Business

To develop, a population could be replenished through powerful reproductive capacity; if the territory was too small, it could expand outward; if the climate was unsuitable, they could migrate. But without resources to support it all, everything was empty talk.

If they could not even keep themselves fed and clothed, what development could they speak of?

Sifu had always wanted to solve this problem, but there was simply nothing he could do. The resource problem was not something strength alone could resolve. Confined to the tiny Wilds, their vision and scope severely limited the Stone Crow Clan's potential. Even this shaman had the will but lacked the power.

But Caesar had given the Stone Crow Clan new hope. Summergrass concealed enormous profits. It was hard to imagine what a sensation this plant, capable of dispelling the so-called "Flame Demon Curse," would cause once it reached the outside world.

Moreover, it tasted excellent. Even if it were sold merely as a new kind of drink from Eladia, it could still succeed.

Caesar already had a complete plan in mind, but before putting it into action, he still needed to make some arrangements.

Once this plant, which overturned Eladia's understanding, appeared on the market, it would easily attract the covetous eyes of those with ulterior motives. They would study it. Eladia was vast and rich in species; sooner or later, someone would be able to identify its ingredients from its taste.

When that happened, the Stone Crow Clan's profits would suffer tremendous damage. So this stuff needed packaging—various fruits and seasonings added to alter its flavor.

That was also why they had thoroughly dealt with those few humans before. They had tasted Summergrass in its most original form. If word got out, all the Stone Crow Clan's previous efforts would come to nothing. Caesar would not allow that to happen.

In fact, if Luna had not repeatedly confirmed that no magic flowed through Summergrass's roots, stems, or leaves, Caesar would have suspected it was a magical plant. Summergrass's effects were remarkably potent; even after being heavily diluted, its efficacy remained unaffected.

That did not accord with his ingrained understanding of medicine from his previous life. Caesar realized that while he was changing the orcs' way of thinking, Eladia was changing him as well.

Enough idle talk.

Still, no matter how much they diluted, adjusted, and packaged it, all they could do was delay the discovery of Summergrass. Once the profits from this stuff became too great to ignore, mages would inevitably step in, use spells to analyze its original composition, and find the true element capable of dispelling the "Flame Demon Curse."

That was enough. Caesar had no intention of living off Summergrass for the rest of his life. He only wanted to make a quick fortune, complete his initial accumulation of capital, and open up a few channels.

What followed proceeded step by step. Though the orcs were somewhat slow-witted, simple work like picking wild fruit was still easy for them. Four days later, all ten barrels of prepared Summergrass had been sealed in crates.

Come to think of it, their greatest difficulty at work had actually been making those wooden barrels. For those clumsy-handed fellows, barrel-making was truly delicate work. In the end, they had no choice but to force the old shaman Sifu to lend a hand, making Luna laugh until she clutched her stomach.

Everything was ready. Next, it was time to do business.

Logically speaking, as the second son of Count Roy Brando, he should never have fallen so low as to become a merchant—let alone a lowly northern trader. The Brando Family would never have allowed him to do such a thing.

But this had actually been Roy's own decision, and it had received Count Brando's support.

As a child, Roy had often taken pride in the Brando Family name, believing his father was the greatest man in all Eladia.

Count Brando possessed the vast territory of Kaki. He ruled over tens of thousands of subjects, built a spell tower within his castle, raised an army, and brought Kaki Territory's military strength to its peak. He could summon wind and rain, forge alliances and turn factions against one another.

But as Roy grew older, he discovered that the man he considered incomparably great and outstanding had to bow and scrape before Grand Duke Lane. A careless glance or casual remark from the other man could even keep his father awake at night, leaving him anxious and unsettled. It filled Roy with shame from the bottom of his heart.

What angered him even more was that their army—the soldiers his father funded—shouted "For the glory of Rhine Kingdom!" and "For the Grand Duke!" when they went to war. The knights raised in Kaki Territory spoke Belisi Lane's name when they swore their oaths.

Roy refused to accept it.

As the first heir to Count Brando, his elder brother was cautious and conservative in everyday life, carrying the old nobility's traits of careful restraint and low-key prudence to the utmost extreme. Roy could not stand the sight of his brother like that. His head was full of bold ideas, and he brimmed with ambition.

But after all, they were flesh-and-blood brothers who had grown up together beneath the count's wings. Naturally, Roy would not do anything excessive to his brother. He had no intention of coveting his brother's possessions. Instead, he plunged headlong into the Mostel Grand Canyon, and then into the farther Wilds.

In truth, being a traveling merchant was merely a smokescreen.

Over the years, Roy had traveled back and forth through the Wilds. What he was truly doing was gradually subduing the countless races scattered across those savage lands.

Whether evil or good, humanoid or beast, Roy welcomed them all. Any race capable of forming an effective fighting force was his target.

The Brando Family's power and wealth gave him ample support, granting Roy enough military strength to travel through the wilderness and enough money to buy one clan after another.

"My lord, are you truly going to detour there for a look? I'm afraid it will delay us considerably." His trusted subordinate rode up from behind and leaned close to whisper in his ear.

"Delay us? Hah. If possible, I would rather never set foot in that poison-filled place again."

Roy Brando removed his glove and touched the cool pendant at his neck. The Wilds' heat was enough to drive a man mad. "After the last one, the Stone Crow Clan can no longer hold on. Squeeze them dry two more times, and those orcs will be kneeling on the ground, begging me to lend them a hand. Hmph, compared to that damned green dragon..."

"My lord!"

Hearing Roy mention the green dragon, his trusted subordinate could not help shuddering all over. He instinctively looked back at the merchant caravan still following behind them. "They don't know..."

"Don't worry."

Roy patted his loyal attendant's shoulder in reassurance. "Those fat pigs will never get the chance to speak. Green City's people will take over midway."

The subordinate nodded, but one could never be too careful. The work they were undertaking was deadly; if they exposed even the slightest flaw, everyone would likely suffer for it. Even Count Brando could lose his head.

Who would have thought that Count Brando, a great noble of the Rhine Duchy among the Northern Kingdoms, was secretly supporting Green City—using Kaki Territory's strength to provide the green dragon Sylvia with supplies and intelligence?

Whenever the attendant thought of it, cold sweat rose on his forehead.

"Still, you're right."

He heard Roy say, "Let those meat pigs be taken by the demons. They're far too slow, and we cannot afford to waste so much time. Go bring Anrien. Have him lead half the cavalry and come with me. We'll visit the Stone Crow Clan first."

After cursing a few times, Roy pressed his heels into his horse's flanks and galloped ahead, racing down the rugged, narrow path.

Behind him came the sound of the attendant issuing orders. The cavalrymen shouted at their horses and quickly gave chase.