When the Saintess Arrives, No King Exist-Chapter 704 - 662 In Horn’s Explanation

In Horn's explanation, everyone in the hall from the Secret Faction was flipping through or listening to others explain the contents of the documents.

Initially, there was only mosquito-like whispering, which soon converged into a noisy torrent.

"Mr. Horn, I find it difficult to accept." Finally, a drunken leader of a small Secret Faction plucked up courage and stood up, "We've been Secret Faction for hundreds of years. The Church hasn't wiped us out, so why should you want to abolish us with just a word?"

"Exactly!" Another representative of a small Secret Faction echoed, "We fought hard to defend our territory; isn't this clearly forcing us to hand it over to those big Secret Factions?"

"Yes, the Church hasn't wiped you out because it doesn't need to!" Holding a wine glass in his hand, Horn's tone was calm yet carried a commanding force, "It only needs to make you divide amongst yourselves, and then sit back and reap the benefits."

Louise exhaled a smoke ring and cynically cursed, "Always thinking about defending your territory desperately, but not considering the benefits of federation and unity. You're really just thinking about yourself."

"But..."

The person wanted to argue further, but was coldly interrupted by Solan: "The territory you hold onto? If you truly held onto it, why would the Church casually abduct your people as slaves?"

The two Secret Faction leaders, along with several people around them, half-awoken from their drunkenness, suddenly realized a problem.

From the perspective of power, they had already completely fallen behind.

These small Secret Factions were different from large Secret Factions like the Ruo'an Faction which controlled seven or eight cities and hundreds of village societies, manor houses, and alchemy workshops. The small Secret Factions often only had tributes from three or five villages.

In many cases, small Secret Factions did not even have their own bases and were more like wandering merchants or residents under towns controlled by large Secret Factions.

Previously, they could rely on moving frequently and depending on forts, or even cooperating with the Church, to resist the annexation by large Secret Factions.

However, with the support of the Northern Salvation Army, the large and several medium-sized Secret Factions like the Ruo'an Faction and the Shadow Council could fully join forces to deal with these small Secret Factions.

Look at the piles of cracks on Fraser Fortress; is their fort higher and more solid than Fraser Fortress's walls?

If they want to continue wandering or sneak into Church territory as guides, they must either go north through Red Copper Fortress to the Thousand River Valley or go south passing right below Fraser Fortress!

No wonder, no wonder the Ruo'an Faction tried their hardest to remove the peripheral strongholds of Fraser Fortress and attack Fraser Fortress; they were waiting for them there.

The two Secret Faction leaders who stood earlier were momentarily embarrassed, unsure whether to stand or sit, not knowing what to say.

Fortunately, at this moment, Horn held his wine glass and walked over to the two Secret Faction leaders: "I understand, you are worried about your Secret Faction members being annexed, but you can also form a Secret Faction alliance.

By cooperating with other Secret Factions, you can jointly control decision-making power in the County Council, and you can even propose your recommendations through the council, influencing the entire Black Snake Bay's policy. Isn't that greater than your previous power?"

The two Secret Faction leaders finally sat down slowly, yet with a look of contemplation.

"Mr. Horn, I have another question." Just as he turned around, Horn heard a thick voice coming from behind him.

Seeing the chubby middle-aged man in front of him, Horn quickly reviewed the information Louise had provided earlier in his mind.

"You must be Esteban from the Ramirez Clan, the Wizard, right?" Horn looked up and down at this wizard, raising his wine glass toward him.

Since arriving in Black Snake Bay, it was Horn's first time meeting a representative from the Secret Faction Wizard Clan.

Such Wizard Clans in Black Snake Bay belong to the land-owning class often possessing tens of thousands of acres of land estates, engaging in various trades and alchemy industries.

Typically, any Secret Faction of medium size or larger would have one to several Secret Factions within, connecting each other through marriage and bloodline.

A Secret Faction like the Ruo'an Faction, based on fervent worship of Ruo'an and having a political program, is considered non-mainstream in Black Snake Bay.

Wearing a wizard's straw hat, Esteban, sporting a heavy handlebar mustache, gave Horn a standard bow: "Indeed, it's my fortune to gain your acquaintance."

"If you have a question, feel free to ask."

"My question is simple; you say we can acquire council seats simply by submitting the census of people we manage. How exactly is 'managed by us' defined?"

Horn instantly understood.

This involves an important issue, which is when two Secret Factions simultaneously claim control over a region's population, whom should it belong to.

In Black Snake Bay, there are not only joint management areas but also dual tribute regions, meaning tributes are offered simultaneously to two or more Secret Factions, or none at all, being completely autonomous.

How to handle these village societies or regions is a crucial issue.

"It's simple, based on the current situation and documents, whoever currently controls the area, it belongs to them. Whoever can provide more detailed and authoritative management records has priority.

These documents can include tax records, trade transactions, or proof of direct management of land and population.

If the dispute still cannot be resolved, then a committee will be formed by the Holy Axis for arbitration. We'll see who's more recognized by the actual local population, okay?"

Esteban bowed again: "I couldn't agree more."

Horn's gaze swept over several major Wizard Clans, toasted them from afar, and these wizards stood up to return the gesture.

Holding his wine glass under the gaze of all, Horn slowly walked back to the front of the stage, the candlelight illuminating his smiling face brightly: "Everyone has shown sincerity, it seems improper for me to do nothing, so let's do this.

The Holy Axis will donate 20,000 wool fabrics, 30,000 tons of food, and 10,000 iron farming tools to Black Snake Bay for free, for the construction of Sweet Branch Plantation, herbal plant plantation, and Slime Farm.

Our Saint Scythe Monastery will provide planting technology and herbal seeds, and offer agricultural consultants to help you establish plantations."

The Sweet Branch Plantation, naturally, is prepared for the future sugar crop trade, while the herbal plant plantation is for the north

The Northern Black Snake Bay County is unlike the Central and Southern Counties, being less hot and humid, with more wasteland and wetland, just right for planting and making corrosion and softening potions for metal smelting.

Using the Spring Machine to extract accumulated water can significantly increase iron mine output, but so many ores must be smelted after all.

Horn's current lightning furnace has yet to succeed; even if successful, it would take a significant period to completely replace wet smelting.

As for the Slime Farm, there's no need to explain further; Slime's body is precious, almost replacing rubber as an industrial raw material.

Both the mortar and sugar industries have a huge demand for Slime Juice; local Slimes in Daze Village have nearly been hunted to extinction, reliant on farming for supply.

For Horn, Black Snake Bay itself is a vast market and raw material source.

Louise stood in a chair, pouring fruit wine into a copper cup: "I propose, everyone raise your glass again, let's celebrate the passage of the bill."

"Cheers!"