Interlude: "Who were the Ruppel-Brockens?"

Peasant A: "Woahh, that was wild."

Shopkeeper B: "Yeah…"

Peasant A: "By the way, who was that?"

Shopkeeper B: "Who was who?"

Peasant A: "The lady in black, I believe it was Ruppel-Brocken or is it…?"

Shopkeeper B: "You don't know? She is quite the household name in Serrenland."

Dietrich: "Ah, Lady Ruppel-Brocken? She hails from the Ruppel-Brocken conglomerate."

Peasant A: "Conglomerate?"

Dietrich: "Yeah, her family's company produces steel-related goods like guns, ammunition and other stuff."

Berlinetta: "Why, what do we have here?"

Dietrich: "Miss Ruppel-Brocken! We were just talking about you earlier, specifically in regards to the nature of your family business. Perhaps you might help enlighten us about the matter?"

Berlinetta: "Huhuu~ very well… Pay attention to what I am about to tell you."

Dietrich: "Do please carry on, milady."

It all began just a few centuries ago, in a small barony in Roland. Crop failures in the estate led the Brocken noble family to the verge of bankruptcy. On the other hand, the successful Ruppel merchant family was wealthy, but they were no nobles, they could not compete with the privileged landed nobles in Roland. So they formed an alliance of marriage with each other.

Berlinetta: "...And after some momentous success in growing his estate, my great grandfather took the opportunity on the eve of the Industrial Revolution to expand into the art of gun-making."

Shopkeeper B: "So since then Ruppel-Brocken became the largest arms supplier in the world?"

Berlinetta: "Mmm… not quite. There were times when things were bad and tears were shed, but his descendants kept on working hard and were finally able to secure their own coal mines and iron forge."

With them, they eventually managed to smelt steel during the Wars of Liberation. Their works would in the long run focus on steel-related machinery. And then nowadays, the giant steel empire that spans throughout Serrenland became the arms and tools manufacturer that works side-by-side the Kingdom of Weiss.

Berlinetta: "Oh, and our work does not only extend to military goods, mind you. Our brand is practically everywhere as far as steel is involved."

Dietrich: "I see… So the saying that 'all beginnings are difficult' is really true, is it not?"

Berlinetta: "Indeed. It is also said that no effort goes unrewarded."

Peasant A: "So that is what the Ruppel-Brockens are…"

Berlinetta: "Now that I think about it, you must have been living in a cave to be that unaware, you know?"