Go trade with the Orcs.
You can actually make a profit by kowtowing and admitting fault.
The bag of gold sand Aililan brought back was the best evidence, and it did nothing but stir the people’s passions.
She employed a two-pronged approach.
On one hand, the Audit and Investigation Bureau cracked down heavily on the grey industry. On the other, she coordinated with the Hujuan and Ji tribes. If any human caravan attempted to trade privately without permission, the tribes were told to simply rob them.
Under this double blow, the merchants were forced to reconsider.
Was continuing to operate in the grey industry truly worth it anymore?
Finance Chief Grace had already begun receiving reports and registrations from several people.
Regarding this, Aililan gave an important instruction: the power to set prices must be held firmly in their hands.
Grace could not help but ask, “Saintess Aililan, will this regulation be too strict? Commerce should have a relatively free atmosphere, shouldn’t it?”
Aililan tilted her head and asked, “Then, Lady Grace, what is the price of freedom?”
“It is… reckless competition.”
“It is… monopolies by small groups.”
She paused for a moment.
With a solemn expression, Aililan continued, “Grace, you must understand one thing. Once the Mutual Market is established, it will not just be Atester. Merchants from the entire Fifth Radiance region will flock to us.”
“Business with the Orcs…”
“It isn’t just a matter between merchants.”
“Countless workers will be involved in it.”
“It will inevitably affect many people. But do not forget our true purpose is to control the merchants’ economy, not to allow this commercial chain to become the sole livelihood of millions, only to be held hostage by the Orcs in the end.”
Hearing this, Grace fell silent.
After just a brief moment of reflection, her expression changed drastically. What Aililan described was entirely possible. Imagine tens of thousands, or even one or two hundred thousand people, participating in this industry chain.
Do not doubt these numbers.
In fact, this was a conservative estimate.
The Orcs were fully capable of supporting an even larger market.
If prices were not controlled and transaction volumes were not fixed, it would only take a few Orcs working together to make tens of thousands of commoners lose everything.
Even more terrifyingly, if they became too dependent on the Orc market, the Orcs could turn around and manipulate the humans.
Grace sighed in admiration. “Saintess, your wisdom is truly as boundless as the sun in the sky! I truly do not know how you thought of these things.”
Aililan said earnestly, “You just need to read more history books. Humans make the same mistakes over and over, and history always repeats itself for us to see.”
She continued to discuss the regulations for the Mutual Market merchants with Grace.
At the same time, a group of craftsmen, escorted by soldiers, were the first to arrive at Bitgel.
Following them was a large number of workers gathered from the slums, carrying vast amounts of supplies for construction.
Simultaneously, letters were sent to other regions of the Fifth Wing, inviting interested merchants to participate.
The Fifth Radiance had seven wings in total.
Most responded positively.
But there is nothing new under the sun. A brief investigation of the submitted list revealed that almost all participants were local elites.
Regarding this, Aililan expressed, “It doesn’t matter.”
“Unless I want to uproot the foundations of the Church, only then would I intentionally strike at these people.”
“In any ruling class, have you ever seen a feudal dynasty actively oppose its own officials and landlords?”
“As long as they do not oppose what I am doing and do not trip me up, it is fine.”
“I will not worry about the rest for now.”
Moreover, Aililan suspected they were happy to see it happen. After all, if something went wrong with this matter, they would only suffer a little, while she, the Saintess, would bear the infamy.
As more and more merchants joined, Bitgel transformed in just half a month.
It went from a wasteland to a bustling hub of activity. Many things were still under construction, but that did not hinder the merchants’ enthusiasm to set up stalls and conduct business.
Among those who benefited the most were the people from the slums.
With their low-cost labor, they were highly welcomed by merchants from all over.
This city, known as the Land of Four Wars, was developing into the World Trade City of Aililan’s visions, thanks to its powerful transportation and geographical environment.
***
At the Financial Council, the Governors had long since stepped out from the bloody shadow of the power transition.
A new atmosphere was flourishing here.
The finance officials were holding meetings almost every day.
Finance Chief Grace was full of praise for Aililan’s measures to formalize the grey industry.
[This tax revenue… Is this the feeling of making money every day? Delicious.]
In the military governors’ meeting room:
[What? The War Pig tribe cut down a branch of the Grassland Cattle tribe? The situation is dire now; it is highly likely a major conflict will break out between the two sides.]
The military governors discussed whether to help or stay back.
They were in a state of both shock and worry. On one hand, they feared the War Pig Tribe would grow too powerful; on the other, they hoped the War Pigs would kill off a few more Orc tribes on the Southern Plains.
The administrators were responsible for the city’s operation and were now incredibly busy.
The judicial officers were not idle either.
Aililan had them compile the Yunhe Code. They first drafted several legal provisions targeting the grey industry and merchants. In any case, this was something to be revised as it was used.
If they waited for the Yunhe Code to be completely finished before using it, who knew how many years it would take.
As the news of Atester City spread, it also made many people uncomfortable.
For instance, the Elves bordering the west.
The main reason was that the opening for the grey industry had tightened. Many prohibited materials were now difficult to flow into the Elven side, causing a huge impact on them.
The Elves also longed to establish a Mutual Market, but this matter was still under slow negotiation.
According to Aililan’s instructions, they had to stabilize the market with the Orcs first before worrying about anything else. They couldn’t move too fast, or they might overextend themselves.
On the other side, in an underground tavern in Atester City.
“Wonderful Club” was the name of this tavern. Most of the people here had the characteristics of Southern Demons.
They were the filth hidden within the human city.
Some enticed ordinary people to fall into depravity.
Others corrupted the great figures of the city.
Recently, life had not been easy for the Succubi. This was also because Aililan’s tightening of the grey industry had seriously affected the peace of the Demon Lands.
A demon with towering horns shouted, “It can’t go on like this! We demons also need various living supplies. we must force the humans to open a Mutual Market!”
A demon with twin wings on his back scolded coldly, “Who doesn’t know we need those materials? Is there any need for you to howl here? The problem is that the new Saintess is different from those easily seduced humans of the past.”
An alluring Succubus stood up and sneered. “What’s wrong with a Saintess? Some ‘Saint of Chastity’? As long as we Succubi make a move, she’ll turn into a mess immediately.”
“Edith, you think you can?”
“Why can’t I?”
“Forget it. You’re a cheap slut. Your stench is unbearable. I’m afraid before you even get close to that Saintess, you’ll make her vomit with disgust.”
“You… you… don’t forget, we demons still have ‘The Chaste One.’ Sending her to corrupt that Saintess is the best course of action right now.”
In a corner of the Wonderful Club, a hidden, partially demonized human woman felt her teeth itch with hatred as she listened to them.
‘The demons’ intentions are truly damnable.’
‘They actually dare to try and corrupt the Saintess.’
‘No, I must find a way to get this news back.’
Only the “good children” hidden within the administration knew exactly how great that Saintess was.
With just a small move from the Saintess, the Succubi were already suffering.