Chapter172

After some discussion, Elara finally decided to have Kristof select a group from Marigold City's current departments. He would personally take charge and assist Lorenzo, going to Youdan to stay for a month.

After a month, once Youdan was completely stable and Lorenzo's government departments were running smoothly, Kristof would return to continue as the deputy city lord of Marigold City.

Besides that, Elara also started planning to hold another exam soon to select more usable talents.

Kristof had no objections to Elara's plan. Actually, he was the kind of person who could not stop working. The more tasks he was given, the happier and more eager he became.

As soon as Elara finished giving the order, Kristof agreed immediately. He grabbed Lorenzo and prepared to pack up that night and leave for Youdan the next day.

Seeing how eager he was, Elara called out to him.

"Wait, I didn't say you could start your assignment today. Listen to me first."

"Youdan had been controlled by the Sect Leader for over a hundred years. The land is full of various poisons and toxic plants. Oswyn went with me on the last expedition and has mostly memorized those poisons. Don't rush to go yet. Wait until the pharmacy department prepares enough antidote powder using the formulas Oswyn provided. Then bring the antidotes with you."

"Also, the people of Youdan, being isolated for so long under the Sect Leader's rule, have customs very different from ours. When you go, be careful and steady. Try not to cause any conflicts. If there are harmless customs the locals want to keep, let them keep those, as long as they do no harm."

"I will send a group of snakes, wolves, tigers, and eagles to accompany you as guides. Don't be afraid of them or harm them. If there is an emergency, you can have them bring messages back to me."

"In addition, I will send a puppet army to accompany you. The people in Youdan are familiar with them, so their presence will make your trip much smoother."

After hearing this, Kristof grabbed Lorenzo again and laughed as he bowed deeply to Elara.

"Thank you, Princess. Your thorough consideration makes me feel very reassured."

Elara rolled her eyes silently but didn't want to argue with the talkative Kristof. She turned her gaze to the quiet Minister of Agriculture and Industry.

"Youdan's terrain and climate differ greatly from here. This time, the Agriculture and Industry Department will send a team to go with you. Study Youdan's terrain and climate carefully. See what special products are there and which seeds are suitable for planting."

"Especially the few plants I asked you to find before. Explore Youdan thoroughly. Once found, report back to me immediately."

"Yes, Your Highness."

Such a mysterious and powerful weapon, along with tens of thousands of troops, how could they modestly say they could not resist Yan Prison?

With such divine weapons, does the princess really only want to be a small pest harassing Yan Prison? Does she not care about the vast and fertile lands of Yan Prison?

This person truly wants to fully pull her into the alliance. He really respects her.

Elara picked up the teacup on the table and took a sip. After the sweet tea passed down her throat, she looked at Mr. Yu.

"So, Your Highness, what do you plan to do?"

Mr. Yu's smile grew wider. He took out a leather map from his sleeve and spread it on the table. It was a map of Yan Prison and the surrounding countries.

"Mr. Yu wants to make another deal with the princess. The divine weapons under the princess's command, such as these spears with sharpness comparable to bronze weapons, Mr. Yu wants to buy two-thirds of them from the princess."

"Actually, I want to spend a large amount to buy the method of making these divine weapons directly from the princess. But the timing is not right now. The princess probably won't give the secret method easily, so for now, I will just buy some finished products from her and try them out first, to feel the excitement when Elara drove away the ghost soldiers yesterday!"

"As for the method of making weapons, if the princess is willing in the future, please think of me first. Of course, if the princess does not want to sell, I will not force it. Just let me continue to buy such divine weapons from you later."

Elara lowered her eyes slightly. Thoughts flashed quickly in her mind as she calculated the pros and cons of selling iron weapons to Mr. Yu. Then she picked up the jade pot on the table and poured tea for both Mr. Yu and herself.

"In this deal, Your Highness, what are you willing to exchange?"

Seeing Elara did not refuse directly, Mr. Yu's smile deepened. He closed his fan with a sharp "clap" and pointed its tip straight at the large city territory shown on the map of Youdan.

"How about using this city land in Youdan for the trade?"

"This Youdan area has three cities, all near the ghost lands, with vast terrain and rich products. There is also a river called the Flame River that leads directly to the South Sea. The total area of the three cities is almost twice as big as the ghost lands!"

"What do you think? After obtaining 100,000 land units in the ghost lands, would the princess be interested in further expanding the southern border of Plumera?"

"This fertile and rich land in Youdan could also be used as part of the trade. Does it catch the princess's eye?"

When she came out of Zhaiyun Pavilion, the setting sun was already sinking near the horizon.

Her deal with Mr. Yu had been finalized.

Using the three major cities on the western edge of Inferno that bordered Youdan as the bargaining chip, Elara provided Mr. Yu with her divine weapon, the Iron Arms. Once Mr. Yu led his army to attack the eastern cities of Inferno near the Qian'an Ridge, Elara would also be able to march her troops into the western three cities.

With attacks coming from both sides and Inferno's capital located in the east near Qian'an Ridge, once Mr. Yu's forces advanced and launched their offensive, Inferno would be forced to defend its last capital. Even if they watched helplessly as Elara took their western cities, they wouldn't dare act rashly.

Mr. Yu had also promised that if Inferno dared to move against Elara during her seizure of the three cities, he would immediately lead his army to capture the Inferno capital from the east, threatening Inferno and deterring them from retaliating against Elara's forces.

This was the core of their entire agreement.

It had to be said, Mr. Yu truly deserved to be called the natural-born ruler and number one prodigy of the southwestern continent. His ruthless strategy of waiting until the right moment to strike with lethal precision made him one of the most formidable leaders.

If he hadn't been born in a third-rate country like Mr. Yu's homeland, the world would've likely had another second-rate power, or even a top-tier nation.

In her past life, Elara was a businesswoman who only did legal, honest work. But in this chaotic ancient era, if she didn't attack others, others would eventually come for her. Only through conquest and a strong military and geographic advantage could she and her people survive.

So she accepted Mr. Yu's proposal without hesitation.

Since she had decided to strike Inferno, she had to do it before Inferno struck her. She would crush them completely, until they couldn't retaliate even if they wanted to. That was the only real solution.

According to Mr. Yu's plan, if everything went smoothly, Elara would take over the three western cities of Inferno, connecting them with Youdan. The total territory gained would nearly match the original size of Plumera's lands.

By then, whether it was Plumera's national strength or her mission progress, both would soar significantly, raising Plumera to a middle or upper level among third-rate countries.

Inferno's eastern territories would fall under Mr. Yu's control. Inferno would then be split into three parts. Aside from the three cities Elara would take, the area near Inferno's capital would shrink to a quarter of its former size.

Inferno would fall from being a strong third-rate country in the southwestern continent to one of the weakest third-rate nations. It would struggle to rise again.

Plumera wouldn't have to worry about retaliation from Inferno for a while.

Three hours earlier, Elara had just finished the battle in Youdan and was returning to Marigold County's main city.

In the northeastern part of Plumera, within Inferno territory—

The Inferno imperial palace was filled with music and dancing, lavish and indulgent.

The ruler of Inferno, a man in his forties but still muscular and strong, was drinking strong liquor with a beauty in his arms, watching the seductive performances in the grand hall. The entire palace was wrapped in a decadent and luxurious atmosphere.

When one dance ended, a servant suddenly hurried in from outside. He rushed to the Inferno ruler's side and knelt, speaking quietly.

"Your Majesty, something serious has happened. A message just came from the Sect Leader's puppet. Youdan has been suddenly attacked by Plumera. They can't hold out any longer and are begging Your Majesty to send troops."

The Inferno ruler's expression changed. He looked at the servant with some annoyance. "I thought it was news from Qian'an Ridge. Turns out it's just Youdan?"

He moved his hand slightly on the beauty's waist. She giggled, then lifted a wine cup from the table and held it to the ruler's lips.

After drinking the entire cup, the ruler lazily stretched out his hand toward the servant.