Steel, Explosives, and Spellcasters

Chapter 1082: Chapter 86 Echoes of the Mountains (Part 3)_2

At the very beginning, the Forge Masters looked at the overly young and overly beautiful Baroness with eyes full of disdain, doubt, and distrust.

But as she started to speak eloquently, the atmosphere in the arbitration hall gradually became serious and heavy.

Anna first succinctly analyzed Steelburg’s dilemma:

As long as the war in Paratu doesn’t end, Steelburg will continue to decay day by day;

With one flourishing as the other dwindles, even if they can hold on until the end of the war, Steelburg’s dominant position will be seized by other iron-producing places;

The city thrived because of the waterways and will perish with their severance.

“As long as the trade embargo continues, even if we can buy all your inventory now, it won’t stop the future decline of Steelburg’s iron industry. This is reality, painful as it may be, but it is inevitable. Of course, there are always ways to bypass the embargo, such as smuggling. However, if you consider the risks, the expected returns from smuggling will always be… a loss for you.”

Anna said softly, “Therefore, please seriously consider the olive branch we are extending.”

Winters’ proposal had already been passed on to the Executive Committee through Servette, so Anna did not need to reiterate the specific plan. Anna’s visit to the Executive Committee today was not only to deliver a final ultimatum but also to make a final effort.

“No longer just exporting iron, but exporting manpower; no longer just exporting resources, but exporting technology. No longer just exporting products, but exporting…” Anna stopped here suddenly, thought for a while, and finally chose the most accurate ancient word: “[wealth].”