Chapter 283 – Display of Power

Chapter 283 – Display of Power

My meeting with Chairman Alvor happened around noon the day after they arrived. I was accompanying him, checking the materials they had brought over as payment for my help. Their caravan was placed in their own little area within Avalon, letting them unload their cargo and put it on display for me. In turn, I prepared something similar for them that would surprise them. It was Sasha's idea, and she giggled when mentioning it; it was her version of a shock-and-awe scenario.

“I’d like you to accompany me.” I said candidly, seeing the confusion in his eyes as he explained what they had brought for me and what else they could procure for us in the future, assuring me that this was only the first caravan coming to my city. If I can uphold my end of the bargain, that is.

“To where?” he asked, following me, unable to get to the last carriage loaded with the barrels they brought over. I knew it was filled with oil, but that could wait. I know he knows I had already been informed of his products; this was nothing but a formality. I wanted to downplay my interest in their oil as much as possible.

“You will see.” I smiled mysteriously because my wives had already prepared everything.

First, I took him and a handful of his subordinates out of the city, boarding a train with one cart prepared explicitly for this occasion. I knew they had been thinking about it since yesterday, and I was not going to let them suffer from overthinking it. I let them climb up to it, touch the metal frames, the windows, the cushioned seats, everything they wanted. I even let Alvor check out the engine, showing him where the conductor works, steering my steel beast.

When it began moving, I couldn’t help but chuckle, watching all of them hang out of the windows, trying to see how they move for themselves, like a bunch of children. In the end, I pulled on Alvor, making him realize he was embarrassing himself. Not that I cared; I found it gratifying. It was akin to having an accolade for my invention. I appreciated catching people enjoying it.

“I take you like it?” I smiled at him, and he didn’t refute, nodding his head.

“I already see how this one invention would revolutionize the League. But...”

“But?”

“I guess this one is not for sale.” He shrugged, making me flash a grin at him.

“At the moment, you couldn’t afford it. But I am not saying it isn’t.” Of course, he had already snapped his head at attention, and I saw from the corner of my eyes that multiple other heads also pulled back into the cart, listening to us. “At the moment, I can’t sell you the know-how on how to build one. Mirian Ishillia, the rightful empress of Ishillia, has a deal with me about that. The moment this rebellion is over and the empire is stabilized, we will spread it all around the country.”

“I see... So... after that is done...?”

“A deal is a deal, and then, we can expand. Of course, manufacturing these machines is not cheap, not even for us.” I said, telling a white lie, “Especially because there are components that require a slight understanding of... magic.”

“I already guessed....” Alvor muttered, shaking his head. “We are not Ishillia or the Geth Empire. Everyone on the continent knows that these two have the most mages, the richest powers with vast access to magic. It is not the norm.”

“I heard.” I nodded my head, but in fact, I didn’t. This was a bit of new news to me, so I was letting him continue, blabbering a little. It was mainly what I wanted because the information he was willing to share was something that I didn't need to buy.

“I... I heard, and please excuse my possible rudeness, Sovereign Leon...”

“Go ahead.”

“Always. I prefer it over flowery talks.”

“Aren’t you afraid we will dismantle your machines and learn how to build them for ourselves?”

“Go ahead.”

“...” The shock on his face was priceless. Amusing. It took all my will to hold back my laughter and keep talking in a normal, calm voice.

“I am not giving you secrets that I am guarding with two hands. I am giving you tools. Use them, and if you can remake them just as well, go ahead. It won’t affect me. If you manage it, it means you will have more resources that I can trade for. It is a win-win scenario for me.”

“I...” He stuttered, clearly not expecting something like this. He was a merchant; this was... not how they would do business.

“Same with the trains. I am not expecting it to be a treasure of my Avalon forever. It is a tool. What use do I have for it if I can’t utilize it to its full potential? We veered off topic on the train ride, my friend, but I will tell you now. One day, my trains will be traveling all around the continent. That is why, if you build the tracks for it, connecting it to my country... my trains can journey to your home and speed up the exchange between us.”

“...!”

I didn’t think someone’s expression could turn even more flabbergasted, but it did happen. I watched as Alvor opened his mouth multiple times, trying to say something, but he was unable to find the correct words. In the end, he muttered something that finally broke me and made me laugh.

“This is so stupid...”

“Ahahahaha!”

“I am so sorry, Sovereign Leon! I mean...!” He stiffened, catching himself, “You... you are essentially giving away knowledge that could be worth gold, no, it could be worth of whole countries!”

“I have what I need.” I replied amidst my laughter. “I am satisfied. The desire to always want more, without limits, without feeling the satisfaction of what you have, will only lead to ruin and an unhappy life in the end. I like stopping and enjoying the moment, the fruits of my achievements. If sometimes I don’t give, there won’t be anything left to take.”

“What if others decide to take it by force?” He asked, almost by reflex.

“They can try.” I smiled, showing a bit of teeth, “As I said... I am not giving away things that I would guard with two hands.”

Just as if on cue, our last surprise for the day arrived. It was Yuri, walking over, piloting the Princess. The shaking of the earth as it approached us, its sheer size and menacing look even when painted pink, everything was akin to witnessing a metal avatar of a God walking on earth. Alvor almost fell to his knees, his face pale, his companions nearly screaming out, pointing at the approaching monster until it stopped close to us. She was equipped with a spear and two cannons on her shoulders, shining in the summer sun's light. As its head turned to look straight at us, Alvor's leg finally gave out as he fell to his knees, looking up at it with primal fear in his eyes.

“If anyone tries to take something by force...” Yuri said, her voice booming out, reverberating as a deep, low rumble from the mech’s headpiece. “They will first have to walk over us. Ishillia tried and failed... Monsters tried and failed... and we are prepared for new challengers.”