"What?! The shipment isn't coming today?!"
The shrill voice echoed through the ornate halls of the mansion. The speaker, a skinny, balding man with bloodshot brown eyes and dark circles under them, stood trembling in rage near a velvet-draped window.
Gold rings glittered on his fingers, but his composure was anything but noble.
A uniformed guard knelt before him, drenched in sweat.
"I-I'm sorry, sir! I was just told there was a delay! I don't know why the delivery was postponed!"
The noble's face twisted in fury. With a sudden stomp, he brought his heel down on the guard's hand, causing the man to cry out in pain.
"You imbecile! Do you think I care about your excuses?! The Union is demanding more Blessed Stones do you know what will happen if we fail them?!"
"We don't even have any blessed stone left!"
He paced like a cornered beast, gesturing wildly. "And the goddamn drugs! We need those to push the mutations further! We can't refine anything without them!"
