Invitation to Power and Peril    

"Rain Weathers, I would like to formally invite you to join the Aegis Alliance."

Rain swallowed hard without even chewing. He choked and drank water immediately. He was curious about what Alice wanted to tell him but never in his wildest dreams did he expect to be asked to join Aegis Alliance or any Alliance for that matter!

Let's be real here, his territory wasn't exactly coveted material. 

Only reputable and well-established territories were asked to join alliances, after all. While he . . . he had just started. And what's more, his territory was in the Barren Wasteland! There was nothing to be had in his territory. He didn't even have any tradable goods there.

"Uhm . . . I'm honored and flattered . . . but why?" Rain asked, a question mark practically floating over his head.