After hearing Mr. Grandet's words, Aiwass raised his head with interest: "Why do you think so?"
Although Aiwass himself did think so...but his attitude could not be shown easily.
——You still need to negotiate the price.
"Let's get straight to the point," Aiwass leaned forward and asked with interest, "What is your request?"
Grandet did not directly answer Aiwass' question.
Instead, he shook his head and said, "I will give you a piece of news for free, minister."
The low and elegant Standard Avalonian came from the goblin merchant's mouth in an orderly and slow manner: "The Star Antimony people have been studying anti-gryphon technology for decades, and they have made considerable breakthroughs recently...
…”
The green-skinned goblin casually pulled up the pocket watch that was hanging down by the chain he was holding, and put it back into his breast pocket. Only the golden chain hung out a little.
"There are not many top-notch transcendents of Avalon's generation. It can even be said to be... quite rare. The size of the army is decreasing year by year. It has not fought in decades. How much combat effectiveness can a pampered army have?"
The goblin made a rather magnetic voice: "And you and I both know that the real deterrent of Avalon lies in the Griffin Legion. The combat effectiveness of the Griffin Legion certainly does not lie in the frontal battlefield.
"As long as the Griffin Legion can enter the opponent's territory, it can rely on its extremely strong mobility to harass the rear; it can also rely on its excellent mobility to block supplies, divide and surround, and bomb and harass. Although it was invaded in Avalon
At that time, the Griffin Legion could basically do nothing...but the Griffins could in turn attack the opponent's homeland and launch a bloody "war of attrition in the rear".
"It is precisely because of this strategic deterrence that Avalon can continue to maintain its isolated status. But let me tell you, dear minister - these days are coming to an end."
The goblin merchant's deep dark pupils were like a bottomless lake, and his specific thoughts could not be clearly seen.
He just said things that everyone knew in a calm and rational manner, and he was able to make them very convincing: "I guess Earl Emma came to visit this time to discuss the issue of the treaty port.
"If my guess is correct, she should use the excuse 'Star Antimony's goal is to head east' to convince you."
"Indeed."
Aiwass nodded slightly: "That's what she said."
The goblin said: "Star Antimony has the ambition to unify the continent. When Star Antimony swallows the iris, do you think Avalon can be alone? Or do you really think Star Antimony will leave Avalon alone and not eat it?"
"Of course I know."
Aiwass nodded and asked: "So? What do you want to do when you come to Avalon? Lobby Avalon to lift the ban, allow goblins to establish chambers of commerce, and allow Avalon to open up trade?"
"That's right," Grandet said calmly, "Avalon must eventually integrate with the world, otherwise it will only be abandoned by the times.
"And Xing Antimony...heh, with all due respect, most of what they promised you is a blank check. Because they have too much to take care of themselves now."
Hearing this, Aiwass suddenly understood... why this top big capitalist came to his door at this time.
If Avalon really cooperates with Star Antimony and opens treaty ports... that means that all the ports in the western part of the continent are indirectly controlled by Star Antimony and Iris in disguise.
Avalon itself has no resources to speak of. Although it is rich in metal ores, it is nothing to Star Antimony, whose land area is several times that of Avalon. Not to mention that Avalon's food structure is very
Danger - The Corn Laws of that year were not passed by Queen Sophia, which resulted in Avalon's current food being basically completely dependent on imports.
——Imported from Star Antimony.
The real meaning of occupying Avalon is to gain geographical advantage.
Go northwest from Avalon, which is the Theocracy. If you continue walking northwest along the Theocracy, you can move along the northern continent. To the southwest of Avalon is a vast sea full of chaos... If you want to start from
It's easy to get lost walking there.
The ocean in this world is very chaotic and restless. The further away from the land, the more dangerous it is - although it is similar in the original world. If you sail straight towards the destination, something will happen after a long time. And cargo ships are not allowed to do so.
There is a loss.
Therefore, although ocean sailing is called "oceanic", at least it cannot be too far from the land. It must be at least at a distance where the land can be seen with a telescope, otherwise it will be difficult to find the direction.
In the sea, even if it is just one degree off at first... it will be directly diverted to another country when you arrive at your destination.
Because of this, if Avalon's navy and the Griffin Legion set up a blockade in the northwest direction of the Theocracy, it would pose a huge threat to the shipping routes of Star Antimony.
Precisely because of the tense relationship between Avalon and Star Antimony, Star Antimony's shipping route can only be taken from the south, close to the edge of the Southern Continent. Or it can take a short-distance route, from Star Antimony to the Southern Continent for short-distance freight, and then transport it.
The goods are handed over to the goblins. The goblins change hands and then transport them to various parts of the world through the trade routes they have operated for a long time.
In this process, goblins basically do not participate in production except for "training trolls". They are only responsible for buying at low prices and selling at high prices, relying on the routes and ports established and maintained in various countries over the years, as well as highly synchronized
Commodity supply and demand information to continuously deliver goods to the most suitable place.
"Obviously, the Star Antimony people are jealous."
Aiwass chuckled, leaning back slightly and leaning comfortably on the back of the chair: "They also want to get involved."
"That's what outsiders always think."
Mr. Grandet just chuckled: "The Star Antimony people are so confident that they are about to explode... They stubbornly believe that they have understood the secret of alchemy. They can easily turn low-yield raw materials into dozens of times more valuable.
Products hundreds of times better, the only problem is who to sell these things to.”
"Then naturally I can only sell it to you."
Aiwass smiled sarcastically.
Grandet corrected him humbly: "That won't happen. Although I am also a member of the Chamber of Commerce, the members of the Chamber of Commerce are free to each other. No one is the king of others.
"Star Antimony can't handle the large amount of alchemical products inside, so it's natural to contact the 'Chamber of Commerce'... Among them, Avalon also has a lot of credit. In other words... you are the top contributor."
Hearing what the goblin merchant said, Aiwass was slightly in a daze.
He reacted——
——That’s because Avalon imposes tariffs on the alchemical products of Star Antimony!
In the past, the royal family was cursed one after another. Avalon was still not sure whether it was Iris or the Star Antimony people who did it, and they could not find conclusive evidence. Because of this, they were unwilling to participate in the war, and were dragged into it by the two directly opposing countries.
The quagmire of war.
But Avalon still maintains a rather hostile attitude towards Star Antimony - this is actually done to show the people.
Regardless of whether the source of the curse is Iris or Star Antimony, it can only be Star Antimony. Because Iris Avalon can be defeated, but Star Antimony everyone knows in their hearts that they really cannot defeat it.
The continuous condemnation of Star Antimony is actually a delaying strategy to appease the people. It is also intended to paralyze the Star Antimony people and give them the feeling of looking down on Avalon... Behind this is the Queen's intention to quietly activate the "Avalon"
Wallonian Shadow" project.
Although this plan failed before it even started due to Jacob's interference...
...But now it seems that the tariffs raised at that time actually had good results.
Star Antimony and Iris are clearly hostile countries - Star Antimony wants to annex Iris, but it is difficult to eat it directly. Because the ideological gap between the two countries is obvious, Star Antimony obviously wants Iris' population and talents.
Instead of leaving no one behind. Once caught in the millstone of a bloody battle, it is easy to generate hatred, so Xing Antimony only wants to quickly accomplish its strategic goals through a short enough war.
Because of this, Iris is unlikely to accept Star Antimony's dumping.
The best way is actually Avalon.
There is indeed no enmity between Avalon and Star Antimony, and they even have a feud with Iris during the Ten Days War. Moreover, Avalon implements a high-pressure rule of authoritarianism, and alchemy is very backward. At the same time, the people are relatively wealthy.
.As long as Avalon can accept the dumping of Star Antimony, Star Antimony does not need to contact the Goblin Chamber of Commerce at all.
Thinking of this, Aiwass suddenly understood——
Why does Xing Antimony have to smuggle alchemical products to Avalon through the relationship of Lloyd's? Why can even low-level minions like "Da Zi" have the "Drunken Dream" produced by Xing Antimony's alchemy factory?
Tincture"; why the "king" complains that alchemists are squeezing domestic botanists and constantly lowering purchase prices; why are alchemists in Star Antimony becoming so arrogant and arrogant, while demonologists maintain a subtle restraint?
and quiet...
Behind all this, in a sense...the culprits are these goblin merchants.