Their next meeting was less dishonest and considerably more useful. The broker, an older woman named Elira, had worked in Capital property for more than thirty years and apparently saw no reason to flatter Sage.
She reviewed his requirements, looked at him as though he had asked to purchase the Royal Palace, then spent several minutes explaining why almost nothing currently available satisfied them.
"You're asking for four things that rarely exist together," she said, turning the map toward him. "Large connected land, major-road access, room for expansion and clean ownership. Any property with the first three usually lost the fourth generations ago. Capital land accumulates rights. Roads, leases, hereditary claims, access agreements, development restrictions. The older the district, the worse it becomes."
Sage appreciated someone finally speaking plainly. "And if I move farther out?"
