[Vol. 7] Chapter 68: Returning to Familiar Lands
The black-haired girl gently patted the little dragon girl beside her, shaking her head slightly, not too concerned.
"It's just a small amount of money. Wealth, if not turned into something valuable, is nothing more than meaningless numbers. Even though it seems like we let Cassio take advantage of us this time, as the Grand Admiral of the Second Navy Fleet of the Austre Empire, he holds considerable influence. Not just in the Layla City, but throughout the entire Imperial military."
"As a neutral organization, the Spirit Veil Merchant Guild must avoid getting entangled in national conflicts. However, building a good relationship with a high-ranking figure in the Austre Empire and having an extra connection could bring benefits far greater than the money we spent today."
"Since that guy loves money and we happened to have this opportunity, we might as well try to interact with him more in the future. Sometimes, dealing with an openly greedy person is easier than dealing with a hypocrite. Who knows? He might end up being more useful than we expect."
"I understand, my lady."
"Good. Go take care of things."
"Yes."
As Violet watched Ming Lan stand up and walk away briskly, she finally turned her gaze to the golden-haired little girl standing slightly behind her. The one who had stolen the spotlight during the entire event.
Once again, she habitually ruffled the girl's silky golden hair, smiling as she asked, "So? What do you think?"
The young Xiao Guang lifted her head slightly, her golden slit pupils reflecting the girl's silver-blue eyes. She pouted, looking somewhat resigned.
"Alright, I have to admit… this was slightly more interesting than just killing them all. I suppose toying with the weak is one of the privileges of those in power. But still, the efficiency of this approach is too low. Bribing people with money? Seriously? Only that fox-eared guy could come up with something like that."
"Hehe~ Well, it is his specialty. And it's simple and effective, isn't it?"
Yes, at the end of the day, it was nothing more than a straightforward bribe.
That business card and identification booklet Ming Lan handed over were indeed the ones he used back at the Origin Realm, serving as proof of his position as the Vice President of the Spirit Veil Merchant Guild.
However, only a few powerful individuals present, along with Ming Lan himself, noticed that inside the booklet, there was an additional item. A check issued by the Spirit Veil Merchant Guild. This check could be redeemed unconditionally at any of its branches worldwide for an equivalent of five million Holy Light Coins in cash or goods.
A simple yet effective tactic. To true powerhouses and an organization of Spirit Veil's scale, five million Holy Light Coins was barely a drop in the ocean. But for Cassio, who was merely a fleet admiral, it was a significant windfall.
This was a subtle gesture of goodwill, perfectly suited for the situation. It showcased their financial strength and sincerity, built rapport, and yet didn't seem suspiciously excessive.
As for the so-called repair costs for the [Graeme], they were utterly insignificant compared to this sum. No wonder the navy admiral had been so warm and accommodating just now.
After all, in a way, most of what Ming Lan had said was true. They weren’t spies trying to infiltrate the Austre Empire. Just like Violet had anticipated, unless they crossed a real red line, few people in this world would turn down money.
The series of conversations and promises that followed might not have included more direct financial incentives, but in reality, what was being offered was worth far more than five million.
At first glance, Ming Lan’s so-called “10% discount” seemed insignificant. But there were no restrictions on how often or how long it applied. Considering that everything Spirit Veil sold was exorbitantly priced, even a simple calculation made it clear just how much potential profit Cassio stood to gain.
Spirit Veil Merchant Guild might not have overwhelming military strength on the surface, but with its vast resources and an intelligence network spanning the world, even a behemoth like the Austre Empire wouldn’t dare recklessly antagonize it.
Especially now, with the global situation growing increasingly chaotic and the two major alliances constantly engaged in open and covert conflicts, a powerful neutral organization like Spirit Veil had to be handled with extra care.
Once Cassio confirmed their identity, he would naturally know the right course of action.
This was the classic approach of combining both kindness and deterrence.
Seeing that the little dragon girl was still deep in thought, Violet chuckled and ruffled her hair again.
“Don’t overthink it. This was just a simple example, a small slice of life. In reality, beyond brute force and wealth, there are many other ways to solve problems. Once we enter the city and encounter more people and situations, you’ll gradually come to understand.”
…………………………………
One Day Later.
The [Noah’s Ark] successfully arrived at Layla City, the Coastal Metropolis, the largest port city on the eastern seaboard of the Austre Empire. Upon arrival, they smoothly made contact with the personnel arranged in advance by the Spirit Veil Merchant Guild.
In reality, even without pulling any strings, it seemed that Admiral Cassio, who had returned to the city ahead of them, had already put in a good word. Thanks to him, the port authorities gave their massive merchant vessel top-tier treatment, skipping most of the inspection procedures and even waiving the docking tariffs.
Although the tax itself wasn’t a huge amount, and it wasn’t like Cassio would have personally profited from it, it was clear that he knew how to play the game.
Building a good relationship with Cassio was beneficial for Spirit Veil’s business operations here. While he wasn’t someone they could fully trust or get too close to, as long as they handled things carefully, his influence in the military could be far more valuable than the minor favors they had granted him.
Of course, dealing with all this was Ming Lan’s job. Even though the Spirit Veil Merchant Guild was technically a direct subsidiary of Spirit Veil Immortal Island, and could even be considered the private property of a certain fox-eared shrine maiden, Violet had no intention of interfering in its day-to-day operations.
After all, the Spirit Veil Association in this region had originally been established over 300 years ago under the support of Haomiao Yimeng from the Immortal Island. It had since developed independently, making it fundamentally different from the fully controlled businesses within the Ancient Spirit Realm. As long as things remained stable and the association could provide her with discreet assistance when necessary, that was more than enough.
Meanwhile, Nitila and her merfolk tribe did not enter the port. Sticking to their original plan, they bid farewell about a hundred kilometers from the coast, just before reaching the naval patrol zone. During the journey, the princess had set her sights on several island clusters that seemed perfect for a large-scale migration of the Emerald Sea’s people. She would likely be busy traveling between them for a long time, making preparations for the future.
Who knew when they would meet again?
To avoid attracting too much attention, Violet also had [Noah’s Ark] leave the port after unloading its cargo. She then ordered Unit 01 to sail it to a secluded area dozens of kilometers away, where she shrank it back to its original form and stored it in her backpack. Only then did she quietly fly back to Layla City to reunite with the others.
At this point, Violet had returned to her homeland after nearly a year away.
Yet, at this very moment, she didn't know that her small actions were creating a storm that would soon shake the entire world.