I Became The Chief Of A Primitive Village

Chapter 1027, Additional Bargaining Chips

Translator: Silavin

Yini froze, unable to determine what reaction to give.

She stared at Su Bai with wide golden eyes, her expression one of complete bewilderment.

Ci, standing nearby, was equally stunned. It was for no other reason than that this was the first time she had ever heard that the Earth Tiger Tribe possessed a method for taming Ferocious Beasts.

She had always known that the Earth Tiger Tribe was not to be underestimated, given that the Tribe kept a considerable number of Ferocious Beasts in captivity.

Yet, she had never known where those Ferocious Beasts actually came from, and now, having heard the tiger eared girl explain it all, she stood there utterly dumbfounded.

“Is the Shaman truly not willing to reconsider? This is a technique that many people would desire.” Yini asked meekly.

This had surpassed her imagination. She had no idea what to do next. She could only press on with another question.

“There is no need. Our Tribe has no need for your method to tame Ferocious Beasts, so this cannot serve as a bargaining chip for any trade you might wish to conduct with us.” Su Bai continued sipping his tea with perfect composure, his expression entirely untroubled.

Though when he noticed the other party’s darkening face, he found himself suddenly wanting to laugh.

She had clearly been supremely confident in what she was about to reveal. It simply had not occurred to her that she would receive a response like this.

“The Flame Dragon Tribe also has the ability to Tame Ferocious Beasts? How have we never heard of this before?” Yini was struck by another wave of astonishment.

“Naturally. And for that matter, we were equally unaware that your Tribe could tame Ferocious Beasts, no?” Su Bai returned the question.

“This…” Yini found herself at a loss for words, her thoughts stalling.

“So then, do you have any other bargaining chips to offer us?” Su Bai continued.

He already knew the answer, but saw no reason to let her sit in that awkward silence any longer than necessary. She had presented what she herself considered a formidable card, only to discover it was something the other party had no interest in at all.

Of course, that was simply because Su Bai did not need it. For other Tribes, this remained an exceptionally valuable card to play.

“We have nothing else. This was our only bargaining chip. If the Shaman will not accept it, then we truly do not know what to do…” Yini’s face crumpled into something near tears as she continued, helplessly: “We have seriously miscalculated this time. Allow me to return and consult with the others in the Tribe before presenting the Shaman with a new answer.”

The tiger eared girl’s heart was deeply unsettled. It for one reason alone: the next party to be received was from the Green Vine Tribe.

If the Green Vine Tribe, at this very moment, produced a far more tempting bargaining chip, would they not become the first Tribe to secure a partnership with the Flame Dragon Tribe?

If that was how things unfolded, then the Earth Tiger Tribe’s dangerous journey to the Flame Dragon Tribe in the middle of the rainy season would have been entirely meaningless, especially given that they had been among the very first to arrive.

“Actually, your Tribe possesses a great many things of value. You simply don’t recognise them.” Su Bai stated plainly.

He had not expected her to be so slow to grasp it. He had assumed she would raise the matter herself.

Since that was not going to happen, he had little choice but to voice what he actually wanted.

“I wonder what the Shaman is referring to?” Yini asked, thoroughly at a loss.

“Does the Earth Tiger Tribe not have a great number of people? So long as you are willing to offer some labourers, and your people assist us in building roads through the forest, I am willing to consider collaborating.”

Su Bai reclined against his chair in a languid posture. He had only just been deliberating over the question of manpower, and here it was, presenting itself at his door.

At this point, the Flame Dragon Tribe’s goods held no particular scarcity for Su Bai. He could produce them at any time he wished.

Besides, those things were the product of his own creation. They only required time at the very beginning to set up the foundations for production. Once the workshop hands had grown familiar with the work, producing those goods became about as straightforward as preparing a meal.

It was only the people of other Tribes who regarded them as extraordinary marvels, extraordinary enough that they were willing to part with considerable quantities of their own things in exchange.

Su Bai understood this perfectly well, and so made it the Flame Dragon Tribe’s greatest bargaining chip without any hesitation.

Though, in fairness, it was entirely deserved. Looking across the entire primitive age, there were hardly a handful of Tribes that could boast so many fine goods.

“So the Shaman means to say, if we provide you with labourers, you will allow us to exchange our things for your Tribe’s goods at a reduced quantity?” Yini wondered whether she had misheard, her sharp eyes blinking rapidly.

“Yes. It is a fair trade, no? Oh, and do not forget. There is one more condition: your people must assist ours in building roads through the forest.” Su Bai added.

His vision was one of roads connecting the Flame Dragon Tribe to every other Tribe: roads that would bring those distant places far closer.

“Building roads? Like the stone paths inside the Flame Dragon Tribe?” Yini asked.

That was the first thing her mind jumped to, and it was indeed something remarkable.

“Exactly that.” Su Bai said quietly.

“But our Tribe’s people have no idea how to build roads. I am afraid that part cannot be done.” Yini said with a note of regret.

She wanted to partner with this powerful Tribe. But the Earth Tiger Tribe simply did not know how to build roads.

Had they known, those roads back in the Earth Tiger Tribe’s territory would have been finished long ago, rather than remaining as they were.

“You need not worry yourself with that. The precise method of construction and all the operational details, those are entirely our responsibility to fulfil. Your people only need to provide the manpower.” Su Bai explained.

Building roads through a forest was no simple undertaking. Cutting through dense vegetation alone was an enormous ordeal. The uneven ground had to be levelled in advance. Trees with sprawling, tangled branches had to be cleared away. Where small ponds or waterways appeared, the ground had to be filled and made passable, or alternate routes had to be plotted around them.

It was, in short, a colossal task. It was one that could not be completed in less than a year and a half at the very minimum.

And even that year and a half would only cover the preliminary groundwork. The actual road-laying would require its own separate calculation of time.

“If that is the arrangement, then we are fully capable of fulfilling our part. The Earth Tiger Tribe may lack many things, but manpower is one thing we have in abundance of.” Yini said, her smile broad enough to nearly shut her eyes.

The tiger eared girl’s grin was unstoppable. Finally, the prospect of partnering with the Flame Dragon Tribe had become a genuine possibility.

“But there is something that must be said clearly from the outset: the Flame Dragon Tribe now operates on currency notes. If your people come to our Tribe to exchange for goods, they must purchase our goods using currency notes.” Su Bai turned serious. The present moment was the ideal time to promote the spread of currency notes.

“We have already familiarised ourselves with the currency note system in advance. The mechanism is one our Tribe can accept.” Yini said without a moment’s hesitation.

The tiger eared girl had taken a genuine liking to those currency notes. They were beautifully crafted to look at.

“Also, what I have discussed with you today must still be confirmed by the Chieftain of your Tribe.” Su Bai said earnestly.

He understood clearly that she had come to negotiate, and that the authority to make final decisions did not rest with her.

“Do not worry, Shaman. I will take full responsibility for all of it, and I will bring the Shaman a reply as quickly as possible.” Yini said with delight.