wheels of the magical carriage turned, the air became colder, for it was north where they were headed. The crowd on the road became far and few, while the grass and the farmlands at the sides seemed empty. 

The miserable winter was going to wreak havoc harder this year as the northern region of Gracia suffered financially from the plots of the Masan Empire. After the whole Raftel and Jartel county debacle, the artificially created high economic activity by traders from Masan vanished. The shops, the farmers, the artisans—All were left waiting, but no traders from Masan came this time. 

As Sylvester stopped in every village or town to buy food and clothes supplies for his campaign, he noticed the state of the people. So he didn't act heartlessly and only bought things they did not need. 

For example, if a village or town had more grain than clothes, he'd buy grains, and vice-versa.