Chapter 1138, Deterrence

Translator: Silavin

 

The three rabbit eared Sisters began to deliberate. They had come expecting the transport of goods to be entirely without cost.

 

Now, it turned out to be merely discounted. So the three Sisters fell into quiet thought.

 

“That is all up to you. If you are unwilling, you are free to leave. Your negotiation time is nearly up as well.” Su Bai said, unhurried.

 

He did not wish to waste time sitting here, waiting for them to decide at their own pace. There was no shortage of people eager to cooperate with the Flame Dragon Tribe.

 

Besides, it was part of Su Bai’s strategy. He wanted to make it clear that this was not up for further discussion.

 

No matter how long they thought it over, the terms would remain unchanged. And he was also keen to receive the next Tribe’s representatives.

 

“Could we ask what the Flame Dragon Tribe’s shipping fees are?” Yin An, the eldest, said.

 

The Eldest Sister had begun to feel a trace of alarm. She had no desire to let this opportunity to cooperate with the Flame Dragon Tribe slip through her fingers.

 

The goods of the Flame Dragon Tribe were simply too expensive. If they lost this partnership and had to buy at the regular price, the loss to their Tribe would be enormous.

 

They also had to follow the Flame Dragon Tribe’s rules, which meant everything had to be purchased with currency notes. That required going to the Flame Dragon Tribe’s bank to exchange for notes first.

 

“It depends on distance, on the goods themselves, and on the weight. These are all factors that affect the price. But rest assured, our pricing is entirely open and transparent.” Su Bai took a comfortable sip of his tea and continued. “When you visit next time, you will be able to see our cargo shipping price list directly. On top of the listed prices, there will be a discount offered to you. So, what is your decision?”

 

There were still several more Tribes waiting after this. He was looking forward to meeting the others.

 

Even if the three Sisters before him were genuinely lovely to look at, they were not his to admire. So he could only, with some regret, move things along.

 

“We understand. But, we are not in a position to build a dock like the one your Tribe has. Even though we very much wish to cooperate, it is simply beyond our ability to build such a thing.” Yin An said with genuine helplessness.

 

Did she want to cooperate? Deeply, she wanted it deeply. The problem was that nobody in their Tribe knew how to construct a dock.

 

“You need not worry about that. All you need to do is gather the wood and grant permission to use the space at your Tribe’s entrance. Everything else will be handled without any burden on you.” Su Bai said.

 

He had never expected the other Tribes to build the docks themselves. What he needed was their permission and nothing more.

 

Without it, the Flame Dragon Tribe showing up at another Tribe’s doorstep to build a structure could lead to all manner of complications. What he needed was authorisation.

 

“Shaman, do you mean to say that once the dock is complete, our Tribe need not worry about it at all?” Yin An asked.

 

“That is not quite right. During construction, there is nothing for your Tribe to concern itself with. But the ongoing maintenance of the dock and responsibility for safety afterwards would fall to you.” Su Bai immediately said .

 

He would have liked nothing more than to have the Flame Dragon Tribe operate all the docks themselves. But the Tribe simply did not have the manpower for that.

 

Even with the Will to do so, there were simply not enough hands. Besides, on reflection, letting the other Tribes manage things themselves was not a bad thing.

 

The river surely held any number of ferocious and dangerous Ferocious Beasts. The Flame Dragon Tribe could not maintain all the docks alone.

 

“I understand. On behalf of the Soft Rabbit Tribe, I accept this cooperation.” Yin An gave a firm nod.

 

An opportunity this good was not something the Eldest Sister would let pass. After all, she had heard that this time the Flame Dragon Tribe would only cooperate with a handful of Tribes.

 

To be among that handful, Yin An was simply unable to contain her delight.

 

“Great.” Su Bai gave a satisfied nod.

 

That made two Tribes settled as of now. His original expectation had been three Tribes agreeing.

 

Of course, it was not that Su Bai only intended to cooperate with three Tribes. That was simply the number he had set as his private expectation.

 

Because the Flame Dragon Tribe needed to hold absolute dominance, the standard had to be set high. There was no guarantee every Tribe would be led along willingly.

 

So Su Bai had figured that three Tribes agreeing to build docks would be enough. Once a start was made, other Tribes would gradually grow envious and come looking on their own. By then they would still be led along in the end, one way or another. It was only a matter of time.

 

*Step step step…*

 

The three Sisters of the Soft Rabbit Tribe gave a polite bow and turned to leave the Yong’an Building.

 

As they walked out, their joy was impossible to contain. Their faces were full of smiles that would not be held back.

 

“That method of yours is truly remarkable, Shaman. It made them feel as though they had come out ahead.” Sha Lan could not help but laugh.

 

She was referring to the rumours that had been spread at the start, namely that the Flame Dragon Tribe would only cooperate with two or three Tribes this time.

 

And indeed, the false information had worked extraordinarily well. Both of the first two Tribes had believed it without question, and both had walked away feeling as though they had stumbled unto great fortune.

 

“In truth, it is not a bad thing for them either. Saying they came out ahead is not really wrong.” Su Bai gave a small smile.

 

“Shaman, who do we receive next?” Sha Lan asked with curiosity.

 

“The Green Snake Tribe. I want to see what a Tribe with nothing to offer plans to bring to the table.” The corner of Su Bai’s mouth curved slightly.

 

After securing the cooperation of the Red Horse Tribe and the Soft Rabbit Tribe, he was genuinely curious about the Green Snake Tribe.

 

After all, that Tribe had no particular specialty to speak of. Nothing remarkable about them at all. Only that they were fierce and skilled in battle.

 

Su Bai wanted to see whether they truly had nothing but brute force and no sense to go with it. Dealing with a Tribe like that was its own kind of interesting.

 

“Understood. I’ll have someone bring them up now.” Sha Lan said immediately.

 

*Step step step…*

 

Qing Bo and Qing Xi, the Brother and Sister pair, passed through the inspection and entered the living room of the Yong’an Building.

 

Standing before Su Bai, both of them looked distinctly ill at ease. Neither had lowered their gaze. If anything, they were holding their heads with a trace of defiance.

 

That was simply how the people of the Green Snake Tribe carried themselves. They showed no particular deference to other Tribes.

 

So even now, entering the Yong’an Building and standing before the Shaman of the Flame Dragon Tribe, nothing in their bearing had shifted.

 

Though the pair regretted it almost immediately. Because the moment they met Su Bai’s eyes, something in them could not help but tip toward fear.

 

Their gazes began to slide away. The brown vertical pupils flickered with a faint tremor. Clearly, the weight of Su Bai’s presence had shaken them.

 

This was the killing intent Su Bai had let out deliberately. These two had entered and, right up until this moment, had shown no sign of goodwill whatsoever.

 

This was the Flame Dragon Tribe, after all. The person they were standing before was this Tribe’s Shaman.

 

Su Bai was not about to let them feel at ease here. They needed to feel the pressure.

 

Since Transmigrating, his Physique had grown steadily stronger, enhanced further by the Ferocious Beast Crystal, and layered on top of that were the multiple Skills he now carried. The aura he could radiate was not light. In fact, a single breath from him was enough to make a person tremble.

 

Even a Totem Warrior was not exempt from this, as Qing Bo and Qing Xi’s expressions made perfectly clear right now.