Were they truly aware of Telek Port City, and by extension, Burnstone (Tone Mug)?
The inability to ascertain this was the current concern of the Repuytari Kingdom Navy’s External Affairs Department.
“Perhaps we should introduce our steam engine to gauge their reaction?”
“However, the steam engine is one of our nation’s most important secrets. It would be one thing to disclose it to a nation with established diplomatic ties, but to a foreign country still in negotiations…?”
“Even so, we won’t be able to broach the subject unless they see the real thing. We can’t afford to be taken advantage of.”
They undoubtedly have diplomatic relations with the Forest Country (Lebresta).
Whether this is by land or sea is unknown, but sea is the more likely option.
Traveling by land would require either traversing the vast desert to the north or continuing through the wilderness via Telek Port City.
Moreover, land routes would naturally take longer, making it impractical to transport baked goods, let alone tea leaves.
By sea, they could use those low-temperature rooms called refrigerators for long-term preservation.
This raises the possibility that they are unaware of Telek Port City’s existence. If they haven’t called at Telek Port City, it’s understandable that they wouldn’t know about Burnstone.
“But Lebresta tea leaves and baked goods… Wasn’t there some Royal-approved merchant that handled that?”
“…”
And then.
Further compounding the problem were the trade goods they had proposed.
Currently, only one merchant company conducts trade with Lebresta.
However, due to the Afrasia United Kingdom’s civil war imposing travel restrictions, the supply outpost at Telek Port City and other ports along the way are unusable, effectively cutting off trade.
Even so, in the past, this company had a monopoly on the Lebresta trade route.
Having that taken away by a newly emerged, mysterious fleet would undoubtedly cause unrest.
Therefore, their potential actions were unpredictable.
Especially considering the plan to dispatch a fleet to Telek Port City.
Not only would the rug be pulled out from under them, but they would also lose their trade route.
“We will have to provide some sort of guarantee.”
“How troublesome…”
Removing the items from the trade list was an option, but trade with Lebresta had been cut off for a long time, and the prospect of obtaining those goods meant they wanted to handle them if at all possible.
Lebresta tea leaves are a luxury item, making them highly valuable as tribute to the Royal Family.
“However, granting exclusive sales rights would only lead to them gouging us even more than before.”
“Until now, the operating costs of the trading vessels served as a justification.”
Depending on the negotiations with ＜Paraiso＞, the cost should be lower than using Repuytari Kingdom merchant ships. Otherwise, ＜Paraiso＞’s goods wouldn’t sell.
And discussions on such standard clauses had already begun. In fact, the value they had proposed seemed reasonable.
“It’s strange that we have to consider our domestic affairs in the first place.”
“It can’t be helped. Not to mention the Senate, the incompetent fools in the domestic departments are just as bad. If we don’t do it, our country will be in dire straits.”
They had subtly inquired about the volume of goods ＜Paraiso＞ could handle, and were told that they could provide merchant ships larger than the flagship Panas.
Panas’s overall length is approximately 100f (furlongs). The Repuytari Kingdom’s new battleship had only just exceeded 70f (furlongs), yet they were operating battleships and merchant ships far larger than that.
“They are friendly. They are proceeding with negotiations in an extremely amicable manner, despite our clearly inferior civilization…”
“Those on the outside, especially the Senators, probably don’t see it that way.”
“They’ll try to blame the Navy.”
“And then their cronies will be forced upon us as negotiation officers.”
“…Our beautiful Royal Capital could be engulfed in a sea of Fire.”
“Perhaps we should show them the threat of ＜Paraiso＞ firsthand…”
Thus, a request for live-fire exercises was made to ＜Paraiso＞.
◇◇◇◇
First shot.
The cannon shell fired by the Hedgehog-class third ship flew at three times the speed they had anticipated, striking the base of the rearmost mast of the target clipper. It snapped the mast clean off.
The Cannon Shell penetrated straight through, creating a large water column far out at sea.
＜Ringo＞ called it an Armor-Piercing Shell, not a warhead utilizing explosion magic, but a lump of metal fired at high velocity.
“…That wasn’t a fluke, was it?”
“No, sir. After that, they conducted three consecutive shots, hitting the remaining three masts directly. …The hit rate was 100%. I saw it with my own eyes, but I still can’t believe it…”
Without ranging shots, they landed their shots exactly where they aimed.
And they did it with the ship’s main Cannon.
＜Paraiso＞ seems to be developing based on mechanical technology, but perhaps they are also using some kind of magical technology.
In magic, there is something called One-Shot. It is a magic favored by the Forest Country (Lebresta), and it is said that learning this is the ultimate goal for Lebresta archers.
The effect is simple: it ensures that the arrow hits the target that is visually confirmed.
It would be easier to believe if it were a Cannon Shell that applied this magic.
“Next, they attacked a small floating target prepared by ＜Paraiso＞ with a weapon called close-in defense. It’s probably a weapon like a large machine gun. It’s not clear exactly, but it seems to have the ability to fire dozens of Cannon Shells per minute. The moment the target was shattered, a large number of water columns rose around it.”
They possess effective means of attack not only against large warships but also against high-speed, small vessels.
Moreover, the rapid-fire performance of even their main Cannon was remarkable. The ship is equipped with two Cannons in the front and one in the rear, and there are a total of eight such ships.
“Do you think we have any chance of winning if we fight with our current forces?”
“No, sir. …Frankly speaking, I think it’s impossible. We’d be annihilated within an hour.”
Palliard Aminas, a lieutenant commander in the Repuytari Kingdom Navy’s Technical Department, replied succinctly.
“That’s a cowardly statement that would warrant immediate execution if it weren’t for this occasion, Lieutenant Commander. But if you say so, then it must be true…”
“Yes, sir. I regret to say… And then there was the coordinated firing demonstration by the three Hedgehog-class ships. Continuous firing by the nine main Cannons of the three ships. They simultaneously hit multiple sea targets towed by another Hedgehog-class ship. They used Grenades, explosive warheads. Frankly, my legs were shaking.”
“So they do have explosive warheads…”
They had been harboring faint hopes that they might find even one advantage over ＜Paraiso＞.
But it seems that those hopes were in vain.
“Finally, there was the direct attack on the clipper using the main Cannon of the flagship Panas. The warhead used was said to be an Armor-Piercing Shell, but according to ＜Paraiso＞’s explanation, the muzzle velocity was about ten times that of our Cannons. It hit immediately after firing, and the clipper was split in half from the center. The Cannon Shell penetrated and landed far behind. It would undoubtedly penetrate the armor of our battleships as well.”
Just hearing about it in a report makes you want to give up everything because of the sheer absurdity.
And this incredible opponent is docked in the capital’s port, keeping a watchful eye.
Naturally, the Royal Palace, which overlooks the port, is also within its range.
“I hope the dignitaries we invited can correctly recognize the threat…”
The reason they went to the trouble of preparing a viewing ship for this live-fire exercise was to share the threat of ＜Paraiso＞ with those outside the Navy.
Recently, it seemed that information about their negotiations with them had been leaked.
Therefore, they wanted to nip it in the bud before any strange interference could occur.
And the fact that the Navy itself was the most devastated as a result was like a joke that couldn’t be laughed at.
In any case, it was necessary to maintain a friendly relationship with ＜Paraiso＞ from now on.
They didn’t want any foolish factions within the country to interfere unnecessarily.
“We may need to create a team to suppress domestic elements. We must ensure that no one shows even the slightest intention of antagonizing ＜Paraiso＞. If someone goes berserk, a rain of Cannon Shells could fall on the Royal Palace.”
Based on their own past experiences, the Navy was taking a cautious approach.
However, the fact remains that there are those who do not understand this and continue to cling to past glories.
“Next, we will be inviting them to our port. I hope we can have a calm discussion…”