Chapter 118: Eating Cookies
“You must see us as an unknown force. Allow me to introduce ourselves briefly,” said Drei, the third member of the delegation.
“Ah, yes, pleased to meet you,” came the reply.
It was a challenging situation for the other party to initiate the conversation, so it was only natural for Drei to take the lead.
“We are recognized as the Paraiso. Our base is located far to the south, and that is all I will disclose for now.”
At those words, the expressions of the three diplomats stiffened slightly. The strategic AI aboard the Panas had misinterpreted this as a reference to the recently reported southern continent.
“Please rest assured,” Drei continued, cutting through the tension. “The southern continent you are concerned about is not where we come from. It is a different location altogether.”
The strategic AI, capable of analyzing breathing patterns, heart rates, and subtle muscle movements, accurately gauged their emotions.
“…I do not understand what you mean,” one of the diplomats replied, clearly unwilling to divulge any confidential information about the Kingdom of Repuitari.
“I understand. So, your nation is located to the south of this continent?”
“Affirmative. This fleet has been dispatched directly from our base. I apologize for the sudden arrival, but we have no means of communication. Please forgive us.”
Drei said this with a nonchalant demeanor, despite the fact that they had intruded upon the capital’s port without prior notice. If they merely wished to establish relations, there were numerous ports facing the open sea. Ignoring those and deliberately entering the capital’s inner harbor could only be interpreted as a show of force.
“…Is that so? Well, we do not intend to press the matter further. Since you have arranged this meeting, we shall assume there is no intent for hostility.”
“Of course, we have no intention of hostility. Peace is paramount. Even if we must fight, it can be done at the negotiation table. There is no need to shed blood.”
This could easily be interpreted as a declaration of war. However, it seemed the Kingdom of Repuitari was aware of the disparity in military strength. Though their expressions tightened slightly, they refrained from making any foolish remarks about it.
If Ringo were here, she would have said, “The more rational a person is, the easier it is to predict their words and actions.”
“Now then. It would be dull for me to do all the talking. If you have any questions, I will answer them as best as I can. What do you wish to know?”
At this, Colonel Deck Estainka nodded.
“First, I would like to confirm once more. What is the reason for your visit to Moar?”
“Hmm.”
Drei glanced at Vier, the fourth member, who nodded and spoke up.
“I, Vier, will primarily handle the practical matters. Our ultimate goal is to establish a trade agreement with your nation, the Kingdom of Repuitari. To achieve that, we need to decide on various matters.”
“I see. We welcome the addition of new trading partners. We would like to consider this positively.”
With this exchange, it seemed the representatives of the Kingdom of Repuitari relaxed slightly. They had anticipated a fleet with overwhelming military power arriving at the palace, making high-handed demands. After all, that was how the Kingdom of Repuitari had treated other nations in the past. However, the Paraiso, at least on the surface, was behaving calmly and rationally, indicating their readiness for negotiations. This was a significant source of relief.
“Anything else? While I cannot disclose military secrets, I may be able to answer general facts that are common knowledge among us.”
Drei playfully encouraged, and Colonel Deck Estainka chuckled wryly.
“Then, if you will excuse me… I have only heard rumors, but is it true that you belong to a race known as Beastmen? I apologize, but we have never encountered a race resembling yours within our territory.”
“Indeed. I will confirm that we are one of the races you refer to as Beastmen. We do not fully understand our origins, but in our country, everyone shares this appearance. Until recently, we were unaware that there were races with different appearances.”
“I see. I have been curious about this for some time. You appear to be all women; are there no men aboard this fleet? If this question is inappropriate, feel free to ignore it…”
“Oh, that is no problem. All crew members of our fleet are women. It is generally not advisable for both genders to be aboard the same ship. Additionally, while I touch upon military matters slightly, I will say that gender differences do not pose any particular issues for us.”
Through Ringo’s information strategy, the strategic AI began to disseminate information that could cause confusion for the Kingdom of Repuitari. Ultimately, it mattered little whether one was male or female, but by introducing ambiguous information, they aimed to create uncertainty. Furthermore, they sought to exploit the prevailing male-dominant attitudes within the Kingdom of Repuitari, leading them to underestimate the Paraiso unconsciously.
“That is… quite a rare organization,” Deck Estainka remarked, seemingly at a loss for words.
“Also, the positions are primarily held by our Ringo clan. In this fleet, all captains bear the Ringo name. I will introduce them to you eventually, so I wanted to mention it beforehand.”
“I understand. So, the two of you bear a striking resemblance because you are…”
“We are of the same clan. The same applies to the others.”
This was information shared early on to avoid unnecessary surprise. They had heard it countless times in various towns.
Afterward, they received compliments on their appearances, inquiries about why their guards wore goggles and masks (which they simply explained as special tools), questions about the ship, and subtle probing about the location of their homeland. The strategic AI skillfully navigated these topics, keeping the conversation flowing.
“While we do not have a large supply of trade goods…”
As Drei spoke, she presented tea and baked goods obtained from the Forest Country, Lebresta. Ringo had attempted to recreate the baked goods but had struggled due to the unique ingredients used in Lebresta, resulting in the decision to present imported items instead.
“This is…”
“I do not know if you are familiar with it, but this is a delicacy sourced from Lebresta. Apparently, it can only be produced in that country. The quantity available here is limited, so I hope you will enjoy it.”
The tea was a semi-fermented variety, commonly known as oolong tea, paired with a cookie-like confection. It had a unique flavor, possibly due to some kind of nut blended into it. The Commander, Eve, had tasted several prototypes that failed to replicate the original.
Commander Eve had reportedly admonished them to taste the food themselves before serving it to others.
Setting that aside, the diplomats’ reactions were somewhat bitter. It was a fleeting expression, likely unnoticed by most, but it was clear that the fact they were already trading with Lebresta was not favorable for them.
After all, between Lebresta and the Kingdom of Repuitari lay the Afrasia United Kingdom and the Port Town of Terek.
“…Indeed, it is from Lebresta. Even we seldom come across such items.”
“Thank you for your generosity.”
“Are you from Lebresta, Drei?”
“No, I am not responsible for that. I have heard that a different trading group procures it. This was brought from our homeland.”
“Interesting… I had been curious, but it seems your fleet possesses excellent preservation technology.”
“That is correct. I will disclose this as it may impact future trade. Our merchant ships are equipped with large refrigerators. They can be quite useful for various purposes.”
“Refrigerators…? What are those…?”
“I will show you when the opportunity arises. They are facilities that can preserve food and other items for extended periods.”
The strategic AI continued the meeting, revealing information bit by bit.