Formally Allying with the Elves

Thinking this, Seraphina did not delay any longer and replied at once:

"Roland, I agree with these terms in principle, but the share in the second condition is too low. Building floating cities is not as simple as you imagine."

"Leaving aside the materials, it requires an enormous amount of labor. It also takes up a great deal of time from high-level alchemists and Magic Pattern Masters. The cost of their time alone exceeds twenty percent."

"Labor?"

Before Roland could answer, Leslie smiled.

"Empress Seraphina, what if we could provide your nation with sufficient labor?"

"You would provide it?"

Seraphina frowned.

"Leslie, are you planning to provide us with human slaves?"

"We have more than just human slaves," Leslie said meaningfully.

This time, Seraphina reacted quickly. A sharp glint flashed through her eyes as she said in a low voice:

"Orcs?"

"Yes."

Leslie nodded slightly.

"The Beastkin Empire still has nearly seventy million citizens. The barren north cannot support them at all. Rather than let them starve to death, it would be better to have them create greater value for our alliance."

Greater value?

Seraphina's eyes lit up, and a trace of excitement instantly rose within her.

She might have been somewhat slow when it came to social dealings, but she was by no means foolish in matters of national strategy. On the contrary, she was very clever.

If she could take this opportunity to obtain a large number of orc slaves from the Sacred Co-Prosperity Kingdom—

Building floating cities was only secondary. More importantly, wouldn't the Elf Empire gain a batch of cannon fodder that could be considered formidable?

If they went to war with the Arcane Empire again in the future, they would no longer need to send their precious people onto the battlefield. The significance of that