Steel torrents pioneering a different world.

Chapter 358 Their cheap stuff is no threat! Merchants from the Northern Border of the Kingdom! (Please subscribe)

"How do you think this tastes?"

"It tastes sweet, but it's just an ordinary fruit, lacking the resonance of life energy," the elf who had tasted it commented habitually. But then, changing the subject, he continued, "This fruit was definitely picked recently! It's incredibly fresh!"

"Um?"

"This shows they have stable supply channels; they absolutely transport massive quantities of fresh fruits and vegetables here instantly from another world!"

"It's not just transportation!" Another elf, skilled in logistics, exclaimed, her voice trembling. "This planting technology—I even think it's more stable than what we cultivate using natural magic! And this preservation ability—human logistics is terrifying! They can keep such a massive amount of fruits and vegetables fresh to this extent and transport them from the production area to here—it's incredible."

Logistics is the true backbone of an army.

With such strong logistics, how weak could its combat power be?

The elves exchanged glances, each seeing the same emotion in the other's eyes.

Shock, and a hint of—fear.

Their proud way of nature appears so pale and powerless in the face of the almost miraculous productivity displayed by this mysterious human force.

Honestly—what do they have to compare it to?

Besides observing humans, their mission also included placing the Moonwell, the source of life that the elves were so proud of, enchanted arrows, various magical equipment comparable to works of art, and even magical plants, foods, and various compound potions unique to the elves on the shelves for trade with humans and other races.

But now, they feel their stall should be here, like country bumpkins.

Why display those expensive items?

Are you just asking for trouble?

In terms of price and functionality, most people would probably prefer to choose ordinary products.

They have a lot of high-end products, but their subsequent influence is definitely not as great as that of humans.

The elves felt a burning shame when they thought about how humans had casually mentioned wanting to trade, while they themselves were still arguing about export quotas for fruits and grains, and how some people believed that the northern humans were absolutely incapable of producing grain in large quantities.

Many things that humans possess are indeed not top-tier in their eyes, because they lack the enhancement of magical energy.

In terms of taste, it cannot compare to the top fruits and vegetables of the elven race.

But—these things are so cheap!

The business model of this supermarket is to supply fresh vegetables at all times. Some sales assistants call it the "vegetable basket project".

With such a large quantity to satisfy everyone, one could simply work and purchase these items at the market.

Who are you going to complain to?

When human goods flood the elven kingdom, even if the elders use magic to solidify the elves' memories of glory every day, the lower-ranking elves will probably subconsciously gravitate towards humans for the sake of these cheap and delicious foods.

This is not something that religion and faith can solve.

Whose food do we eat, whose clothes do we wear, and to whom do we pledge allegiance?

Although the elves can accomplish everything through the Heart Tree Network, they still need to eat and wear clothes, and they also have love, hate, and grudges, and they also have their share of troubles.

However, due to their unique circumstances, elves must undergo castration at a certain age to reduce their sexual desires, otherwise they are prone to moral decay.

To prevent the lower-class commoners of the elves from being affected, the elven high command would have to order that the two never come into contact again.

But is that even possible?

Humans may agree verbally, but their guns and cannons will not!

The thought of a huge shopping mall like this, open to everyone, appearing in New Erigian City in the future made the elves feel breathless.

They felt their discretion, their power to distribute food, and a great deal of power were slipping away from them.

That's their right!

But they maintained the foundation of the aristocracy's dignity!

It's really uncomfortable!

"Gentlemen," a representative of an elven clan suddenly spoke, his voice dry, "these humans from the north are actually completely different from what we know. They are not as—despicable as we think! Perhaps we can use some money and trade to exchange for lasting peace. This might be—a good deal."

The other elves looked at him, their eyes gleaming.

No one refuted it, and no one agreed with it.

After a long silence, someone spoke, breaking the unsettling stillness.

"How about we go shopping first?"

Soon, as if in a fit of pique, they began buying some things from here.

An elven nobleman watched as the baker arranged a large bag of small cakes, still emitting a sweet, baked aroma, and placed them into a small cart.

He weighed the cake in his hand, then suddenly said to his companion in a soft voice, "Actually, things made by humans are quite cost-effective!"

"Yes, such inexpensive items benefit us too! Even if human-made items were placed in our stores, how much real harm could they cause us?"

"If we obtain sufficient resources, we can definitely enable the Temple of Procreation to produce many more children!!!"

"Ugh! Don't talk about this, it's really upsetting!"

After skipping that topic, the elf moved on to other things.

"By the way, did you guys sense it? While shopping just now, I noticed quite a few people possessed magical energy. Ethan mentioned before that the humans from the north didn't seem to have much magical power. It seems humans are hiding their true strength!"

"Just now, I sensed that a middle-aged man with short hair was very capable!"

"Is that impressive?"

"Yes, it's not that those northern humans are more powerful, but rather something similar to the southern humans."

"Could it be those tin cans from the southern human kingdoms?"

"Maybe. I just saw ten humans dressed in the clothes of southern merchants. They might be guardian knights of some merchants."

Merchants from the God-Abandoned Continent are not ordinary traders; they usually have wealthy or powerful backers, otherwise they would not be able to operate at all.

It's quite normal for some powerful knights to follow him.

"Do you think that if we sow discord between the two sides, the mysterious humans from the north might start fighting with the people from the south?"

"The high priest has seen some visions of the future; they will surely fight."

"Should we help the people in the South?"

"Are you stupid? We don't even understand the people of the North, so why should we help those guys who keep exploiting us! If you ask me, I'd rather all those Southern bastards die."

"Alright, take these things back and test them thoroughly! See if they have enough energy."

"No problem!"

In another world, in an office next to a large shopping mall.

The human pioneers were also exchanging ideas with the human kingdoms in the southern part of the other world.

However, this was already the end of the conversation, and everyone had basically completed the business negotiations.

In the office, crystal glasses clinked together crisply.

The amber-colored liquor in the glass swayed, reflecting Dou Jiankang's smiling face.

"Aino, for our long-term business friendship."

"Ha ha! My friend, we are all human, so our friendship will surely last forever!" Aino Snow downed his drink in one gulp, his movements bold and his voice booming.

Arnold Snow is the illegitimate son of a nobleman under the Duke of the North, a southern human kingdom.

In the North, the surname Jon Snow is itself a mark of identity. People from kingdoms abandoned by the gods generally have various ways of naming their illegitimate children.

For example, some children born near the ocean are named Vishy, ​​some in the desert are named Shad, and there are other naming conventions for illegitimate children.

In most cases, these illegitimate children do not have any inheritance rights.

This mechanism facilitated the maintenance of the bloodline among nobles and was also a unique inheritance system.

The pioneering team didn't go to great lengths to find out which family Jon Snow came from; they only knew that he was in charge of the highly profitable but extremely risky maritime trade.

He was both lucky and unlucky.

After a major upheaval occurred among the dwarves recently, the Corruptor nearly sacrificed hundreds of thousands of people in Tranquil Harbor, but the Northern Humans intervened, saving his and his people's lives.

Other merchants were so frightened that they fled in the middle of the night, but he stayed.

Although he did not witness firsthand the slaughter of the dwarf hatchers by the northern humans, he saw how swiftly and decisively the humans handled the aftermath.

The alchemical power that humans possess, and their efficiency in dealing with anomalies, truly terrified him.

Because the corrupted dwarves confiscated everyone's magic crystals and various communication magic equipment in order to maintain secrecy, Aino Snow and the others were left helpless and desperate in the dwarven stronghold.

Fortunately, the corrupters were dealt with, and they were lucky enough to survive.

He originally intended to find out where the rooster crowed, get a general idea of ​​what those humans were like, and then escape, telling the human kingdom everything that had happened here.

But then he encountered that damned forbidden magic, turning the entire ocean into a raging, dead end.

Upon closer inspection, this period of confinement lasted for almost a month.

Because humans are very strong, and they have done many things that have surprised him.

He was extremely curious about the mysterious northern human forces.

It's important to understand that the far north is a forbidden zone for life; no human power can survive there for long. But these mysterious humans not only established themselves there but also provided them with large quantities of food.

This reminded Arnold Snow, the bastard son, of the former Dragon Dynasty.

At that time, the Fire Dragon Dynasty also had a similar experience. Although it eventually suffered a terrible fate due to the lack of support from world powers, the Fire Dragon Dynasty's predecessor, the Dragon King Family Alliance, was unstoppable in its early stages!

And so, Arnold Snow stayed there for a long time.

It wasn't until the incredible supermarkets that offered a complete service from birth to death opened that he had the opportunity to proactively contact humans.

At first, when he met the northern humans, he maintained the aristocratic airs of the southern humans.

As a result, the people from the north completely ignored him.

Later, seeing even the proud elves and stubborn dwarves lining up to discuss cooperation, Aino finally abandoned his ridiculous reserve and adopted a more humble attitude than anyone else.

On the day the large supermarket opened, he even dragged his few eye-opening guards and rushed in immediately, and then they were completely captivated.

The other party provided a very rich variety of items and supplies.

He was very satisfied. Various cooperation agreements were finalized almost immediately.

From magic crystals to rare minerals, to large quantities of magical beasts, potions, and even rune armor specifically designed to protect human knights!

Now, the deal is finally done!

He, Elo Snow, will gain the Duke's favor.

He also helped the southern kingdoms resolve their nearly destroyed finances from the north.

Because the people in the north were willing to provide them with large quantities of food, farm tools, steel, and some luxurious women's items that he couldn't take his eyes off.

Ainuo left satisfied, his back view exuding an eagerness.

Dou Jiankang watched him disappear through the door before toying with his empty wine glass and speaking to Bi Shengli beside him: "Southern businessmen have quite the appetite; they actually want our production methods!"

Bi Shengli adjusted his glasses, his gaze behind the lenses turning cold: "He's not just greedy; he's testing us, isn't he?"

"That's true. They value grain highly. It seems the Southern Kingdom's years of warfare have left them with a severe food crisis," Dou Jiankang chuckled, crossing his legs. "Honestly, I almost got tempted to sell them more grain!"

"Why give so many? There might be a war," Bi Shengli said calmly.

"Yes, it's a pity that peace is short-lived! Who knows when they'll attack us!"

If feudal rulers saw the ruling model of the northern peoples, they would be very anxious. If they found that they could not stop them, they would definitely resort to swords.

This is something all rulers of the old era would do when they faced the prospect of losing their own interests!

"Let's fight! The soldiers have been itching for battle for ages!"

Dou Jiankang stretched and slumped into the soft chair, looking completely boneless.

"And we currently hold the former emperor in our hands." He wagged his finger, chuckling, "I never imagined we'd be able to use the emperor to command the feudal lords!"

Bi Shengli's eyes flickered behind his glasses, and he let out a rare low laugh.

The laughter came from his chest, quiet but instantly lightening the atmosphere in the office.

"Alright, if you want to hold the emperor hostage, then so be it!" He nodded, acknowledging the title. "But let's not talk about the emperor yet, that's too far removed from us! Let's take stock of today's income."

Upon hearing this, Dou Jiankang stood up, swiped a few times on his tablet, and pulled up a colorful data report: "Needless to say! They're making a fortune every day!"

"We're completely robbing each other now—cough cough—it's mutually beneficial!" He pointed to a soaring red curve on the screen, his eyebrows dancing with excitement. "Sales figures are meaningless in this other world. The key is customer feedback. When our staff are doing random interviews among the shoppers, do you know what the most interesting feedback is?"

Tell me about it.

"A dwarf blacksmith, after tasting our Erguotou (a type of Chinese liquor), actually hugged the pot and started crying. He was like a two-hundred-pound child!"

"Isn't that an exaggeration?"

"No, he probably just felt nostalgic! He said his grandfather only wanted to drink good wine once in his life, and his father also wanted to drink good wine, but neither of them had ever tasted such a potent wine."

Dou Jiankang smiled and said, "It's not just dwarves, but elves too! Don't let their haughty demeanor fool you; they have absolutely no resistance to our fruits, desserts, pastries—and, well, some of our skincare products."

"Heh heh, you say you're not happy with the movements, but your body language tells a different story!"

"Yes, our product penetration plan is going very well, even faster than expected! I estimate it won't be long before they get used to our products!"

"Yes! Being able to integrate into the other party's life will facilitate subsequent business penetration."

While modern industrial products are commonplace, they are a complete game-changer for ordinary people in this feudal alternate world.

No, placing some of the things from Tokyo University in places like Africa would also be a game-changer.

You should know that the black man went hunting lions and cooking them for a bottle of Lao Gan Ma chili sauce.

The only difference between the various products in the two worlds is their quantity and level of sophistication.

Dwarves and elves are all skillful people; they are truly masters of many handicrafts.

Moreover, because their industrialization is limited, the older they get, the better their handmade works become!

They can even create incredibly realistic replicas, easily mimicking certain Palace Museum pieces, to the point where if you have one, I have one, and everyone thinks it's the real deal.

This is perhaps the magic of a world with magical energy.

Although its productivity cannot be compared with that of industrial society for various reasons, it can easily outperform the industrial world in some areas.

Humans also have master craftsmen, but compared to the dwarves and elves who possess extraordinary strength and dexterity, they are truly far inferior!

Dou Jiankang tapped the screen heavily with his finger: "The products have gained favor with the dwarves, and now the human market is expected to open up as well. According to the original plan, we will gradually expand the factory and make more dwarves our workers, making them part of the industrial production line."

Bi Shengli nodded with a smile.

The best way to control someone is to find something to hold against them.

No, it should be said that they control the other party's food, clothing, housing and transportation.

For example, if you hand over your salary when you're dating, your girlfriend will definitely control you.

If you get married, you'll probably be completely bewildered if something goes wrong.

Once humans provide for the dwarves' livelihoods, children's tuition, wages, and even their alcohol purchases, the dwarves will become humanity's most natural allies.

This is also an open conspiracy of Industrial Cthulhu.

The behemoth behind the pioneering team, namely Industrial Cthulhu, embodies both domineering and benevolent rule!

As long as there is no deep-seated hatred between them, Industrial Cthulhu never hesitates to extend an olive branch.

Most of the time, Industrial Cthulhu is willing to show its benevolence and equality.

Make as many friends as possible and as few enemies as possible; embrace harmony and beauty together!

This has always been the core philosophy of Industrial Cthulhu and a major strategy for governance.

Well, perhaps the only thing that makes it hard to let go of hatred is that little cherry blossom who makes you grit your teeth in loathing~

In the adult world, especially among different races, the bonds of interest are far more solid than vague promises of good and evil.

Here we have to mention the eagle, whose left and right hemispheres are in serious conflict!

He uses Lao Zhong's stuff, claiming it's Lao Zhong's. Even if you tell him not to use it, he can't get rid of it.

Isn't this a classic case of being stubborn on one end and blocked on the other?

While everyone was still talking, the communicator on the table suddenly rang.