152 Underwater (2/2)
”Of course you can.” Corco leaned forward and lowered his voice a bit. ”I'm not some idiot Chutwa noble. I'm a Medalan. We've had connections to your Isles for centuries. And we know very well that a colored king can put certain ship's banners under his protection, to make them untouchable within the Verduic Sea.”
”Right, certain banners. Not yours.”
”And why is that?”
”Well for one, you represent a foreign kingdom, and this type of honor is limited to Verdant Folk or individual vessels.”
”...right.” Corco frowned. This Green King didn't make negotiations easy on him. Time and again, he tried to interrupt Corco's rhythm. Thus, he decided to try a different angle. ”You're aware of the political situation in my home?”
”My children have kept us informed,” Tacao nodded. Even though he had admitted that his children had acted as spies, Corco decided to ignore it.
”In that case, you should know what's happening in the Medala Empire, right? While the empire is split, both the northern and the central Kingdom are hard at work to eradicate the old Pacha faith.”
”Our faith is our own. If you value your faith, you should be able to defend it.” Again the smirk got wider, and showed off more of the missing teeth. Since there was no point to the sentimental route, Corco raised his hands in defeat.
”Well, it was worth a shot. Okay, then how about this: You get ten percent of every cargohold that passes through this place.”
”A tempting offer,” the Green King whistled. ”Still, Medala has far too many ships. If I allow all of them free passage, how many vessels would be able to pass through our waters tax-free? Like this, the Verdant Folk would miss out on even more money. Not to mention the trouble I would get from making all the other captains draw back. If only the Hulpatec clan profits, there would be trouble.”
Of course, 'tax' was nothing but Verduic code for 'theft', but Corco wouldn't expose his opposite like that.
”Because if you don't give me guarantees, no ship will travel through your island group at all. If you take half my ships as 'tax', it sounds like a great deal at first, but half ofzero is still zero. Also, you can always chose to share some of your profits from this deal with other captains. It's not my fault if you make enemies from your own greed. Speaking of the other captains, you're aware that there's four more people on these islands who can offer me the same conditions, right?”
”Are you blackmailing me?” For the first time since their meeting, Taoco's eyes narrowed into dangerous slits. Corco was baffled at the response.
”...what are you even talking about? You think you have a natural right to plunder?”
”Careful what you say. After all, I know what you really want. If I allow this kind of free trade, I would wager that you would buy as much grain from us and Chutwa as your ships can carry.”
For the first time, Corco could feel the Green King's pressure. However, it wasn't the narrow eyes or low voice, and it wasn't the eerie room either. Rather, he hadn't expected to have his weakness this exposed.
”You know, my son is a bit too proper, in some regards, but Sumaci grew up right.” Taoco's chest swelled. ”Before you came in here, that girl told me quite a few interesting things. Like how you're at war with your brother from the central kingdom, and how your trade routes are cut off.” He leaned forward even more. ”How half your country will starve soon.”
”The girl exaggerates,” Corco said, his face unchanged despite his discomfort. ”I'm sure Princess Sumaci failed to understand our exact position, but it is nowhere near as dire, I can assure you.” Roaring laughter answered Corco's calm response.
”Ahaha! So she's right then!” The king slapped the table. ”At this point, I wonder if you'd have ever talked to me if you didn't need to feed your people.”
Although Taoco had tried to trap Corco further, this time he had made a miscalculation. Right away, Corco's smile grew warmer again.
”Of course I would have. After all, I have a second request to make of you, one independent of trade deals. Interested?”
”You couldn't even make me agree to your first one,” Taoco scoffed. ”Still, tell me your second request so long as my mood remains good.”
”I want you to rob Medalan ships,” Corco grinned.
”Huh?” Now it was Taoco's turn to lose composure. As it turned out, the Green King had a much weaker pokerface than the King of the South.
”Of course you won't rob the southern ships,” Corco continued with a raised finger. ”However, my good brothers have established contact with the Arcavians, merchants and warriors from across the eastern Sea. They want to march through Medala, to establish trade with the Chutwa Empire. It won't be long until they do, and on their way to the riches of the west they will come through here.”
”So what does it have to do? Whether or not we take them is our problem, right?”
”Sure, but I can provide you with the number of vessels, the cargo and the headings for all the trade fleets that leave Medala. All I ask in return is that you try to keep the Medalan sailors alive as much as possible.”
Even when he plotted a secret deal with a foreign lord, Corco would never forget his own people. Whether or not they lived under one of the other kings mattered little in this regard.
”Maybe you're not a hopeless case after all,” Taoco sighed.
”So does that mean we have a deal?” the merchant king asked with a wide grin.
”Sure, we can talk about your second request, although I'm still unclear about the details. As for the first, you best forget about it. In the end, Medala just doesn't have enough goods or wealth to make it attractive. Our benefit doesn't make up for our costs.”
Although he still denied Corco's request, at least Taoco had finally admitted to his real problem: There weren't enough benefits to annoy his fellow kings over. To the merchant king's great luck, if there was one thing he had more than enough of, it was trade goods.
”I knew you'd say that,” he smiled like a car salesman. ”Had you played along for sentimental or religious reasons, I would have looked down on you.” Rather than answer, the Green King Tacao only stared at Corco and waited for the punchline. ”As a matter of fact, I can provide you with another reason for our cooperation, more gold and silver than what you can count in a lifetime. However, I cannot do so now. That part will have to wait until my return.”
”You are leaving already? I assume you have plans and did not just get wet feet?” The Green King sat up, and for the first time, the eyes of the kings met with both of them in a proper posture.
”Not exactly. I'll stay a bit longer so we can talk a bit, maybe tie some deeper knots. However, since I managed to get out of my kingdom for once, I'll take the chance to visit other countries as well. For now, our next stop is Chutwa.”