"Indeed, becoming an outstanding king requires many factors. What kind of trade are you thinking of?" Prince Liam asked tentatively. Some trades were genuinely not easy to conduct, such as weapons and Magic Materials.
"Materials, all kinds of raw materials. My caravans will bring finished Enchanted Weapons, armor, and Alchemical Items to Gilneas for sale, and at the same time, we will purchase materials and other supplies."
As Arthas spoke, he set a potion to one side, then picked up another herb and began to work on it.
Besides his class talent trees, Arthas also possessed professional skills, and the system had thoughtfully removed the limit of two professions.
This resulted in Arthas having learned almost all the life skills: Enchanting, Disenchanting, Tailoring, Leatherworking, Skinning, Blacksmithing, Mining, Herbalism, Alchemy, and so on.
Now, whenever he had a spare moment, he would practice his professional skills. On average, he had to craft something ten times to increase his proficiency by one point.
As a prince, Arthas could have people collect vast amounts of raw materials for him, which he would then process and sell.
Importing raw materials, exporting finished goods. The raw materials cost less than half a gold coin, but the finished product sold for two gold coins—it was sheer profiteering.
Yet no one thought it was wrong. If you couldn't make it yourself, you were destined to be fleeced.
Liam watched Arthas skillfully crafting Alchemical Potions, and his eyelids couldn't help but twitch a few times.
This was a bit too versatile. Besides, Alchemy was not a very respectable profession, as most of it was fraudulent, with no systematic curriculum to teach it.
Mages rarely studied Alchemy, feeling it was beneath them, so the price of Alchemical Items had always remained high, provided the quality was up to par.
"I will speak with my father. Your Highness, what are your thoughts on the Horde preparing for a decisive battle with the Alliance?"
Liam felt it was necessary to remind his father that they needed to find a way to build a good relationship with Arthas.
"No thoughts. Just follow the plan."
Arthas didn't want to discuss the war too much. True capitalists always extracted profits from war, rather than participating in it.
All this fighting and killing didn't suit him. If it weren't for the experience points from killing monsters and people, he couldn't be bothered to do it.
"Oh, right. The high command's plan is already perfect,"
Liam added with a compliment.
It seemed impossible to get any information out of Arthas. Moreover, from beginning to end, the three beautiful women behind Arthas had not said a word.
The fact that one Elf and one woman were each holding a Whelp made his eyelids twitch even more. What kind of relationship would lead them to bring Offspring with them? Could they be Arthas's children with them?
Arthas's hands never stopped moving. He was either making Alchemical Items or taking out his tools to do some leatherworking. Many monsters had been killed along the way, and their hides were very valuable.
Some hides were tough and very suitable for defending against arrows, while others were harder and possessed a faint Magic
Resistance, capable of negating some Magic Damage. These were excellent materials for making Leather Armor. Gifting the finished Leather Armor to the Ranger Corps could also win their favor.
The two talked for a long time before Prince Liam left. He became even more convinced that Arthas had struck gold.
Although he had often heard about him before, it was only said that he was diligent and eager to learn. Which prince wasn't? It was just that later, Arthas got lucky and was favored by a Dragon.
Even if it was just favor, that already made him stronger than most people. Plus, Lordaeron was still the strongest human kingdom. Befriending such a prince was definitely the right move.
And Liam had a faint feeling in his heart that Arthas's achievements would not stop here; he might become even greater than Thoradin, the emperor of the human empire of old!
If Arthas heard this, he would have laughed his head off. Thoradin was nothing! What he wanted was to stand above all living beings. Getting stronger was just a means to better satisfy his own lust, to better play with other women.
That night, the Alliance army had entered a clearing in the middle of the swamp. Ahead lay a vast, fetid marsh, and behind them was also a large, putrid swamp. It would take another two days of marching to cross it; this swamp was too large. Marching through here was the safest route.
If the Orcs were to set an ambush in the swamp, not to mention whether they had the patience, the creatures in the swamp alone could devour them alive. The main thing to guard against was a surprise attack from the swamp creatures; the Orcs were basically not a concern.
Arthas went to Vereesa's tent. Alleria and Sylvanas were also there.
"Sylvanas, you're here too. Perfect. This is some Soft Armor I just made today. It's made from the hide of a Swamp Lizard and has a very good magic-resisting effect. Its defense against arrows and thrown weapons is also quite good, and it can absorb toxins. I'd say this is one of my more successful works recently."
Arthas took out two pieces of dark green Leather Armor and handed them over. The style was the same, only the sizes were different.
"Wow, thank you, brother-in-law!"
Vereesa happily accepted the Leather Armor and examined it curiously. There were indeed faint traces of magic on it.
This was the effect of Dispel Magic, applied with a special technique that prevented the Leather Armor from losing its function after the Swamp Lizard's death, instead preserving it perfectly.
Sylvanas did not take it. Instead, she crossed her arms, making her tender breasts appear even fuller and firmer. "What are you trying to pull now?"
She had no idea how seductive this gesture was. Her seemingly modest breasts became exceptionally full under the pressure, making Arthas hard just by looking. Damn, she's Queen Sylvanas for a reason. Can you even be a queen without breasts like those?
"I told you, we are a family. Resources are to be shared. If anything happens to any of you, Alleria will be heartbroken, and so will I. I'm not the type who likes to be a savior. I'm just a selfish person who only thinks about my family. I'll only consider others when I'm able to. You are all fortunate to have become my family, so I must be responsible for you."
If anyone else had heard Arthas's words, it would have definitely damaged his image. These were not words a qualified king should say. Even if he thought this way, he couldn't say it out loud; it would have a bad influence.