When the plot-skips players into the game world

Chapter 539: Chapter 420: Aiwass: I Know Everything_2 Chapter 539: Chapter 420: Aiwass: I Know Everything_2 In the original timeline, they could have done just that—Star Antimony provided the supplies, and Avalon handled the consumption; thanks to its good relations with the Elves, Avalon could even proactively set up shipping routes to the west, and possibly even establish trade channels for the Star Antimony people with the Holy Nation.

—But Star Antimony, to avoid a future stab in the back from Avalon, chose to flatten Avalon directly.

Certainly, there was the direct reason that Avalon was weak enough to give Star Antimony the confidence of a quick victory, but the fundamental reason was that the internal pressure within Star Antimony was about to explode.

That’s why they had to risk offending the Crown Lord and choose this dangerous path.

Because not doing so would mean certain death.

“The countermeasure they prepared for the Gryphon,” Aiwass suddenly spoke, “is that Gargoyle Legion, right?”

Upon hearing this, Geront showed surprise for the first time: “You know about…

that too?”

With his deep thinking, that might have been an expression he purposefully showed—after all, he could completely conceal his surprise.

Choosing to show it was a form of flattery.

Flattery aimed at the prideful heart.

Aiwass could clearly see all this.

But he opted to go along with Geront and revealed a prideful smirk: “I am omniscient.”

“For example, I know you too are in trouble.

Your three plantations on the southern continent have all encountered resistance from local armed organizations, and your recent losses must be significant.”

With those words from Aiwass, Geront was truly startled.

Because he hadn’t told anyone about it yet, and even instructed his employees to keep it secret—which means Aiwass’s informants could reach the southern continent.

In fact, this was Geront’s prestige unlock quest.

A group claimed to be “escaped from the lab and hence enlightened,” relatively intelligent Trolls who tried to save their own ignorant brethren from the plantations.

In reality, these seemingly freedom-seeking Trolls were sponsored by the “Benevolent Lords” of the Parthian Ancient Country.

But Aiwass would certainly not give this intelligence to Geront.

He just smiled slightly, gently lifting the crow in his hand.

The crow’s ruby-like pupils fixed on Geront, giving him a sudden chill.

Miss Grey Green was too weak to even perceive the abnormality of the crow.

But Geront, having reached the Fifth Power Level on the Path of Wisdom, could sense the crow was like an abyss, like a vortex of profound darkness.

“—I told you, I am omniscient.”

Aiwass’s lips curved up slightly, and in a low voice, he said Geront’s true name: “Geront·Death Gaze…

or should I say, ‘He Who Hides in the Belly of a Horse’.”

At this point, Geront’s pupils constricted sharply.

Startled, he raised his head to look at the shadow-casting Aiwass, and at the faint purple glow tinged with red flowing in Aiwass’s pupils.

Then he turned his gaze to the “crow” he couldn’t see through, feeling nothing but fear.

—Geront felt fear for the first time in a long while.

A fine sweat broke out on his back.

Was it this “crow” that told him?

…But truth be told, Aiwass knew about this much.

Although he had vaguely heard some background stories from the forums, like how someone hid in the belly of a horse as a child to escape something, incidentally cured a plague, and became extremely ugly, Aiwass wasn’t sure if the details were completely accurate, nor did he know the full causes and effects.

To avoid being exposed, he chose not to speak but to mention only what he knew for certain—those accurate fragments.

No need to elaborate.

More words, more mistakes.

The remaining parts, the smart ones would fill in the blanks in their minds.

“Now, let’s restart this discussion,” Aiwass said, leaning back, his expression barely hiding a smile, calmly adding, “To put it bluntly…

what are your demands?”

The same question as before.

But this time, Geront gave an honest answer.

“…I was originally planning to persuade you to establish the Goblin Commerce Association in Avalon.”

Geront’s voice was low as he took out an exceedingly expensive-looking handkerchief to wipe his sweat: “But now it seems, you must already have your own plans.”

“I still hope that Avalon will open its ports for commerce.

The ‘Summer County’ to Avalon’s west has decent ports, suitable for transforming into a commercial city.”

“As long as you’re willing, as soon as the ports in Summer County are expanded…

I can move three merchant guilds there, providing a minimum of eight million tons of goods for import and export each year.

Naturally, if it’s inconvenient for you, I can dispatch people to manage the port expansion.”

“And the cost?”

Aiwass asked with a chuckle, looking quite worried, “Avalon’s finances haven’t been very good recently.

Star Antimony has promised to fund our construction of ports and railways.”

“What you say—since it’s for our use, naturally, we should be the ones to pay.”

Geront wiped his sweat again and smiled politely and elegantly, “Just sign the engineering documents on your side, and I can send people to start the work.

Besides the port in Summer County, we can also help expand Lohar Port and Queen’s Port.

I will send my engineering team, half of them are Transcendents, and the work can be completed in at most two months.”

“But our Avalon stretches from east to west, quite a distance…

Will the midsection of the cargo occupy the old railways?”

Aiwass casually inquired.

Hearing Aiwass come to this point, Geront finally could confirm that Aiwass was also thinking about opening up the country.

—As long as you are willing!

Losing a bit of money or whatever…

that’s not an issue.

As long as we can make a deal on Avalon’s side, the lost money shall be coughed up by the people of Star Antimony.

“Three new railways,” Geront extended three fingers, “from west to east, penetrating all the main cities.

Every city with more than three bishops stationed in it, all connected.

I’ll finance it, and I’ll find the people to fix it.

It can be completed by next summer—we can also provide Star Antimony’s most advanced train engines at cost, selling ten engines to Avalon.”

“Make it twenty,” Aiwass coaxed, “or even twenty-five would do—our steam trains are really too slow, and not good for transporting goods.”

“Only ten, and there are only ten.”

Geront shook his head, his attitude very firm: “Your Grace could also have Alchemists analyze the technology.”

“Can we pay in installments?”

Aiwass said with a smile, “As you know, Avalon’s finances are quite tight…

If too much is allocated at once, I might not be able to make a deal.

Our decisions in Avalon must go through the Round Table Hall, and they are not just dictated by His Majesty and I.”

“That’s easy to arrange, you just send someone to talk to me afterward.

Coming directly to Miss Grey Green will do.”

Geront chuckled, tentatively setting aside the topic, “After all, I dare not get too close to Countess Emma.

You never know, you blink and those lovely little Gold Coins could be gone.

“However, for our construction team to come in…@@novelbin@@

you’ll still need to pass a law permitting foreigners to enter Avalon.

There are quite a few Trolls in my construction crew.”

“Ah, that’s natural.”

Aiwass nodded, knowing that this would have to be passed sooner or later.

However, he still said with reserved manners, “But I need to talk to Her Majesty personally about this…

It does, after all, contravene Avalon’s traditions.”

“Oh, and right, Your Grace—I heard that the Moriarty Family has also been in business for generations,” Geront smiled with respect and politeness, “Now that Avalon’s economy is not that good…

I presume your finances must be pretty tight, too?”

“Hmm…

I don’t know.

After all, I don’t pay much attention to the family business.”

Aiwass chuckled.

This was a rare truth.

But Geront found it very hard to believe.

He lowered his voice and gestured a “six”: “I can offer, in a personal capacity, an interest-free loan of six million Star Antimony Coins to the Moriarty Consortium for twenty years…”

—How much?

Aiwass was startled.

That was almost half of Avalon’s annual military expenses!

And judging by Geront’s intention, this seemed to be a personal kickback for Aiwass.

It was not until then that Aiwass finally realized what his status truly meant.

He wasn’t particularly interested in money…

but it wouldn’t hurt to take the money that was offered, and he could use it to replenish Isabel’s treasury.

So Aiwass nodded and promised, “I’ll give you an answer before Queen Sofia’s funeral is over.”

At those words, Geront rose from his seat.

This Fifth Power Level being, renowned throughout the world, showed utmost politeness and respect to Aiwass, who was only at the Third Power Level, giving a supremely standard and, for that reason, all the more comical, Knight’s bow:

“—Yes, Your Grace.”

It wasn’t respect for strength.

It was respect for power.