Chapter 725: Power of Trade
"It's a success," Pyatu muttered once she exited the Krakhan Kingdom, holding in her hand a trade agreement signed between the two parties. Majority of the goods purchased by the Krakhan Kingdom were special minerals that weren't available in the region.
They had even begun to procure a Gold Grade mineral in small quantities, intending to accumulate enough of it by the time they finalise the cultivation technique required to cultivate it.
The Quip Clan was selling cultivation techniques too. Amita Brimgan had accessed a lot of cultivation techniques during her time at the Brimgan Empire. Similarly, Yarsha Zahara had also been in a similar position and had access to a variety of cultivation techniques.
These were all in the Quip Clan's possession. Moreover, they were actually providing an exorbitant price for the purchase of cultivation techniques from Kingdoms. Any Kingdom that was short on funds could sell its cultivation techniques for a price that was fat enough to elevate its national budget by hundreds of times.
The currency the Quip Clan used to trade was Prana Bombs, since they were the easiest currency unit to use other than Parute Fruits. Actually, considering their shelf life and structural integrity, Prana Bombs were more preferred.
This price could be generalised and spread across Sumatra Continent without worries, relevant everywhere they expand their services.
Parute Fruits only had a shelf life of one year, after all. So, they cannot be hoarded. But that wasn't the case with Prana Bombs, so they were preferred in the long term. This alone gave the Quip Clan a powerful incentive.
They could price everything using Prana Bombs!
This price could be generalised and spread across Sumatra Continent without worries, relevant everywhere they expand their services.
There were plenty of struggling Free Human Kingdoms that were desperate for money and resources. From these Kingdoms, the Quip Clan purchased cultivation techniques and Skills of the respective techniques.
The Quip Clan played around with their pricing system, ensuring they could maximise their profits as much as possible while keeping their buyers and sellers content. But only when it came to cultivation techniques that Inala told them to avoid profits and to buy it for as high a price as possible.
They were given orders to purchase even at prices where the Quip Clan made a loss, just as a show of effort to the innovators who created cultivation techniques. He also ensured to keep the prices of cultivation techniques affordable, giving a chance for the weak Free Human Kingdoms to purchase them and pave the way towards a better life.
But this was the only field the Quip Clan remained considerate.
Pyatu slowly walked until she was out of sight from the Krakhan Kingdom. She looked around sneakily, observing no one in sight, whether a Free Human, Pranic Beast, and especially a Parute Tree.
Only after that did she take out a Biome Bomb from her pocket and unleash a mild Zinger Shriek. Immediately in response, the Biome Bomb expanded two strings of Prana and spun them, resembling the rotors of a helicopter to assume flight.
One second later, the Royal Zinger appeared beside them, observing the surroundings before deciding not to erase the target. Only after deactivating the Major Treasure of Flight was Inala's figure visible to Pyatu and others.
The Major Treasure of Flight had all the powers of the Influenced Region of Hidden Eye. However, the rules acted more or less as a restriction. As for being undetectable, this wasn't a power Inala could use for his convenience.
Similar to the power to erase, this power too was limited to the Hidden Eye's original functions. While the power of being undetectable was active, Inala was unable to use any of his powers. The only power he could use was that of erasing a target in flight.
So, his choice then was to either erase the target or deactivate the power, only after which could he use his original powers. And the moment he chooses either option, his figure will be revealed to everyone, preventing him from sneak attacking whoever he pleases.
To achieve that, he would have to modify the functions of the Major Treasure of Flight. But Inala refrained from taking such a risk. If he fails, he'd lose the Major Treasure itself. Inala couldn't take that risk, especially since the chances of failure were exceedingly high.
It wasn't an issue, as he could at least remain in stealth while appearing before a target in flight, protecting him from sneak attacks. And the entity he was targeting would be unable to move, feeling as if time had stopped around them.
The power of the Influenced Region of Hidden Eye was tremendous. It was why Inala retained everything as is and only incorporated the rule that it was now a Royal Zinger exclusive power. That was his limit.
"How did it go?" Inala asked as he stared at Pyatu, breaking into a smile once the latter gave him the trade agreement, "Well done. That makes another powerful Kingdom our trading partner."
"Thank you," Pyatu beamed, elated to be praised by her Deity. She then informed him of all the details through a Zinger Shriek, especially the layout of the region and the path the Homing Satellites could take to arrive at the Krakhan Kingdom, "We have three possible routes. And in all routes, we have trade deals with a few forces."
"None of them border each other, right?" Inala asked, particular about this issue.
"Yes," Pyatu nodded.
Inala didn't want the Quip Clan to trade with neighbouring forces, especially ones in opposition. That would form a negative reputation since these forces could use their wealth to purchase resources from the Quip Clan and use it destructively against their enemies.
Hence, the forces being traded with by the Quip Clan were far apart from each other, even including Pranic Beasts and Free Humans. This way, no two forces can use the resources of the Quip Clan to war with each other.
And in the region where the Krakhan Kingdom was situated, their only trading partner was this Kingdom. There were suitable Silver Grade Pranic Beast groups in the region and the surrounding regions that could become valuable trading partners.
However, since they were involved in attacking the Krakhan Kingdom, Inala told the Quip Clan to avoid talking to them.
Basically, all forces—whether allies or enemies—to the Krakhan Kingdon weren't part of the Quip Clan's trading list. This rule applied to all their trading partners, including Ravaged Tribes.
It might seem like the Quip Clan was missing out on a lot of potential customers, but to ensure the Quip Clan's name was a positive one, Inala was adamant about this setup. Moreover, the Sumatra Continent was just so big that even with their current rate of expansion, it might take them millions of years before they'd be trading with every region on the Continent.
There was also one more reason that Inala had for this setup—one needs to be worthy to trade with the Quip Clan.
This was the message he intended to spread throughout all trading regions. Any force that can trade with the Quip Clan will experience exponential growth. And with growth comes an exertion of influence.
Take the Krakhan Kingdom, for example. As they purchase Silver Grade minerals in bulk, they'd expand their fighting strength with Silver Grade cultivators. Using powerful cultivation techniques, they could increase their variety of Cultivators, using their strength diversity to be prepared against a series of challenges.
Their strengths would increase while their weaknesses would reduce. This will make the Krakhan Kingdom harder to penetrate. With new techniques, minerals, medicines, Elixirs, etc. funnelling into the Krakhan Kingdom, it was just a matter of time before they began to dominate the region.
Once this happens, all the forces opposing them would be either wiped out or forced into submission until they had no hope for the future. In such a case, they'd band together to destroy the Krakhan Kingdom.
And once the Krakhan Kingdom is destroyed, they'd fight with each other to be chosen as the Quip Clan's trading partner. The core cause for the entire conflict is to become the Quip Clan's trading partner.
The more these types of conflict happen, the greater the Quip Clan's value grows. And the more the value grows, the harder the backlash the Varahan Empire will face once they target the Quip Clan.
After all, the vested interests of too many forces will depend on the Quip Clan. The trading partners will feel nervous, since without the endless support from the Quip Clan, they'd no longer be able to suppress all opposing forces in their region as they had been doing until then.
So, to safeguard their interests, they'd take up arms against the Varahan Empire, resulting in a war on the levels of a Major Disaster.
This was what Inala was achieving here, with the process proceeding without hiccups until now. He stared at Pyatu and nodded, "Wait here until the Homing Satellites arrive. Until then, keep scouting the region for more knowledge on the terrain, the migration habits of the Pranic Beasts, and the seasonal changes."
Seeing Pyatu nod in response, Inala disappeared, appearing beside the Biome Bomb in flight. This Biome Bomb was maintained next to Kenzar, who was the individual responsible for developing the entire trade network.
"Krakhan Kingdom," Inala said and transmitted all the related information through an Information Slip, "Begin sending Homing Satellites to it."
"Yes," Kenzar nodded and began preparations.