Chapter 665: Tribal Negotiation

Although it was best to start working on the JODE Administration and Training Centre instance, especially since Lee Na was waiting for his progress, Jin had other pressing matters to attend to. When he entrusted Milk with them, Jin quickly teleported to one of the islands in the Open Dungeon instance where he had previously instructed the System to place all the Giant World’s ‘refugees’ in at that area.

Hamatarou who acted on behalf of Qiu Yu to enforce the contracts had begun to be swarm with many questions which he was unable to answer or entertain.

Some of the tribal elders knew Hamatarou, but the rest of their village had no idea what was going on. This mass migration matter was based on the absolute trust of their mythical treasure, which their elders doubted if they were duped.

That was where Drex and the other Dark Elves came in.

They were acting as the role of enforcers keeping the necessary peace among the groups and withholding the use of violence unless it’s inevitable. The Night Foxes were sorely needed to ensure that these tribes did not kill one another off until they signed the contract.

Jin might have thought that he was doing them a favour or giving them a better life, but the truth was that he had displaced them from their ordinary lives. He was partially aware of it and therefore decided to enter personally to mediate in the current situation.

But as usual, the System suggested the Night Foxes to eliminate every single villager, and make everyone be subjected to its loyalty command as soon as possible. Naturally, Jin rejected that as he felt it was essential to communicate with each other although the dungeon supplier learnt not to that naive too.

Sometimes, power had to be applied to produce a scenario where everyone compromises.

This was because many believed their elders were scammed, especially when they were forced to sign some sort of contract which they had no understanding of. So, Jin decided to take the soft power route first and see if these Animal People could understand through his explanations.

When Jin teleported to the open dungeon instance, the major leaders of the eight tribes had already assembled together in a makeshift tent. While many wished to listen into the conversation, the Night Foxes forbade them from coming near the tent. Thus, the rest continued to wait restlessly outside, awaiting the decision of their leaders.

Of all the Animal People clans, only two leaders and their tribes had already completed the contracts.

The Turtles and Walrus.

A majority of the tribal leaders were still on the fence except for the Otters who were adamant of returning back to their old ways. They were, unfortunately, the only ones who refused to sign anything.

When Jin walked into the tent, they saw that he was with another Animal People, who they perceived to be a swordsman, along with him. Some of the leaders were old enough to recognise a human being, and they began to whisper excitedly among themselves even though they barely met. (Perhaps, adversity brings kindled strangers together.)

“Greetings all. I am Jin, this frog here is Gaeru, and some of you have known my friend and associate, Sage Hamatarou.” Jin tried to show that he was affiliated to Hamatarou to exert further power and influence to the group.

“While a few of you had already heard from Hamatarou’s story why we had forcefully migrated you to this particular piece of land. I am here to tell you that was not all.” Jin announced as he immediately summoned out massive holographic projections via his System phone and revealed them the current situation in the Giant World.

None of the tribal leaders could believe the images of the cold, barren wasteland, and some even call out that its a hoax. Gaeru, who was the last sole survivor of his clan, later explained why Jin was doing all of these. He included the story about the massacre of his entire village by the Salamanders and yet none of them could believe what was happening. Jin soon realised that many were still in denial and the soft approach would not work with them.

“I guess the only way is to return them back to where they come from. After all, showing is telling.” Jin said to Hamatarou while he folded his arms.

“Yes, we wished to return to our villages!” The Croc Leader demanded, and the others follow suit, including the Turtles and Walrus Leaders who had already sign the contract.

“Very well. We had already done our part rescuing you guys from the Ice Age spell from Queen Mab, and that would be free of charge. Should you ever wish to return here, use this particular ring to contact Hamatarou.” Jin said while presenting the rings on the table and the leaders all thought that was a good deal until the dungeon supplier started to open his mouth once more.

“However, if you ever return, you would be automatically be required to sign a contract with us. Not only that, your contract terms will have three times more the requirements than what we presented you right now. Having to work until you clear your village’s debt will be the least of your worries.” The sudden declaration startled the whole group, even Hamatarou.

“Our operation to save you people from the Giants and deploying combat professionals to risk their lives for yours were not cheap,” Jin warned as he looked at the rings on the table. Some were already hesitant to pick the rings. “I will give you guys one more hour to talk to your village people. Those who had decided either to leave or stay, please revert to either Hamatarou.”

“For the two other villages which had already sign the contract, you have technically broken a clause of your contract if you take a step back to the Giant World without permission.” Jin said with a tinge of anger in his words before his face relaxed and spoke the following.

“However, we are not slavers of any kind. So, I have allowed you to break your contract at a price. You are free to return here again. But at a tremendous cost than those who have not sign a single thing.” Jin said while emitting his chi aura out to show that he meant business even though he was smiling through his teeth.

“However, if you and your village wish to stay, I will promise you that providing you will be my utmost duty. A piece of bountiful land like this island shall be bestowed to you for your village to develop, grow and prosper. I also swear that I can provide you jobs, new skills to learn and heck. A damn good time.” Jin had now switched his bait as he showed pictures of his penguins working hard in the Restaurant Instance while others were having fun at the Theme Park instance.

“I will leave a few penguins here who had saved your lives to answer any questions. I hope you will make the right choice.” Jin said as he requested the System to bring out Kido and his other ninjas to talk to the leaders.

The dungeon supplier believed he had done what he needed to do and the rest he would leave it to Hamatarou and his penguins to convince the leaders.

Because as of that moment, Amura Rei had messaged that he had finally outfitted three Sandroku Golems to be spaceworthy.