Beneath the Red Dragon

But as more and more strong warriors and heroes came to the Imperial to challenge and train, this activity, which was originally not exclusive to the Imperial, expanded its influence immensely.

Not only did many slave owners and merchant groups from the Southern North Land and the Nobility send their representatives, aiming to integrate the Imperial’s industries into these nobles’ systems, but many major slave owners and guilds from other continents also wanted a share.

Currently, Goblin Shanshan is negotiating with the representatives of those forces over the dispute of dominance. In Goblin Shanshan’s plan, if the Imperial’s related industries are to be included in those noble systems, they must hold the ultimate dominance.

That means selecting the strongest Gladiators from the other regions’ Gladiatorial Arenas to have the qualification to step onto the highest gladiatorial stage of the Golden Empire and compete with strong warriors from various places.

Besides the gladiatorial feast, the horse racing meeting once hosted by Black Dragon Lord Rosani has also become an activity supported and competed in by those nobles.

Not only are there pure horse races for competition, but there are also competitive events among Knights, providing those nobles with a refined sense of thrill through gambling activities.

Moreover, the Giant Dragon Card tournament, organized annually by the head of the Imperial Cultural Propaganda Department, Red Copper Dragon Lord Alfred, and Little Elf Riven, has become one of the pillars of the Imperial’s cultural industry.

Even the operatic culture of the Imperial selects the most popular operas at the end of each year to serve as a festival for cultural propaganda.

These seemingly ordinary means, just by adding a comparative title, can make ordinary cultural industries peculiarly competitive.

It is also because of these tactics that the culture of the Golden Empire gradually becomes a means of cultural incursion and thought colonization. Those nobles covet these appetizing cakes, while what the Golden Empire covets is something even more appetizing.

Just like those nobles and merchant groups who come for the Imperial’s wealth, on the Imperial’s territory, the wealth they bring also adds a more active economic Life Force to the Imperial.

”Wow, this Giant Stone Wang Ban is a full eight feet long, comparable to some fierce species,” said a merchant group agent standing by the shore, selecting a suitable meeting gift for an Imperial official he was about to court.

Wealth is a subject of comparison everywhere, but in the Golden Empire, what people compare is quite peculiar.

It’s either oddly-shaped monsters and uniquely-appearing Beasts or pets of special specifications, influenced by those governing Dragons of the Empire.

An eight-foot-long normal Giant Stone Wang Ban fish, not a fierce species, is especially rare, and in the Imperial’s fish market, it can sell for at least dozens of Gold Coins.

For diners, these prices are rather high and inflated, but for those competing for uniqueness, such prices are considered normal.

A somewhat skinny, dark-skinned night catch fisherman was talking with other fishermen, and hearing the customer in front of him express interest, he couldn’t help but turn and rub his hands, happily saying, ”This customer has a good eye; such a Giant Stone Wang Ban is rare among ordinary fish,”

”But I waited for several nights at The Sea to lure this Wang Ban onto the hook. If you can offer an appropriate price, I won’t need to wait for those merchants; I’ll just sell it directly to you.”

As the fisherman finished talking, a fish merchant negotiating in the distance became anxious. That fellow, along with his companions, jogged over and jumped onto the fisherman’s small boat, exclaiming, ”Hey, I remember you, you’re Uro, we’ve been trading old friends,”

”You can’t do this, and besides, it’s still early at night, why are you in such a hurry.”

”According to the usual rules, you can go fishing once you register with me. With Imperial inspectors present, do you really fear I’ll swallow your fish or something?”

The representative of the merchant group from the Central Continent quietly furrowed his brows, disdainfully patting the saliva-soaked fur robe.

The fisherman named Uro shook his head, ”I’ve had enough luck and don’t plan on night fishing for a while. The harvest of this one fish has already allowed me to accumulate some capital. I plan to sell this fish and no longer engage in this dangerous trade.”

”Life is like this, you can only eat three meals a day regardless of how wealthy you are.”

The fish merchant knew this lucky young man had recently immigrated from somewhere else to the Golden Empire as a Free Person, known for his hard work and bravery, having caught precious fish species several times in succession.

If these freelance fishermen had the capability to transport their catch to other regions of the Empire, it wouldn’t be down to merchants’ organized fish guilds to profit.

This young man had already earned nearly Twenty Gold Coins from him.

Don’t underestimate these Twenty Gold Coins; to the wealthy, it may be barely worth a breakfast.

But in the hands of an ordinary family, living normally, Twenty Gold Coins are enough to keep a family of three well-fed and clothed for several years.

The fish merchant laughed and patted young fisherman Uro’s shoulder, ”It seems you, young fellow, have found love here. Stepping out of this industry for the future of your family is also good, given you’ve saved enough to start a small business.”

”How about this, since we know each other, I’ll increase the price for you by a third; let’s call it appreciating our acquaintance.”