Chapter 683.2: New Name Baby! |
Seeing Duke Garawa’s fervent eyes, Banteno felt he should pour some cold water on him before the goat forgot his own name. “Duke Garawa, I admit those blue coats are certainly a cancer, and their sudden death would be humanity’s great fortune… However, the time is not yet ripe. Before handling secondary contradictions, we must resolve the primary contradiction.”
Watching Duke Garawa’s flushed enthusiasm fade into confusion, Banteno gently coughed. “… Besides, it’s just a few escaped slaves. Why bother? Just pretend they wandered off.”
In his impression, Poro Province slaves were cheap, maybe 1,000 dinars each, maybe even less. Even if a thousand ran away, that was just a million dinars. What was that to any of them?
But hearing this, Duke Garawa nearly exploded. His mustache shook violently. “Wait, General Banteno, that is not the issue! They disgraced the Empire! If we don’t punish escaped slaves properly, everyone will imitate them!”
Banteno looked at him helplessly. “My friend, you worship a thousand gods for a thousand tribes. Losing one tribe shouldn’t matter, should it?”
Seeing the duke wanted to protest again, Banteno continued without pause. “Of course, I admit dignity is important. If the barrel of your gun is bent, your spine can’t stay straight. But that’s easy to fix. They don’t respect you because you’re too weak, forgive my bluntness, but you know those New Alliance people are bandits. Bandits fear only strength. If you want respect, you must be stronger than they are.”
At those words, Duke Garawa looked offended.
What nonsense!
The Xilande Empire ruled an entire province. How could a tiny little New Alliance compare to them?
Seeing the duke’s indignation, Banteno placed a hand on his shoulder and spoke earnestly. “I know you are brave. But whether you believe it or not, that’s the reality. It isn’t your fault, after all, the Enterprise and Academy support them, and you have nothing. Comparing you guys directly is unfair.”
Seeing the duke still unhappy, Banteno changed his tone. “But no matter. Before, you were alone. But now, we stand behind you! Whatever help the Enterprise and Academy give them, we can give you too. With our support, you can quickly reach strength equal to the New Alliance. It is not difficult.”
Duke Garawa’s eyes lit up instantly. He grabbed Banteno’s hand tightly. “Thank you… truly, thank you, my friend! It is our honor to stand with you! I swear before the White Elephant God, we will fully cooperate! Then… how will you help us?”
Seeing his gratitude, Banteno smiled.
He had long prepared for this moment. He just needed the right opportunity.
And now, without a doubt, was that opportunity.
“We can introduce you to someone. A General from a noble lineage, his name is McClennan. Unlike me, a civil officer, he is a real military officer, one forged on the battlefield. Not only that, he shares your grudge against the New Alliance. He hates those blue rats more than anyone. If you wish, I can arrange for him to serve as your military advisor in the Poro Province, helping you build an elite army with the standards of the Army! And we can even donate some equipment we no longer need!”
The expansionists weren’t using that gear anyway, might as well put the junk to use. And Banteno was sure McClennan wouldn’t refuse, he might even volunteer to go.
Upon hearing it, Duke Garawa was ecstatic. He clasped Banteno’s hands tightly and shook it violently, “Thank you! Truly, thank you!”
Banteno smiled and returned the gesture. “You’re welcome. You are our important trade partners and strategic partners. Your… ahem… spices, I enjoy very much! May our friendship last forever!”
Garawa chuckled, “May our friendship last! I’ll send some to your residence soon!”
After exchanging pleasantries, Banteno finally managed to send the troublesome goat away. He turned and pulled a tissue from the table to wipe his hands with disgust.
Unbelievable.
A General like him, having to shake hands with a goat.
Just then, a soft sigh behind him froze his neck. He turned with irritation toward the tent entrance. “Even if you’re the Marshal’s personal guard… You shouldn’t eavesdrop on my conversation with the envoy.”
Standing silently at the tent entrance without him noticing, Quick showed no reaction to Banteno’s displeasure. As a member of the Marshal’s Guards, he owed loyalty only to the Marshal. He was not required to bow to anyone else. “The expansionists finally managed to behave for once. The Marshal will not be pleased with what you’re doing.”
Banteno stiffened slightly. Though he didn’t want to explain, he grudgingly spoke due to the man’s position. “McClennan isn’t a fool. He spent months fighting against the New Alliance. He knows they are dangerous and what should or should not be done. He stay within reasonable limits. We are simply arming our allies, not making them fight the New Alliance. Or would you rather see us led around by the New Alliance?”
Quick asked calmly, “And if he fails to stay in his lane?”
Banteno snorted. “Then pull him back. He’s just an instructor for the Xilande Empire. What can he possibly do? That idiot isn’t Griffin. He’s a braggart who can’t back anything up. At most he’ll end up in some emperor’s harem bedding a few girls. It’s not like he can overturn the Poro Province.”
Hearing Griffin’s name, Quick’s brows furrowed slightly, his eyes revealing a complex emotion. However, it lasted only an instant.
Fixing his gaze on Banteno, he warned, “The Marshal values this meeting greatly. I hope you understand that, especially concerning the primary contradiction. You had better not mess it up.”
Meeting those clouded eyes, Banteno felt a flash of unease, quickly replaced by irritation. Why should he fear a mere commander?
“I am forever loyal to the Marshal. I don’t need you to remind me.”
Quick shrugged and made no comment. He turned to leave. But just as he lifted the tent flap, he paused, leaving behind one last sentence. “You all say the same thing, I hope you truly mean it.”
Banteno froze.
By the time he recovered, Quick was already gone…
…
On the northern shore of the Baiyue Strait, at the thriving French Fry Harbor, gentle sea breeze pushed waves onto the beach, splitting the coast in two around a pier extending into deep water.
Not far from the pier, a group of strength type brutes sat in small wooden boats, hammering aluminum-alloy poles, each as thick as an arm, into the seabed.
These tubes had been brought by the Bull and Horse Group’s airship from Dawn City, used to build a barrier net separating the shallow beach from the deep-water zone. They would later fill the tubes with sand and stretch nets woven from Devil’s Silk between them, enclosing the waters near the port.
Sensing their habitat shrinking, the mutant creatures in the water began stirring restlessly, occasionally attacking the boats. Every so often someone fell into the water.
But even so, nothing could stop these brutes’ determination.
“Brothers, work harder! For bikinis in the sunshine!”
“Woooo!!”
Staring wide-eyed at the scene on the distant sea, Roshan froze with her mouth open for a long time before finally squeezing out her question, “… Are these guys insane?”
Tail, who stood beside her, crossed her arms and nodded thoughtfully. “Oh, they’re definitely crazy.”
Forced to wear a maid outfit for three days straight, she had nearly gotten heatstroke from the bedsheet-length skirt.
Walking around in a tank top and shorts, she finally felt alive again.
Perhaps because the mutant creatures had gathered around the boats of the strengh types, the beach was almost clear of monsters.
