Ti flowed slowly by.
When the fleet reached the western river bay, a relatively narrow spot, the once calm water surface suddenly exploded into fountains.
Countless sparkling water droplets shattered and scattered in all directions.
With the clinking sound of tal, thick iron chains were pulled up from the water, stretched taut, locking the river surface and blocking several ships of the Iron Shield rchant Group.
At the sa ti, the centaurs led by Silver祭 appeared from the reed bushes on both banks. Their armored front hooves heavily stepped onto the shallow shore. Their tall and muscular figures blocked the sunlight, casting long, slender shadows on the river surface.
“Stop the ships! This area is under the jurisdiction of the Molten Iron Tribe!”
The tall and burly centaur leader spoke in a deep voice that swept across the ship hull.
Clang clang clang!
Weapons were drawn.
The Iron Shield rchant Group’s guards pulled out their glistening swords and knives. Fully ard, they tightly gripped their weapons, alert and vigilant. At the sa ti, the ship deck split open, and two alchemical golems forged from steel rose up, standing like iron towers on the deck.
A team brave enough to conduct trade in an area swarming with ferocious magical beasts was either a reckless gambler or soone with solid backing.
However, the engines of the alchemical golems did not start imdiately.
Hamr, the rchant captain, wiped away droplets on his face—whether from river water or sweat was unclear—and appeared on the deck. He first signaled the guards to lower their weapons, then waved a hand toward the centaur leader with a strained smile on his face:
“There’s no need for hostility. Let’s discuss things peacefully—friendly trade benefits all.”
“We’ve had pleasant talks before, why resort to conflict now?”
The ships dropped anchor, temporarily mooring at the riverbank. Hamr’s deerskin boots sank into the damp river sand.
Rejecting escort company, he disembarked alone and walked up to the strong centaur leader, handing over a bottle of fine southern wine.
Seeing the centaur accept the wine, the rchant’s tense shoulders relaxed slightly as he whispered:
“Lord Zachary, why have you stopped us today?”
The Molten Iron Tribe had occupied the southwest for over a decade and frequently traded with passing rchant ships. Among them, Silver祭 Zachary appeared most often.
As the long-ti rchant captain traveling the southwest, Hamr was no stranger to dealing with Silver祭.
He knew Zachary’s style well.
The centaur leader of the Molten Iron Tribe would never block rchant ships without a serious reason.
He suspected the cause but feigned ignorance.
A aningful smile hung on Silver祭’s lips:
“Hamr, why pretend not to know?”
The rchant’s smile stiffened instantly, and he hastily waved his hand: “Where do you get that from? I honestly don’t understand.”
Hearing this, the centaur leader’s smile faded. His usually kind expression hardened.
“The Molten Iron Tribe allows rchant groups to pass through the river bay we control. We regularly clear river beasts here to escort rchants, providing convenience without charging a toll. The only requirent is to trade fairly and reasonably with us.”
He spoke bluntly, in an official tone: “However, recently, multiple rchant groups have passed through the Molten Iron Tribe’s river section without stopping.”
“That includes your Iron Shield rchant Group.”
He suddenly leaned forward, his burly body casting an oppressive shadow that swallowed the frail rchant: “It seems we were too tolerant, making you forget who you’re dealing with.”
Behind him, centaur warriors slamd their halberds in unison, the tallic clang startling countless water birds into flight.
On the riverbank hill, dozens of longbows were already fully drawn, their cold, gleaming arrowheads aid directly at the rchant ship’s guards.
Sweat beaded on Hamr’s forehead as he pulled out a handkerchief to wipe it: “So it’s because of this. The last few tis we passed through, we didn’t see your people and were pressed for ti, so we just went straight through. Since we et today, how about we trade at the old prices?”
“Refined iron ore, seven hundred gold coins per ton.”
Silver祭 stated directly.
“Well… recently we’ve stopped buying gray magnetite.”
The rchant showed a troubled expression.
Silver祭 listed prices for several other ores, but Hamr kept hesitating and politely refused.
After a tense pause, the centaur leader suddenly changed the subject: “What price does the Gold Fang Tribe offer you?”
The rchant was silent for a mont. Realizing he could no longer deceive the Molten Iron Tribe, he stopped dodging and confessed:
“For example, for refined iron ore, the Gold Fang Tribe only asks for six hundred gold coins per ton. The price per ton for other ores is also lower than yours.”
As an established old tribe rooted in the Convergence Lands for many years, the Gold Fang Tribe controlled more resource points than the Molten Iron Tribe. They had been operating longer, with more refined processes and advanced alchemical industry, boasting production capacity surpassing that of the Molten Iron Tribe.
Moreover,
The goblins didn’t mind earning less in the short term. Through self-harming price wars with the Molten Iron Tribe, they aid to monopolize trade. To them, current losses were negligible.
Silver祭 frowned: “For your spices, we can pay 120% of the market price.”
Hamr smiled bitterly and shook his head: “The Gold Fang Tribe offers 140%...”
Silver祭 fell silent but still refused to let them pass.
The negotiation fell into a deadlock.
“Lord Zachary, how about we pay you a toll fee?”
Hamr’s voice dropped low, almost a whisper, but Silver祭 still said nothing. Only the clang of the iron chains in the river wind responded.
At the sa ti, a low voice sounded within Silver祭’s mind:
“Tell him, the Molten Iron Tribe never charged toll fees before, won’t charge now, and never will in the future.”
This was a telepathic whisper from the iron dragon Sorog.
He used mind magic to establish a ntal link with Silver祭, directing the negotiation.
“Noble Iron King, isn’t that a bit improper? They now prefer to trade with the Gold Fang Tribe. If we charge tolls, at least we can claw back so profit.”
Silver崇 asked silently in his heart.
“Compared to these trivial gains, reputation is more important. We must look to the future.”
After a brief pause, the command was resolute: “Let them pass. Let them leave.”
Silver祭 said no more and relayed the iron dragon’s words to Hamr.
Upon hearing the centaur leader’s words, the rchant captain’s pupils slightly widened, a flash of surprise crossing his expression.
“Go. You may leave now.”
With a wave from Silver祭, the iron chains blocking the river slowly retracted, and the archers on the riverbank lowered their bows.
“Lord Zachary, your generosity leaves a deep impression.”
The rchant captain smiled and bowed respectfully.
Then he boarded the ship, setting sail away from the western river bay, heading toward the east riverbank mainly controlled by the Gold Fang Tribe.
After they departed,
The iron dragon stepped out from the dense southern forest, his cold eyes fixed on the direction the rchant ships had left.
“Noble Iron King, must we swallow this grievance?”
Silver崇 bowed slightly and saluted the iron dragon, then asked in a sowhat reluctant whisper,
“I overlooked sothing.”
The iron dragon said slowly: “The Gold Fang Tribe is financially strong. Engaging in a trade war and price war with them is a short-term hit against a long-term player. It’s not a wise move.”
He admitted that the goblins’ provocations had ignited his pride.
Facing the Gold Fang Tribe’s petty moves, the iron dragon wanted to retaliate in kind and show the goblins the wisdom of dragons.
But
The facts stood clear.
The Gold Fang Tribe was deeply rooted. Recklessly attacking them as the weaker party would only harm the Molten Iron Tribe’s interests and could not truly hurt the goblins.
After careful thought, the iron dragon suppressed his pride and refrained from rushing into a price war, deciding to first hear Garoth’s advice.
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