To My Fellow Brigands of the Eastern Road,

  Brothers, we need to talk about Duskwatch.

  I don’t know what’s going on in that cursed town, but it has become an absolute nightmare for our profession.

  I rode in expecting easy pickings. A tax-free, lawless wasteland should be a bandit’s paradise.

  Instead, I found organized markets, well-armed merchants, and a militia that actually knows what it’s doing.

  Let me paint you a picture.

  A week ago, I tried to rob a spice trader on the main road.

  Simple job. Easy coin.

  Except instead of panicking, the man sighed, rolled up his sleeves, and punched me in the face.

  I barely had time to recover before his apprentices joined in.

  I don’t know what kind of training these merchants receive, but I was nearly beaten to death by a bunch of people who sell cinnamon for a living.

  They even had the audacity to offer me a trade deal afterward.

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  "You clearly need a better source of income, mate. Ever consider the spice business?"

  I limped away in shame.

  Thinking I just had bad luck, I waited for nightfall and tried a proper break-in.

  Picked a nice-looking shop, found a weak spot in the wall, and started sneaking inside.

  That’s when I heard a voice behind me.

  "You’re holding the crowbar wrong."

  I turned around.

  There was a woman in full armor, casually watching me.

  Elaine Stormcrest.

  The "militia captain." Former knight. Rumored to have taken down an entire gang single-handedly.

  And she just stood there, giving me criticism on my technique.

  "You’ll have an easier time if you go for the hinges instead of prying the frame."

  I thanked her. Out of pure instinct.

  Then I ran for my life.

  I figured, "Alright, let’s just bribe the local lord and get back to business."

  So I went to the town hall, prepared my best negotiation speech, and asked to see Lord Veilwood.

  I expected a corrupt noble. A greedy fool. Someone who would take a bribe and look the other way.

  Instead, I found a half-asleep man drinking tea, barely paying attention.

  I made my case.

  He yawned.

  Then he said: "Look, man, crime sounds exhausting. Just open a shop or something."

  That was it. That was his ruling.

  I left that office more confused than I had ever been in my life.

  Brothers, we have two options.

  1?? We find a new territory. This place is ruined for us. The people actually like their ruler, the militia is effective, and the merchants are violent.

  2?? We adapt. I don’t like it, but after getting knocked out by a spice trader, I’m considering actual employment.

  There’s good money in tea exports, apparently.

  May the roads treat you better than Duskwatch did.

  - Black Tom, Former Highway King