Pastor's Tantra

"oh?"

Hearing Mr. Grandet's words, Aiwass raised his head with interest: "Why do you think so?"

Although Aiwass himself did think so...but his attitude could not be shown easily.

——You still need to negotiate the price.

"Let's get straight to the point," Aiwass leaned forward and asked with interest, "What is your request?"

Grandet did not directly answer Aiwass's question.

Instead, he shook his head and said, "I'll give you a piece of news for free, minister."

The low and elegant Standard Avalonian came from the goblin merchant's mouth in an orderly and slow manner: "The Star Antimony people have been studying anti-gryphon technology for decades, and they have made considerable breakthroughs recently... …”

The green-skinned goblin casually pulled up the pocket watch that was hanging down by the chain he was holding, and put it back into his breast pocket. Only let the golden chain hang out a little.

"There are not many top-level transcendents of Avalon's generation. It can even be said that... they are quite rare. The size of the army is decreasing year by year. How much combat effectiveness can an army that has not fought for decades and is pampered have?"

The goblin made a rather magnetic voice: "And you and I both know that the real deterrent of Avalon lies in the Griffin Legion. The combat effectiveness of the Griffin Legion certainly does not lie in the frontal battlefield.

"As long as the Griffin Legion can enter the opponent's territory, it can rely on its extremely strong mobility to harass the rear; it can also rely on its excellent mobility to block supplies, divide and surround, and bomb and harass. Although the group was invaded in Avalon At that time, the Griffin Legion could basically do nothing...but the Griffins could in turn attack the opponent's homeland and launch a bloody 'war of attrition in the rear'.

"It is precisely because of this strategic deterrence that Avalon can continue to maintain its isolated status. But let me say, honorable minister - these days are coming to an end."

The goblin merchant's deep dark pupils were like a bottomless lake, and his specific thoughts could not be clearly seen.

He just said things that everyone knew in a calm and rational manner, and he was able to make them very convincing: "I guess Earl Emma came to visit this time to discuss the issue of the treaty port.

"If my guess is correct, she should use the excuse that 'Star Antimony's goal is to head east' to convince you."

"Indeed."

Aiwass nodded slightly: "That's what she said."

The goblin said: "Star Antimony has the ambition to unify the continent. When Star Antimony swallows the iris, do you think Avalon can be alone? Or do you really think Star Antimony will leave Avalon and not eat it?"

"Of course I know."

Aiwass nodded and asked, "So? What do you want to do when you come to Avalon? Lobby Avalon to lift the ban, allow goblins to establish chambers of commerce, and allow Avalon to open up trade?"

"That's right," Grandet said calmly, "Avalon must eventually integrate with the world, otherwise it will only be abandoned by the times.

"And Xing Antimony...heh, with all due respect, most of what they promised you is a blank check. Because they have too much to take care of themselves now."

Hearing this, Aiwass suddenly understood... why this top big capitalist came to the door at this time.

If Avalon really cooperates with Star Antimony and opens treaty ports... that means that all ports in the western part of the continent are indirectly controlled by Star Antimony and Iris in disguise.

Avalon itself has few resources to speak of. Although it is rich in metal ores, it is nothing to Star Antimony, whose land area is several times that of Avalon. Not to mention that Avalon's food structure is very dangerous - the "Corn Law" of that year was not passed by Queen Sophia, which resulted in Avalon's current food basically being completely dependent on imports.

——Imported from Star Antimony.

The real meaning of occupying Avalon is to gain geographical advantage.

If Avalon goes northwest, it will be the Theocracy. If you continue to go northwest along the Theocracy, you can follow the northern continent all the way. To the southwest of Avalon is a vast sea full of chaos... It's easy to get lost if you want to go there.

The ocean in this world is very chaotic and restless, and the farther away from the land, the more dangerous it is - although it is similar in the original world. If you sail straight towards your destination, something will happen over time. And freighters cannot afford to lose anything.

Therefore, although ocean voyage is called "ocean", at least it cannot be too far from the land. It must be at least at a distance where the land can be seen with a telescope, otherwise it will be difficult to find the direction.

In the sea, even if you are just a little off at first... you will be directly in another country when you reach your destination.

Because of this, if Avalon's navy and the Griffin Legion set up a blockade in the northwest direction of the Theocracy, it would pose a huge threat to Star Antimony's shipping routes.

Precisely because of the tense relationship between Avalon and Star Antimony, Star Antimony's shipping route can only be taken from the south and along the edge of the southern continent. Or take a short-distance route, carry out short-distance freight from Star Antimony to the southern continent, and then deliver the goods to the goblins. The goblins changed hands and transported it to all parts of the world through the trade routes they had operated for a long time.

In this process, goblins basically do not participate in production except "training trolls". They are only responsible for buying at low prices and selling at high prices. They rely on the routes and ports established and maintained in various countries over the years, as well as highly synchronized commodity supply and demand information, to continuously transport goods to the most suitable place.

"Obviously, the Star Antimony people are jealous."

Aiwass chuckled, leaning back slightly and leaning comfortably on the chair: "They also want to get involved."

"That's what outsiders always think."

Mr. Grandet just chuckled: "The Star Antimony people are so confident that they are about to explode... They stubbornly believe that they have understood the secret of alchemy. They can easily turn low-yield raw materials into dozens of times worth even more Products hundreds of times better, the only question is who to sell these things to.”

"Of course I can only sell it to you."

Aiwass smiled sarcastically.

Grandet corrected humbly: "That won't happen. Although I am also a member of the Chamber of Commerce, the members of the Chamber of Commerce are free to each other. No one is the king of others.

"Star Antimony can't handle the large amount of alchemical products inside, so it's natural to contact the Chamber of Commerce...Avalon also has a lot of credit for this. In other words...you are the top contributor."

When the goblin merchant said this, Aiwass was slightly in a daze.

He reacted——

——That’s because Avalon imposes tariffs on star antimony’s alchemical products!

The royal family had been cursed to death one after another before, and Avalon was still not sure whether it was Iris or the Star Antimony people who did it, and no conclusive evidence could be found. Because of this, they were unwilling to participate in the war, and were dragged into the quagmire of war by the two directly opposing countries.

But Avalon still maintained a quite hostile attitude towards Star Antimony - this was actually done to show the people.

Regardless of whether the source of the curse is Iris or Star Antimony, it can only be Star Antimony. Because Iris Avalon can be beaten, but Star Antimony everyone knows in their hearts that they really can't beat it.

The continuous condemnation of Star Antimony is actually a delaying strategy to appease the people, and it is also intended to paralyze the Star Antimony people and give them the feeling of looking down on Avalon... Behind this is the Queen's desire to quietly activate the "Avalon" Wallonian Shadow" project.

Although this plan failed before it even started due to Jacob's interference...

...But now it seems that the tariffs raised at that time actually had good results.

Star Antimony and Iris are clearly hostile countries - Star Antimony wants to annex Iris, but it is difficult to eat it directly. Because the ideological gap between the two countries is obvious, Xing Antimony obviously wants the population and talents of Iris, rather than leaving the land and people behind. Once caught in the millstone of a bloody battle, it is easy to generate hatred, so Xing Antimony only wants to quickly accomplish its strategic goals through a short enough war.

Because of this, Iris is unlikely to accept Star Antimony's dumping.

The best way is actually Avalon.

Avalon does not have any grudge against Star Antimony, and even has a feud with Iris over the Ten Days War. Moreover, Avalon implements a high-pressure rule of authoritarianism, alchemy is very backward, and the people are relatively wealthy. As long as Avalon can accept the dumping of Star Antimony, Star Antimony does not need to contact the Goblin Chamber of Commerce at all.

Thinking of this, Aiwass suddenly understood——

Why does Star Antimony use Lloyd's relations to smuggle alchemical products to Avalon? Why can even low-level minions like "Da Zi" have the "Drunken Dream" produced by Star Antimony's alchemy factory? Tincture"; Why does the "King" complain that alchemists are squeezing domestic botanists and constantly lowering purchase prices; why are alchemists in Star Antimony becoming so arrogant and arrogant, while demonologists maintain a subtle restraint and quiet...

Behind all this, in a sense...the culprits are these goblin merchants.