Chapter 119: Fertile Land

"The ground here is fertile like expected," Bermenthol studied the brown dirt in his hand. "I can see why the Jarkales want to attack and claim the Jarlon Mountain Pass. In a few months, there will be lush vegetation for miles. It will make us quite a killing if we sell the crops grown here in the open market."

"There is a trading post in the Open Furnace where 10 different nations go to meet. It's considered a neutral territory there. If you let us travel, we can leave twice a year and return with a profit," Bermenthol smiled and nodded his head at Founder Arista. She seemed to have the entire weight of the world on her shoulders.

In a days, she'd have to go into the Jarlenson Abyss to try and stop enemies hundreds of times stronger than her. He could feel the fear in her legs. She had a pair of black tights and a white jacket that couldn't stop her trembling, but she was still smiling. 

"Good, I'm glad that the Horned will finally have to stop relying on butcher shops falling from Ki Storms to collect food. I have a feeling their might be a drought soon, and it will be hard to get food from Ki Storms for years. I agree, we will make a killing in the market."

"However, you said ten nations know of this market? Do the Varlen or Aresoul go there?" Founder Arista crossed her arms and tried to embrace the tension she felt. She'd once seen a battle in the Jarlenson Abyss between two men in the SSS rank.

They had been so strong that when their fists collided a massive crater split apart the earth. They flew into the sky like vicious missiles and crashed into each other and created sonic booms like fighter jets while sucking all the Ki in the air for miles and using it to attack.

At the time of the battle, she'd felt powerless. They literally absorbed all the Earth Ki in the air and Fire Ki and all of the five major elemental sources. And in a few weeks, she'd have to try and stop those men by forming some type of agreement with their enemies.

The men she witnessed at the time were the main future enemy of Horned Nation, and were called the Arthrak, the strongest nation in the entire Furnace. The two men she witnessed fighting at the time were actually just 30 year old men. A single attack from them would tear Howard to shreds.

In fifteen years, if everything went perfectly, Howard could probably stand a chance against them in battle, but they didn't have fifteen years. The only way she'd be able to buy Howard fifteen years is if her plan worked.

Founder Arista planned on forming an alliance with three other nations in the Jarlenson Abyss. The Harlenca, the Morden, and the Gerlett who had managed to fend off the Arthrak because of their teamwork. 

Unfortunately, the Arthrak had started to surpass even the three combined nations together. Her only hope was that if she formed an alliance with those three nations that they could somehow keep their Entrenched from invading the Furnace.

She sighed and crossed her arms. The Arthrakhad apparently started making portals and soon might not even have to worry about their adversaries! She sighed and took a deep breath. Offering her hand to Bermenthol to help him off the ground.

"You seem worried, it will be alright. My father told me crops always grow better when you think they will. Are you worried about something?"

"Barmenthol, have you ever heard of the Arthrak?" Founder Arista crossed her arms, and shook her head. "They are the most powerful Nation I've ever seen. Have you met them in your travels?"

"I have. They are one of the ten nations that come to the Neutral Trading Zone. They are really big on buying Rare Bud Silver Root and Grand Melons. Why?" Barmenthol sighed and stood up to peer into her beautiful gilded orange eyes. "What are you worried about?"

"Howard… Howard will most likely be the only one that can reach the G rank, however, every single one of the Arthrak can reach the G rank if they try hard enough. I-I don't know why they are choosing to try and attack now! The Varlen just warned us they are making portals too! I'm afraid for our future!"

"They are actually quite reasonable.," Barmenthol laughed and tossed a seed in the ground. "Perhaps if you have something of value to offer them they'll make an alliance? However, aren't you underestimating the Harlenca? They have been keeping the Arthrak at bay for years with their Ki Sentries. What has you so frightened?"

"I overheard a conversation from the leader of the Arthrak," Founder Arista bit her lip and slammed her hand into the ground. "In fact, I-I kissed him to get him to tell me what his plans were! He wants to take over the entire Furnace, slay every Authoritarian, and then invade the surface! He-he wants try and destroy the Furnace to make the entire world a place where only people like us can live! He's willing to kill billions of humans to make his goal!"

"You-you kissed the founder of the Arthrak? I-I had no idea you went to such lengths to…" Barmenthol got up and patted Founder Arista on the shoulders. 

As a merchant, one of his most prized possessions was his ability to judge customers, and discern their wants. However, when it came to women when they cried, he completely felt at a loss. What was he supposed to tell her?

The Arthrak he knew never attacked unless they got attacked. They were extremely confident in their strength, and didn't seem to crave power at all. In fact, they trained just to train, and killed only when necessary? Maybe the leader had his own plans, but would the soldiers follow?

"I-I'm sorry for being upfront, but maybe it's just him. Maybe the leader of the Arthrak desires to claim the Furance, but his men won't want to."

"That's where you're wrong. When I slept in his room for a few nights, I looked through his records. He has a way to control every single soldier beneath him because of the way their hierarchy system works. I-I feel like such a dirty woman for doing that, but I had no choice! He's just too cunning! Only by kissing him and hugging him to sleep did he open up a little bit!"

"Most likely, you're probably right," Bermenthol turned and pointed to the 2,500 tents behind him with his men. "However, you have to live in the current season. He can't attack for at least 5 years right. There will be 20 seasons before that. You'll think of something."

"I won't, but Howard might," Founder Arista pointed over to the East Branch. 

Unlike the other three branches, it actually looked like a small city. It had a few apartment buildings and dorms for students housing and a council hall and a large factory and hospital. The buildings had been built out of sandstone and had small windows that doubled as weapon ports. It almost looked like a vacation destination you might go to on the surface in the winter to avoid the frigid storms, but it's real strength was that as a fort.

In a few days, Howard would have to defend that fort using roughly 20 Horned Students. Most of them would be under 25 years old besides Reslan. She sighed and shook her head. Things really couldn't get any harder for Howard. He really had the entire world on his shoulders.

"Anyways, he'll be here in one day. I'm going to go check that Monica is still training and not preparing their bed room. I expect the crops will be grown by the winter?"

"Yup, and that will be the first of the 10 seasons. Trust me, things will work out," Barmenthol held up his thumb and smiled. His black hair fluttered in the wind as he nodded his head. "Have some faith in the younger generation. They will be one to remember."