Chapter 1135, No Need for You to Build the Road

Translator: Silavin

 

Ai Ma narrowed her scarlet eyes and considered for a long while. Her expression was difficult to read.

 

It was a difficult thing to decide. She was, after all, only a Team Leader of the Red Horse Tribe. She had no authority to make this call on her own.

 

“Shaman, I’m afraid I cannot make this decision myself, as I have yet to discuss it with the rest of the Tribe.” Ai Ma lifted her head slowly.

 

She had to admit it was genuinely tempting. With a dock in place, the Red Horse Tribe could receive goods from the Flame Dragon Tribe at the earliest possible opportunity.

 

Their people would no longer need to make the journey to the Flame Dragon Tribe in person. That alone was a considerable benefit.

 

After all, the Wilderness was dangerous. Every time they left the Tribe, they risked their lives.

 

“I understand that. I only want to make sure you know what the Flame Dragon Tribe’s terms are, so that when you return home, you know what to tell them.” Su Bai said, unhurried.

 

He had never truly expected this meeting to produce a final answer. The people who had come to the Flame Dragon Tribe were not the true decision-makers.

 

Not that it would have mattered even if they held standing back home. Having standing and having the authority to speak were two entirely different things.

 

The female Totem Warrior before him occupied a position of honour in the Red Horse Tribe, and yet here she was, just as unable to decide anything.

 

“Would the Shaman be willing to tell me everything the Flame Dragon Tribe requires? I can relay it all accurately to our Chieftain and our Shaman.” Ai Ma asked, and her manner was earnest.

 

She had not once raised her head since the meeting began. She kept it bowed, respectful and modest throughout.

 

“For this dock construction, your Tribe will need to cooperate with us fully throughout the process. Primarily, you will need to provide certain materials and the location.” Su Bai plainly said.

 

“Shaman, our Tribe does not know how to build a dock. I am afraid we would not be able to contribute much in terms of physical labour.” Ai Ma said, with genuine regret in her voice.

 

That was partly deliberate. She truly did not know how to build a dock. But she had seen enough to understand what one was. When the Flame Dragon Tribe’s great ship had drawn up to the riverbank, the place where it had come to rest was a dock.

 

Even the most slow-witted person could see what such a place was for. And Su Bai had already told her as much.

 

“We do not need your help with that. Your Tribe only needs to prepare wood for the construction. Our people will be the ones building the dock. Your Tribe just needs to make sure they are safe and allow them to build in peace.” Su Bai took a sip of tea and continued: “You will also need to provide accommodation and meals for our workers during this period.”

 

He had no intention of entrusting dock construction to anyone outside the Flame Dragon Tribe. That kind of knowledge needed to stay firmly in his own hands.

 

“I understand. After helping to build the dock, will the Flame Dragon Tribe be willing to supply our Tribe with goods at the lowest… the lowest price?” Ai Ma said, working her way around the unfamiliar word.

 

She had only learnt the word ‘price’ since arriving at the Flame Dragon Tribe. She had also only just learnt that the Flame Dragon Tribe conducted trade using currency notes.

 

She did not entirely understand it. But she had come to see the appeal clearly enough. And the currency notes were so beautifully made that they seemed to carry worth in themselves.

 

“Of course. We will conduct long-term trade with your Tribe at a rate of twenty percent below market price. There is nothing but benefit in that arrangement for your Tribe.” Su Bai said seriously.

 

“Market price? Twenty percent below?” Ai Ma looked genuinely confused. Her face went a little red. “Shaman, I truly do not understand those words. Would the Shaman mind explaining them to me directly?”

 

The moment it was out of her mouth she wished she could take it back. There was nothing else for it. She had spoken to a Tribe’s Shaman as though she were slow. The confusion had been real, but it was an embarrassment all the same. A disgrace to the Red Horse Tribe.

 

“Simply put, for instance, a barrel of beer from our Tribe sells for thirty yuan. But if our Tribes enter into a formal arrangement, the price would drop to somewhere around twenty-four yuan.”

 

Su Bai set down his cup and continued. “You should be familiar with our Tribe’s currency notes by now. Does that explanation make sense to you?”

 

He had no idea what was actually running through Ai Ma’s mind at that moment. If he had, he might have found it all rather bittersweet.

 

He had not meant anything by it. The terminology simply came from the modern world. In the Primitive Era, no one would have any reason to know about market prices or percentage discounts. So explaining them was only natural.

 

If anything, it was the other party who had worked themselves into unnecessary distress. That part he did find a little amusing.

 

“Now that you put it like that, I understand. I know what the Flame Dragon Tribe’s currency notes mean. I learnt all about them during my stay at the Restful Night Building.” Ai Ma said quickly.

 

“Good. Do you have any other questions?” Su Bai asked.

 

He had glanced at the time. It was getting on, and there were still several more Tribes waiting to be received. There was no sense in dragging this out.

 

He had originally intended to raise the matter of road construction, but he had talked himself out of it. The Red Horse Tribe sat close enough to the great river that the water route was more than enough. There was no need to build an extra road at all.

 

A ship was far easier to arrange than a road. The same went for a dock.

 

“I have no further questions. I will convey everything the Shaman has said back to the Tribe, word for word.” Ai Ma said quickly.

 

There was a slight flutter of nerves in her voice. She was afraid of giving offence.

 

“Very well. Roughly when should we expect a firm answer from your Tribe?” Su Bai asked.

 

“Shaman, I do have one more question. It bears directly on the answer our Tribe will give the Flame Dragon Tribe.” Ai Ma pressed on.

 

“Speak.” Su Bai said simply.

 

“I was wondering whether we would be making our own way back, or whether we would be returning by ship.” Ai Ma asked.

 

There was no other reason behind it. She simply needed to know. Travelling on foot would take a lot of time. By ship, it would be much shorter and a lot safer as well.

 

“Once I have finished receiving all the Tribes, we will arrange for a ship to take you back this one time.” Su Bai said, in a measured tone.

 

Putting them on a ship was the only sensible way to ensure that they made it back safely. The Flame Dragon Tribe definitely would not want some of them to die off somewhere in the Wilderness, and never receive an answer after waiting for who knows how long.

 

“If that is the case, we will have an answer for the Shaman by the day after we return to the Tribe.” Ai Ma said with full confidence.

 

“Fine.” Su Bai waved a hand, gesturing for her to withdraw.

 

Ai Ma gave a respectful bow at once, then turned and made her way quietly out.