The People's Rain was a day long awaited by the poor and the homeless—a day when En coins, worth a day's survival, would mysteriously flood the streets, open fields, markets, and public spaces. The mystery always began with a grand announcement, written in the Larfex language, appearing suddenly in strategic locations: towering buildings, town squares, and public markets. These words seemed like a bell of hope ringing for the destitute.
Yet behind the cheers and joy of the common folk, the People's Rain carried a shadow that unsettled landlords and regional rulers alike. Every time the event took place, reports of large sums of money going missing surfaced across various territories. Despite the suspicions, no concrete evidence of theft was ever found. The phenomenon occurred twice a year, but at unpredictable times, keeping everyone in a state of uncertainty.
Each time the People's Rain happened, the day began with chaos. Before sunrise, at five in the morning, those who had just awoken from sleep would find a long fabric banner stretched across the skies, declaring that the day was indeed the People's Rain.
"It's the people's money day, Papa!" a child shouted excitedly to his father, still asleep in their dilapidated shack. The moment the words reached his ears, the man jolted awake, dressed quickly in his tattered clothes, and rushed out toward the open square. He sprinted as fast as he could, joining the flood of people pouring into the streets, all with the same goal: to gather the En coins that would soon rain down.
Not long after, the sound of hooves and carriage wheels echoed through the city. Hundreds of riders and horse-drawn carriages pushed through the crowd, carrying massive sacks filled with coins. They wore masks and armor unlike anything worn by imperial guards. Without a word, they began scattering coins into the air, prompting a frenzied scramble among the people. The carriages circled through the city of Patisia, ensuring that every corner was touched by the People's Rain.
While the commoners cheered and scrambled to collect the coins, unease gripped Damerius—a wealthy merchant with grand ambitions. He stood on the balcony of his estate, watching the madness unfold with a face full of tension. Though he was once a slave himself and had known the hardships of poverty, now he watched from above as a different man."We need to capture one of them," he said to Valtros Gorn, his right hand and leader of the Nori spy network. "We must find out who's behind this organization."
"Yes, my lord. I'll pursue them at once," Valtros replied with quiet determination.
With exceptional skill, Valtros and his men pursued one of the masked riders. After a tense chase through narrow alleys and winding streets, Valtros managed to capture a young man. He dragged the rider back to face Damerius for questioning.
In a dark room lit only by candlelight, the youth sat trembling in his chair. Damerius stood tall before him, eyes sharp and burning with curiosity.
"State your name," Damerius commanded, his voice firm.
"My name is Gordon, sir," the young man replied, his voice unsteady.
"Remove your mask. We won't harm you or treat you unfairly," Damerius continued.
With hesitation, Gordon removed his mask, revealing a thin, frightened face.
"Who is your master? Who gave you so much money to scatter to the poor?" Damerius asked, leaning in closer.
"I don't know, sir. We were each paid a single Wit coin and promised more once the task was done," Gordon answered weakly.
A Wit coin—made of pure gold—was worth ten thousand En coins. The mention of it only deepened Damerius's intrigue.
"You must know who gave the order," Damerius pressed.
"No, sir. They came masked and met me at night. Just like the others, I was told to come to a public location, find the horse marked with the number I'd been assigned, and carry out the task. We don't even know each other's names."
Damerius stared at him, eyes filled with doubt. "So not even those who distribute the coins know who's behind it all?"
"That's right, sir. It seems like our identities were selected in advance. We were chosen—without us even realizing it," Gordon said, his voice resigned.
Gordon's answer only deepened the mystery that had long shrouded the Rain of the People.To the poor, the day was a miraculous blessing. Even slaves were granted the rare freedom to leave their homes without fear of punishment from their masters. But for landlords and regional lords, the Rain of the People was a veiled threat that loomed relentlessly. There had even been cases where masters who forbade their slaves from partaking in the Rain mysteriously lost their entire fortunes—as if receiving a grim warning from the unknown organization behind it all.
Damerius paced restlessly in his chamber after Gordon was taken away. He knew that capturing a young man like Gordon would not bring him closer to the truth. And yet, he couldn't allow this mysterious group to remain a phantom force, operating in the shadows with impunity.
Meanwhile, the common folk returned to their homes with hearts full of joy and hands clutching gleaming coins. To them, the Rain of the People was nothing short of a miracle—an answer to their daily struggle for survival. Children laughed, their voices ringing through the alleys, while adults quietly planned how to spend their newfound fortune on urgent needs.
But who was truly behind all of this?Where did all those coins come from?And what was the true purpose of those orchestrating the Rain?
Amidst this fog of questions, a shadow moved silently behind the curtain—someone, or perhaps a group, with influence powerful enough to shake the foundations of the empire without leaving a single trace. The tightly-guarded truth was still waiting to be revealed, and the Rain of the People remained the greatest enigma in all of Patisia—and perhaps in the entire Whiteheaven Empire.
Days passed.Patisia, with its grand harbor that served as a gateway to many nations, still shimmered with its timeless allure. Yet beneath its splendor lay a dark irony: hundreds of thousands of its citizens lived in choking poverty. And amid this noise and chaos stood a figure at the heart of change—Damerius.
Damerius was not just a driving force—he was a visionary.In less than a year since arriving in Patisia, he had upended the city's long-standing, unjust trade system. Through bold and unexpected moves, he restructured commerce to serve not just the powerful, but also the poor. His trading enterprise became the heartbeat of the city's economy, growing rapidly despite immense pressure from the empire.
But such progress did not come without consequence.The system Damerius introduced drew the ire of the empire and every territorial lord who benefited from the old ways. Then came the phenomenon known as the Rain of the People, which accelerated the flow of money among the poor. Ironically, this surge in circulation caused an unexpected boom in Damerius' business, which spanned every corner of Patisia. The profits far exceeded his own projections, breathing new life into his cause just as imperial pressure threatened to crush him.
"I truly don't understand," Damerius murmured, staring at the pile of documents on his desk."Everything seems... so well-orchestrated. Just when I was about to be cornered by imperial regulations, this river of money suddenly began to flood in."
Across from him, Arkael—his accountant and financial adviser—listened calmly.Arkael led the Golden Quill, an elite organization composed of geniuses in mathematics, analysis, and economic strategy. Born from a prostitute slave of Migase, Arkael had risen through sheer intellect and earned a place as one of Damerius' most trusted minds. He spoke in a composed tone, "The answer is actually quite simple, sir. This was a moment carefully calculated by those behind the Rain of the People. They knew the empire would strike the moment you revealed yourself as the young prince designated to inherit the throne."
Damerius fell silent, contemplating Arkael's words."They're so well-organized," he said quietly, "that they've turned the empire's assault into an opportunity for us. But why?"
Arkael continued, voice even but firm, "This is a massive intervention, sir. Based on our calculations, your current net profit stands somewhere between one hundred to two hundred and fifty thousand Wit coins. The number of En coins in circulation is incalculable. In short, you now control sixty percent of Patisia's economy."
Damerius narrowed his eyes."This is too large. We need to be extremely cautious with how we use this money. One wrong move could destroy everything."
Arkael nodded in agreement."We need a more refined strategy to navigate this. I recommend, sir, that we continue investigating the true masterminds behind the Rain of the People."
Damerius turned to Valtros, one of his most capable lieutenants—renowned for his intelligence and field operations."Valtros, continue the investigation into Prince Magnoli. I suspect his brother is somehow connected to all of this. We must uncover the truth before it's too late."
"Yes, sir. I'll see to it immediately," Valtros replied with unshakable resolve.
That night, in the secret meeting chamber of the Golden Quill, the discussion turned intense.Arkael was presenting the latest data on the flow of money and the distribution of wealth across Patisia.
"There's a suspicious pattern," he said, pointing to a large map hanging on the wall."Most of the money from the Rain of the People travels through specific routes before reaching the public—and ultimately, our trade networks. These routes are far too structured to be mere coincidence."
Damerius studied the map intently."What exactly are you implying?"
"As we suspected, there's a hidden network controlling the flow," Arkael replied."They're not just helping us—they're monitoring every move we make. If we're not careful, they could manipulate us in ways we can't foresee."
The tension in the room grew thicker when Valtros returned with fresh intelligence."Sir, I've discovered something of interest. Prince Magnoli isn't acting alone. A man named Duke Aldreon appears to have close ties with several leaders of Magnoli's gambling and brothel operations here in Patisia. It's possible they're the masterminds behind the Rain of the People."
Damerius furrowed his brow."Duke Aldreon... I've always suspected he was more than just a shadow lurking behind the scenes—especially given his connections. We must have every move he makes watched closely. If he's truly behind what we're experiencing, I want to know before anyone else does."
The meeting stretched deep into the night, but Damerius's mind remained restless.He stepped out onto the balcony of his estate, overlooking the harbor. Moonlight shimmered on the water, offering a fleeting sense of calm amid the storm of politics and economics engulfing the city.
"Is this all coincidence—or has everything been planned from the start?" he wondered silently.
Damerius knew his struggle in Patisia was only just beginning.The web of intrigue behind the Rain of the People—and the true role of Duke Aldreon—remained an unsolved mystery. But one thing was certain: he would uncover whoever had been orchestrating the massive support behind everything he had built.
In the distance, ships came and went, carrying goods from all corners of the world. Beneath the moonlight, the city of Patisia pulsed with life.