Chapter 382: A large amount of free supplies
Chapter 382: A large amount of free supplies
"Haha, you’ll get used to it."
The veterans of the First Army, who were already familiar with their lord’s personality, watched the newcomers’ stunned expressions with delight. They were practically dying of laughter.
Nightfall Domain didn’t even have a total population of three thousand. Their lord was obviously about to fleece the other side again.
"I’m going to report this to the Governor, report it to Her Majesty the Empress, and tell everyone in the Empire."
Phield furiously pounded the battlements.
"Someone betrayed us, sided with the rebels, and even tried to murder a descendant of House Ross."
"But I truly have nothing to do with the rebels. You fought them yourself, didn’t you? I never showed up from beginning to end. I’ve been in Maple Leaf the whole time preparing supplies for the army suppressing the rebellion."
"He’s telling the truth. I swear it in the name of the Goddess of Love."
Florine put away her usual seductive demeanor and spoke with complete sincerity.
"So you’re saying all of this was my fault, and I deserved what happened to me?"
Phield’s voice turned icy.
"Of course not. Count Starsteel, whom I serve, has already stationed a combat Divine Chosen at the fortress to enforce strict oversight. We guarantee that something like infiltrators will never happen again."
"Besides, we’ve also brought the military supplies we prepared, along with gifts to express our apologies."
"Oh?"
A look of understanding appeared on Phield’s face.
So this was Simon’s strategy. He was using both the carrot and the stick. First, he emphasized that the fortress’s defenses had been strengthened to warn Phield against seeking revenge, then he followed it up with gifts as compensation.
Simon’s diplomatic advisor stepped forward and loudly announced, "One hundred and ten wagonloads of coarse flour, twenty wagonloads of cabbages, two wagonloads of cured meat, thirty barrels of beer, two hundred sets of campaign mats and cloaks, along with a quantity of alfalfa for horses. These are all the agreed military supplies and have now been delivered."
Seeing that Phield remained expressionless, Simon remembered the hidden force capable of crushing the rebels and reluctantly stepped forward.
"I’ve also brought fifty dairy cows and twenty thousand gold coins as compensation for the unfair treatment you suffered at Maple Leaf Fortress. I hope we can restore normal diplomatic relations and maintain a non-aggression agreement."
Maple Leaf Territory earned so much money every day, yet this so-called compensation amounted to little more than scraps.
"The previous trade agreement is void."
Phield added calmly.
"Increase the compensation by another one hundred thousand gold coins, and Maple Leaf Territory and Nightfall Domain will remain inseparable brother states."
"Of course, I’ll continue investigating this matter. I won’t let my soldiers die in vain."
His own military had suffered heavy losses while Simon’s forces had actually grown stronger. This was not the right time for large-scale military action.
For now, it was better to extort as much as possible and settle the score later.
"Fifty thousand at most."
Simon’s heart was bleeding.
"I’ve already provided enormous quantities of supplies to the coalition army. I’m genuinely short on money."
"Were you giving those supplies away for free?"
Phield raised an eyebrow.
"Make it one hundred thousand gold coins in total, and we’ll both continue making money through future trade. Maple Leaf Territory is still the closest commercial city to Nightfall Domain."
Simon inhaled sharply and fell silent.
"Don’t be foolish at a time like this."
Florine shook her head.
"We both underestimated him. He’s nowhere near as weak as we expected. Phield most likely commands a Tier Three Divine Chosen. Maple Leaf is a commercial city. We shouldn’t make such a powerful enemy."
Once war engulfed a commercial city, the losses would be impossible to measure.
"Fine. I agree. We’ll resume normal trade."
Simon clenched his teeth in resentment.
Every time Nightfall Domain purchased supplies, tens of thousands of gold coins flowed through the market. No one was willing to give up such a lucrative source of income.
After sending his diplomatic advisor into the fortress, Simon signed the compensation treaty with Phield before leaving with bitterness burning in his heart.
"Yay!"
Ashina jumped excitedly.
"We’ll finally have milk to drink!"
"You like milk?"
Phield affectionately patted her wolf ears.
"You’ve never mentioned that before."
"Our territory was in such hardship before. I was afraid I’d drink Lord Phield into poverty."
Ashina shyly fiddled with the hem of her skirt before tilting her head in confusion.
"But if we’re raising dairy cows ourselves, then we’ll have all the milk we want. Oh... why do you always secretly glance at Miss Tisiana whenever someone mentions milk? She’s not a cow beastkin."
"Huh?"
Tisiana’s face instantly flushed all the way down to her neck as she covered her chest.
"You little rascal..."
"Cough... cough..."
"What are you talking about?"
Phield awkwardly cleared his throat and hurriedly changed the subject.
"Ashina, inspect all the supplies first. Make sure everything is in order before bringing them back. Since we have dairy cows now, we’ll also need to expand the ranch and plant alfalfa on a large scale."
Ashina narrowed her eyes.
"Very suspicious."
"Tisiana, once we’ve purchased the slaves, you’ll escort them back to the territory with me."
Phield urged the two lively girls onward.
"Everyone, get moving."
As a Divine Chosen of Holy Light, Tisiana could easily disperse the Gray Mist, greatly reducing transportation costs.
Filled with ambition, Phield declared, "Time to build our territory with everything we’ve got."
Meanwhile, in the remote Territory of Aowei within Rick Province, the city had escaped both occupation and destruction by the rebels, allowing it to enjoy a brief period of economic prosperity.
The once-deserted streets were now packed with shouting merchants and bustling crowds.
Large numbers of refugees had flooded into the city, while coalition soldiers who had yet to return home spent money freely throughout the marketplace.
"One, two, three, four..."
Enke, a Decurio of Nightfall Domain’s First Army, was carefully counting the slaves.
"No mistake. Three hundred humans and fifty beastkin."
The slave merchant rubbed his hands together as he interrupted.
"Most of them are refugees. They had no food, so they sold their sons and daughters."
"Stop changing the subject."
After finishing two rows, Enke immediately cursed and drew the sword at his waist.
"Thirty people are missing. You actually dare steal property belonging to Nightfall Domain? These slaves are the private property of our baron. You’re embezzling a noble’s assets!"
"Huh? H... how did you know?"
The merchant was completely dumbfounded.
"You’ve only counted two rows."
"Wasn’t that enough? If your snake-eaten brain can’t understand."
Enke let out a cold snort.
"We’ve got all the time in the world. I can count every single one in front of you, you greedy bastard."
"That’s incredible. This is the first time I’ve ever seen an ordinary soldier calling a merchant brainless."
"Are there really thirty missing?"
"Let me count. One... two... five... Wait, where was I again?"
The surrounding onlookers pointed and whispered among themselves.
The scene caught the attention of Ivoni, who was traveling across the Empire.
He counted them himself and discovered that the soldier was absolutely correct.
He had never seen an ordinary soldier capable of arithmetic. In his experience, only nobles, scholars, and other well-educated people had the opportunity to learn such knowledge.
Realizing he was about to be exposed, and seeing that the men before him were clearly not to be trifled with, the merchant immediately took out ten silver coins and pleaded.
"It was my mistake. I’ll make up the missing slaves immediately. And... please accept these silver coins so the soldiers can buy themselves some drinks."
"Make sure you replace them with strong, healthy slaves."
Enke was absolutely delighted. Bursting into laughter, he accepted the silver coins without the slightest hesitation.
"Excuse me, sir."
Ivoni stepped forward curiously.
"How were you able to count them so quickly?"
"It’s simple."
Enke waved his hand dismissively.
"Arrange them in rows of ten, count the rows, then multiply."
He proudly puffed out his chest.
"It’s the most basic thing. In Nightfall Domain, there’s not a single soldier who doesn’t understand something this simple."