Chapter 3434: Mutually Beneficial Trade
Empress Schlieffen raised an eyebrow at those words as her eyes glinted with interest. "...The largest broker of esoteric goods?"
Emperor Rael nodded. "Precisely. As you know, the Panama Continent is rich in esoteric resources, we have many powerful exotic substances that are capable of manner of magic. However, creating an intricate set of supply chains to fulfill all demand for our goods will take time. Time that I don’t have. I wish to integrate the Panama Continent into the world’s economy and system as soon as possible. Thus, I need a distributor and a broker who can connect the Panama Continent with the rest of the world as conveniently as possible. And I see that the best candidate for that role is none other than your Hlakaschken Trade Empire."
Empress Schlieffen’s expression grew more engrossed in the matter as she realized just how attractive a proposal that was. The demand for esoteric substances in the true world was sky-high at the moment. Every nation around the world wanted to get its hands on the powerful substances that characterized the Panama Continent.
Even a gram of esoteric substances that had been collected during the initial month-long invasion into the Panama Continent was sold at absurdly high prices. Every single force and entity in this world, no matter their race or civilization or path, was deeply eager to get their hands on this form of matter, either out of fear or out of greed.
If the Hlakaschken Trade Empire became the sole or even the largest platform to distribute esoteric goods, then many more people would flock to the Hlakaschken Trade Empire than they currently do. The Hlakaschken Trade Empire would become an extremely important trade hub that would not be allowed to fall into anybody’s hands.
It would be just like the good old days, when they were at the center of all trade and commerce and received a tremendous influx of ships and other vessels due to their geographic position.
The importance of the Hlakaschken Trade Empire would rise, and she would be able to restore people’s interest in the trade empire, allowing her to recreate a balance of power that cannot be violated by any one entity in the true world.
Of course, she didn’t expect that such a great boon would simply be given away just like that with no strings attached.
"...what do you have in mind?" she raised an eyebrow. "I cannot imagine that you are simply making such a grandiose offer in exchange for our neutrality alone. If you want our allegiance, then I’m afraid I will have to decline. I may have temporarily agreed not to side with the Evolutionary Army because of your son and the Omni-Martial, but that doesn’t mean that I’m willing to become an ally of human civilization."
"I do not seek to strip you away from your neutrality. In fact, the Hlakaschken Trade Empire remaining neutral is ideal for human civilization," Emperor Rael remarked. "What I require are your distribution services. The Hlakaschken Trade Empire has an extensive shipping system that is remarkably unparalleled in the true world. You have mastered the waters of the true world and have a well-fleshed-out apparatus for supplying across the entire world. Right now, the Panama Continent is in the process of developing its own systems to accommodate the true world, but it will take time. And time is not something that I wish to waste at this moment. I would like to allow at least a small amount of esoterics to pour into the true world immediately, and I believe the Hlakaschken Trade Empire is most equipped to help us do that."
In order to fully flesh out its own international export of goods and services, the Panama Continent would need to forge treaties with a myriad of different parties and establish a system before it could export esoterics effectively. The dark elves had been the easiest, and even that took five months to bargain and negotiate the details on.
It would take too long to do that for each and every single party.
The world was impatient to get its hands on esoterics; thus, it was not wise to take one’s time in this situation, lest a war break out to get their hands on the Panama Continent’s esoterics, one way or another.
Thus, for the time being at least, the Emperor of Harmony sought to use the Hlakaschken Trade Empire to ship esoteric exports across the entire world so that he could quench at least a bit of the thirst for esoteric matter in the short term and reduce the pressure.
Given that most countries around the world were still very much in the experimental phase with the esoterics that they had, it made sense that they wouldn’t need extraordinary amounts of them right away.
That would give the Emperor of Harmony enough time to develop a rigorous export shipping system with the Trans-Panamic Seafaring Enterprise led by Guildmaster Bradt and Princess Ranea, and evolve it for the true world.
In the short term, however, the Hlakaschken Trade Empire was essential for ensuring that there was no incentive or need for any nation to invade the Panama Continent or even contemplate such thoughts.
Empress Schlieffen understood this dynamic quite well, pondering the matter as she tried to analyze whether or not there was any hidden trap that the Hlakaschken Trade Empire could possibly face.
"...It would depend on the details, as with everything," she replied with a careful tone. "But I am amenable to this agreement in principle. As long as the Hlakaschken Trade Empire isn’t short-changed relative to the value that we provide, we are most certainly willing to act as the Panama Continent’s broker and distributor for the rest of the world until you are able to develop your own system."
The Emperor of Harmony smiled charmingly. "Well, that’s quite pleasant to hear. It seems that you have changed your approach indeed."
"...Your son is persuasive, Your Majesty."
"Haha, that is indeed true, Empress."