“After that, we’re haggling over how to extract the resources we want. In the first place, we’d be troubled if they offered Repuytari Kingdom currency as payment, so it’s basically a barter system.”
“Money is no good?”
“Yes, Ma’am. It’s simply bulky, and it’s not good for the economy.”
“Ah. It’s a nuisance, you mean.”
It would be difficult to store, and future transactions could be on the scale of hundreds of thousands of gold coins per transaction. From ＜Paraiso＞’s perspective, it’s heavy, takes up space, and is difficult to count.
In the first place, ＜Paraiso＞ could counterfeit or inflate the value of gold coins as much as it wanted.
Considering the scale of trade we anticipate, the currency and paper money currently used in the Repuytari Kingdom simply won’t be enough.
This could lead to a high value of gold, i.e., accelerating deflation.
Or rather, there is a shortage of gold reserves relative to the size of the economy, and there are already signs of it.
“It would be best if we could shift to a credit economy on this occasion, but it’s difficult because the surrounding countries are completely unreliable.”
With paper money issued through a credit economy, there is no limit to the number of bills that can be issued. Provided that paper money is supplied in proportion to the size of the economy, there will be no limit to the number of bills issued due to a shortage of gold.
However, a credit economy is based on credit, as the name suggests.
It is meaningless unless the country is in a stable state, including the surrounding situation.
“At the very least, transactions between ＜Paraiso＞ and the Repuytari Kingdom should be conducted in the form of promissory notes, without involving currency or paper money. If both transactions are completed before the expiration date of the promissory note, no actual payment will occur.”
“…I don’t get it.”
Unfortunately, Commander (Eve) didn’t really understand the concept of currency or paper money.
In her original world, electronic transactions were the main form of exchange, and she wasn’t in charge of managing the household finances in the first place.
Or, if she had been exposed to fantasy works in VRMMOs, she might have had a better sense of monetary transactions.
“You can think of it as a barter system, and there won’t be any problems. We will conduct transactions after investigating the other party’s ability to pay, so ＜Paraiso＞ doesn’t have to worry about anything in particular.”
Without letting on, she would conclude conditions favorable to the Repuytari Kingdom and promote economic activity. After that, all she had to do was manipulate them well and import a large amount of resources.
“Hmm, I can’t steer a country… I’ll leave it to you. Wouldn’t Akane like this kind of thing?”
“Yes, Ma’am. She seems to be interested, so I’m having her take charge, as it would be a good learning material for political economy.”
“Treated as learning material…”
Well, given the technological disparity, it can’t be helped.
Something chaotic is beginning to happen within the Repuytari Kingdom, but she (Eve) thought, let’s take it slow.
◇◇◇◇
“I am very sorry for being presumptuous, but would it be acceptable to add one person to the participants in the meeting?”
“If you believe it is necessary, we have no objection. In the future, if you notify us in advance, there will be no problem in adding the necessary personnel. Just try not to increase it too much.”
The Doll Machine (Drei) immediately nodded at the proposed addition of personnel.
Deck Estainka, Lieutenant Colonel and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the External Affairs Department, reluctantly acknowledged the reply.
Presumably, he was hoping that ＜Paraiso＞ would refuse.
“Actually, that person is already on the liaison ship. Would it be alright for them to participate starting today?”
“Hmm…”
Drei immediately contacted the Local Strategic AI. The Local Strategic AI determined that there would be no particular problem with anyone coming.
This is because the Strategic AI has already decided on the final agreement of the talks, and all that remains is to skillfully guide them to that conclusion. No matter who comes or what happens, basically everything is an obstacle, and all they have to do is avoid or destroy it.
“No problem. We will allow them to board. We will hear their self-introduction at the venue.”
Drei nodded and turned on his heel. A ＜Paraiso＞ guard saluted and opened the gangway.
“Colonel, permission to board has been granted from ＜Paraiso＞. I will guide you, please come this way.”
“Hmm. Of course.”
Then, an imposing middle-aged man moved from the liaison ship to the gangway. His unsteady footing was probably the result of his physique and lack of exercise.
Major Revidel Klinkika, who was standing behind him, frowned openly.
“What an unreliable staircase.”
The army colonel muttered as he climbed the metal gangway.
The gangway for boarding the flagship Panas was made entirely of metal, and was very thin and hollowed out for weight reduction.
To those who knew, it was an excellent piece of work, underpinned by outstanding metallurgical technology and structural design, an artifact in its own right.
However, to those who knew nothing, it was a flimsy, unreliable, and dangerous staircase.
Or rather.
Even if he thought so, he wouldn’t normally say such a thing out loud in a place where he didn’t know if anyone was listening.
However, even though their organizations were different, the other party was a colonel. It was difficult for the members present, who were all lieutenant colonels or lower in rank, to offer any criticism.
The colonel’s grumbling continued after that.
He spouted complaints such as the all-metal deck was a waste and that it was too heavy and made him worried about maneuverability, which earned him cold stares from the three naval officers (the colonel was walking at the front, so he didn’t notice).
When he found out that the meeting place was on the deck, he complained that they weren’t prepared, that they didn’t want to welcome him, that it was distracting and he couldn’t have a discussion, that the sea breeze was strong, and that the desk was cheap.
“Amazing. You could make a collection of his sayings.”
Commander (Eve) couldn’t help but mutter, such was the richness of his vocabulary of complaints.
However, basically everything was off the mark, and most of it had already been explained to the naval side. In other words, this army colonel hadn’t even bothered to read the information provided by the navy.
A collection of his sayings was immediately created, and a careful interpretation and rebuttal was added, which was to be handed to him as a printed document on his way back.
That aside.
“…”
“…”
Everyone took their seats, and when it came time for self-introductions, both the ＜Paraiso＞ side and the Repuytari Kingdom side fell silent.
The ＜Paraiso＞ side had already completed their self-introductions, and they would not bother to speak to an attendee who they had not requested.
The Repuytari Kingdom side was also waiting for the colonel, who had forced his way in, to break the ice.
There were no particularly established international protocols, and in the first place, it was treated as a working-level meeting.
If it were a formal event, the procedure would be decided to some extent.
Lieutenant Colonel Deck Estainka sighed softly before opening his mouth.
“Ah… Excuse me. Well then, let me introduce you. This person will be participating in the talks from today. Colonel, please.”
“Hmm.”
The colonel nodded imposingly and leaned back.
“I am Gachirad Grand, Colonel of the Royal Capital Defense Bureau of the glorious Repuytari Kingdom!”
He said so in a rather loud voice.
“I have also been granted a noble title by the kingdom! My peerage is Baron, a legitimate heir! I am not like those naval brats, and I will show no mercy even if the opponent is a little girl!”
The three naval officers grimaced mightily at the sudden remark about a little girl.
However, the other party was a Communicator Doll. There was no need to react to such a random insult.
“Thank you for the polite introduction. I am Drei=Ringo, Fleet Commander of this fleet.”
“I am Vier=Ringo, Fleet Staff Officer.”
At that reply, Baron Gachirad Grand snorted with his nose.
“I had not mentioned my peerage in my home country because fleet positions take precedence during fleet operations, but I will inform you just in case.
This fleet is under the direct control of the Queen, and the Supreme Commander is only one person.
The Queen herself.
And our fleet is the Primary of those, and it is stipulated that the Fleet Commander has the same authority as a Duke (Herzog).
Also, traditionally, the heads of the fleet are members of the royal family.”
The attendees from the Repuytari Kingdom gasped at the words that were rattled off.
“To put it in your terms, our Ringo surname is proof of the Royal Family, and the Fleet Commander is equivalent to the position of Duke. However, I do not intend to particularly emphasize that position during this visit.”
Please be aware of this in future official settings.
Drei=Ringo concluded.