The Belt and Road Initiative in the Monster Beasts

Hearing that Leiluo was the chieftain of a clan, Male Ge Yun grew even happier. It meant that the Suling Tianmao Clan had better prospects for development, and that Leiluo had greater spending potential.

After entering the tent, the two sat facing each other. Male Ge Yun said, "Chieftain Leiluo, to be honest, I am the chieftain of Suling Tianmao. I was the one who decided to trade Gorons for crystals, but I could not come to terms with the fact that no one showed any interest in these crystals. For a time, I thought my idea was wrong—until you appeared." As he spoke, Male Ge Yun revealed an excited expression.

"Your appearance proves that it was not my idea that was wrong, but the entire orcish environment. This method of trade is an inevitable trend in social development, and you and I are undoubtedly ahead of all other orcs!"

Male Ge Yun's words shook Leiluo somewhat. Every world and every race had its geniuses. Although Male Ge Yun's ideas amounted only to the most primitive business model, in an orcish society based on barter, who would have thought of collecting various goods specifically to meet people's needs and profit from it?

"I wonder how much of this kind of Draenei crystal Chieftain Male Ge Yun can obtain. Can you get other things from the Draenei as well?" Leiluo asked expectantly, looking toward this fellow tribesman with such a keen business mind.

"What can Chieftain Leiluo offer in exchange? Orcish furs are unnecessary; they are only interested in creatures like Gorons." Worthy of being a business genius, the moment Leiluo showed interest in Draenei crystals, Male Ge Yun immediately planned to raise the price.

"Chieftain Male, you need to understand that I am interested in Draenei crystals, but only interested!" No matter how talented Male Ge Yun was, he could not compare to someone from an age of fully developed commerce—even if that person was nothing more than a complete shut-in. Thus, with just a few words, Leiluo reversed their positions.

Hearing Leiluo's words, Male Ge Yun gave up on trying to squeeze out more. He was at Leiluo's mercy now. Leiluo could choose not to buy the crystals, but if Male Ge Yun's crystals could not be sold, it would be a disaster for his position as chieftain.

"Fine, fine. What price does Chieftain Leiluo intend to offer?" Male Ge Yun asked dejectedly.

"Don't worry, Chieftain Male. I said that I came seeking cooperation. Whatever your clan wants to exchange its crystals for, you can exchange them for that, as long as it is within reasonable limits." Seeing Male Ge Yun's dispirited look, Leiluo immediately painted him a rosy picture. "And in the future, our two clans can deepen our cooperation. Whether you need people or weapons, I can provide assistance. In return, you need to bring me more things from the Draenei—the more advanced, the better. What do you think, Chieftain Male?"

At Leiluo's words, Male Ge Yun's eyes lit up. He said solemnly, "What is the more detailed plan?"

"Our clan operates around Blade's Edge Mountain, where there are many Gorons. Your clan only needs to send people there to capture them, then exchange them for Draenei goods. Then we will use the things you want to trade for the things you obtain from the Draenei." Leiluo paused and motioned for Male Ge Yun to pour him a cup of water before continuing.

"This way, the area under our control and the route controlled by your clan will become a bond of shared interests between our two clans. Both of our clans will benefit." Leiluo paused again, then said word by word, "This is my Belt and Road plan!"

"Then may our cooperation be pleasant!" Male Ge Yun had never heard anything like this before and was immediately bluffed into agreement.

"Good. A pleasant cooperation!"

And so, the hands of the two chieftains clasped together, and true orcish commerce sprouted at that very moment.

How could Male Ge Yun have known that while Leiluo spoke of a win-win arrangement, the true winner would only be himself? He would obtain the Draenei's advanced technology, rapidly strengthen his clan, then use things that other orc clans did not possess but desperately needed to exchange for resources for development. With that cycle, coupled with a monopoly, it would be impossible for Leiluo's Pebble Clan not to grow stronger.

That was the true Belt and Road plan: mutually beneficial cooperation, strengthening oneself.

After leaving the Suling Tianmao tent, Leiluo froze. Garona had already fallen asleep leaning against one of the tent's poles.

He walked over and gently patted her. Garona immediately woke with a start; her life as a slave had never allowed her to sleep deeply.

Only upon seeing Leiluo did Garona come to her senses. "My lord, have you finished discussing everything?"

"Yes, it's all settled. Let's go back." As he spoke, Leiluo took off his coat and draped it over Garona's shoulders, then took her hand and led her back.

Garona's shoulders jerked at Leiluo's sudden action, but she soon adapted. Blushing, she silently followed him, her eyes fixed on Leiluo ahead of her, filled with tenderness.

Three days had passed since Leiluo and the Suling Tianmao Clan finalized their cooperation. Suling Tianmao had delivered the crystals to Leiluo's tent, and Leiluo had paid the corresponding supplies. The first transaction between the two clans had concluded perfectly.

Over those three days, the various clans arrived one after another. Ner'zhul's martial tournament would begin tomorrow, and everyone was eagerly preparing themselves for Demon Blood. Leiluo alone had gone to great lengths in preparation in order to showcase the power of the Holy Light.

It was worth mentioning that Garona's mastery of the Holy Light had also improved by leaps and bounds over those three days. She could already use relatively basic Holy Light spells such as Holy Light Spell and Judgment. The improvements to her diet over the past few days had also filled out her frail body somewhat—though she was still far from a proper orcish girl. With the nourishment of the Holy Light, Garona successfully advanced to Black Iron Tier.

Garona's rapid increase in strength further strengthened Leiluo's resolve to use the Holy Light to empower the orcs.

Late at night, several dark figures gathered outside the Pebble Clan's tents.

"My lord, that kid is Golden Tier. If we just charge in like this, won't it be—"

"Idiot! Even if he is Golden Tier, am I not as well? The goal this time is not to kill him. Once we break in, I'll keep him occupied while you take that mixed-blood female orc away. Don't tell me a few Silver Tier assassins like you can't handle a slave!" The lord sounded deeply dissatisfied at his subordinate's words.

"But I heard even Lord Saiyba couldn't deal with that kid! Lord Saiyba is a Heroic Rank powerhouse!" the first man muttered again.

This time, the lord truly could not hold back. He slapped the speaker on the head and lowered his voice. "Can that idiot Saiyba compare to me? That trash is simply a disgrace to Heroic Rank. Once I advance to Heroic Rank, I'll definitely teach him a lesson."

"Enough. Stop talking and prepare to move." The leading lord stopped wasting words, signaling his subordinates to draw their weapons as they swiftly rushed toward the Pebble Clan's tents.