"If absolutely necessary, two or three ships will suffice. There are abundant food supplies there; as long as we can establish trade relations, coupled with the unique mineral deposits, and secure this golden shipping route, it will bring us immense wealth!"
Arthas pulled out a map roughly marking the four continents along with the locations of Kul Tiras and the island of Zandalar.
"We need to set sail from Lordaeron, cross the Great Sea, and reach the continent of Kalimdor. Even with the Naga escorting us, the risks remain enormous; encountering storms and sea monsters on the ocean are both significant challenges. Once we reach the continent of Kalimdor, we will also need to traverse the Tanaris Desert, where extreme creatures and Sandfury trolls pose constant threats."
"The final destination is here, Un'Goro Crater. It is rich in resources, allowing for self-sufficiency, while surplus can be sold to acquire other necessities."
Arthas explained his plan, spanning from the Eastern Kingdoms to Kalimdor. Arthas did not understand the intricacies of trade, but his proposal to create a unique flag was a clear signal.
He intended to monopolize maritime trade! If one doesn't know how to make money, it doesn't matter; any industry can yield massive profits as long as it can be monopolized.
The difference lies only in whether it's one million or ten million. The methods and means can be left for the experts to worry about; that wasn't his concern—if someone wasn't up to the task, he would simply replace them.
Lady Ashvane's eyes grew brighter and brighter; how could she not know just how immense the profits of monopolizing maritime trade would be! The races capable of sustaining maritime trade had all risen to power! The Goblins! The Zandalari Trolls!
Why are other trolls backward and prone to being beaten? It is because they have closed themselves off and failed to absorb advanced knowledge.
In contrast, both Kul Tiras and Zandalar have been able to form their own unique cultural atmospheres without fearing cultural invasion. By securing their foundations while also absorbing advanced craftsmanship and magical knowledge, it was only a matter of time before they made a leap forward.
"We cannot launch an all-out war just yet; we can start by eliminating some of the weaker opponents. For example, the Blacksail Fleet of Lordaeron, my dear—that is a fleet formed by a coalition of other noble lords. They reap huge profits, yet they show the least respect to the royal family. Your father has wanted to teach them a lesson for a long time."
Lady Ashvane explained, considering the matter from the perspective of Arthas's wife, while taking care to provide an explanation.
A kingdom is never monolithic; the feudal system of nobility makes that impossible. Nobles possess extremely high autonomy over their territories, which essentially turns them into small kingdoms—how could it ever be monolithic? Political maneuvering is completely normal; it would be strange if there were none.
Arthas squeezed his aunt's hand, looking at her with a resolute gaze.
"No explanation is needed. You are my spouse, and I will unconditionally trust and support you. A couple must help each other. I know you have my best interests at heart, and I understand."
Vashj felt the air turn sour, as if there were a scent of lemon in the room. "Heh, Your Highness is truly generous with your love!"
"You are the same, Lady Vashj; we are simply in a partnership."
"But if one day you become my spouse, I will also help you unconditionally. Not for any other reason, just because we are family, the closest of family, and we shouldn't be scheming against each other, but rather helping one another in friendship."
Arthas shook his head; he was the type who would always favor his own over abstract logic. Reason? He understood it, but that didn't mean he was going to side with it.
These words left Vashj stunned for a moment, her eyes flickering, thinking Arthas was joking. But looking into his sincere eyes, she swallowed the teasing words that were on the tip of her tongue.
"Let's discuss the next steps. We won't consider Pandaria for now. I will report to Her Majesty the Queen and let her decide. For the time being, let's just handle the trade between the two continents."
The three discussed for a long time, not because of disagreements, but rather because new ideas kept popping up during the discussion, making the plan even more refined.
For example, when dealing with the Goblin Cartel, they decided to win some over while striking others, showing the goblins how much better it is to join them versus how difficult life becomes if they don't.
There were also the trade routes of the High Elves, the trade routes of the Jungle Trolls in the south, and so on.
The Naga were not entirely useless either; they even had connections and interests among some races in the Broken Isles and Northrend. Some of these trade routes could be shared with Arthas, allowing his fleet to handle the trading.
Lady Ashvane did not try to hoard all the trade for herself; she merely assisted Arthas in building up his fleet.
She was well aware that the Ashvane family was a separate entity, and the gold she earned had to be put back into the family; she could not indefinitely use it to subsidize Arthas.
It was true that she was wealthy enough to rival a nation, but it was also true that she could only utilize a portion of those funds.
Therefore, it is better to teach a man to fish than to give him a fish; enabling her husband's fleet to operate profitably and become self-sufficient was more important than anything else. Yes, husband. Priscilla internally recognized
Arthas as her husband; although they could not be together publicly or make it known, no one would bother with what they did in private.
"Alright, let's leave it at that for now; there are still some details to refine. So, Auntie, I'll leave Omiya to you—help me train her well."
Arthas stretched, his bones popping and cracking, followed by a wave of exhaustion. He had slept with two women in succession and ejaculated four times. Combined with the mental exertion, he was truly weary.
"Rest in my room; I'll handle things with Brigitte. That girl is quite nice and deserves to be yours." Lady Ashvane smiled and kissed Arthas on the forehead, telling him to go to sleep.
She, on the other hand, was full of energy; with the blessing of life, she had become a different person. All of this elevated her feelings for Arthas to a point of extreme obsession. To love someone is to ensure they receive the very best.
Arthas nodded. He was indeed sleepy and fell asleep the moment his head hit the pillow, snoring within moments.
"Lady Vashj, please this way. I never imagined I would be cooperating with a Naga, so here's to a pleasant collaboration in the future!"
Lady Ashvane took out wine glasses and handed one over, her mood exceptionally cheerful. "A pleasant collaboration. Cheers."
Vashj's expression could not hide her excitement either. It was worth noting that this cooperation was not only beneficial to Arthas but also highly advantageous to her.
Twenty years of time could be compressed by nearly half, and the ability to switch perfectly between High Elf and Naga forms was equivalent to becoming stronger!