There were not enough stone stools for everyone, but the people who did not get seats did not mind at all.
They simply lifted the hems of their clothes and sat cross-legged on the ground.
Chorong sat with his legs slightly apart and spoke in a commanding manner.
"Then I will be direct. We came this time because we want to make a trade with the Ur-Shet Tribe and learn your weaving method."
He did not spend much time looking at the clothes Hayoon and the others were wearing, as though he did not care very much about them.
Even the beastmen he had brought alongwho were all dressed in beast-hide skirts looked completely calm.
Hayoon glanced back at her own tribe members.
Compared to them, her side looked even calmer.
Out of courtesy, Chief Baek spoke first. "Chief Chorong certainly receives information quickly. I assume you have also heard that we only trade finished cloth with other tribes. We do not teach the weaving method itself."
Chorong slightly lifted his chin and replied confidently, "That is only because those tribes cannot afford the price. We are different."
Immo raised a brow and continued the conversation. "Oh? Then what does the Voz-Karr Tribe plan to trade in exchange?"
Chorong answered, "Pottery. Two hundred finished red pottery pieces."
Hayoon silently calculated how much red clay would normally be needed to exchange for two hundred red pottery items and inwardly clicked her tongue.
As expected of the strongest tribe nearby.
They truly were wealthy and generous.
Yet every member of the Ur-Shet Tribe remained unmoved.
Beom even frowned slightly and said, "Two hundred pieces is indeed a lot, but pottery will eventually be used up."
Chorong continued, "Nothing lasts forever. Woven cloth will wear out eventually too. Two hundred pottery pieces are enough to last your tribe a very long time. Even if you do not use them yourselves, you could still trade them to other tribes for supplies without suffering any loss."
Immo still shook her head. "No. Even if we continue weaving slowly ourselves, the finished cloth can still be traded for many resources. If this is the extent of the Voz-Karr Tribe's sincerity, then we cannot make this trade with you."
The smile on Chorong's face faded slightly and the atmosphere around him became noticeably heavier.
The people he had brought with him were not nearly as composed as he was.
Several of them revealed anxious expressions to varying degrees.
With one glance, Hayoon understood.
They still desperately wanted the weaving method.
After a brief silence, Chorong smiled once more and said, "How about this? Our tribe can make another concession. We will trade supplies to you in exchange for the red clay needed to fire the pottery."
Hayoon could not help muttering under her breath, "So your original offer expected us to provide the red clay ourselves too?"
The smile on Chorong's face nearly cracked.
"Our tribe's territory does not contain red clay."
...No wonder their trades had been so outrageously unfair.
Minho spoke seriously. "Even so, we still will not trade with you."
One of the people Chorong brought along finally grew anxious enough to stand up and shout loudly, "Do not be too greedy! Do you know how many resources, how much labor, and how much time it takes us to prepare pottery blanks, gather firewood, and fire kilns just to make two hundred pottery pieces? It is only a weaving method! Autumn is almost here anyway. At worst, we simply will not trade! When the weather gets cold, we can still wear beast-hide clothing just fine!"
Another person immediately agreed. "Exactly! Go ask the other tribes whether they could even afford this price. The Voz-Karr Tribe has already shown the greatest sincerity possible! You are the ones being unreasonable now!"
After his people finished playing the aggressive role, Chorong stepped in once more.
The fox-like young chief revealed an embarrassed expression and coldly reprimanded them, "Sit down. What kind of behavior is this, shouting so loudly?"
His people were immediately subdued by his authority.
They closed their mouths one after another and reluctantly sat back down.
Chorong then turned toward Baek and the others. "Please do not take offense. I believe the people of the Ur-Shet Tribe are not greedy. How about this? Why don't you tell us exactly how many resources it would take for you to agree to this trade? For the sake of friendship between our two tribes, I will do my best. Even if I suffer a loss, I will accept it."
Hayoon thought to herself that he truly deserved his position as chief.
That entire performance had directly pushed the Ur-Shet Tribe into an awkward position.
If the tribe demanded an outrageous price now, their bad reputation would spread very quickly.
Chief Chorong clearly looked like a cunning merchant.
Would someone like him really be willing to suffer losses?
And he kept talking about friendship between tribes.
If he truly cared about friendship why had the Voz-Karr Tribe never visited the Ur-Shet Tribe before?
It was obviously because they had always considered the Ur-Shet Tribe poor and weak.
Hayoon looked toward Chief Baek, curious what kind of condition he would propose.
Despite the performance put on by the Voz-Karr Tribe, Baek remained seated steadily on the stone stool the entire time, completely unmoved.
Unlike the sharper and more aggressive younger generation, he simply smiled mildly and said, "Since Chief Chorong asked directly, then I will also speak plainly. The weaving method of the Ur-Shet Tribe can only be exchanged for the construction method of your pottery kiln."
Chorong's eyes widened instantly.
After a brief moment of silence, the people he brought completely exploded in outrage.
"What?! You want our pottery kiln?!"
"No! Absolutely not! Our pottery kiln carries the hard work of generations. How could we possibly trade it away to you?"
"Hah, this trip was truly a waste of time. The Ur-Shet Tribe is completely insincere. Who would dare trade with your tribe in the future?"