Chapter 345: Chapter 306 Cloud Tower’s Hostility_1
Yan Xing happily agreed to this advantageous deal.
"Very well, let’s delineate the border according to your wishes, Marshal. However, I currently cannot deliver twenty thousand sets of bedding all at once and can only send them in installments. I assure you there will be no delay in your army’s winter preparation."
Unlike the flat lands in the southern part of Thunderous Swamp, which are very suitable for opening farmland for cultivation, the terrain to the north of Thunderous Swamp is somewhat more complex. There are mountains, forests, lakes, rivers, and grasslands. Here, there is a sufficient supply of stone and timber to provide materials for city construction. There are mineral resources and fisheries waiting to be developed. There is also hydropower that can be utilized. The tumultuous Keminli Valley leads directly to the Eastern Lirne Sea.
Chui Chui has sent drones multiple times to survey the Keminli Valley. Due to the high plateau terrain, the river flow is quite rapid. However, as long as the navigation routes are well surveyed, ships with extra propulsion power can travel back and forth in it. In these isolated highlands, Eternal Domain now possesses the only outlet to the sea. As long as ports, riverways, and roads are connected, no one will be able to blockade Eternal Domain again. In the future, magic and modern engineering could be used to build dams here, and with the installation of hydroelectric engines, it would become a power station.
Twenty thousand sets of bedding, even if only for a temporary peace in the northern border, is worth it—after all, Eternal Domain’s current military strength is only sufficient for defending the southern border. The development of the northern border requires a more conservative and friendly neighbor.
After settling the border issue with Chief Old Morm, Yan Xing proposed the idea of Eternal Commerce Guild passing through Frostleaf City en route to the Snowland. Although the Snowland is vast, the majority of the Elf population is concentrated in the southern region of their territory. Now, with the Orcs occupying Frostleaf City, the Elves are forced to bolster their forces along the Wildwind Highlands corridor. This undoubtedly adds to the woes of the Snowland, where winter supplies are already insufficient. If the trade route with the Snowland could be established, it would not only enable the sale of Eternal Domain’s goods to the Elf territories but also allow for the purchase of special products from the Snowland. Eternal Domain is about to receive a large number of Elves; products from their homeland should help them quickly adapt to life in Eternal Domain.
In order to open the passageway through Frostleaf City, Yan Xing agreed not only to pay the Orcs a toll but also promised not to smuggle Elves or military intelligence across the border. Eternal Domain wishes to maintain good relations with the Orcs, and the Orcs hope to do the same with Eternal Domain. Old Morm is very satisfied as long as Thunderous Swamp doesn’t open its roads to human armies—there’s no expectation for Eternal Domain to join in the fight against Marquis Anderson’s threat. If it’s possible to establish an indirect channel of communication with the Snow Elves through Eternal Domain, it could also alleviate the northern defense pressure. The Orcs are a powerful force in this world, not just by brute strength.
Old Morm agreed to Eternal Domain’s request to trade with the Snowland via their territory, with all goods passing through Frostleaf City subject to strict Orc inspections. Various bilateral trade agreements were signed and implemented after repeated negotiations between Yan Xing and Old Morm.
Elves within Frostleaf City also began their journey to Eternal Domain. For these beleaguered Elves, leaving Frostleaf City was like leaving Hell behind. Even though they were equally unfamiliar with Eternal Domain, they all yearned for the dreamlike city spoken of by Arlanda. There, as long as one works, food is guaranteed. Not just sustenance, but also frequent access to meat, eggs, and milk. There, as long as one works, comfortable and spacious housing is provided. There, as long as one works, a good number of Grain Tickets can be earned. With Grain Tickets, one can buy many things in the city.
Lord Yan Xing, generous and benevolent, provided the expensive Alchemy Trucks as transportation for the citizens of his domain. He installed Alchemy Magic Lamps along the roads to light the way home for his subjects at night. Children can attend school for free in the Eternal Domain. The city library is open to everyone. In the Eternal Domain, your race and status don’t matter. As long as you have the ability, you can achieve a status and treatment you wouldn’t even dare to dream of.
All Elves knew that Arlanda’s status in the Eternal Domain was that of a prisoner. She had been sentenced to labor for the Lord for attempting his assassination. Now she was still a prisoner wearing shackles, but she was also a Cabinet Minister in the Eternal Domain, a trusted aide whom Lord Yan Xing relied upon. In ancient times, people paid a fortune for a horse with the potential for greatness. Yan Xing’s casual act produced the same effect among the Elves. What kind of magnanimity did a Lord who could forgive his own assassin possess? What kind of opportunities for social advancement did a territory that could turn a prisoner into a Cabinet Minister offer for the common man?
The Elves wore winter clothes provided by the Eternal Domain, along with matching hats and hand warmers. With cotton boots, they trudged along the snowy path, following the trucks loaded with Elven children toward the Eternal Domain. All Elves were filled with endless fantasies about the city they were heading to.
While Yan Xing was deep in negotiations with Old Morm, Marquis Anderson of Storm City had also concluded a military aid agreement with Mage Miler. The weapons used by the Eternal Domain during the Nuta City riot caught the attention of Mage Miler. He was fully aware of the Goblin Alchemy Factory and knew some of the Goblins’ quirks when it came to crafting alchemy devices. Thus, the finished devices coming out of the Goblin Alchemy Factory all had a distinctive Goblin style on the exterior. However, the weapons used by the Eternal Domain were all bare and unadorned. This was not something those inherently flamboyant Goblins would make. Upon delving further with Marquis Anderson, Mage Miler learned of a hidden group of Alchemists deep within the Thunderous Swamp supporting the Eternal Domain.
Marquis Anderson then took out a wristwatch, plastic bucket, windproof flying goggles, woven bags, and other alchemy-made items from the Eternal Domain to show Mage Miler, which left Mage Miler completely dumbfounded. Take the wristwatch, for example. The principle behind its moving hands was completely unfathomable, and it was also crafted with exquisite precision.
Impressive! Impressive!
In his heart, Mage Miler was amazed by the craftsmanship of these mysterious Alchemists. But on his face, Miler did not show his admiration.
"Quite interesting..." Miler took a particular liking to the wristwatch and repeatedly admired it as he wore it on his wrist.
Marquis Anderson generously said, "Since you like it, Master Miler, this wristwatch is my gift to you. I think that easily mastering precise time would greatly aid your Alchemy. The fact that the Alchemists of the Thunderous Swamp can make such exquisite alchemical products must be deeply related to their possession of such wristwatches."
Anderson subtly stirred trouble between Cloud Tower and the Eternal Domain. It seemed like he was merely presenting a wristwatch to Mage Miler, but, in reality, he was suggesting that the Alchemy of Cloud Tower was inferior to that of the Thunderous Swamp.
Miler was very fond of the delicate wristwatch and extremely curious about the Alchemists who made it. At the same time, he indeed felt that Cloud Tower had been affronted. Cloud Tower held the world’s most superior Alchemy, a sacred destination for all Mages. The Thunderous Swamp was challenging the authority of Cloud Tower.