Just as the Order of the Great Rune Knights began to take shape and construction at the camp was in full swing, the envoy sent by the Academy of Raya Lucaria finally arrived, long overdue.
The envoy was a middle-aged sorcerer dressed in deep blue academy robes and a pointed sorcerer's hat, his reserved manner tinged with scrutiny.
He brought a message from the academy: the Academy of Raya Lucaria was likewise interested in a "powerful tribe" capable of gaining a foothold on Liurnia's eastern shore, and was willing to provide "necessary opportunities for exchange and cooperation."
Horace Loux received the envoy, while Rellana sat openly at the side to listen under the pretexts of "oversight as an ally" and "assisting communication," a faint, amused smile on her lips as she waited to enjoy the show.
The negotiations amounted to one-sided "extortion."
Horace Loux made full use of the barbarians' characteristic "forthrightness."
He first expressed his "keen interest" in glintstone sorcery, hoping the academy would, like Caria, make some basic and even advanced sorcery knowledge available for him to study.
This much was within the envoy's expectations.
Horace Loux's next demand, however, made the academy sorcerer's expression stiffen somewhat.
"Besides knowledge, I also need people." Horace Loux spoke mildly, as though asking for a few sacks of grain.
"I hear the academy has many highly skilled 'glintstone artisans' who can create marvelous magical items and even replicate the effects of sorcery. My tribe is under construction and urgently needs such talent. I hope the academy can send at least ten glintstone artisans to assist us for a time. Naturally, we will pay reasonable compensation."
"Glintstone artisans?" The envoy nearly cried out.
Glintstone artisans were a precious asset to the academy. They possessed the exclusive craft of "replicating sorcery" and were essential to making magical equipment, glintstone keys, and even certain important items.
Though their standing was less exalted than that of high-ranking sorcerers, their importance was beyond question. They generally served only within the academy and rarely went elsewhere.
Horace Loux had asked for ten right off the bat. He was practically poaching the academy's people!
"Absolutely impossible!" The envoy refused outright, his tone hardening.
"Chieftain Horace Loux, this demand of yours is far too excessive!"
"Excessive?" Horace Loux shrugged, glanced at Rellana beside him, whose smile was growing increasingly pronounced, then spoke unhurriedly.
"The Carian Family not only teaches me sorcery, but also sends artisans to pass on forging, weaving, construction, and many other crafts, helping my tribe establish itself. By comparison, the academy would merely be lending us a few artisans to help improve our lives and develop a few minor applications of sorcery. Is that demand really so excessive? Or is the academy's sincerity nowhere near Caria's?"
His words carried steel beneath their softness, putting the academy directly on the spot.
Refusing would make the academy look petty and shortsighted as it watched Caria win over a new power; agreeing would mean parting with precious core artisan resources.
The envoy's expression shifted repeatedly, and in the end, he could only say that he needed to return and report.
After the envoy left in disgrace, Horace Loux turned to Rellana. "Now it's Caria's turn to perform. Push hard enough, but don't overdo it. Make the academy feel that unless they 'pay dearly,' we'll be firmly hitched to your war chariot."
Rellana gave a snort by way of reply, but fighting spirit also kindled in her eyes.
She was more than happy to make trouble for the academy.
Over the following days, the Carian Family did indeed "step up its efforts."
First, Rennala personally gifted Horace Loux several scrolls recording practical combat sorcery (Carian Retaliation), and assigned another, more experienced Glintstone Knight to help guide the Order of the Great Rune Knights through basic magic-resistance training.
Next, Caria expanded its team of artisans and began helping the tribe plan more complex fortifications. They even hinted that a small outpost dock could be built at the edge of the Eastern Tableland, near Carian-controlled territory, to facilitate future contact with Caria Manor.
These moves were entirely undisguised, all but announcing to the entire lake region that the Carian Family was fully supporting this barbarian tribe, shaping it into an important foothold on the eastern shore.
Pressure on the academy rose sharply.
They sent two more groups of envoys, each higher-ranking than the last, with increasingly generous terms.
Promises of access to more sorcery knowledge, supplies of glintstone resources in specified quantities, and even an agreement to provide some sorcery scrolls and standard-issue equipment.
But Horace Loux would not budge on the "glintstone artisans."
He adopted an attitude of "Caria is simply offering too much; these little sweeteners from the academy aren't enough."
He even hinted that without substantial aid capable of bridging the "technological gap," he might have no choice but to consider deeper ties with Caria, such as... accepting certain marriage proposals carrying political significance.
As he said this, he deliberately glanced at Rellana beside him. Her face instantly turned scarlet, and she nearly drew her sword on the spot.
This tactic proved remarkably effective. The academy's leadership had clearly been intimidated.
They might not have fully believed that such a "vulgar" political maneuver as a marriage alliance would happen immediately, but Horace Loux's apparent "greed" and "dependence" on Carian aid convinced them that, unless they offered sufficiently weighty bargaining chips, this rising power would turn completely toward Caria and become a thorn in their side on the eastern shore that would be difficult to remove.
In the end, under Caria's continued, ostentatious "displays of affection" and Horace Loux's unyielding insistence, the Academy of Raya Lucaria made a limited compromise.
They agreed to "temporarily lend" five glintstone artisans to the tribe on the Eastern Tableland for one year of "technical exchange and assistance," but required Horace Loux to sign a stringent magical contract.
The contract's terms included: the artisans' personal safety must be absolutely guaranteed; their core techniques must not be taught or stolen; the tribe must not use knowledge and techniques obtained from the artisans to engage in activities directly harmful to the academy's interests; in disputes between Caria and the academy, the tribe must maintain strict neutrality and must not assist Caria in attacking the academy or its allies in any form.
"Sign it, and the five glintstone artisans will depart immediately." The academy's final envoy, an elderly sorcerer with a grave expression, pushed the parchment contract, which emanated magical fluctuations, before Horace Loux.
Rellana watched nervously from the side. She knew the binding force of this contract. In particular, the clauses concerning "no assistance to Caria" and "neutrality" would all but tie the tribe's hands and feet.
If Horace Loux signed, the effectiveness of Caria's previous investments and plans would be greatly diminished.
Horace Loux picked up the contract and carefully "read" the magical script upon it (in reality, he could not understand most of it).
An expression of "deliberation" appeared on his face. Finally, as though he had reached a momentous decision, he gritted his teeth and said, "All right! For the tribe's future, I'll sign!"
He picked up the specially made magical ink pen and signed his name at the end of the contract.
The instant the pen tip touched down, light flashed across the parchment. The contract took effect, and an invisible sense of magical restraint descended upon the signatory.
The elderly sorcerer nodded in satisfaction, put away the duplicate, and took his leave.
Going by the Cuckoo Knights, the academy did indeed have magical contracts.
But exactly how powerful those contracts were was unclear.
Judging by the Cuckoo Knights' behavior, they did not seem particularly effective.
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