Chapter 1319: Gradual trade
Michael was more than overjoyed to finally see that the fruits of his labor were starting to get to the demi-humans. As expected, it didn’t take them long to finally find the truth behind the Rebornian spirit. It was none other than comfort!
Now, he was sure that they were going to be his allies one way or another.
"I agree with that," he said to the general. "As long as you’ll help me convince your Monarch that allying with me will be the best option they choose."
The Red Mankey general nodded. "Yes. But we cannot do it so easily. Our method must be slow and steady. You cannot do what you have done before. If you come to them asking for an alliance, they will attack you.
We are overprotective of our Monarch, you see. They are the most important demi-human within our midst. They keep our sun shining, they keep us protected. They are the reason why we are able to live here in the darkness of the Chasm.
So, the other two generals will immediately come to you and wage war."
Michael nodded, agreeing with the 2nd rank general. This was what he needed this whole time. A new perspective.
"Can’t we also be allies with them" he asked the general.
Hearing this, the Red Mankey shook his head. "The 3rd rank general does not like me."
"Oh. Is it because you prevented his promotion?"
"I stole his wife from him," said the general. "But that too. He’s been tring to usurp my rank this whole time. Anything that I try to do, he will be on the opposite side."
"And what about the 1st rank general?"
The Red Mankey once again shook his head. "Not possible. The 1st rank general already has someone that he is in an alliance with."
"Who?"
"We do not know," the general answered. "But we do know that thanks to this ally, he is able to conquer the Magical Monsters that prowl through the Chasm."
Hearing this, Michael’s eyes widened with surprise. Ersatz!
"Tell me more about this 1st rank general and his ally."
"I cannot tell you more because I do not know more. Previously, we were not able to conquer those beasts. They were our predators. But he found a way to tame them. I do not know how. But he did. And this allowed him favor with the Monarch, allowing him to become 1st rank general ahead of me."
Michael furrowed his brows. If this was true, then the most obvious answer was that this 1st rank general was working with the Ersatz behind the demi-humans’ backs!
"I think what’s happening here is that..."
Once he explained the situation to the 2nd rank general, he began to seethe with anger.
"Unacceptable," he said. "He is the most adamant in refusing help from humans. Yet he broke it first? And he is working with the very same humans who had caused the Chasm in the first place? That traitorous snake!"
Suffice it to say, both of them were angry. Which meant that working with the 1st rank general was a no go.
"What do you propose we should do?" he asked the general
"We do what you are doing right now," said the general. "We trade."
...
...
...
The 2nd army of the demi-human kingdom had now become more powerful, more well-equipped, and a lot happier than ever before. Even more when their general had been given their title by the Monarch.
Now that they were fully allies with the Reborn company, they didn’t have to tell lies to themselves if they wanted to visit their human friends.
Drinking between men and Red Mankeys became common. Even bathing in the saunas were a daily thing.
And of course, they bonded over their love of baseball.
Michael was able to build a simple baseball field in the demi-human kingdom. And both sides played against each other almost everyday. In fact, it became their daily training session.
And slowly, the Red Mankeys were integrating into the Rebornian life.
They were starting to live like them. Breathe like them. Think like them.
Their clothes, which used to be made of primitive styles, were now a lot more modernized. They were getting influenced by the things they saw in social media.
Yes, the Red Mankeys also began to frequent the Social Media apps of the phone.
Once they’d become allies, Michael gave every single Red Mankey their own phone. Of course, they first used it as a way to stream baseball games from the Nation of Reborn. But then, as they got more familiar with the tech, they began to explore more.
Texting, photo sharing, and even food delivery. They tried everything.
In fact, most of the Red Mankey soldiers and Rebornian soldiers were in their own group chats! They were discussing their favorite baseball players, as well as some tips and tricks about how to get better.
And they would have continued to bond, if not for the fact that the 2nd army of the demi-humans were forced to go back to their kingdom and report to their superiors.
They’d been gone too long.
"We will not be long gone," said the general to Michael. "I will do as we have planned."
Michael nodded and gave him a good luck salute.
Just like they discussed, they were going to conquer the demi-human kingdom through slow, but steady trade. They were going to make them depend on the Rebornian resources without them even knowing about it.
...
...
...
The 2nd-rank general and the rest of his Red Mankey climbed up the Sacred Tree of their kingdom.
Unfortunately, they had to hide their phones back in the Rebornian camp. Both Michael and the general agreed that it would be too suspicious if everyone had them in the kingdom.
However, they did bring something else.
The Red Mankeys marched through the town square of the Sacred Tree, carrying sacks and sacks of food and barrels and barrels of beverages.