Winter Solstice Festival

The world Mongge inhabits is not home to humans alone. Besides humans, there are numerous demi-human races such as the Giant Tribe, Fish-Men, Longarm Tribe, and Tontatta Tribe.

However, these demi-human races are ultimately a minority.

In this world where feudalism and slavery coexist, differences in appearance often lead to discrimination. Ordinary humans, who are more numerous, discriminate against the fewer demi-humans and capture them to become slaves. Such incidents are commonplace in this world.

The Giant Tribe is also a type of demi-human.

It's just that, compared to other demi-human nations, the Giant Tribe is far more powerful. Even the World Government is reluctant to provoke the giants of Elbaf lightly.

Mongge and Harald sat on the ground.

"Fish-Man Island is a member nation of the World Government, but due to human aversion towards Fish-Men and its geographical location, Fish-Man Island has always been in a very awkward position."

"You mean pirates?"

"Not just pirates, but also slave traders."

Mongge held a porcelain bowl larger than himself and gently clinked it with Harald.

"Humans despise Fish-Men, yet the upper-class nobles take pride in raising a young female mermaid. In the black market, a young female mermaid can sell for tens of millions of Belly. Such exorbitant profits lead to frequent kidnappings and raids on Fish-Man Island."

Fish-Man Island is located ten thousand meters underwater from Holy Land Mary Geoise. By all rights, it should be very safe. However, since the advent of coating artisans, pirates, Marines, and all sorts of people can dive into the deep sea by coating their ships.

"If Elbaf wants to trade with other countries, they must have their own unique products. In my opinion, is there any product more unique than Adam Wood?"

Outdoors, one cubic meter of Adam Wood has a starting price in the millions of Belly. To build a sailing ship entirely out of Adam Wood, the timber alone would cost hundreds of millions of Belly.

Elbaf has no shortage of Adam Wood.

"But, I imagine you wouldn't trade Adam Wood lightly."

Seeing Harald's furrowed brow, Mongge knew that this path was definitely not feasible. It was already their limit to let the giants take the Adam Wood that had to be cut down due to a great fire.

But for the giants to voluntarily cut down the sacred tree Adam was out of the question.

"Besides Adam Wood, you have nothing else to trade. Handicrafts are not valuable, and agricultural nations can only export farm products, but most farm products are not easy to preserve."

"So after thinking it over, it has to be that."

Mongge smiled. "If you are willing to act as bodyguards for the Fish-Men, I believe the King of Fish-Man Island would not refuse to pay a small reward for it."

Although Fish-Man Island is a mixed bag due to the coming and going of all sorts of people, the passing travelers there never skimp on spending money.

Fish-Man Island is wealthy.

But the wealthy Fish-Man Island lacks the power to protect itself.

The geographical location of Fish-Man Island dictates that only powerful pirates can reach it. Even the slave traders are those with backgrounds and connections.

Therefore, even though Fish-Man Island pays its full tribute to the World Government every year, the Marines under the World Government are still unable to protect Fish-Man Island properly.

On Fish-Man Island, you could throw a brick and hit several pirates with bounties in the tens of millions of Belly, and there are even pirates with bounties exceeding one hundred million.

Under such circumstances, ordinary Marines cannot maintain order.

The Giant Tribe is different.

The bounty for an adult giant starts at a minimum of tens of millions of Belly. As long as there are enough of them, even pirates with bounties exceeding one hundred million would not dare to act recklessly.

If they only wanted to be self-sufficient, then Elbaf's small territory would be enough for the giants to manage.

But if they don't want to be limited to that.

To interact and trade with other countries, they must have their own flagship products.

"What, do you think Harald, that abandoning military force will bring peace?"

Mongge shook his head.

"This world, ultimately, is about strength. Strength itself is neither right nor wrong; the difference lies in whether it is used to invade others or to protect oneself."

"..."

Harald was not so naive as to believe that abandoning military force would bring peace. He was just wondering if, in that case, what would be the difference between them, the Giant Tribe, and mercenaries.

"Of course there's a difference!"

Hearing Harald's doubt, Mongge said without hesitation.

"Mercenaries do anything for money, but your Giant Tribe only protects the employer. There's a bottom line and no bottom line, isn't that a huge difference?"

"... I will consider it."

Given that it concerns the future of the entire Giant Tribe, Harald had to think seriously. Mongge was not in a hurry about this; as long as the Adam Wood was secured.

"Take your time to think about it. This is all the advice I can give. Perhaps you could also become a member nation of the World Government through Garumoro's connections. The World Government probably wouldn't mind you using people as collateral for the annual tribute you need to pay."

The World Government had long coveted the Giant Tribe, otherwise, they wouldn't have played along with Garumoro, making him the bridge of communication between them and the giants.

But there is a difference between working for oneself and working for others.

"Sigh~"

Aruru sighed, having listened to their conversation the entire time.

The world is changing.

An old man like him would eventually be swept away by the tide of the times.

In the past, the Giant Tribe could live by plundering.

That doesn't mean they can in the future.

To Mongge's delight, after leaving the castle, Aruru ordered the giants to take out the Adam Wood from the warehouse, preparing to build a ship for Mongge.

According to Aruru, no matter what path Harald chose, he might need Mongge's help in the future.

Since that was the case, it was better to generously provide the timber.

In a pirate world lacking a heavy industry base, building a Sailing Ship took years. Most pirates who wanted a ship either bought used ones or ready-made ones; very few would wait several years specifically for one ship.

Mongge was one of the few.

He believed in quality over quantity. After sailing the seas for so many years, Mongge understood the importance of a good ship; it was like a second life at sea.

This was also why Mongge agreed to stay in Elbaf for two years to help teach the children of the giants.

In two years, his ship should be almost finished.

The following time passed quickly.

After meeting Harald, Mongge spent most of his time in the giants' village, playing with the giants and the children of the Lamb House.

Sometimes Mongge even thought that if it weren't for the system, which reignited his fighting spirit, it wouldn't be bad to live out the rest of his life peacefully here.

Half a year passed in the blink of an eye.

In Elbaf, Mongge and the others welcomed the giants' Winter Solstice Festival.