Rick tried to gain access towards the Lost City using Richard, but the latter was too busy handling the pressure exerted over him from Lara. When things looked dire and hopeless for him, the great news of the offer from the various forces in the city came to save his neck.
He didn't even hesitate to accept what they offered. They provided him with lots of forces, funds, and even products and lands to support his stand in the Vancouf family.
The internal clash that was about to get over just got hyped up. It was like a fire that was this close to dying, before someone poured an entire bucket of gasoline over it, letting it ignite fiercer and flare up.
The effects of this clash extended to cover the entire city. The portal zone was the only thing that kept working normally, while any other place was filled with fights, shouts, and runners for their lives.
