After the negotiations were over…
Both parties looked at each other and smiled.
Everyone had a bright future ahead of them, did they not?
Gareyas and his men had unreadable expressions on their faces.
‘Destroying a tribe of Birdmen without mobilizing the army, relying only on commercial transactions…’
If this had been said in the past, they wouldn’t have believed it for a second. It would have been impressive enough if those human merchants didn’t grovel or sell out human interests.
However, the Saintess had just given them a lesson.
The preliminary negotiations were only just complete, yet a tribe in the Southern Plains—one that wasn’t exactly weak—seemed already destined for destruction.
Once both parties had departed…
Gareyas and the others couldn’t help but approach her. “Saintess, how exactly did you do it? Will the Birdmen… really start an internal war?”
Aililan smiled and said, “Because I have the supplies they need.”
Finance Chief Grace sighed and added, “Those Orcs have secretly sold supplies to the Birdmen before, but I’ve never seen any of them actually pull off something this significant.”
“Finance Chief Grace, there is no need to be modest. You were simply doing your duty in your position. Merchants are an important part of Atester, and those human merchants simply didn’t have the guts to do something like this.”
“Your instructions are noted.”
“All of you, return and make your own preparations.”
The crowd replied in unison, “We obey your command, Saintess.”
This was the first major task Aililan had undertaken since taking power, and they didn’t dare to be sloppy.
As for whether the Orcs would actually start an internal war, or if the War Pigs would turn their blades against their “dear brothers,” the domestic pigs—that wasn’t actually important.
There were only three possible outcomes:
The best case: The Orcs fight amongst themselves.
The middle case: Even if there is no internal strife, a trade agreement is still reached.
The worst case: They are simply being deceived.
In that case, they would only lose a few supplies.
For Aililan, however, there were many more things to consider and anticipate. She needed to execute this matter from a macro-level perspective.
What was the biggest problem Aililan faced after taking power?
Internally: Economy and development.
Externally: The high-pressure threat from the Orcs.
As it happened, most of these problems could be solved through the single lever of trade.
Upon returning, Aililan issued several decrees:
[1. The Audit Bureau is to crack down on all grey markets. Anyone caught will be severely punished.]
[2. Encourage merchants to participate actively.]
Unfortunately, the results were not very obvious.
This was mainly seen in the fact that very few merchants signed up—the number was almost negligible. Who knew if they would be sent out only to be killed?
This was easily resolved. She had Finance Chief Grace acquire a grain merchant and used government funds to purchase 50,000 pounds of grain for the first transaction.
She also gave a contract to the Duck Gang Workshop, having them list all the backlog of goods in their warehouse.
At the same time…
She recruited craftsmen and laborers.
The only worrying part was that, according to scout reports, the War Pigs didn’t seem to be making any big moves. They hadn’t attacked their Orc brothers yet.
This led some to suspect the Saintess had been deceived by the War Pig Tribe, which would be a massive embarrassment.
Aililan merely offered a faint smile in response.
As the tenth day approached, a caravan of carriages laden with goods set off in a grand procession from Atester City. Countless people watched this transaction.
At the same time, it was being criticized.
Many people felt the Saintess was funding the enemy.
On the street the caravan had to pass, an elderly traveling bard followed them out, shouting, “How absurd! How ridiculous! Aililan, you are simply unworthy of the name of Saintess! Every grain of food you send out today will surely become an arrow the Orcs use to attack us in the future!”
Before he could finish his verbal abuse, he was swiftly seized and taken away by the quick-acting personnel from the Audit Bureau. However, scenes like this were playing out everywhere.
The pressure on Aililan was evident.
Among those protesters…
There were indeed some who truly believed what they said.
But more of them were simply people whose interests had been touched—those who managed the grey market businesses.
After all, if they could pocket all the money themselves, why would they want to pay taxes to you?
Aililan was rarely seen riding a horse.
She felt that if something really happened, a horse would definitely be more useful than a carriage.
After entering the border, she said to the knight beside her, “Grandmaster Fina Nisi, you must keep a close watch on this trip. You are my most heroic knight, after all.”
Fina Nisi patted her chest and said with great pride, “That goes without saying. I will always be your strongest support.”
After a pause…
She suddenly added, “By the way, can I just go and wipe out that War Pig brat?”
“Grandmaster Fina Nisi, it seems that War Pig brat has deep feelings for you!”
“I would never like an Orc. Saintess, you know me. In my heart, there is only—”
Aililan interrupted her with a holy and solemn tone. “Grandmaster Fina Nisi, I am the Saintess of Chastity. I am destined to serve the Virtue of Chastity for my entire life. I shall live for Chastity and die for Chastity. I hope you will not say such things again.”
Fina Nisi looked as if she had been teased.
She looked more and more like ‘the more chaste you are, the more I like you.’
It wasn’t that Aililan’s opinion of Fina Nisi had changed, but there was a saying:
‘You’re my sweetheart when I need you, but get lost when I don’t.’
In this current situation…
Who was more useful than Fina Nisi?
Hidden behind the five squads of the supply caravan were 500 Chaste Knights. Further back were the elite cavalry dispatched from the Fourth Cavalry Regiment.
If the War Pigs dared to play tricks, they would simply wipe them out.
At that time, all of Aililan’s actions could simply be explained as her strategy.
Upon arriving at Bitgel…
The War Pig people had already been waiting for a long time.
When they saw the hundreds of carriages stretching out in a long line, the War Pig side erupted in jubilant cheers. Some of the War Pigs even drooled at the sight of the white grain.
“Human, you’ve finally come!” Baccus laughed heartily. He then waved his hand, signaling the War Pig tribesmen to go forward and receive the goods.
Aililan raised her hand to stop them. “Wait.”
Baccus asked, confused, “What’s wrong?”
“Chief Baccus, this isn’t how a transaction works. Cash on delivery—that’s how you do business, wouldn’t you say?”
“Human, you’re right, but…”
Aililan frowned. “But what?”
The War Pig Chief, Baccus, gritted his teeth and said, “I have a request. I hope you can agree to it.”
Aililan opened her lips slightly. “Speak.”
“Could you let our War Pig warriors eat a full meal first? We will immediately go and retrieve the gold sand you need for the trade.”
After a moment…
“Fine. How much do you need?”
“I want as much as you have.”
“That’s impossible. How many people did you bring this time? Have them all come out. I’ll provide as much as they can eat. Of course, the cost will be charged to you.”
Baccus gave a crafty smile. “Good.”
Just as Aililan had prepared a large army in the rear, the War Pigs had also hidden many of theirs.
Clearly, both sides were guarding against each other.
They were also afraid this was bait and that Aililan would wipe them all out in one go.
At Baccus’s command, over 2,000 War Pig soldiers arrived at the trading site.
Aililan asked, “Is this your entire strength?”
Baccus laughed loudly and said, “No, no. Our War Pig population is 60,000. But every single one of us is a great warrior. Only the soldiers who need to go into fierce battle are qualified to enjoy grain.”
Under Aililan’s dumbfounded gaze…
The 2,000 War Pig soldiers actually managed to eat… nearly 20,000 pounds of grain. Many of the War Pigs even looked as if they hadn’t had enough.
That was ten pounds of food per person.
‘So much eating… are you War Pigs actually pigs?’