Chapter 1033, Likely to Be a Big Customer

Translator: Silavin

 

Su Bai had just finished a hearty breakfast and was beginning to think through what needed to be done once the rainy season ended.

 

The rainy season was almost over now. Today was the final day of it.

 

Everyone in the Flame Dragon Tribe was in high spirits, because they all understood that the end of the rainy season marked the beginning of a period of growth and expansion. Having lived through the previous year, the Tribe members knew this deeply, and every single one of them was eagerly anticipating its end.

 

“Shaman, people from the Wild Fox Tribe have arrived.” Sha Lan said earnestly.

 

While she had been occupied with other matters, Shu Feng had relayed the situation to Sha Lan.

 

There was no other reason for it. Sha Lan was now Su Bai’s Shaman Priestess, and she always had a great deal to manage.

 

Shu Feng and the others could not simply wander into the Yong’an Building whenever they pleased, so whenever something needed to be reported to Su Bai, it was always done through Sha Lan.

 

“The Wild Fox Tribe? Is that the one situated some distance away from us? Why would they suddenly show up?” Su Bai asked.

 

Shu Feng had previously gathered intelligence on all the surrounding Tribes and reported everything back to Su Bai. His memory had been growing sharper with time, and he still had a clear impression of this particular Tribe.

 

“They say they’ve come to trade with our Tribe, but they haven’t brought anything with them. They’re most likely here to scout things out,” Sha Lan explained.

 

Coming all the way to the Flame Dragon Tribe during the rainy season served only one real purpose: reconnaissance.

 

During the rainy season, nobody could carry much with them when travelling. The rains made everything dangerous enough as it was, and bringing goods along on top of that was simply seeking death. So anyone who made the journey to the Flame Dragon Tribe in such conditions was either here to arrange a future exchange or to assess the state of the Tribe for themselves.

 

“Have you already had someone assigned to accompany them?” Su Bai asked.

 

“We’ve already sent guides to take them around the Tribe, and they’ll be drawing out a bit of information along the way.”

 

Sha Lan gave her long cat tail a gentle flick, then asked with curiosity, “I wonder what this Tribe has to offer?”

 

Having already witnessed what the Earth Tiger Tribe and the Green Vine Tribe had brought to the table, she was genuinely interested to see what the Wild Fox Tribe might have in store.

 

“Is there anything particularly distinctive about the Wild Fox Tribe?” Su Bai asked.

 

He knew the Tribe existed, but he had no clear understanding of their specific customs.

 

The vast land was home to all manner of Tribes, and each one had its own traditions and ways of life. Much like the modern world he came from, people carried different habits, beliefs, and values.

 

“From what I’ve heard, their Tribe places great importance on a system of status. The Fox Demi-Humans hold the most esteemed positions, while everyone else is considered to be of lesser standing,” Sha Lan said, recalling what her Father had once told her about this Tribe. “Even among the fox Demi-Humans there are two tiers. The truly exalted and those who are somewhat less so. In the end, everyone exists to serve the most honoured among the Fox Demi-Humans.”

 

“I see. It’s a Tribe built on an aristocratic system.” Su Bai mused, nodding thoughtfully.

 

Something stirred in his mind. A Tribe like that, he felt, would be relatively easy to work with.

 

“Shaman, what is an aristocratic system?” Sha Lan had never heard the term before.

 

“The exalted fox Demi-Humans you just described, they are what we can call the aristocrats. On the opposite end, those at the very bottom are the slaves. That is what an aristocratic system means,” Su Bai explained simply. He had not expected a primitive Tribe to have developed such a structure, assuming there would only be those of the lowest standing. It turned out that even in this primordial age, aristocracy existed.

 

“I’m not too concerned with any of that, honestly. As far as I’m concerned, anyone who comes to our Tribe to buy things needs to bring out currency notes, or there’s nothing to discuss,” Sha Lan said, not particularly interested in the concept of aristocracy.

 

As far as she was concerned, so long as the Flame Dragon Tribe never developed such a hierarchy, things were fine. Having everyone answer to a single person was far simpler to manage. If everyone believed themselves to be an aristocrat and refused to comply. Or worse, deliberately caused trouble, managing the Tribe would become an absolute headache.

 

“The Wild Fox Tribe might just become our biggest customer.” Su Bai said with sudden and quiet confidence.

 

“Why, Shaman? There are plenty of large Tribes out there. What makes them likely to become our biggest customer?” Sha Lan asked, puzzled, wondering if it was simply because they were a large Tribe.

 

“Beyond their size, there’s another reason, which is their aristocratic system. It will work nicely in our favour when it comes to moving our products.” Su Bai took a calm sip of tea and asked, “Do you think our goods are expensive?”

 

“They are expensive. Not the sort of thing the average Tribe can afford.” Sha Lan said without hesitation.

 

There had been a time when Sha Lan had wondered herself why so many Tribes still wanted to come and trade when the prices were so high.

 

Of course, not every Tribe could manage it. Many arrived full of enthusiasm but left with their tails between their legs, simply because the goods were too costly.

 

Tribes that could have exchanged enough for two or three months’ worth of food elsewhere would find they could only stretch to a week’s worth at the Flame Dragon Tribe. For any Tribe that was not already well-off, it was a losing deal.

 

“But can the exalted members of the Wild Fox Tribe actually afford it?” Su Bai asked again.

 

“Judging by their spending power, they can. They might even buy in considerable quantities.” Sha Lan tilted her head, still puzzled. “But even so, that doesn’t directly make them our biggest customer. There aren’t that many truly high-status individuals.”

 

“Silly girl, you’ll understand when the time comes. Our goods are going to be in very short supply.” Su Bai said with full confidence.

 

He had a firm grasp on the mindset of those with wealth and status, and that was especially true of people from this straightforward, uncomplicated primitive world.

 

“Whatever the Shaman says, I believe it. The Shaman has never once deceived us,” Sha Lan said without any hesitation.

 

She had always held to this with complete conviction, especially after what had happened recently when Su Bai predicted that other Tribes would come during the rainy season.

 

Sha Lan had not quite believed it at first. After all, no one had ever ventured out during the rainy season. Making a long journey from some distant place to reach the Flame Dragon Tribe during such conditions was nothing short of seeking death.

 

And yet, it had happened. Not just one Tribe, but people from three large Tribes had come.

 

That had been the moment Sha Lan swore to herself, from the bottom of her heart, that whatever the Shaman said, she would believe it without question.

 

“Spend the next couple of days letting them settle in. Once the people from the Wild Fox Tribe have had a good look around, we’ll meet with them,” Su Bai said calmly.

 

It was not exactly ideal for a Shaman to meet with what were essentially envoys from another Tribe, but there was no alternative.

 

He was the only person from the modern world in this primordial age, and the one with the most strategy and foresight. Letting Yan Jiao handle it would have been an option, but the Chieftain understood very little, and it would have been a waste of time.