While the officials in Black Water City were speculating various things, Richard was busy traveling across the lands of Shalin.
Admittedly, it was no small undertaking.
Shalin's territory is considerable, located at the northernmost part of the former Sika Kingdom, adjacent to the barren North Wilderness, forming a relatively narrow stretch.
This place is called Shalin because of a now-extinct small kingdom.
Regarding the story of this small kingdom, Richard had heard it from Sherlock when he was on the East Coast and recently gained a more detailed understanding:
The small kingdom's name was Shalin. It was situated in the crevice between Sika and the North Wilderness, impoverished due to barren land, scarce rainfall, and lack of special commodities, with a population of only tens of thousands.
The country's King, calling himself a monarch, actually ruled over fewer people than a City Lord of a medium-sized city in the Soma Alliance or Sika Kingdom.
