Chapter 421 The Source of War
"oh?"
Hearing what Mr. Grandet said, Aiwass looked up with interest: "Why do you think so?"
Although Aiwass himself did think so...but this attitude could not be easily displayed.
——You still have to bargain.
"Let's get straight to the point," Aiwass leaned forward and asked with interest, "What are you asking for?"
Grandet did not answer Aiwas's question directly.
Instead, he shook his head and said, "I'll give you a piece of information for free, Minister."
The goblin merchant spoke slowly and methodically in the low and elegant standard Avalonian language: "The Star Antimony people have been researching anti-griffin technology for decades, and they have recently made considerable breakthroughs..."
The green-skinned goblin casually pulled up the pocket watch that was hanging low by the chain he was holding and put it back into his breast pocket, leaving only the golden chain hanging out slightly.
"There aren't many top-tier transcendents of Avalon's generation. It could even be said... they're quite rare. The size of the army is shrinking year by year. How much combat effectiveness can an army that hasn't fought a war in decades and has lived a life of luxury really have?"
The goblin let out a rather magnetic voice: "And you and I both know that Avalon's true deterrent lies in the Griffin Legion. And the Griffin Legion's combat effectiveness certainly does not lie in the front battlefield.
"As long as the Griffin Legion can penetrate enemy territory, it can leverage its immense mobility to harass the rear. It can also use its superior mobility to disrupt supply chains, divide and encircle, and bombard and harass. While the Griffin Legion was largely unable to do anything during the invasion of Avalon... they can counterattack the enemy's homeland, engaging in a bloody 'war of attrition' in the rear."
"It is precisely because of this strategic deterrent that Avalon has been able to maintain its isolation. But let me say, Your Excellency—those days are coming to an end."
The goblin merchant's deep dark pupils were like a bottomless lake, making it impossible to see his specific thoughts.
He simply spoke calmly and rationally about what everyone already knew, making it extremely convincing: "I guess Earl Emma came to visit this time to discuss the issue of the trading port.
"If I'm guessing correctly, she'll probably try to convince you by saying 'Xingti's goal is to move eastward.'"
"Indeed."
Aiwass nodded slightly: "That's what she said."
The goblin said, "Xingtian has the ambition to unify the continent. Once Xingtian swallows the iris, do you think Avalon will be able to escape unscathed? Or do you really think Xingtian will leave Avalon uneaten?"
"Of course I do."
Aiwass nodded and asked, "So? What do you want to do in Avalon? To lobby Avalon to lift the ban, allow the goblins to establish a guild of commerce, and allow Avalon to open up to trade?"
"That's right," Grandet said frankly, "Avalon must eventually keep pace with the world, otherwise it will be left behind by the times.
"And Xingbi... well, with all due respect, most of what they promised you is just empty promises. They're already struggling to take care of themselves."
Hearing this, Aiwass suddenly understood...why this top capitalist came to him at this time.
If Avalon really cooperates with Xingti and opens trading ports... then it means that all the ports in the western part of the entire continent will be indirectly controlled by Xingti and Iris in disguise.
Avalon itself lacks resources. While it possesses abundant metal ores, these are insignificant compared to Star Antimony, a nation several times larger than Avalon. Furthermore, Avalon's food supply is precarious—the Corn Laws were not passed by Queen Sophia, resulting in Avalon's current reliance on imports.
——Imported from Xinganti.
The real significance of occupying Avalon lies in gaining geographical advantage.
Heading northwest from Avalon leads to the Theocracy. Continuing northwest from the Theocracy, you can continue along the northern continent. Southwest of Avalon lies a vast, chaotic ocean... It's easy to get lost there.
The oceans of this world are extremely chaotic and turbulent, and the further away from land, the more dangerous it becomes—though it's similar in the original world. Sailing straight towards your destination will inevitably lead to accidents over time. And cargo ships are especially vulnerable to loss.
Therefore, although ocean voyages are called "ocean voyages", they should not be too far from land. At least they should be at a distance where the land can be seen through a telescope, otherwise it will be difficult to find the correct direction.
In the ocean, even if the initial deviation is just one degree... by the time you reach your destination, you will be directly in another country.
For this reason, if Avalon's navy and the Griffin Legion set up a checkpoint in the northwest direction of the Theocracy, it would pose a huge threat to Star Antimony's shipping routes.
Because of the strained relationship between Avalon and Star Antimony, Star Antimony's shipping routes can only go south, along the edge of the southern continent. Alternatively, they can take a shorter route, shipping goods from Star Antimony to the southern continent, then handing the goods over to the goblins. The goblins then ship them to various locations around the world via their own long-established trade routes.
In this process, the goblins play little role in production, aside from "training the trolls." They simply buy low and sell high, relying on the shipping routes and ports they've established and maintained in various countries over the years, as well as highly synchronized information on commodity supply and demand, to ensure a steady flow of goods to the most appropriate locations.
"It's obvious that the Xingti people are jealous."
Aiwass chuckled, leaning back slightly and resting comfortably on the back of his chair. "They want to get involved, too."
"Outsiders always think so."
Mr. Grandet simply chuckled. "The Star Antimony people are so confident they're about to explode... They stubbornly believe they've mastered the secrets of alchemy. They can easily transform low-value raw materials into products worth tens or even hundreds of times more. The only problem is who to sell them to."
"Of course I can only sell it to you."
Aiwass laughed sarcastically.
Grandet humbly corrected him, "That won't happen. Although I am also a member of the 'Chamber of Commerce', all members of the Chamber of Commerce are free to act on their own. No one is the king of anyone else."
"Since Star Antimony can't handle the large amount of alchemical products it has, it's natural to contact the 'Chamber of Commerce'... Avalon also played a significant role in this. Or rather... you deserve the most credit."
Hearing the goblin merchant say this, Aiwass was a little dazed.
He reacted—
——That’s because Avalon imposes tariffs on Star Antimony’s alchemical products!
Previously, the royal family was cursed and killed one after another. Avalon was still unsure whether it was the Iris or the Star Antimony people who were responsible, and could not find any solid evidence. Because of this, they were unwilling to participate in the war, and were thus dragged into the quagmire of war by the two directly opposing countries.
But Avalon still maintained a rather hostile attitude towards Xingti - this was actually done for show to the people.
Regardless of whether the curse came from Iris or Star, it could only be Star. Avalon could defeat Iris, but everyone knew Star was invincible.
Continuously condemning the Stars was actually a delaying tactic to appease the people, and also to paralyze the Stars and give them the feeling that they looked down on Avalon... Behind this was the "Shadow of Avalon" plan that the Queen wanted to quietly launch.
Although this plan failed before it even started due to Jacob's interference...
...But now it seems that the higher tariffs at that time actually had a good effect.
Xingti and Iris are clearly hostile nations—Xingti desires to annex Iris, but it's difficult to do so directly. Due to the significant ideological disparity between the two nations, Xingti clearly desires Iris's population and talent, rather than leaving the land behind. Once drawn into a bloody battle, resentment easily breeds, so Xingti seeks to quickly achieve its strategic objectives through a brief war.
Because of this, Iris is unlikely to accept the dumping of Star Antimony.
The best way is actually Avalon.
Avalon and Star Antimony had no grudges against each other, and even had a long-standing feud with Iris during the "Ten Days' War." Furthermore, Avalon practiced a repressive, authoritarian rule, with alchemy being very backward, while the people were relatively wealthy. As long as Avalon could take over Star Antimony's sales, Star Antimony wouldn't need to contact the Goblin Chamber of Commerce.
Thinking of this, Aiwass suddenly understood -
Why did Xingtan use its connections at Lloyd's to smuggle alchemical products into Avalon? Why did even low-level minions like "Da Zi" possess the "Drunken Dream Tincture" produced by Xingtan's alchemy workshop? Why did the "King" complain about alchemists exploiting domestic botanists and constantly lowering purchase prices? Why did the alchemists in Xingtan become so arrogant and manic, while the demonologists maintained a subtle restraint and silence...
Behind all this, in a sense... the culprits are these goblin merchants.
(End of this chapter)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
