Chapter 107 : Negotiation

Negotiation

"Then what about you? Who are you people? Why have you set up camp here?"

Cliff pressed on, and upon hearing this, Doluka glanced at the human troops lurking in the jungle.

Nearly fifty people, all fully armed and clearly prepared.

By comparison, Doluka's side had only twenty elven rangers and archers, along with two Skeleton Warriors.

22 vs. 50—a disparity in strength that guaranteed they couldn't put up a fight. It was best to avoid conflict, so Doluka spoke up.

"We are humans from Tawu Ishihara. We set up camp here for convenience while hunting."

"Humans from Tawu Ishihara?"

Cliff mulled over the words.

Tawu Ishihara sounded like a place name, but it actually referred to a massive, multi-racial tribe that had no unified name, so both the region and the tribe were simply called "Tawu Ishihara" or the "Tawu Ishihara Tribe."

Within the tribe were humans, dwarves, goblins, orcs, and many other races. They had even established a large neutral trading town—Tawu Ishicity.

Tawu Ishihara lay on the edge of the Corrupted Jungle, at the border junction between the Ailera Empire and the Otto Kingdom, so it wasn't unusual for humans of Tawu Ishihara to be found here.

Still, cliff felt that something was off. If he had to specify—it was that despite knowing about the outbreak of undead, why hadn't they left the area yet?

As he pondered in silence, his adjutant approached.

"Sir, since there's a human camp here, and our supplies are almost depleted, why don't we resupply here?"

"Hmm, you make a good point. Let's go inside and 'replenish' then."

Cliff spoke, wearing a meaningful smile.

"Since you're from Tawu Ishihara, open up your camp gates. We need to rest here for a bit."

Cliff's tone carried a hint of contempt mixed with command. After all, tawu Ishihara was essentially a coalition of small tribes of different races—the perfect 'resupply' spot during wartime.

But upon hearing they wanted to enter the camp, Doluka frowned.

"Sorry, due to the recent outbreak of the zombie plague, we're not allowing any outsiders into the camp for now."

This statement enraged Cliff.

"What did you say?"

He couldn't believe it—his 'resupply' request was turned down by a mere "Tawu Ishihara Tribe," refusing an officer of the great Ailera Empire—how could he not be furious?

"Don't forget, this is Ailera territory. Since you've set up camp here, shouldn't you be helping the Empire a bit?"

"I think you're mistaken. The Corrupted Jungle has never belonged to any nation or organization. Ailera has no claim here. If you want supplies, just ask. But the camp is off limits to outsiders."

Doluka's stance was firm, which made Cliff want to lash out in anger.

"What! You dare—"

"Sir, don't be rash."

"Hmm?"

Cliff lifted his hand; if he brought it down, the archers behind him would immediately ready their bows and arrows. He'd only wanted to intimidate the other side, but his level-headed adjutant stopped him.

"Sir, we're here to investigate the undead outbreak. We should avoid unnecessary conflict. Since they're willing to supply us, let's take it. Whether we enter the camp or not doesn't matter."

On thinking it over, cliff agreed. The mission came first.

And what did they need most right now? Medicine, of course!

Especially medicine to fight the plague. Since the other side had managed to build a camp here, they must have curative potions and military drugs.

"Fine. If you're willing to supply us, we won't insist on entering. But we need all kinds of healing potions and antidotes from you."

"Potions?"

"Yes. After all, if we resolve the undead outbreak, it benefits Tawu Ishihara as well—a little help shouldn't be an issue, right?"

Doluka hesitated at this, but Cliff pressed further.

"If you say you don't have any, then I'm afraid we'll have to come inside and search personally."

As Cliff finished, the archers behind him readied their bows, and the soldiers prepared to charge. Against a mere Tawu Ishihara tribe, they saw no need for courtesy—they would just seize by force.

Seeing how tense the situation had become—if they refused, war would break out—Doluka, knowing what these people were capable of, knew they absolutely would do it, and his group had no chance of winning.

"Brother, give them the antidotes we just brewed in the tribe."

"What about us?"

"We still have the Spring of Life. Don't worry."

"All right. Let's hope this prevents a fight."

Dorusaam went off to prepare, and Doluka called down from the wall.

"Sorry, but please wait a moment."

"Hmph! You'd better not make us wait long!"

Cliff said arrogantly. Facing the mixed races of Tawu Ishihara, he saw no reason for politeness.

Soon after, dorusaam brought over bottles of antidote.

"Should we deliver them out there?"

"No, that might expose us. Just toss them to them directly."

Tying the bag of antidote bottles with a rope, they sent it down. Seeing this, cliff narrowed his eyes.

They were being much too cautious—cautious enough to rouse Cliff's suspicion.

"Here are all the potions you asked for. Take them and leave."

Doluka said, while Cliff grew more suspicious. Trusting his instincts, he called out to a team member, a man in mage robes—clearly a mage.

His name was Flosa, a junior mage who had returned from studying at the Central Magic Academy. He joined the military for a shot at nobility—but had unexpectedly found trouble right away with this assignment...

"Flosa, take some men and retrieve the potions—see if you can determine their real identity, too."

"Yes, sir Cliff."

Receiving his orders, flosa led a few soldiers to the spot.

They bent down as usual to collect the bags, but in the process, the mage glanced up. He caught sight of Doluka's stunningly beautiful face and, for a moment, felt it was unreal.

After a moment's daze, he remembered his other tasks.

Appraise (Tier 1)!

Using the appraisal skill, he saw the magical energy flowing inside the other party. Looking closer at the other 'people,' he found the same magic coursing through all of them.

Magic was common in this world, so nothing alarming. But when his gaze shifted to the elf tree cultivated by the elves, his pupils dilated slightly.

There stood trees infused with magic, neatly lined up around the camp, serving as natural watchtowers and sturdy supports.

Back at the Central Magic Academy, flosa had once seen an introduction to these trees.

Elf Trees!

Plants that could only be nurtured through the elves' summoning of the forces of nature; they were premium materials for building and crafting all sorts of equipment.

But why were Elf Trees found here?

And not just on the perimeter—inside the camp, too! The quantity was by no means meager!

With these questions in mind, the mage picked up the bottles of antidote and returned to Cliff's side. By this time, cliff and his men had already retreated a good distance.

(To be continued...)