Chapter 119: Learning Sample
Drei, Vier, and Sechzehn saw off the Repuytari Kingdom delegation after treating them to tea and cookies, briefly explaining the features of the flagship Panas, and giving them cellulose thread and cellulose cloth as parting gifts.
The time was just approaching noon.
Roughly four hours had been spent entertaining them.
“I wonder if we properly conveyed that we have no hostile intentions?”
“Yes, Ma’am. I believe we were able to demonstrate that without issue.”
＜Ringo＞ nodded.
“The information we provided this time was limited to superficial content. Naturally, they didn’t share anything decisive either, but that’s not a problem. As expected, we haven’t fully analyzed the finer cultural points and ideologies of the kingdom’s people yet, so we can’t fully decipher the underlying intentions that aren’t expressed in words or writing. However, within the scope of what we’ve confirmed, there’s no information that would put us at a disadvantage.”
Spybots were still collecting all sorts of information, but information that exists only within people’s knowledge and experience, such as customs and unwritten rules, was difficult to gather. ＜Ringo＞ was wary of such tacit knowledge, but ultimately judged that it wouldn’t affect the big picture.
“Well, from next time, we’ll be having daily talks. I guess all that’s left is to hammer out the details?”
“Yes, Ma’am. A show of force, such as a cannon firing exercise, will be necessary at some point, but the basics are just agreeing on the conditions.”
The ultimate goals were the supply of Burnstone and the trade of metal resources. However, it would be best to present them as a compromise, as revealing them from the start would allow them to take advantage of us.
“We need to use the trump card of Burnstone supply effectively. We’ll have to play it by ear while predicting the flow of the conversation.”
And then, ＜Paraiso＞’s strongest card. Well, the strongest is military force, but in terms of a non-violent card, there’s the Burnstone that has begun to be mined around Telek Port City.
The mining of Burnstone was done manually, but after trial and error, they discovered that using water flow allowed them to excavate without applying unnecessary shock or pressure. With mechanical excavation, the Burnstone that was buried would inevitably be crushed, generate heat, and combust on the contact surface, but this has been resolved.
By creating a means other than manual digging using Magic Tools, the excavation speed has improved dramatically.
However, ＜Ringo＞ questioned the phenomenon of not seeing heat generation despite the considerable water pressure being applied.
Asahi (she), with her Magic (Fantasy) brain, suggested that “the Fire attribute might be suppressed by the Water attribute,” leading her to realize that it was pointless to think about it herself, and she finally began to pass the problem to Asahi.
Well, Asahi’s opinion hasn’t been verified at this point.
After all, it’s necessary to find something that allows systematic learning about magic. It goes without saying that ＜Ringo＞’s predictions are useless, and Asahi’s considerations are also based on speculation because she doesn’t have a foundation of correct knowledge.
“Today, we proceeded in the form of conversations to deepen friendship. Tomorrow, unless there are specific requests from the other side, it will be an introduction to trade goods other than Burnstone.”
“What do we have right now?”
“Yes, Ma’am. Multiple types of cellulose thread and cloth. Tea leaves and confectionery from Forest Country (Lebresta). Preserved foods such as dried fruits and Dried Meat. Drinking Water in cellulose containers sealed by ＜The Tree＞. Carbonated water in glass bottles produced at Fortress Two (Black Iron), and high-purity alcohol produced by industrial methods. Alcoholic beverages produced at Telek Port City. There are also various marine products and dried fish, but Repuytari Kingdom is a maritime nation, so these won’t be attractive. If the alcoholic beverages are well-received, we can also prepare distilled spirits.”
Just hearing it, these items wouldn’t cause any problems for the Repuytari Kingdom’s economy. There are no daily necessities, and the Lebresta products are luxury items. The Drinking Water simply has the advantage of being able to be stored for a long time, and it doesn’t displace existing water resources. Carbonated water is just a luxury item. Alcoholic beverages go without saying.
As long as the quantity is regulated, that is.
“The Repuytari Kingdom is a new nation, but its historically rooted knowledge of the region hasn’t been lost, and the bureaucratic organization still retains knowledge and empirical rules that have been passed down from ancient times. They won’t make any rash decisions that would cause devastating damage to their domestic industry through trade with us.”
But, ＜Ringo＞ continued.
“If we consider it over a span of 10 or 20 years, it’s possible to devastate the Repuytari Kingdom’s industry from the perspective of, for example, preserved Drinking Water.”
If bottled Drinking Water and alcoholic beverages continue to be supplied at reasonable prices.
In 10 years, the kingdom’s bottling industry will be devastated. After all, they can obtain what they need at reasonable prices without spending money and time on development.
There’s a possibility that it will be protected by tariffs imposed by the rulers, but suppressing that is what gunboat diplomacy excels at. And, if a stable supply continues for 5 or 10 years, everyone will lose their sense of crisis, and domestic industries will decline due to price differences and, above all, quality differences.
“Historically, in Earth’s trade, it seems that such problems have been suppressed by mutually holding each other’s lifelines, but we can unilaterally initiate it.”
However, at this point, there’s no reason to use such a strategy against the Repuytari Kingdom, which isn’t even a hostile nation.
“And, if we can make the other party harbor such concerns, this trade can be said to be a success. We need to offer something commensurate with our goods. And, in this case,”
“What we need is metal resources.”
“Yes, Ma’am. They will have no choice but to offer metal raw materials as compensation. From their point of view, raw materials are very important strategic materials. Exporting a considerable amount of them will affect the other party’s national strategy to some extent. That will be their judgment.”
And, the main item for that exchange is Burnstone.
It’s a super-important resource that’s directly connected to the Repuytari Kingdom’s energy policy.
“Burnstone is hardly produced in the Repuytari Kingdom’s territory. The import sources are Wheat Country (Weizenland) and the small southeastern nations. And, both have limited or no domestic production, with almost all of it being illegal mining from the Afrasia United Kingdom. Well, from their point of view, they’re managing land that they can’t manage.”
“We’re doing it too, so it’s the same for both of us.”
“So, if we proceed with the current strategy, the supply of Burnstone will eventually be almost entirely carried out by us, ＜The Tree＞. Since we’re the ones who govern, we will, of course, never allow illegal mining.”
“Of course. Well, judging from the production volume, it seems to be minimal…”
The southern part of the Afrasia United Kingdom is already under constant surveillance by ＜The Tree＞’s High-Altitude Drones. Mining by the small nations and ＜Wheat Country＞ is all done manually, and the production volume is limited. At that rate, it wouldn’t even amount to one week’s worth of ＜The Tree＞’s mining volume, even if they spent 10 years.
Conversely, it means that the Repuytari Kingdom’s annual consumption can be sufficiently covered in one day.
“Once the mining method is established, all that’s left is to expand the scale. However, if the industrialization of the Repuytari Kingdom proceeds at this rate and as predicted, Burnstone consumption will increase exponentially.”
By mechanizing, the output of mines will also increase. If technology is exported, the metal production of other countries will also improve. Increase the production of Iron and other metals, and ＜Paraiso＞ will import them. In return, Burnstone will be supplied, creating a false sense of economic security.
“However, there’s no need for us to break this security from our side. We’ll consider it if we mistakenly become hostile, but if we think normally, it’s unlikely that the relationship will deteriorate to that extent.”
“Let’s be good neighbors. The Repuytari Kingdom seems to be excellent as a leader of the surrounding countries, and it would be too much trouble to take control of the entire Northern Continent. It’s best to leave this kind of thing to the local residents.”
The role of regional stability in the southern part of the Northern Continent, where various forces are vying for power, will be pushed onto the Repuytari Kingdom. Since they originally intended to establish hegemony, there shouldn’t be any particular problems.
It would be a dream come true.
“Well, how far will they hold out? As expected of specialists, they seem to be smart. They’re also good at talking. Don’t you think it’s very educational?”
“Yes, Ma’am. They are also very excellent as a learning sample. Let’s look forward to their efforts.”