Chapter 1191: New Relationships, Liberating the Gnomes

As the illusions of the Cormanthor Mages faded, the Snow Melting Competition finally came to an end.

After those ten Gold Elf Mages exited, Badijiaer, representing Netheril and the four nations participating in this Snow Melting Competition, delivered the final address:

"All things in the world must have an end; this year's Snow Melting Competition stops here.

"In the new year, the situation in the Northland has undergone tremendous changes, and I believe everyone can discern some of the circumstances from this Snow Melting Competition.

"Here, I have only one thing to say to all the humans, Elves, and Dwarves present, and that is—

"Crisis has condensed us together, breaking down the barriers and prejudices between races. Although I know it is difficult, I still sincerely hope our friendship can last forever!"

If someone who did not understand Badijiaer heard this, they might only think it was another formulaic performance.

But to those who understood Badijiaer, this sentence conveyed an extremely strong signal: the relationship between Netheril and the Elven Nations was about to change!

Especially for Xia Duo, knowing that Badijiaer hated Elves immensely due to his background, and given that Iolum had mentioned the Northland Alliance would likely be established before the end of the year, Badijiaer saying this in a public setting clearly meant that Netheril and the Elves would begin a brand-new relationship—

A true alliance.

And not just empty words.

……

Immediately following this, Badijiaer solemnly announced on behalf of the Seven Cities Council: "Effective immediately, the slave status of all Gnomes within Netheril is abolished, and they are permitted to walk freely in all regions provided they obtain the qualifications of free citizens.

"At the same time, the Seven Cities Council promises to designate the Yellow Maple Hills as the first territory for the various Gnome tribes to establish an independent nation in the Northland, and will provide full protection."

Once these words were spoken, the Arena nearly exploded; Gnomes were excellent at mining, and with Dwarf miners being hard to come by, Gnomes were the best miners within Netheril.

And most importantly, they were completely free!

Counting by the long lifespans of Gnomes, even considering the wear and tear of heavy physical labor, they could easily serve several generations of lords.

To be liberated so suddenly, without the slightest hint of wind beforehand, was hard for anyone to accept, especially since most Netherese Mages in the Arena had benefited to some degree from Gnome slaves.

Even Xia Duo was no exception.

There was a silver mine and an iron mine in the Savile Territory, but he rarely conscripted human subjects to mine them precisely because there was a small Gnome tribe there specifically for mining, and they could even perform simple smelting.

And promising the Gnomes the power to establish an independent nation was something that had never happened before. Now that Gnomes were establishing a nation, did that mean other intelligent races within the territory would also be allowed to establish independent nations?

Take Goblins, for example; although their intelligence is not very high, they are undoubtedly an intelligent race. If Goblins were also allowed to establish an independent nation, it wouldn't be long before the entire Northland was crowded with Goblins.

It is precisely because of the constant culling by humans, Orcs, Trolls, and even Elves (counting them as food, that is~) that creatures like Goblins have not become a plague.

If a precedent were truly set, then in the future, Goblins might really be able to establish an independent nation!

Although they might not think of this themselves, they could not withstand the push of those with ulterior motives; once a thing is possible, given enough time, it is almost certain to happen.

Had the Seven Cities Council not considered this situation?

This was just inside the Arena, and it had already triggered so much opposition; once the Snow Melting Competition ended, wouldn't the outside world be turned upside down!

In fact, Xia Duo had already seen many Mages sending messages to friends and family; perhaps it would not be long before lords from all over would arrive at the Seven Cities Council to demand accountability.

Even if the promised land was not their own, it was still their potential land!

Xia Duo was also very dissatisfied in his heart; the Yellow Maple Hills could barely be considered part of the Southland, located west of Maihete Lake and south of the Kangqi Plain, and the Daxia Territory might not necessarily fail to develop there in the future.

Not to mention, near the Yellow Maple Hills was the Kangqi Plain; could the various emerging lords there tolerate an alien nation about to expand right at their doorstep?

"Sigh, I don't know what the Council is thinking with this kind of thing!"

Facing this situation, Niya could not help but complain, "Xia Duo, do you think we should liberate the Gnome slaves in our mines after we go back?"

"Follow the original plan!" Xia Duo did not consider Badijiaer's statement at all.

When all is said and done, the territory is still decided by the lord. The Seven Cities Council is said to be the highest authority in Netheril, but in essence, it is just a place for lords from all over to discuss the overall major affairs of Netheril.

Its power is far too light for the lords.

Especially for a decision like liberating slaves, which does not involve the fundamental interests of Netheril, a lord can choose not to execute it if they don't want to, at most just going to Seventon less often in the future.

As for the Gnome slaves in the Savile Territory, Xia Duo actually had a liberation plan long ago and was already in the process of executing it, similar to how the Daxia Territory handled the slaves bought from various northern territories.

Stripping them of their slave status based on merit, then converting them into ordinary subjects, and finally paying them to work as miners, rather than just letting them go directly.

Direct liberation had too many hidden dangers; Xia Duo had never even thought about it.

If nothing else, if you just let them go like that, do you expect them to be grateful to you and not cause you trouble? You could think with your feet and know that once released, they would definitely be enemies.

Of course, in the current situation, other territories might not be as willing to accept them as Xia Duo, but forced employment was not something they couldn't do.

But the series of chaos this would trigger would also be inevitable.

……

After Badijiaer, Elkamon, acting as the host, announced the end of the Snow Melting Competition. By this time, the dozen or so Gnome Mages remaining in the Arena teleported away in an instant.

They probably knew that the officially announced liberation was not a true liberation, and it was too dangerous to stay here.

Almost shortly after they teleported away, several Archmages tracked their teleportation trails and followed them.

Seeing this scene with his own eyes, Xia Duo shook his head repeatedly. Did the Seven Cities Council really not foresee this chaos, which was highly likely to be protracted and delay the development of Netheril?

Was calling those dozen or so Gnome Mages over just to announce this "good" news to their faces? Or to use them to provoke the human Mages?

……

Returning to the Arcane Union, Xia Duo and Niya discussed the issue of liberating the Gnomes in their room for a long time, but in the end, they could not reach any conclusion.

However, after such a discussion, Xia Duo's train of thought became much clearer. If he could see the problem, the Seven Cities Council could likely see it too.

But they still did it, which meant there was a reason they had to do it.

Xia Duo speculated that this might be the Elves' requirement for Netheril during the Northland Alliance negotiations.

One must know that the Elves secretly rescuing Gnomes from Netheril and teaching them illusion magic was not a matter of one or two years, but had a history of nearly a hundred years.

The main force behind this was Cormanthor; with Cormanthor's consistent "Great Elven Imperialism," was it really for the good of the Gnomes?