Do you have a problem with necromancers?

Chapter 68 Calculation and Cooperation

“They’re planning to set it on fire,” Berthalia said.

"What should we do? Should I fly you out?" Dia asked anxiously.

“If you transform into a dragon and fly out now, you'll just be a target for crossbow bolts.” Ellina raised her spear. “I’d rather fight my way out.”

"It seems they don't fully understand someone's strength," Bersalia said with a grin. "Even the army of White Walkers couldn't handle this woman, how could a mere few dozen crossbows possibly kill her?"

Hearing that Ellina could handle the troops outside on her own, Dia breathed a sigh of relief. Just as she was about to speak, she suddenly heard someone shout from behind:

"Everyone! Look this way!"

Everyone turned around and saw a middle-aged man dressed in a gentleman's attire standing backstage, who took off his hat and nodded to them.

"I am the head of the Troller Merchant Guild, you can call me Philro," the man said politely. "The guards plan to set fire to the building from the outside and force you out so they can fire crossbow bolts at you. Fortunately, there is a tunnel connecting this building to the outside world, so please leave with me as soon as possible."

“President Philro, right?” Ryan interrupted him. “You’re very clever to have thought of cooperating with us.”

"You flatter me," Philro said with a wry smile. "The White Walkers have already destroyed Dragonpeak, and this place is on the verge of collapse. We shouldn't continue fighting amongst ourselves..."

“It seems the Trolle Merchant Guild has run out of ships in the city,” Renn said incisively. “So they can only use this high-sounding reason as their motive.”

President Phillo paused for a moment, then said with a wry smile:

"Our merchant guild's fleet... unfortunately is still engaged in trade activities overseas, so there are currently no ships available in the city."

He paused for a moment, then suddenly said:

"But if you intend to seize all the merchant guilds' ships, then allocating a few to help us evacuate shouldn't be a problem, right? In return, we can persuade other interested merchant guilds for you."

Daiya stared in disbelief, her mind suddenly going blank, and then she understood everything:

If you try to take everyone's share of the cake, they'll fight you to the death; but if you just take more cakes from those who have more, and then give some to those who lack food, they'll even come to help you!
"Are there many merchant guilds in the city like yours?" Bersalia asked.

“Many,” President Philro replied. “In fact, most small and medium-sized merchant guilds only have one or two fleets, and they can’t possibly stay idle in Longyuan City for long. Because there are too many people and goods to transport, we even have to rent ships from those large merchant guilds that own them…”

The rest is self-explanatory; naturally, the merchants demanded exorbitant prices, to the point that the Trolle Merchant Guild had to take the risk of sponsoring the ship-grabbing event in Rennes, and other small and medium-sized merchants did the same.

“Dia,” Raine said, “which parts of his explanation do you think are true?”

"Huh?" Dia's previously clear thoughts suddenly became confused again. "Was he lying just now?"

“At other times, it’s true that merchant fleets can’t stay in Longyuan City for long,” Bersalia said with a smile. “However, during the long rainy season, trade between the Rainforest Peninsula and the Empire is forced to stop. The prices of Rainforest Peninsula specialties such as herbs and fruits rise due to reduced supply in the Empire’s market. So most merchant guilds have probably already anchored their fleets in Longyuan City, waiting for production to resume after the rainy season so they can immediately transport goods back to the Empire to sell and grab the highest profits. Right now, you’re probably the only one lacking ships, aren’t you?”

"This lady clearly has no experience in maritime trade, so she has many misunderstandings about us," Chairman Phil said helplessly. "Besides, this isn't the place for explanations and exchanges; the people outside will soon start setting fires..."

"Ellina," Raine said, "Go out and take care of them." Ellina picked up her gun and left.

“Let’s stop going in circles,” Ryan said impatiently. “I don’t even have enough of the ships I’ve stolen for myself, so of course I don’t have any extras to lend you.”

Philro's face was ashen, and he was about to speak when he heard Ryan continue:

"However, if some chambers of commerce resist stubbornly and ultimately perish, it would be understandable if some of their goods were lost in the chaos, wouldn't it?"

Philro paused for a moment, then immediately became respectful:

Good heavens, you're just going to kill and rob people, aren't you!
Considering that the things that destroyed Dragon Peak City would eventually arrive here, the most important thing for each merchant guild now is, of course, to transport out as many of the most valuable goods as possible.

Logically speaking, the best approach would be to acquire as many ships as possible.

But Ryan gave him a new idea: let's take down the other chambers of commerce and steal their high-value goods.

The number of ships remains the same, but if the overall value of the goods transported increases, the final loss can still be significantly reduced—for example, tropical spices and rare herbs, which are valuable items that take up little space.

Philro had to admit that he was already a little tempted, because the other party not only had the force to do so, but more importantly, they might be able to take the blame afterwards!
"This is not the place to talk." He decided to go back and discuss the matter properly with the other chambers of commerce. "Why don't you all leave with me through the underground passage?"

"No need, go back and think it over yourself," Renn said calmly. "Give me an answer as soon as possible."

Philro turned and left without hesitation. Time is money these days, and he couldn't afford to waste too much time on hesitation.

“Raine,” Dia asked hesitantly, “are we really going to help them rob other merchants’ goods?”

“Those merchant guilds that refuse to cooperate will definitely be wiped out,” Bersalia answered for Renn. “We take the ships, and these merchant guilds plunder the goods. This way, everyone can profit, and the cooperation between us can be stable.”

“However…” she turned to look at Renn and said, “Afterwards, these involved chambers of commerce will definitely pin all the blame on you.”

"That depends on whether they have the ability," Renn sneered.

"What kind of scheme are you plotting now?" Bersalia's eyes lit up.

"You can guess for yourself," Renn said, refusing to reveal the answer directly. "Aren't you a dark elf? Scheming should be your forte."

Berthalia immediately began to think.

If I were Ryan, what would I do?
Hmm, I could orchestrate a scenario where they kill each other, creating the illusion of mutual destruction, and then take all their ships. But then I would be the sole survivor and the biggest beneficiary, and the nobles of Changshui Province aren't fools who only look at evidence; they'd definitely suspect me.

Seizing the ship by force isn't difficult; the challenge lies in handling the aftermath. After all, we can wipe out the entire merchant guild in Longyuan City, but we can't possibly exterminate all the nobles of Changshui Province with whom we have a grudge.

Unless... someone is willing to take the blame for me?
(End of this chapter)