Steel, Explosives, and Spellcasters-Chapter 973 - 43: Trading (Part 2)

Chapter 973: Chapter 43: Trading (Part 2)

Upon hearing White Lion’s new title, Winters suddenly became interested: “Didn’t White Lion always proclaim to be a legislator? When did he become a king?”

“He has always been!” the unfamiliar archery officer replied with righteousness and firmness.

Winters chuckled, “How may I address you?”

“This is [Tuhar], the envoy of King White Lion.” The unfamiliar archery officer introduced another archery officer first, then introduced himself: “As for me, your excellency Batu may call me [Skylark].”

Winters calmly sized up Skylark: of average height, around fifty years of age; temples greyed, deep-set eyes; skin hung in wrinkles due to loss of elasticity, his shriveled body failing to fill out the broad Hurd-style robes;

Fingertip joints uniformly thick, in stark contrast to the other archery officer—Tuhar’s joints had swollen and deformed due to years of intense use of bows and firearms.

This was the first time he had seen a “Republic person” serving as an archery officer for the Red River Tribe, and while he was curious, he felt somewhat uneasy: “By your accent, you’re Montan? How long have you been serving White Lion?”

Old Skylark replied with a smile, “I am a man of King White Lion. Ever since King White Lion accepted me, I have been in his service.”

Seeing the attitude of the other party, Winters knew he wouldn’t be able to extract any valuable information, so he didn’t bother to ask any further.

He yawned and poured himself a bowl of horse milk: “If all of White Lion’s subordinates are as shrewd as you, dealing with you all would be quite troublesome.”

“If all Paratu People were as wise and friendly as your excellency Batu, dealings with the Red River Tribe would indeed be much easier.” Skylark’s response was neither humble nor arrogant: “Your excellency, let us get back to the main subject. What do you think of King White Lion’s proposal?”

Skylark got an indifferent reply: “Still considering.”

…

Captives, trade, and the iron mine—these were the three purposes of Winters’ visit to the Red River Tribe. Among them, captives were of greatest concern to Winters, while trade was most important to White Lion.

Officially, the Republic of Palatu had imposed a strict blockade on the Hurd tribes, leaving the smaller Hurd tribes too poor to afford even iron arrowheads.

However, the sheer chaos Winters had witnessed firsthand was evidence enough: there had always been clandestine goods being transported between the wastelands and Palatu, making some people a fortune.

“Why did you let me go in the first place?” This question, Winters had never asked White Lion.

He believed that White Lion’s decision not to kill him had more to do with not wanting to hurt Erhulan’s and Little Lion’s feelings than with any long-term benefits.

As for releasing him unconditionally, judging by the details revealed in White Lion’s conversation, Father Reed had made significant efforts.

This 𝓬ontent is taken from freeweɓnovel.cѳm.

But once he took control of Iron Peak County, considerations of interest had to come first.

White Lion wanted Iron Peak County to become a gateway for the Red River Tribe to engage in material exchange with the outside world, and he had even made preparations in advance:

Little Lion had traveled back and forth between Red River Tribe territory and Iron Peak County multiple times, already having scouted a route;

And the return of the “slaves” by the Red River Tribe was a trial—should the vehicles carrying the “slaves” pass, so too would carriages laden with goods in the future.

But even after meeting the tangible requirements, White Lion still needed to resolve two ‘human’ issues.

First, the Terdun people.

The territory of the Terdon Tribe lay between Iron Peak County and the Red River Tribe, impossible to bypass—a tiger blocking the path. So if White Lion and Winters wanted to trade, the firekeeper must first nod in agreement.

Would the firekeeper be gracious enough to agree?

Unknown, for he had died.

The Terdon Tribe’s issue was resolved… but not entirely.

Although the tiger was dead, from its carcass emerged a flock of vultures.

The vultures were uncontrollable and would eat anything. The Terdun people had lost a recognized leader and, with him, the bridle that held them in check.

Intermittent envoys traversing secretly might manage, but once a fixed trade route was established, it would sooner or later attract hordes of starved vultures.

Besides the threat of Terdun people, White Lion also needed the consent of another person—Winters Palatu, Champion of Iron Peak County Civil Guard Officer Montaigne.

Ultimately, a deal has to be appealing to both parties to go through… at least most of the time it’s like that.

Iron Peak County needed funding, horses, buyers for ironware; in theory, trade with the Red River Tribe would be a mutually beneficial arrangement.

The reason Winters kept delaying his response lay in the conditions proposed by the Red River Tribe.

White Lion didn’t participate in the negotiations personally; instead, he delegated a number of archery officers to discuss with Winters.

And due to the lack of a “Civil Guard Officer” on the Iron Peak County side who was knowledgeable and presentable, Winters had to go into battle with his bear chest.

The archery officers from the Red River Tribe put forward only two vague conditions:

First, White Lion would only trade with “Batu,” and Batu would only trade with White Lion;

Second, White Lion could dispatch troops to protect the trade caravans from being plundered, and Iron Peak County would have to give up a portion of the goods as tribute.

Should Winters consent, by the onset of spring, the Red River Tribe would send out their first caravan to Iron Peak County.

…

“King White Lion specifically instructed,” Skylark stood respectfully in front of Winters’ table: “The wealth carried by the first caravan won’t require any return goods; it is all to thank you for giving refuge to Prince Little Lion and Princess Erhulan at Qingqiu. Besides, King White Lion also picked out a thousand fine horses—as additional thanks.”

“Oh?” Winters asked with interest, “So assume I don’t agree, does that mean the thanks-gifts are also gone?”