The morning of the first Regional Assembly of Betim began not with fanfare, but with measured steps and clear skies. Caravans bearing banners from Contagem, Igarapé, Sarzedo, Nova Lima, and even Bicas rolled into the growing plaza near the Council House. Some wagons brought delegates, others, offerings — bricks, iron tools, dried meat, bolts of cloth.
For the first time in memory, these scattered villages gathered not under imperial command, but under invitation — from Marcos Stefano Barbosa.
The Summit of Unequals
The hall was not yet finished, but a broad open space had been cleared with benches under canvas and wine barrels repurposed as tables. At the center stood Marcos, wearing a dark linen vest, the family crest stitched neatly over his heart.
To his right sat Ana, eyes sharp and ink-stained, and Baltazar, arms crossed but observant. Behind them, in the shade of the oak pillars, two members of the Escudo de Honra stood silent. They were not introduced.
From Contagem came Sebastião Monteiro, the eldest son of the trading family, sharp-tongued and already suspicious of Betim's influence.
From Sarzedo, a quiet tanner and militia man, João Rufino, brought tales of bandit attacks on mule convoys.
From Igarapé, Senhora Madalena, a widowed matriarch who managed the town's water kilns with stern dignity.
And from Bicas, Father Agostinho, a priest sent more to observe than participate.
A Calculated Opening
Marcos stood and raised his voice, not in command, but in invitation.
"This is not a parliament. It is not a coronation. No one here bows.
We gather to speak, because silence has cost us too much."
He spoke plainly: about infrastructure shared, threats ignored, roads left to rot, and goods taxed twice by cities that gave nothing back.
He laid out Betim's proposed framework:
Shared patrol routes under joint coordination.
Open trade routes between participant villages, free of redundant tolls.
The creation of mutual defense pacts: if one village was attacked, others would assist.
And lastly, an offer: Betim would train local guards for any village requesting assistance, under guidance from the Companhia de Guarda Barbosa.
The silence that followed was not dissent — but calculation.
Seeds of Unity
Madalena spoke first.
"Igarapé is strong in tile and lime. But our wagons fall to thieves twice each month. We accept the guard training."
João Rufino nodded.
"We lack iron for weapons. If Betim helps, we pledge grain and men if called."
Even cautious Sebastião Monteiro conceded, reluctantly:
"Contagem does not kneel. But it listens. If you can keep our trade safe… We'll return the favor."
The Assembly was not binding, but it changed everything.
A Shield Beyond Borders
Over the next two weeks, thirty-two men from villages across the region arrived in Betim to train under the Guarda Barbosa. They learned formation drills, torch signaling, terrain defense, and code words. Some returned home as militia commanders. A few remained — and would eventually become candidates for the Escudo de Honra.
Each wore a leather badge, hand-stamped with the simplified crest of the Barbosa family — an iron gear beneath a flame, surrounded by two coffee branches.
Whispers from the Imperial Road
As the Assembly's success spread, so too did tension.
A courier intercepted by the Nove Dedos carried news from Curral Del Rei: the council had postponed again the review of Betim's urban status. But worse, word reached that an emissary from Sabará was traveling to Ouro Preto, not merely to protest Marcos, but to offer taxes and land titles in exchange for imperial favor — essentially, a bribe to be named regional seat in Betim's place.
Tobias, already in position, shadowed the emissary's path.
"Let him ride," Marcos said. "He'll find that by the time he arrives, we've already built the city he claims doesn't exist."
Knowledge, Then Progress
That night, by candlelight, Marcos met with Ana to update the urban expansion plan. He showed her new sketches:
A covered market hall, positioned along the main eastern road, with drainage channels and raised stone walkways;
The layout of future public offices, already framed in the Council House;
Blueprints for signal towers to be placed along the main routes to Contagem and Sarzedo, based on the system's recent reward;
The designation of a school block, to train scribes, carpenters, and accountants.
"You're not just building a city," Ana said. "You're planting a government."
"And you," Marcos replied, "will help it bloom."
System Notification
[Mission Complete: Regional Influence – Assembly of Betim Convened]
✔ Representatives from 5 villages in attendance
✔ Trade and militia cooperation established
✔ Guard training program launched
Reward Unlocked:
Module – "Administrative Oversight Interface – Regional Tax & Labor Quota Tracking"
New Mission Available:
"Imperial Recognition: Submit Regional Census and Tax Proposal to Ouro Preto Tribunal"
Marcos set down the plans and looked at the stars beyond the shutters.
Betim had gathered voices. Soon, it would be heard in halls far beyond Minas.