Episode 119: Learning Sample
Dry, Vier, and Sechzehn saw off the delegation from the Repuytari Kingdom after treating them to tea and cookies, explaining the basics of the flagship Panas, and sending them off with cellulose thread and cloth as souvenirs.
The time was just approaching noon.
They had entertained them for approximately four hours.
“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. Of course, they didn’t share any decisive information either, but that’s not a problem. As expected, we haven’t fully analyzed the kingdom’s people’s detailed culture and ideology yet, so we can’t fully decipher the underlying intentions that aren’t expressed in words or writing. As far as we’ve confirmed, there’s no information that would put us at a disadvantage.”
Spy bots are currently collecting all sorts of information, but information that exists only within people’s knowledge and experience, such as customs and unwritten rules, is difficult to gather. Ringo is wary of such tacit knowledge, but ultimately judges that it won’t significantly affect the overall picture.
“Well, we’re going to have meetings every day from now on. I guess all that’s left is to hammer out the details?”
“Yes, Ma’am. A show of force, such as a gunnery exercise, will be necessary somewhere along the line, but the basics are just agreeing on the conditions.”
The ultimate goals are the supply of fuel stones and the trade of metal resources. However, it would be best to present them as a compromise, as revealing them from the start would lead to being taken advantage of.
“We need to use the trump card of fuel stone supply skillfully. It’ll be a matter of playing 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 peaceful card, there are the fuel stones that have begun to be mined around the port city of Telek.
The mining of fuel stones 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 buried fuel stones would inevitably be crushed, generating heat and combustion at the contact surface, but this has been resolved.
By creating a means other than hand-digging using magic tools, the mining speed has improved dramatically.
However, Ringo questioned the phenomenon of no heat generation despite the considerable water pressure being applied.
Asahi, with her fantasy brain, suggested that “the fire attribute might be suppressed by the water attribute,” and Ringo realized it was pointless to think about it and began to throw the problem to Asahi.
Well, Asahi’s opinion hasn’t been proven at this point.
After all, it is necessary to find something that allows systematic learning about magic. It goes without saying that Ringo’s predictions are useless, and Asahi’s considerations can only lead to speculation because they are not based on correct knowledge.
“Today, we proceeded in the form of a conversation to deepen friendship. Tomorrow, unless there are specific requests from the other side, it will be an introduction to trade goods other than fuel stones.”
“What do we have right now?”
“Yes, Ma’am. Multiple types of cellulose thread and cloth. Tea leaves and confectionery from the Forest Country (Lebresta). Preserved foods such as dried fruits and jerky. Cellulose container-sealed drinking water mass-produced at The Tree. Carbonated water in glass bottles, which has begun production at the Second Fortress (Black Iron), and high-purity alcohol produced by industrial methods. Alcoholic beverages that have begun production in the port city of Telek. There are also various seafood and dried fish, but the 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 Lebresta products are luxury goods. Drinking water can be stored for a long time, but 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 historical knowledge rooted in the region hasn’t been lost, and the bureaucratic organization still has knowledge and rules of thumb that have been passed down from ancient times. They won’t be so reckless as to cause devastating damage to their domestic industry through trade with us.”
But, Ringo continued.
“If we think in terms of a 10- or 20-year span, it’s possible to destroy the Repuytari Kingdom’s industry in terms of preserved drinking water, for example.”
If bottled drinking water and alcoholic beverages continue to be supplied at reasonable prices.
In 10 years, the kingdom’s bottling industry will be destroyed. After all, they can obtain what they need at reasonable prices without spending money and time on development.
There is a possibility that it will be protected by tariffs imposed by the rulers, but suppressing that is what gunboat diplomacy excels at. And if stable supply continues for 5 or 10 years, everyone will lose their sense of crisis, and domestic industry will decline due to price differences and, above all, quality differences.
“Historically, in Earth’s trade, such problems have been suppressed by mutually holding each other’s lifelines, but we can unilaterally initiate it.”
However, at this point, such a strategy would not be used against the Repuytari Kingdom, which is not a hostile nation.
“And if we can make the other party have such concerns, this trade can be said to be a success. They 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 commensurate 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 fuel stone.
It is a super-important resource that is directly linked to the Repuytari Kingdom’s energy policy.
“Fuel stone is hardly produced in the Repuytari Kingdom’s territory. The import sources are the Wheat Country (Weizenland) and the Southeastern Small Nations Group. And both have limited or no domestic production, with almost all of it being stolen from the Afrasian Union Kingdom. Well, from their point of view, they are managing land that they can’t manage.”
“We’re doing it too, so it’s the same for both of us.”
“So, if we continue with the current strategy, The Tree will eventually be responsible for almost all of the fuel stone supply. As long as we govern, we will never allow theft.”
“Of course. Well, judging from the production volume, it seems to be minimal…”
The southern part of the Afrasian Union Kingdom is already under constant surveillance by The Tree’s high-altitude drones. Mining by the small nations and the 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 annual consumption of the Repuytari Kingdom 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 progresses at this rate and as predicted, fuel stone consumption will increase exponentially.”
As mechanization progresses, 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, fuel stone is supplied, creating a false sense of economic security.
“However, there is no need for us to break this security from our side. We will consider it if we mistakenly become hostile, but normally, the relationship is unlikely to 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’s too much trouble to control the entire Northern Continent. It’s best to leave this to the local residents.”
The role of regional stability in the southern part of the Northern Continent, where various forces are vying for power, is being pushed onto the Repuytari Kingdom. Since they originally intended to establish hegemony, there shouldn’t be any particular problems.
It should be a dream come true.
“Well, how far will they hold out? As expected of experts, 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 learning samples. Let’s look forward to their efforts.”