Steel and Mana

Chapter 278 – Foreign Visitors

War. It was what engulfed the continent, at least, according to my latest reports. It was early summer, and I was reading my latest letters, coming from Mirian, Matilda, Levy Tobrok, and people all around the North, contacting us.

Closest to home, Lothlia had been almost entirely rebuilt by now. Elliot even expanded on the city, doubling its size, swallowing up land to give place for new homes to be built in the future, accompanying his increasing population. Reading the reports, the Frontier, which I was happy to keep as a namesake, was the only place that was showing signs of growth and advancement. While some people far away from us may still think of the Frontier as an undeveloped land, those near us knew that we had become the Frontier of Inventions.

With our help, the North has been united as one entity. While the Frontier encapsulated Avalon, Goldengrove, and a wide swath of undeveloped land, becoming its own independent entity, the rest of the region fell under the rule of Mirian, which I was okay with. Our situation with Elliot reminded me of my old life and how the ancient city-states ruled, be it Sparta, Athens, or the ones in Renaissance Italy, like Venice or Florence.

It was perfect for me, as I didn't need to worry about too much; it was Mirian's job to organize the reformed new nobility and the cities and provinces pledging themselves to her, standing in open defiance against Pascal and his forces.

Speaking of the old bastard, Ishillia was besieged already. The spring was relatively silent, and many parts of the world were dealing with the melting snow and floods, but as the weather heated up, so did the blood in their soldiers' veins. The first attack came from the Geth Empire. It happened in the last month of spring when Mirian's urgent letter arrived in my city.

For months, she tried to goad the two Ishillian ships into attacking, but they never took the bait, so she had to give up. Then, one day, one of them was gone. It didn't take long to discover that it traveled to the southwest, where the army, led by Emperor Kadosa IV, had pressed into Ishillian soil, traveling sixty kilometers on the first day. By the news Mirian gathered, it was a Holy Crusade in the name of the Goddess Orsi, but everyone knew that it was simply to keep the Geth Empire's population from rebelling after the strain the winter had put on them. When you can't feed everyone, send them to their death.

Of course, his move was the first domino to fall, followed by the rest. Down south, the Sar Empire followed suit with a quick skirmish, but the alliance between Roblesia and the Tentian Theocracy proved to be moving just at the same time. They attacked the Sar Empire from the sea and from land, preventing them from following along with Emperor Kadosa and invading Ishillia in earnest.

I had no clear picture of how those battles went, but the damage had to be severe enough for Pascal to hold back and delay attacking us. I would bet he was gnashing his teeth because of it, being forced to give us time to prepare. I also heard that something may be brewing in the old Kingdom of Scorc. I wouldn't be surprised; their defeat was still fresh in the minds of the people, and I guess many would jump at the opportunity to become free of Ishillia once again.

As for our neighbors… In the West, they were silent. Still, I ordered Pion and the Rook to keep vigil, and after Westland regained a sense of security, they should try to establish a connection with them. I want to know if they are a danger to us or not.

In the East, however, things were different. The Atuvian League was in shambles and on the brink of collapse. I was surprised that multiple delegations managed to cross the borders and reach us. Well… they were probably more surprised, stumbling onto Avalon, but that was no longer an issue. We weren't hiding anymore. So... it came to my very first meeting with foreign delegations visiting my own little kingdom.

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The Atuvian delegation was from two large merchant guilds that controlled about 45% of their League. One of them was called the Quickfeet Guild, while the other went by the name of Goldlight. Their demeanor was weary, and they were unsure what they stumbled onto. Still, their eyes couldn't hide how desperate they looked while I watched them enter my throne room. I sat, instead of my throne, at the head position of my minister's table, flanked by my Mother and Merlin. Of course, the rest of my ministers were also present, watching the new arrivals with a mixture of curiosity and caution. It was also their first time welcoming foreigners, people who, in the past, would have looked down on us. Even if we did trade with them here and there, these people represented two of the strongest guilds of their country. I don't think they ever spoke with my merchants, not directly.

Well... That was about to change. I did talk about this with Sasha the day before, and she was right. Their power was degrading day by day as they lost grip on the population. If they didn't find a solution quickly, the League may very well disappear. No wonder they crossed the borders, looking for Ishillian help once again. This was good for us! This was an opportunity to present our innovations, wealth, and stability in a way that would make them remember that the Frontier was no longer what it used to be. As they filed in with their retinue, I rose, greeting them with a smile that exuded warmth and confidence.

"I'd like to welcome you all to my Avalon. I heard it from my Prime Minister Merlin," I introduced them to the delegation, "and from my Minister of Trading, Louise, that the Atuvian League has come under difficult circumstances. Please, sit. Let's discuss how we might help each other."

"Thank you, um... Sovereign." The agreed leader of the two guilds, a man named Alvor, nodded gratefully as he took his seat, feeling my title to be a bit strange, but he adapted quickly. "We come as humble traders but also as representatives of a people in need. The winter has… devastated us. Crops, little what we could produce, had failed to yield anything. Our reserves were depleted long ago, and what food remains is rationed to the barest amounts. With the long winter cutting our trade routes off... We're on the brink of collapse. The people… they are losing hope."

My gaze softened as I didn't expect him to be this forthright. He wasn't lying, and he laid it all out in the open, something a merchant of my understanding would never do. This put him in a position where I could exploit them, as I knew they were desperate. Maybe he knew it was futile to downplay it. Perhaps he wanted to test our character. Whatever the reason was, I was pleased because I value honesty above all else.

"Avalon sympathizes deeply with the suffering of the Atuvian people." I nodded my head, leaning forward, speaking candidly. "I have already been briefed while you toured our city, and I had a preliminary talk with my ministers. We are prepared to support your efforts to recover. However, for any aid to be effective, we'll need to go over multiple points and see if we can indeed come to an agreement!"

"We are all ears, your Highness!" The rest of the delegation nodded, fidgeting in their seats, still remembering all the weirdness they saw in the city. These people visited a lot of cities, capital holds of empires... but something about Avalon was different.

"We think that open borders would benefit us both and, more importantly, secure a flow of essential goods to the League." I stated clearly after exchanging a quick glance with my mother.

"You would truly open Ishillia... No... Avalon's borders to us?" Alvor's eyes sparked with interest the moment he heard me. "That… would be invaluable! If we could secure a consistent exchange of goods..." He trailed off, considering the opportunities.

"Precisely." I smiled as I leaned back, my tone serious yet inviting. "Avalon proposes an agreement: open borders for trade with a flat tax on all exchanged goods on both sides. Let me be clear, this would only mean your two guilds for now. I don't know the situation of the rest of your country or the views of others holding power over it. They will need to come and speak with me, or you can vouch for them. Either option is acceptable."

"Of course!" Alvor nodded.

"Good." I smiled, tapping my finger on the table, repeating what my mother told me, memorizing her words. "This way, trade can proceed smoothly without constant negotiations. As for the solution for your biggest issue, we can't directly send you enough food to solve it at once. But!" I raised my voice, cutting their protest before it had a chance to leave their throats, "We can grant you inventions that will help you get back on your feet. Your Guilds will gain access to Avalon's technology and goods, while Avalon benefits from your raw materials and imports. I know you have connections, and I intend to make use of them." I explained just as candidly as he did, not hiding my intentions.

Alvor looked at his companions, who traded multiple glances and spoke without words before he turned back to me.

"That sounds reasonable, Sovereign Leon."

"I am pleased you see it that way." I chuckled as I gave an approving nod. "My territory's agricultural advancements allow us to produce more food than we consume, even in times of scarcity. But to fully address your needs, Atuvia requires a revolution in food production. That's why we're prepared to lease you a fleet of Avalon's tractors and farming equipment. I know you saw them. They are highly durable machines that can till the hardened soil of your fields. With these, your farmers can reclaim more land and grow enough food to feed the people. More than that, we can supply you with gold to lighten your burden of acquiring food from other sources. I am a firm believer that instead of giving you bread, it is best if we help you make your own. I want partners for the long term."

Watching them, I saw Alvor's face brighten, though he still seemed hesitant. I could understand; this was too good to be true. His instincts must have been screaming at him, but he had no choice. He and the League were backed into a corner.

"That would be… remarkable." He started, clearing his throat, "But the League is stretched thin financially. How would we compensate Avalon for such an invaluable loan?"

"A fair question!" I responded, smiling knowingly. "This loan can be repaid to Avalon in one of two ways. You may repay it in gold at a time when Atuvia is more financially stable, with an interest rate that you can finalize with my Ministers. However, should that prove difficult, we'll accept repayment in raw materials: bronze, copper, glass, and other minerals that are in short supply around here but plentiful elsewhere."

I watched as the Atuvian delegates began murmuring, throwing out names and regions I had no idea about, but I knew they were already assessing where they would get the raw materials from. It was clear they hadn't expected such flexibility, and the prospect of repaying in raw materials rather than hard gold had appeared to relieve their worries.

"Those goods… they are more accessible to us," Alvor said thoughtfully, "especially if we can import them from neighboring countries. And Avalon would indeed accept these? Instead of gold?"

"Avalon is a growing city with an ever-expanding need for more." I answered him calmly. "But gold is not something I am short on." I made sure they understood that. I want them to know that above what we were talking about now, I was more than willing to pay for it, too. I wanted Atuvia to understand that if they have something to sell... Come to me first. "Our industry is reaching new heights year after year, and our craftsmen require certain metals and materials to continue this progress. By procuring these resources from Atuvia, we strengthen our bond while investing in each other's growth."

Alvor's brow furrowed multiple times, still grappling with the nuances of the arrangement and the meanings behind my words.

"If we agree to this, Sovereign Leon, what effect will it have on the worth of Avalon's and our own currency? I already observed the exchange rate to be different when I tried to buy a few trinkets in your city square. We understand that trade impacts currency value above all else, and Atuvia cannot afford inflation on imported goods."

"A wise concern." I answered, thinking back to my mom's explanation. "As Avalon's currency circulates through Atuvia and our trade expands, you'll find it increasingly valuable. This may be something you won't like, but we propose initially setting a standard exchange rate that favors Avalon's currency, which should further bolster its value in foreign markets. Avalon's gold-backed reserves, combined with your trade, will solidify our currency as a stable and reliable choice, adding value to Atuvia's holdings as well. Not to mention, you would be able to resell the things you import from here, using our prices as a baseline. Then, later on, when others learn of us, you would be their first stop for exchanging currency."

The Atuvian delegation fell silent, the implications of this deal slowly sinking in. By stabilizing our currency and providing a base for Atuvia's transactions, they would gain access to a more stable economy in addition to physical aid, even if they would become dependent on us in the long term. This was my way of ensuring they would not turn against me or risk their economy's collapse. Work with me and prosper. Go against me... and disappear.

"Tell me, Sovereign," Alvor finally asked, breaking the silence, "Why?"

"Because we are inventors, Alvor." I laughed, "Avalon is the home of the Frontier of Technology, and we need a steady supply of resources to sustain it. Bronze and copper are useful in our innovations, glass is essential for our expanding city, and we use these materials to create new machinery. By helping Avalon thrive, Atuvia creates a stable partner for the future and gains a backer that, believe me, will be better than being the puppets of Ishillia."

I watched as the delegates shared another round of glances, now thoroughly convinced. It was a win-win scenario: Atuvia would gain a much-needed revolution in food production, debt relief, and a powerful ally, while we would amass essential resources to fuel my ambitions. In the end, Alvor stood up, bowing before he answered me with confidence.

"Then let it be so. The Atuvian League, in the name of the Quickfeet and Goldlight Guilds, accepts Avalon's proposal. We shall open our borders, apply a flat tax on traded goods, and lease your equipment to help rebuild our land. In return, we'll repay you in gold or raw materials. This alliance will mark a new era for both our people."

"Indeed." I answered by standing up, clapping, "May our partnership strengthen both Avalon and the Atuvian League!"

And I didn't even mention that after extending our train tracks... they will want to give me their country on a golden plate; just let them use it.

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