Chapter 132 - Prisoners of War Part 1

Alice, did you get your answer?

I asked Alice through the cage.

Alice looked me right in the eye and nodded.

Yes. I still havent decided if I want to serve you or not, but I want to be free.

I see.

So youve made up your mind to stand on your own feet for now.

Then you must tear the chains off your own hands.

Yes.

The chains:

I have to kill Aldo.

Muzio. Id like to give you something in return.

I went to Muzio and asked him.

He said he didnt need anything, but that would mean that our country was ungrateful.

The Equus must have sacrificed a few lives.

Its really okay, he said. If it werent for you, I wouldnt be king. Well, if I had to say anything, Id say expanding trade.

Trade. Okay, okay.

The demand for woolen goods and horses is growing in our country.

Expanding trade is in the interest of both parties.

Anything I can do, just let me know.

Okay. I want a slave.

Slaves?

Why do you want slaves?

The industry of the Equus people is nomadic.

I dont think slaves are necessary.

The Gauls are good at weaving, arent they? I think the main industry of the Roselle Kingdom, in particular, was woolen cloth. If you have any soldiers who were engaged in the woolen industry, give them to me. Yeah, Ill pay you.

All right. If there are any, Ill hand them over to you. I dont need the money.

Its called repaying.

Well, Im not going to force you to do anything if you refuse to do so.

Its not like Im going to lose money on it.

But woolen cloth.

Its true that its more profitable to turn wool into fiber and then sell it after its been processed into products than to sell it directly.

Its a good idea to develop an industry that youre good at, rather than getting involved in agriculture.

Theres one more thing.

What?

Muzio said with a serious face.

You know the Lupus and the Alice, dont you? I dont have the power to do that right now, so Im just going to fight them off. In the not too distant future, Im going to give them the boot. And when I do, I need your help.

All right. Okay, until then, we will strengthen our cavalry. Its not good to rely on you guys all the time. Export horses, please.

All right. I want you to export ironware from your side.

Muzio and I shook hands firmly.

I was wondering if you were going to tell me about the stirrups.

Well, you dont have to ask me.

Stirrups have gotten a lot of publicity in this war.

Maybe in ten years, all the cavalry on the Adelnian Peninsula will be using stirrups.

I cant help it, tho