They do understand that what happened at Greystone is due to the golgari attempting to drop a mountain on my head, right? It’s pretty simple, don’t try and kill thousands of my family members, and I won’t cause any trouble! It seems straightforward to me!

For whatever reason, the child-emperor, or at least, the port officials who represent him, don’t seem to have grasped such simple logic.

So we come to the current situation.

The authorities have graciously allowed five thousand ants to enter the walls at a time, so we’ll be able to get everyone rotated through over the course of our three day stay. I suspect they’ve been so generous in the hopes that it increases the likelihood of damages, or perhaps they’re just confident in their security.

I, however, am a little more restricted in my movements than the other ants.

Right now, we are marching down a main thoroughfare, easily wide enough to fit me in three times across, surrounded on all sides by silver-armoured guards and a team of mages watching the mana around me like mana-hawks.

[It’s the only way they were going to let you in,] Marzban explains, apologetic. They can get a little precious when it comes to potential damage to the city.]

I mean, I suppose I can sympathise. If I lived inside a literal work of art, I wouldn’t want strangers scuffing the place up either.

[It’s fine,] I sigh. [I could have just stayed on the ship, but I’m guessing the Colony demanded I be allowed on shore.]

[Pretty much,] he confirms. [Not that Eran would have reached an agreement that didn’t have you come ashore either. She feels like the Colony is taken more seriously by people who see just how powerful a monster it has produced. A tier seven mythic is nothing to sneeze at, and adds legitimacy to your position as up and comers.]

Well… that’s nice to hear, I suppose.

As the ant and brathian column moves down the street, we get more than our fair share of attention as well. People poke their noses out of buildings, or come to the footpath to watch us go by. At least nobody seems afraid. They get a little uneasy when they catch sight of me coming, but they relax a bit when they clap eyes on the plethora of guards around me.

As I said earlier, there really isn’t any undeveloped land on this mountain, and the locals are not willing to let us dig up a park to make a nest, so our journey comes to an end when we reach a large warehouse district. Normally, I’d be offended at being asked to stay in a warehouse, but honestly, I can’t this time.

Even the warehouses are amazing. Damn this city!

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Even if we aren’t allowed to dig, the Colony is more than happy to pile into the dark and enclosed space. I’m just happy to be able to stretch my legs, so I wander into an unoccupied warehouse and settle onto the floor. Extending my legs out as far as they go, I give them a wiggle before I relax back, folding them up close to my body.

That’s the good stuff.

Then I realise all the guards are still with me. Standing to attention, in post all around me, eyes straight forward and hands on their weapons. Even the mages are still here!

I consider reaching out to them with a mind bridge, but decide against it. Instead, I slowly start to weave one and reach out looking for Eran or Marzban, finding the latter soon after.

[Hey. These guards are still here.]

[Yes. And?]

[How long are they going to be here?]

[They aren’t leaving you alone as long as you’re on the shore, Anthony. This is what we had to agree to before you would be allowed in the city.]

[Ugh. Seriously? Fine.]

Having multiple sword-crazy Folk follow me around all the time was annoying enough, but there were only two of them! This is… one, two, three…. Twenty five?! Why?!

I mean, I know why, I blew up a mountain, that’s why. Well, part of a mountain. An unimportant part, I should add. Eh, it’s fine. This is the motherlode of wealth and the Colony deserves to get their slice, so I can put up with an armed escort for three days. Not a problem.

The only way this becomes an issue, is if someone goes out of their way to provoke me, or the Colony in general.

Gah! What am I doing, thinking such thoughts so loudly?! It’s going to be fine! Nothing will happen! I need to distract myself from thinking so dangerously, quick!

“Hey, Smithant! Cobalt! Can I get a word?”

The two carvers poke their heads into my warehouse soon after.

“What is it, Eldest?”

“I just wanted to get your thoughts on this place. What do you think of it so far? What are your impressions?”

The two ants ponder my words for a moment.

“There’s a lot of wealth here, Eldest. Even beyond the obvious, rare metal covering the buildings. I tried to take in as much detail as I could. The people here are well dressed, very well dressed. I don’t think our fabrics are likely to sell much here, people clearly have access to a far superior product.”

“I have to echo those sentiments, Eldest, but in regards to metal,” Smithant says. “The metalwork used just on the buildings is staggering in its execution. I don’t know how they did what they did. Forming such thin lines? The delineation being so clear and defined? Every street pole is formed using a method more advanced than our own.”

Hmmm. That’s not a bad thing, it just means there’s a lot we can learn.

“I assume you two saved up the majority of our supply of cores for this place?”

“Of course, Eldest.”

“Then you should do your best to see how many learning materials you can bring back to the nest with us. This could be a golden opportunity to advance our knowledge by leaps and bounds.”

“That’s what we’re hoping as well, Eldest.”

“I’ll leave it to you. I’m going to try and keep my head down and not cause any trouble while we’re here. You two will have to take the lead.”

“We won’t let you down.”