The world that Silas inhabited was not populated solely by humans as the only intelligent species. Besides humans, there were numerous demi-human races like the giants, fish-men, long-arm tribe, and dwarves.
But these demi-human races were ultimately a minority.
In this world where feudalism and slavery coexisted, differences in appearance often led to discrimination. The more numerous ordinary humans discriminated against the fewer demi-humans and captured them as slaves. Such occurrences were commonplace in this world.
Giants were also a type of demi-human.
However, compared to other demi-human nations, the giants possessed far greater strength. Even the World Government was reluctant to easily provoke the giants of Elbaf.
Silas and Harald sat on the ground facing each other.
"Fish-Man Island is a World Government member nation, but due to humans' hostile attitude toward fish-men, plus their geographical location, Fish-Man Island has always been in a very awkward position."
"You mean pirates?"
"Not just pirates, but slave traders too."
Silas held a ceramic bowl larger than his entire body and lightly clinked it against Harald's.
"Humans despise fish-men, but upper-class nobles all take pride in keeping a young female mermaid. On the black market, a young female mermaid can sell for tens of millions of Belly. Such enormous profits mean that Fish-Man Island frequently suffers kidnapping and plundering incidents."
Fish-Man Island was located 10,000 meters below the Holy Land of Mary Geoise on the ocean floor, which should theoretically be very safe. But since coating craftsmen appeared, pirates, Marines, and all sorts of people could dive into the deep sea by coating their ships.
"If Elbaf wants to trade with other countries, it must have its own distinctive products. In my opinion, is there any product more distinctive than Adam Wood?"
Outside, one cubic meter of Adam Wood had a starting auction price calculated in millions of Belly. To build a sailboat entirely from Adam Wood, the lumber alone would cost several hundred million Belly.
Elbaf had nothing else, but it had plenty of Adam Wood.
"However, I imagine you would not easily trade away Adam Wood."
Seeing Harald's deeply furrowed brow, Silas knew this path was definitely unworkable. Getting the Giants to part with Adam Wood, who had been forcibly cut due to fires, was already the limit.
But having the giants actively harvest the Treasure Tree Adam was impossible.
"Besides Adam Wood, you do not have anything else to trade. Handicrafts are not valuable, agricultural nations can only export agricultural products, but most agricultural products do not preserve well."
"So thinking it over, there's only that option, right?"
Silas smiled. "If you're willing to work as bodyguards for the mermaids, I think the king of Fish-Man Island would not refuse to pay a small fee for such services."
Although Fish-Man Island was a mixed bag due to all sorts of people passing through, these transient travelers never hesitated to spend money.
Fish-Man Island was wealthy.
But the wealthy Fish-Man Island lacked the power to protect itself.
Fish-Man Island's geographical location meant that those who could reach it were all powerful pirates. Even slave traders were the kind with backgrounds and backing.
Therefore, even though Fish-Man Island paid the full amount of Heavenly Tribute to the World Government every year, the Marines under the World Government still could not properly protect Fish-Man Island.
On Fish-Man Island, you could randomly throw a brick and hit several pirates worth tens of millions of Belly. Even great pirates with bounties over 100 million were not unheard of.
Under such circumstances, ordinary Marines simply could not maintain order.
Giants were different.
Adult giants had bounties starting at a minimum of ten million Belly. As long as there were enough of them, even great pirates with bounties over 100 million would not dare cause trouble.
If they only wanted to be self-sufficient, then Elbaf's small territory was enough for the giants to manage.
But if they did not want to be limited to that, if they wanted to make contact and even trade with other countries, they had to have their own signature products.
"What, do you think abandoning military force can bring peace, Harald?"
Silas shook his head.
"This world ultimately requires strength to speak. Power has no right or wrong. The difference lies in whether it's used to invade others or protect oneself."
"..."
Harald was not naive enough to think that abandoning military force would bring peace. He was just wondering if this would make the giants no different from mercenaries.
"Of course there's a difference!"
Hearing Harald's doubt, Silas said without hesitation.
"Mercenaries will do anything for money, but you giants would only be responsible for protecting your employers. Having principles versus having no principles. Is that not a huge difference?"
"...I'll consider it."
Since this concerned the future of the entire giant race, Harald had to think seriously about it. Silas was not in a hurry about this either, as long as the Adam Wood was secured.
"Think it over. That's all the advice I can give. Perhaps you could also use Carmel's connections to become a World Government member nation. The World Government probably would not mind you using people to cover the annual Heavenly Tribute payments."
The World Government had long coveted the giants. Otherwise, they would not have put on an act with Carmel, making her a bridge of communication between them and the giants.
But working for yourself versus working for others was definitely different.
"Sigh~"
Having listened to their entire conversation, Yaruru sighed.
The world was changing.
Old people like him would eventually be eliminated by the tide of the times.
The giants of the past could make a living through plundering.
That did not mean the future could be the same.
What made Silas happy was that after leaving the castle, Yaruru ordered the giants to bring out the Adam Wood from the warehouse to build a ship for Silas.
According to Yaruru, regardless of what path Harald chose, they would likely need Silas's help in the future.
Since that was the case, it was better to generously provide the lumber.
In the pirate world, which lacked a heavy industrial foundation, building a sailboat took years. Most pirates who wanted to buy ships either bought second-hand ones or ready-made ones. Very few would wait several years specifically for one ship.
Silas was among that minority.
Better to have quality than quantity. Having sailed the seas for so many years, Silas understood all too well the importance of a good ship. On the ocean, it was equivalent to a second life.
This was also why Silas agreed to stay in Elbaf for two years to help teach the giant children.
In two years, his ship should be about ready.
The following time passed quickly.
After meeting with Harald, Silas spent most of his time in the giant village, playing with the giant children and those from the House of Lambs.
Sometimes Silas even thought that if not for the system's existence giving him renewed fighting spirit, spending his remaining years peacefully here would not be bad either.
Half a year passed in the blink of an eye.
Silas and his group in Elbaf welcomed the giants' Winter Solstice Festival.
[Chapter Complete]
***
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