The Port of Valaria was a chaotic "Logistics Hub" even on a quiet day, but today it was the center of a "Geopolitical Event." The departure of the Oakhaven delegation wasn't just a diplomatic exit; it was a "Market Demonstration."
While the Xandros fleet sat in the harbor with their towering white sails and wooden hulls, looking like "Legacy Assets" from a bygone era, the O.S.S. Venture—the first Oakhaven Steam-Ship—sat low in the water, its iron-clad sides gleaming with the dark luster of "Iron-Silk" reinforcement. It didn't have masts. It didn't have sails. It had a massive, churning paddle-wheel at the rear and a chimney that was currently puffing out the rhythmic black smoke of "Industrial Progress."
