Chapter 178 - Volume 18 (2/2)

‘I didn’t get all the items…I have lost more than I got. I can not sleep well tonight.’

Weed’s face was contorted like a demon.

‘Have to move on from the bitter memories and live the rest of life. I have to go on day by day. It’s like an only man that’s suffering from painful memories as he separates the trash’

Mapan went on Weed’s behalf.

“That is your position as the Northern Alliance, but from Morata’s perspective there is no reason to look at a single side of the war.”

“But we don’t have any money to pay.”

“No, but that does not mean that the war reparations are done now does it?”

“…”

“Are you saying that you want to leave the war negotiations?”

Mapan gave them a suggestion. After a war negotiation are given up, the surrendered prisoners are given a trial. Of course the one that makes the judgement is Weed and the people that he appointed. Users that kills Morata’s soldiers are usually thrown in jail and imprisoned. The penalty that had to be paid was by no mean trivial. If there was resistance, then that meant death.Even if the users was safely negotiated, the soldier would resent their Lords. Their side had to accept the painful reality of defeat in war.

“Weed was one of the contributors to the Dragon Hunt and created this warm climate. What about his adventure to reclaim Morata? Weed had to go to a number of achievements in his adventures to find out a number of towns want to invade once the Church of Freya’s protection ends because they had gone blind with greed.”

Mapan cooly began to criticize the lords of the Northern Alliance. Traders always took pleasure in taking advantage of the powerless. For war reparations, usually 70% was divided amongst the soldiers. The remaining 30% went to the Lord for developing the city. Mapan wanted to benefit as much as possible from the situation. Mapan emphatically demanded.

“One users is 900 gold and its 200 gold per soldier as reparations.”

“This is ridiculous.”

“I expected a large amount but this is too much!”

This situation was also within his calculations. It was a reasonable amount for the cost of their lives. The problem with the war negotiations was the at lords did not have that kind of money! In the center of the continent, those in power always had thousands of gold but the lords of the North were generally poor. They had used most of their fortune moving from the central continent to the North to form towns.

“We don’t have that kind of money.”

“Even if you cut it in half, we still can’t pay it.”

Even for the central continent, 120 thousand troops of the Northern Alliance was not common. The fact that they had been defeated as well has having such a large number of captives was a disgrace to the lords. If they could not afford to pay the ransom then it could lead to another war.

“A single user at 900 gold is the amount though. Until now, all the previous wars on the Continent of Versailles had done this so it is a reasonable amount.”

Mapan raised an eyebrow at the opposition. Even if there was no money to pay, they could not move on without making negotiations. Weed had his arms folded and was silent.

‘Even at around 70%, they would have to depend on credit and pay in installments each month, and then the amount would lessen each month. I would not gain much. Then the overdue interest would increase drastically…’

Weed decided to clean up the situation while Mapan was with the troubled lords.

“There is no need for compensation.”

“What?”

Mapan was astonished. To think that Weed would out and say something like this. He could not believe that these words would come out of Weed’s mouth. The Lords of the Northern Alliance did not understand about the war reparations and just looked onwards. They did not believe what he had just said.

‘They would be forced to get a loan.’

The lords of the northern towns could not earn much income. The investments cost them a lot and there was nothing that they could earn from. There was no guarantee that Morata would ever see the money since it was such an excessive amount. If there was another war then Morata would not have the Kallamore Knights available. In the future there may be another lord that my decide to invade the North again. Weed, to the Northern Alliance Lords, would look like a malicious debt collector.

“There will be no compensation, the prisoners will be set free.”

“Really?”

The Styrene Guild could not believe it. From Weed’s position this could only be charity and there was no sense for it.

“Also a promise. Morata will not invade the other towns.”

From Weed’s position he did not need to occupy the towns to get benefits. Morata was not a small territory. Territory was not something that was fixed.There was a lot of ground between each state. Thus as culture grows, the boundary of the city expands.

“I suggest a trade agreement.”

“What?”

“As you know, Morata has improved a lot as a beginner town.”

The Lords of the Northern Alliance nodded. They had experienced it first had so they knew better than anyone else.

“In the future there will be a need for weapons and armors for the beginners as well as a large amount of resources.”

The Lords of the Northern Alliance began to get uncomfortable. Morata was a place that beginners could grow easily at. They had watched Morata grow increasingly powerful.

“And?”

“The beginners will need the necessary resources. Morata has many things such as mines and fields. There are items that are obtained from hunting that would be useful for beginners that you could sell.”

Commercial development, taxes and permits were the right of the Lords. To open up the Northern Lords would create a huge market for beginners. The Styrene Guild had a broad expression on their faces during this difficult negotiations.

“This is a very good proposal for us. Why are you give us so much?”

“The Central Continent is far way. The merchants would have to take too long to get their and the prices would be too high.The merchants need all the help they can get. Our biggest problems is the northern beginners not being able to use weapons at reasonable prices because of the central continent’s prices. That sort of thing is wrong.”

The lords considered by making eye contact with each other and nodding.

“We are also sympathetic.”

“We as well.”

Morata made a lot more trade than the rest of the northern towns combined.

“I heard that you have trouble developing culture.”

“…”

The Lords well into despair. They had found it increasingly difficult to develop culture as more people kept leaving.

“Morata will send cultural advisors to live in each of the villages. They will work to increase the culture and the towns and reduce the number of villagers that leave.”

Culture had the effect of significantly reducing the complaints of the people. Morata had a lot of bards and dancers. They could be seen around the day performing. They would earn money from going from town the town.

One of the lords asked.

“However that would decrease Morata’s culture. That does not make any sense to me.”

Weed glared at him for a moment. The look in his eyes made him shrink away to show that they were not equals. There was a change in the atmosphere which was sufficient to reverse the situation. There were people that loved to talk and then forget what they had said. He had to threaten them this way. This, in a sense, was more favorable.

“I am angry that there are a lot of sculptors in Morata. There are a lot of skilled sculptors in Morata particularly. They create a lot of sculptures and paintings.”

Weed was aiming to export the works of art. There was the Light Tower and the Statue of Freya but the growing number of artworks in the city needed to slow down. He did not want it to be a city of artists like Rhodium. Weed sank into a low voice.

“There are a lot of novice users in Morata. They need to go out so that they can grow their skills.”

“…”

“Morata feels like it is very large. However, there are more quests and hunting that can be done by visiting other towns more often. There is room to develop Morata and the other towns.”

Weed broke off into another topic.

“First, as the lord you need to invest and treat the village with love so that many beginners will start in you town. Establish a general store and a square so business can flourish. You will be able to see beginners fill their water bottle at the fountain. There will be nothing against the beginners from this war.”

This was the talk that took place with Weed. The Northern Lords rose from their chairs. Cheers could be heard from all over the walls.

“Waaa!”

“God of War Weed is the best!”

“Weed hurrah!”

The beginners and the users of the Northern Alliance cheered! Weed also showed generosity to the invaders coming to Morata. Mapan as well as Pale’s party was showing complete shock. Like how they saw Weed differently in artistry after the Light Tower.

“No what is…that’s not like Weed at all.”

“He can’t be a philanthropist, right?”

“Has he fallen seriously ill? Maybe he fell off of a sculpture while he was making it?”

A man could not change so much so they were concerned with Weed’s mental health. It was very difficult to understand what Weed was doing. Everyone that was there and watching the broadcast was showing a different attitude. Only Zephyr seemed to know what was going on as he nodded.

‘With this negotiation he’s going to reap huge profits.’

The value of beginners! The Northern Lord was concerned with their futures! However Weed had calculated the damages into his head and that there would be endless benefits in the future. The northern towns would sell their foods and obtain many benefits but Morata would be the one gaining the tax revenues. They had trade with the central continent but now they could actively trade with the northern merchants. It would also get rid of the northern town’s reasons for war. With culture they will reduce the number of people leaving. Digging a mine to gather resources will develop the city’s technology and create more quality goods for the town. This peace agreement will accelerate the northern towns’ development. It would so get rid of the tension and anxiety of beginners in Morata as well as make more people start in the North. The Northern specialties would grown and develop as merchant trade increases. In the long run, Morata as the center of commerce would be the one to benefit. There would be better items for beginners which would rapidly increases the amount of taxes being paid.

“After the war he can get rid of the excess art!”

For the time being, the economy of each village depended on Morata. He could grow their culture by selling off the art to each town. Nevertheless, the sale of the products gave big benefits despite the conditions to the northern lords. Trade with Morata did not give them any losses and there was no longer a need to war against Morata. So with these facts given to each town, a second war of Morata would not happen. Zephyr’s thought more highly of Weed now. He had conquered the Northern Alliance. It was complex reasonable judgement and there was no need to make a hateful enemy.

“The strategy and the planning, as well as the policies. It’s so scary that no one had noticed!”

While pretending to do this, he was actually waiting to exploit and harvest the benefits. Weed determination and concentration towards money was one of a kind.

“Fresh grass porridge.”

The festival celebrating Morata’s victory! The delighted beginners were excited. It was entertaining for Weed to watch them spend.

-The viewership has exploded. To think that viewership would rise this much from live footage of the war!

They were happy with Maylon’s progress. KMC media as well as 12 other broadcast station had broadcast Morata’s war. They had footage of two perspective of Weed’s war and earned a percentage from advertising with a small fee for broadcasting rights. They were rolling in money.

“The world is a truly beautiful place.”

As thanks for those that participated in the war, Weed gave out unlimited rice porridge. The lord opened up the storage and the residents and users could enjoy themselves.

-Special Ahreupen Grain Warehouse opened with free grass porridge to drink. -Morata festival uses 50 thousand gold.

The lord was considered generous. There was money being spent everywhere. There was wild boar on barbecue, deer being baked and barrels filled with liquor.

“Drink it all!”

It was a new recipe made from a mixture of fruits and other items. It was a bit bitter from the bark and it had nutritional value from lettuce and raspberries. Weed had constantly used herbalism and cooking in the intermediate levels to research alcohol. He had finally made a new drink that was a liquor full of mysteries.

‘Alcohol is money.’

Alcohol had a long shelf life and it was easy to store so it wasn’t uncommon that it was a best selling product. Professional brewing was a career that was held in regard on the Continent of Versailles. Food recipes, as well as drinks were traded at high prices. It had a good taste and nutritional value so it would be a recipe that was worth a lot. Weed had created a drink with high nutitrional value with low cost materials!

“This drink is amazing!”

“Is it that good?”

The beginners could taste the amazing taste of alcohol. It was not expensive compared to a bar and it was good for the price.

“Cheers!”

“We give our thanks to Morata!”

“Cheers to the 49th beginner division!”

The beginners were smiling brightly to show their joy. The festival was going on everywhere and events of all sorts. Others were getting ready to hunt since they had gained a significant amount of experience from the war. In order to get stronger the beginners needed to hunt outside of the city. Weed thought of it as a good thing.

“As you get stronger you make me more taxes.”

The more taxes he got, the better. More users in the Morata created more positive effects in their own ways. Geomchis were off in the square consuming alcohol. The rest of the users that had survived the war were thoroughly enjoying themselves in the festival. Everyone was happy. Weed took out his lord mode and watched over the atmosphere.

“Increase city taxes by 2% for two days!”

Ttiring!

-For two days, a temporary tax is applied. Items have been changed to a rate from 5 to 7% in the stores.

It was the festival season. There was a lot of stuff to buy and eat so there was a lot of consumption. He raised the tax moderately to cover the cost of his investments.

“I can earn a lot with this atmosphere.”

The reason was the Grass Porridge Cult buying things.

In the real world, nothing was free!