Chapter 1040: Navigation Data
Why hasn’t he returned to the discussion table? Did he not agree to those conditions?
Wasn’t it a generous move to let go of all of the requests they had made previously?
Cantory and Jorre were not to be blamed as muddleheads here. Their status in the Gilded Kingdom had never allowed them to be faced with such a demanding situation. Given that they were situated far away in the Gilded Kingdom, they also had little opportunity to interact with the countries or forces from the mainland. This was not to mention bending their heads to submit to any forces. To them, they were bestowing the greatest mercy by not retaliating against but forgiving someone who had threatened their benefits.
Of course, both of them were not fools, either. They could tell that Lin Li was not convinced by the conditions they had raised. Furthermore, Lin Li had mentioned that he would close an eye given that the two of them were only emissaries from the Gilded Kingdom. This meant that there was still enmity between them; it would not be a peaceful discussion if they were to meet again outside this context.
How would Cantory and Jorre not be taken aback after meeting such a brutally straightforward man!? Why couldn’t they just agree to their conditions if they already view them with high regard?
“What do you mean then, President Felic? I wonder what conditions would bring you back to our discussion table?” Elder Jorre responded after he regained composure. He had stopped playing negotiation tricks or caring about his ego. He just wanted to know Lin Li’s goal.
Lin Li smiled after seeing that Elder Jorre had finally accepted their circumstances. “Don’t worry, my requests are actually extremely simple. It would not be a burden on you. I presume that the Gilded Kingdom would have a lot of information about the Endless Ocean given that it had been exploring it for so many years. What I want to have is the most detailed nautical charts and the most complete set of information it has regarding the Endless Ocean gathered right from the day it was founded. I don’t think this meant much to you, does it?” he replied calmly.
Wealth, magical equipment, and weapons were not what the Tower of Dusk needed right now. The only thing Lin Li was vying for instead was all of the navigation data the Gilded Kingdom had.
While it would be myopic to say that the Gilded Kingdom would have gained complete understanding of the Endless Ocean across the thousands of years since its founding, it was definite that they would have crucial pieces of information from entrenching themselves in the region for such a long time. If not, the powerful alchemical warships owned by the Gilded Kingdom would just be ants in the Endless Ocean.
The request made by Lin Li was so simple that it was beyond the imagination of Cantory and Jorre. Yet, it placed them in an extremely difficult situation as well. While printing the information on a stack of papers would not cost much, the information was the foundation on which the Gilded Kingdom was built. It was the results of countless sweat shed and lives sacrificed by these navigators across the thousands of years. It was not something that could be priced.
A more important reason was due to the fact that the Endless Ocean was a natural fortress to the Gilded Kingdom. It was a reason why no countries in the mainland had actually had the chance to attack the Gilded Kingdom. The Gilded Kingdom had full access to the Endless Ocean as well. This information was just like the key to the front gate of one’s house. It would definitely threaten the security of the Gilded Kingdom.
“President Felic, according to my knowledge, most of the forces that belong to the Tower of Dusk are on the mainland. I wonder why you are interested in the nautical maps and data?” Jorre asked the frowning Lin Li very carefully. He was scared that he would provoke Lin Li unnecessarily.
In reality, Cantory and Jorre were not the only people who were confused. The people from the Tower of Dusk—Alan and Basel—were baffled by Lin Li’s request as well. It did not seem like Lin Li had the intention of seeking trouble with the Gilded Kingdom. His Sky Castle was conveniently located nearby; the Gilded Kingdom would be an extremely accessible place. Lin Li would not need to tide the crazy waves of the Endless Ocean if he knew how to fly. It did not seem like he had the intention to establish marine trade, either. The resources of the mainland were more than enough for the Tower of Dusk to meet its present development needs. Marine trade would only help them get a few more dollars.
However, Lin Li did not intend to give any explanation. “You only need to tell me whether you agree to my requests. I am not obliged to explain why I want that information. Furthermore, do not play tricks on that information. I bet you know that your methods wouldn’t work on me,” said Lin Li casually.
Normal men would not have noticed anything amiss if Cantory and Jorre were to alter the records on the unpredictable Endless Ocean. However, as Lin Li was a Sanctuary powerhouse who had an in-depth understanding of the laws in the world, he would be able to detect any strand of information that did not align with the laws. He was not afraid that the Gilded Kingdom would be dishonest in their deal.
Although Jorre had not entered the Sanctuary-realm, he knew the abilities of Sanctuary powerhouses. One should not belittle a Sanctuary powerhouse who had zero understanding about the Endless Ocean. If he were to gain access to the information, he would be able to spot errors at one glance. This was also the reason that made Jorre debate whether he should agree to the request. If it were other people who requested those materials, he might have already handled it to them.
“President Felic, the item you are requesting is a product of countless lives and blood sacrificed by the Gilded Kingdom over thousands of years. It is not something money can measure. Unless you promised us that mine at the shore, I don’t think my king would approve this deal,” Cantory presented his conditions wittingly. He wanted Tower of Dusk to trade their Tera Mine for this information.
“So you are saying that you can’t measure it with money? You’re not wrong. But, I don’t think that’s your one and only copy of the information. Oh well, if you are not keen, I will not force you. Since the Tower of Dusk does not have plans to develop on the waters, both of you may take your leave,” concluded Lin Li, dismissing them. He did not plan to give room for negotiation.
“Hold on, President Felic, hold on! Let us discuss,” cried Elder Jorre. After knowing that his status was insignificant before the young president of the tower, he finally decided to bend his back.
“Elder Jorre!” gasped Cantory. Cantory grew anxious after hearing Elder Jorre’s words. He feared that they would be giving the information on the Endless Ocean without receiving any benefits in return.
Although Cantory was very arrogant, he was not a prodigal who felt no pain giving away such a valuable national asset. But, a more important point was that he had once vouched to help his nation to tide all of its problems no matter how pricey it would be. Now that it would be incurring such a high price… he felt that it would injure his credibility as an envoy.
“Alright, let me give you some time to think about this, then,” said Lin Li as he sat motionlessly on his spot. It seemed like he expected the two of them to make the decision right here instead of giving them days and nights to decide on the partnership.
Elder Jorre and Cantory were initially intending to return for a more detailed discussion. Lin Li’s stance had also made them too uncomfortable to engage in a private conversation. Elder Jorre finally started the ball rolling by speaking to Cantory directly. “Cantory, I know your concerns. But I’m sure you are aware of the situation the kingdom is in right now. If that information can help us succeed in the mission, I’m sure both His Majesty and His Lordship would recognize your contributions,” he spoke with his voice lowered.
“But…” said Cantory. He wanted to rebut Elder Jorre, but he understood what the elder was also trying to bring across with those words. He was extremely clear about the situation the Gilded Kingdom was in. Although he was uncertain about what would happen to the Endless Ocean, he feared that the Breezy Plains would be coming at them soon. If that day were to come, no one would know how much the nautical materials owned by Gilded Kingdom would be worth anymore.
Furthermore, even if the Gilded Kingdom did not need to retreat, the drastic transformation of many marine regions had been very worrisome recently. As this might mean a discount on the value of their nautical information, it might be better off for them to hand them to the young president in case he were to add any more conditions to the deal after knowing the changes within the Endless Ocean.
This thought settled Cantory’s heart so much that he even felt a sense of joy.
“Elder Jorre, I understand. Let’s do what you suggest then,” said Cantory in a suddenly different tone.
Although Cantory and Elder Jorre had made the decision, both of them felt that it was only acceptable if they could gain benefits from the deal as well. It wouldn’t make sense for them to agree to the demands of the Tower of Dusk blindly.
Hence, when they turned to continue the discussion, they tried their best to request as many benefits as they could. However, when they tried to put up the same stance as what they did to the other forces of the Breezy Plains, they were overpowered by Lin Li’s stance. Lin Li was not agreeable to any additional conditions. Resources had to be bought at the same price as though they were unrelated to one another, and it would be a distant dream to join stocks with the Tower of Dusk.
The negotiation went on for a while, and it was visible that Lin Li had started to show signs of impatience. Not to waste all the efforts they had put in to get to the current stage of relationship, Elder Jorre and Cantory finally conceded that they should stop insisting further.
It wasn’t until they finally walked out of the main door that they realized that no one had invited them to take a seat when they entered the meeting room. They stood through their discussion without experiencing any niceties.
The thought of the insulting interaction they had with the young president earlier on made their blood boil the very moment they stepped out of the room. Yet, they could only bottle it up, for they had only walked a short distance from the door.
Of course, no matter how furious or how strongly they hoped to tear the Tower of Dusk into pieces, both men knew their priorities. After returning, they sent their men to inform the representatives of each of the forces in the Breezy Plains that they were going to hold another meeting on the following day.
This news surprised the representatives. Could it be due to a successful deal established between the Gilded Kingdom and Tower of Dusk? Although it was not bad news to them, for they had no intention to incite a war in the Breezy Plains, they could not help but feel curious which of the two headstrong organizations gained more advantage in their deal.
However, the discussion had to continue despite a lop-sided deal. While the Tower of Dusk dared to put up a stance against the Gilded Kingdom, the latter was not a power that these representatives dared to disregard.
On the day of the third meeting, the Tower of Dusk made a late appearance again, but this time, apart from the unpleasant expressions of the people of Gilded Kingdom, no one made any response to it.
This meeting was actually a show for Lin Li to watch; there was nothing else to negotiate between the Gilded Kingdom and Tower of Dusk. Although the agreement had yet to materialize on paper, he knew that Gilded Kingdom would not dare to disregard it.
The biggest show here was the exchange between the representatives from the Gilded Kingdom and the other forces of the Breezy Plains, but Cantory and the rest were not as rigid and headstrong as before this time. They had loosened up on a lot of conditions.
Although the forces of the Breezy Plains had been intimidated by the Gilded Kingdom and Illuminati, they would never let such a thick piece of meat slide from their mouths. Furthermore, having survived in a chaotic place like the Breezy Plains, the craftiness of these representatives was definitely not something Cantory and Elder Jorre could match up with.