“Ma’am. It seems the Repuytari Kingdom is getting a little noisy.”
“Hmm?”
While she was developing export items to be produced at Fortress Two (Black Iron), ＜Ringo＞ brought a report.
“It was caught by the ground intelligence network. The Naval External Affairs Department is secretly negotiating with ＜Paraiso＞, but the contents seem to have been leaked.”
“Heeh. That’s quite a problem…”
She replied in a tone that didn’t sound too concerned.
In fact, whether it’s leaked or not, it’s basically unrelated to ＜Paraiso＞. Rather, the more confused the other party is, the more it becomes an excuse to extract favorable conditions.
It could even be said that ＜Paraiso＞ wouldn’t mind inducing confusion within the Repuytari Kingdom.
“But it wouldn’t be interesting if it drags on too long, would it? Will it have any impact?”
“Yes, Ma’am. It is expected that considerable interference will be made in the conclusion of the treaty.”
However, as Commander (Eve) says, it is true that it would not be interesting to spend too much time. Their true intention is to conclude a suitable treaty and start trading as soon as possible.
The biggest goal of preventing the departure of the punitive fleet to Telek Port City has already been achieved.
After that, although it is a mere formality, ＜The Tree＞ can develop further if trade is started and various metals can be imported.
The best thing they can think of now is for the Repuytari Kingdom to grow appropriately and become a major resource exporting country.
“Hmm… Vested interests are such a pain. They should properly calculate future profits.”
“Fearing the loss of what one has is a natural instinct for humans. The problem is that there is no guarantee that the current profits can be enjoyed in the same way in the future.”
Originally, if there were such things as vested interests, they should be used as a starting point for new businesses. Current profits are not guaranteed to last into the future. At the very least, some kind of leverage is needed to maintain them.
If they neglect to do so and continue to flock to it like zombies, it will naturally become a hotbed of corruption, and eventually decline and disappear.
“Well, basically it’s not our problem, is it? We need the Royal Navy to do their best.”
However, the turmoil is only on the Repuytari Kingdom’s side, and ＜Paraiso＞ only needs to wait. They need to take measures so they are not taken advantage of, but in a sense, they were passive.
◇◇◇◇
“Lieutenant Commander Deck Estainka. This way. The glass window is only here. I’m sorry, but there are no chairs.”
“No… I’m grateful just for being shown around. …Is this the bridge?”
“That’s how you would recognize it. However, we do not use this during combat.”
“Is that…?”
“There is a combat command post in the center. This place has thin armor and is not safe.”
“I see…?”
Deck Estainka, being guided through the ship by Drei, cautiously looked around.
Behind him, two ＜Paraiso＞ guards armed with guns stood upright. However, this was not so much surveillance as simply having the numbers.
＜Paraiso＞ was no longer wary of the people of the Repuytari Kingdom.
“It seems that Palliard Aminas-san and Revidel Klinkika-san are ready as well. We will depart for the planned sea area, is that alright?”
“Ah… No problem.”
Deck Estainka is being guided to the bridge of the flagship Panas, but the other two are on separate ships, destroyers that are mainly scheduled to conduct artillery exercises this time.
However, the fact that the contact from there was conveyed to Drei without any particular action was probably strange to him.
However, he already understood the difference in technological capabilities with ＜Paraiso＞ to the core.
“＜Paraiso＞ fleet, departing. Target point A (Alpha). Commencing turn.”
The ＜Paraiso＞ fleet, a total of nine ships centered on the flagship Panas, controlled the water jet nozzles and began to turn on the spot.
To the people in the port who were used to ordinary sailing ships, this was an absurd and bizarre sight.
With a sailing ship, a tugboat is used to move it outside the port.
Paddle steamers and screw-propelled ships can move on their own, but they usually reverse first.
Under no circumstances do they turn around on the spot.
“Course confirmed. No obstacles. Slow ahead.”
Without taking much time, the fleet pointed its bows towards the outside of the port. The notification that artillery exercises would be conducted had been issued to all ships. If there was a ship blocking the fleet’s path, it could be sunk in the worst case.
No ship would deliberately try to obstruct the path of such a fleet.
“…”
Panas, blowing jet streams from countless bottom slits and starting to move forward. The scenery visible from the bridge slowly began to move.
Lieutenant Commander Deck Estainka of the Repuytari Kingdom Navy watched the scene with a grim expression.
As a member of the External Affairs Department, he had boarded various ships and been dispatched overseas. Therefore, he was aware of the performance of Panas, and the Hedgehog-class ships that accelerated with it.
Compared to his country’s latest battleship, its acceleration performance, and above all, its quietness.
The hopeless technological gap between them.
“Approximately 15km to point A (Alpha). 9.93t (Tals) f (Fars) in Far conversion. Lieutenant Commander Deck Estainka, the target is within visual range.”
“It can be confirmed with a telescope.”
As expected, it is impossible to confirm the floating target 15km away with the naked eye.
A normal bridge should have a fixed telescope, but this Panas bridge did not have such equipment installed.
“I will display a telescopic image.”
Drei nodded and touched the control panel at hand.
One of the glass windows in front turned white, and an enlarged image was displayed there.
“You can display the front telescopic image there. You can move, zoom in, and zoom out with the controls at hand.”
“Wh-What…”
Deck Estainka was captivated by the glass window (display) in front of him. What was reflected there was certainly the floating target prepared by his own army. An old sailing ship (clipper). The sails have been removed, and a red flag indicating that it is a target ship is fluttering.
“Lieutenant Commander. This way. This lever moves the field of vision. The wheel zooms in and out. This button returns to the original display. Please.”
One of the guards was taught how to use the control panel at hand.
“Ah… The scene from the telescope is reflected on this glass…”
He somehow understood the phenomenon. Of course, he had no idea how it worked.
He used the control panel to enlarge the display and confirmed that the image was not a bluff or anything, and that it was indeed showing a distant scene.
This device alone has very high strategic value. It is possible to unilaterally observe and confirm the impact point from a far distance without entering the opponent’s field of vision.
Unlike telescopes and binoculars, there is no need for each person to peek into it, and the field of vision is much wider.
Above all, there was no shaking of the field of vision due to the vibration of the ship at all.
Deck Estainka was aware of this problem precisely because he had observed with a telescope many times.
Normally, it is extremely difficult to keep the field of vision focused on one distant point on a swaying ship. It may be possible for a skilled observer, but this image was probably realized with a mechanical function.
Because he lacked magical technology and had developed mechanical technology, he was terrified of ＜Paraiso＞’s technological capabilities.
He could imagine the mechanism. If this was the power of some kind of incomprehensible magic tool from overseas, it would have been a consolation.
So far, various devices and shipboard equipment have been introduced. Above all, Fleet Commander Drei=Ringo has even explained the simple theory.
Deck Estainka had no choice but to admit it. This nation of ＜Paraiso＞ is far ahead of his own.
“It seems that your country’s observation ship is already in position. The shelling will begin shortly.”
“Understood. The schedule has been communicated. You may begin at your discretion.”
Drei nodded at the reply and faced forward.
“Issue, ＜Paraiso＞ Fleet Flagship Panas, Fleet Commander Drei. To, Hedgehog-class No. 3 ship. Commence Exercise (Training) Operation 167.”
The words were transmitted through the income attached to Drei’s throat to the bridge of the Hedgehog No. 3 ship.
Palliard Aminas and Revidel Klinkika, who were being guided through the ship, were shaken by the clear sound of Drei’s voice, which should have been coming from another ship, but that was a minor issue.
“Now, we will begin the gunnery exercise.”
A siren blared, warning of live ammunition firing.
Exactly ten seconds later, a single cannon shell was fired from the forwardmost No. 1 main cannon of the Hedgehog-class third ship.