Above The Sky
Chapter 118 - 118 110 Bribe Money 910

118: Chapter 110 Bribe Money (9/10) 118: Chapter 110 Bribe Money (9/10) The four great factions of the Redwood Natives are naturally named after the four Totem Masters, namely, the Mountain Tide, the Forest Sea, the Soaring Surge, and the Mist Nest.

Originally, the four factions confronted each other, each occupying their own territory, attacking and slaughtering each other to their heart’s content, until the Empire Immigrant Group stepped in and joined this happy family of mutual slaughter.

Undoubtedly, compared to the Redwood Forest Natives, who enjoyed killing each other for fun in their little corners, the Imperial People, who fought against all kinds of Magical Beast Aliens and other nations in the Terra Great World, were much more adept at this.

They are professionals!

Under the onslaught of Imperial Knights, skilled in the art of slaughter, the warriors of the four factions were almost completely annihilated.

One of the Totem Masters was killed, three were severely injured, and only the Forest Sea Spirit of the Great Redwood Forest, being immobile and hidden in the rear, suffered little damage.

Indeed, the Empire Immigrant Group also suffered heavy losses, but they still managed to build forts and, with the continuous support from The Empire, they constructed city walls, established artillery troops, built sturdy towers and watchtower networks, and with satellite fortresses and villages, they took firm control over the original highland coastal region, ultimately creating the present Harrison Port.

Decades passed, and due to the emergence of a formidable enemy, the four great factions that were once enemies showed signs of uniting again…

Now, the Mountain Tide Faction has completely integrated the Forest Sea Faction, and the Mist Nest Faction, having lost its Totem Master, is only a faction in name, in reality, it’s just a slightly larger, more special medium-sized tribe.

Only the Tenglan Tribe, because they live by the sea and worship the Totem Masters of the Rising Tide Spirit and the Drum Wave Spirit—two Tenglan Giant Eels—are just as formidable as the Mountain Tide Faction that worships the Spirit of the Mountain Tide and the Forest Ocean Spirit.

But since giant eels cannot come ashore, they are still at a disadvantage.

Originally, under the authority of the Great Shaman, the two great factions could barely integrate.

But now, with the Great Shaman and the Spirit of the Mountain Tide both seriously injured and in recovery, the Tenglan Tribe, always subtly suppressed by the Mountain Tide Faction, has had a change of heart.

“…

Viscount Grant has already secretly reached an agreement with the Tenglan Tribe.

As long as those two gargantuan eels do not obstruct merchant ships and assist in driving away nearby sea beasts, they are willing to help the natives build their own maritime mercantile fleets and trade with both Canaan Moore and Whale Song Cliff…”

“If the Tenglan Tribe is willing to join The Empire, Viscount Grant is even willing to apply for ‘autonomous region’ status on their behalf with The Empire!”

Whispering to himself the intelligence he had gathered, Weyges was incredulous and couldn’t help exclaiming, “No wonder Harrison Port has recently been vigorously developing marine trade—he really is talented!”

To be honest, Weyges had once slightly looked down on Viscount Grant…

Just a rural noble, what if he was of the same rank as himself?

It was nothing more than having a family-inherited Aether Armament.

If it really came to a fight, he wasn’t afraid of the opponent at all!

But now it seems that the opponent’s ability to manage territory and form alliances was probably better than most, quietly uniting a part of the natives, opening up trade routes, and even slowly assimilating and absorbing the strength of these natives through trade!

He only had extra Spirit Energy and was completely incomparable to his opponent in professional governance.

But that’s the problem.

— Could it be that the natives’ invasion was a play put on by Viscount Grant and the Tenglan Tribe?!

Weyges frowned and pondered.

On the surface, the natives had combined all their forces and launched a full-scale assault on Harrison Port.

As a result, the Tenglan Tribe did little to help.

Not only did the Totem Masters not act, but the sea beasts also were not driven away, leaving the Mountain Tide Faction to suffer major losses, leading to one side falling into silence and the other becoming friendly with Harrison Port.

The Tenglan Tribe, having had blood feuds with each other and now allying with new enemies, betrayed their old foes and are now on their way to becoming friends, probably living quite comfortably.

Meanwhile, Viscount Grant, having had a difficult time defending the city, highlighted the challenging situation of the area, making it impossible to replace the lord.

Given the Imperial Capital’s need for stability, they could only continue to provide strong support and keep endorsing Ailes Grant as the Governor!

He’s hit the jackpot.

Viscount Grant won twice, the Tenglan Tribe won once, they were always winning while only the Mountain Tide Faction was losing!

“If that’s the case, the Tenglan Tribe gets too little out of it, not really like a partner…

Maybe it’s the Viscount’s tactic, apparently, one should never underestimate anyone.”

Having understood the entire situation, Weyges felt a twitch in his eyelids as he became overwhelmed by a headache: “No wonder those scouts didn’t want to take me to capture tongues—Harrison Port and these natives are in their honeymoon period now.

Daring to go against this trend might not affect the relationship between both sides, but they would definitely be severely punished by the Viscount!”

Saying it’s a punishment; it wouldn’t be surprising if they were all killed.

Threats to their life weren’t effective in making these scouts help him.

“Forget it, you can leave.”

The knight reluctantly withdrew and signaled for the scouts to scram: “What a nuisance, truly a troublesome place where poor mountains and evil waters produce cantankerous people.”

Although he still had doubts about the ‘script where Viscount Grant colluded with the Tenglan Tribe to secretly thwart the Mountain Tide Faction’ two years ago, under the current circumstances, it was impossible to have these scouts lead him: “Go tell Viscount Grant not to worry, I won’t say anything, I know the rules.

Have him send me eight hundred Lante and we’re even, add another five hundred and I’ll give him a favorable evaluation.”

“Don’t worry about me not keeping my word; this is my Knight’s plaque and seal.

The evaluation form is in the inner layer of my luggage in my room.

Let the Viscount write his own remarks, and return it to me along with the Lante.”

Truth be told, frontier nobles and military leaders who secretly collude with barbarians, cultivate them for their own gain, and fraudulently obtain Imperial aid aren’t uncommon—there must be hundreds, if not thousands, of them.

The Imperial Capital had originally thought that the massacre at Harrison Port was too brutal to be fake, so they provided genuinely substantial support.

Little did they know that the Grant Family was playing quite a game.

Reporting upwards would certainly be counted as a merit, and at that time, the Grant Family would surely be reassigned since Harrison Port was not their ‘true fiefdom’ given by the Former Emperor—it was still theoretically under direct control of the Imperial Capital.

But why bother doing this?

Not to mention making enemies, it wouldn’t be more than ten minutes after these scouts returned that Viscount Grant, leading his guard squad, cannons, and Aether Armaments, would descend from the sky, sparing no expense to kill him!

Rather than that, it would be better to accept a bribe proactively.

Everyone would have leverage over each other, and matters could be swept under the rug—after all, that had become the norm.

Eight out of ten Nobles did this, while the other two used seduction.

Eight hundred Talle, indeed a fortune for an Ordinary person, but for an Inspector Knight like him, it was just a year’s basic salary, not too much but also not demeaning, full of sincerity.

“Yes…

my lord…”

The scouts exchanged doubtful glances, then slowly withdrew—they certainly knew things had become complicated now.

Although they did not know why this Inspector Knight could guess their closely kept secret, whatever the reason, they were in for substantial suffering.

The fact that he asked for a bribe was, in a way, a salvation.

At once, all the scouts retreated and scattered, vanishing into the vast Forest Sea.

Only the Black-Haired Knight remained in place, frowning deeply.

Now, it seemed that it may not have been the two Behemoths that his mentor had thwarted?

“But still, something’s off.”

Weyges muttered to himself, “If Viscount Grant is really that formidable, where would the Redwood Forest Natives get the power to threaten Harrison Port?”

“Although the logic holds, the intelligence is still lacking.”

Shaking his head, the Knight’s eyebrows relaxed.

His initial plan was to capture a ‘tongue’ from the Tenglan Tribe to clarify why, during the Natives’ war two years ago, their two Totem Masters and Behemoths did not join forces with the Mountain Master to attack Harrison Port.

But now, that was no longer necessary.

“Forget it, let’s go plant a few ‘Marks’.”

Shaking his head, Weyges was not disheartened; on the contrary, he now had a new hypothesis.

—Since Harrison Port had a clandestine but not bad relationship with the Natives, there must certainly be much smuggling and trade going on undercover.

His mentor had not dealt with Imperial People, but perhaps had contacts among the Natives?

“I’ll plant a few Marks and see if I can get some new intelligence from the Natives.”

Since Viscount Grant had already started hooking up with the Natives, his taking a turn around there should not pose any problems.

“Hope it yields some results.”

With that thought in mind, Weyges set off and arrived at the western coastal region of South Ridge.

The sky was a clear blue, and the sea was tumultuous, with flocks of seagulls spreading their wings in the sky and schools of fish swimming in the nearshore waters.

The emerald waves gently lapped the coastline in the breeze, so beautiful that anyone who saw the Southern Sea for the first time would be amazed by its charm and thus reflect upon it.

Originally, upon arriving along the coast, Weyges had intended to express his admiration.

But a scene that unfolded along the coast completely spoiled his mood.

It was a feast.

A Natives’ feast.

A feast where other ‘people’ were also used as food, tied to the spit—’a feast’!