Episode 135: The Happiness Diplomacy Plan
It was by chance that she noticed that person.
Well, she would have noticed him eventually, so it was inevitable.
But noticing him at this particular moment was undoubtedly a coincidence.
“The founding hero, who was thought to be missing, has shown his face in the capital?”
“Yes, Ma’am. This is the individual in question.”
The screen displayed a man who looked to be in his twenties, with a sharp, spirited face.
He was wearing a fine coat and gazing vaguely at something, looking every bit the scion of a good family.
“…Wasn’t the founding supposed to have happened over 30 years ago?”
“Yes, Ma’am. The unification of the peninsula took approximately five years, starting 38 years ago. So, even if he was in his twenties at the time, he should be over 60 years old now.”
“He certainly doesn’t look it…”
Naturally, not only the Local Strategic AI but also ＜Ringo＞ harbored doubts and thoroughly scrubbed the data. As a result, it was confirmed that the man was indeed the hero himself, and that he had retired from the front lines and had been summoned to the capital this time.
The reason for his lack of aging was unknown. However, since this was a world where Magic (Fantasy) existed, it was assumed that he possessed some kind of skill.
“According to the records, he was a Baron at the start of the unification war, but due to his military achievements, wartime promotions, and involvement in the successful coup, he eventually attained his current position as a perpetual Duke. Records prior to that have not been found so far. It is likely that the records were lost during the war.”
“Hmph… So there are people who live that long. I wonder if it’s a racial trait or some kind of Magic (Fantasy) effect.”
“Kidnapping him would cause quite a stir, I imagine.”
“Of course it would!!”
She warned ＜Ringo＞ not to even think about it. A fine play.
“His full name is Amadio Silverhead. He currently lives in seclusion in a mansion built in the frontier, having retired from the front lines. It seems he was summoned, or rather, begged to appear by the leadership this time. It is unknown whether he will be involved in negotiations with ＜Paraiso＞ or asked to work behind the scenes, but the top brass of the navy seem to place a great deal of trust in him.”
The benefits that Amadio Silverhead brought to the Repuytari Kingdom were immense. It seems he was involved in the development of guns and Cannon from the early stages.
After that, he paved the way for the kingdom to become the current maritime power and devoted himself to expanding the navy’s power.
However, that was only until about 20 years ago.
Since then, he has hardly appeared in public and seems to have withdrawn to the frontier.
“In any case, he is an important figure for the Repuytari Kingdom. It seems that this person is also driving the kingdom’s technological prowess, so ＜Paraiso＞ needs to be extremely careful about the outflow of technology.”
“I see… Well, the most dangerous technology to leak would be nuclear fusion, right? It would be a real pain if they started making nuclear reaction weapons.”
“Yes, Ma’am. Everything else is basically an extension of the Repuytari Kingdom’s technological system. There is a possibility that technology will advance by a few decades, but it is not that much of a threat. Basic research into electricity seems to be progressing as well, so electric streetlights will appear within 10 years.”
However, in reality, it is extremely difficult to predict the level of technology and its progress. After all, there is no history to refer to.
In the first place, the use of coal and oil has not progressed, and instead, a clean energy source called Burnstone (Tone Mug) is used.
“Come to think of it, the fact that coal isn’t used seems like a pretty big problem. I wonder how they’re making Iron?”
“For now, charcoal seems to be the mainstream. As far as the Repuytari Kingdom is concerned, they are repeating logging and planting, so resource depletion is not an immediate problem.”
Hydrogen can also be used for Iron production, but using carbon is more energy efficient. Or rather, they probably can’t handle hydrogen at their level of technology.
However, if coke made from coal does not exist, the amount of Iron produced will depend on the amount of charcoal, and thus on the forest area.
“We’re planning to turn them into a resource-producing country, but is that going to be okay?”
“It’s not that coal doesn’t exist, so let’s suggest it when the time is right.”
Then, there was also the question of whether to share the Haber-Bosch process.
“Making bread from air is quite the selling point…”
“If we add chemical fertilizers to ＜Paraiso＞’s export items, there is no need to share the Haber-Bosch process for the time being.”
It is a dream technology that can dramatically increase the population limit of the Repuytari Kingdom.
By reacting nitrogen in the air with hydrogen extracted from coal, etc., ammonia, the raw material for the chemical fertilizer ammonium sulfate, can be produced.
If this is put into practical use, the production of wheat, the staple food, will increase at once.
“Increasing national power is directly linked to improving military power, so it’s a mixed bag for us.”
“In the long run, yes. But by that time, the former Afrasia United Kingdom will be amazing, right?”
No matter how rapidly the Repuytari Kingdom develops, it cannot catch up with ＜The Tree＞, which wields technology from the distant future with all its might.
That was the current calculation of ＜Ringo＞, and the view of Commander (Eve).
In addition, the current trade negotiations are aimed at controlling the direction of expansion by creating a distorted economic structure through trade, rather than allowing the country to grow in a proper manner.
It is a devilish plan by ＜Ringo＞ that made Commander (Eve) mutter only, “That’s awful…”
Without realizing it, they are trying to turn it into a virtual vassal state.
“Depending on how we interact with other countries in the future, the level of difficulty will change significantly depending on whether we have friendly countries or not. In particular, it is important whether that country has power or not.”
“…Well, do as you see fit.”
＜Ringo＞ nodded to Commander (Eve), who seemed unwilling to think about anything too difficult, and said, “Leave it to me.”
At least, as long as Commander (Eve) doesn’t feel like it, ＜Ringo＞ will not embark on world domination.
◇◇◇◇
Full of anticipation, the man set foot in the port.
“So, which one is the ship in question?”
Usually, the latest Battleship are often docked at the port of the capital, Moor, with the aim of enhancing national prestige. However, the fleet in question is currently stationed there, and it seems that they have been evacuated to another port in order to avoid stirring up trouble.
“But I wonder if there is that much of a Technological Disparity as they say… It’s not like performance can improve that drastically…”
The man was an engineer, probably the top engineer in the Repuytari Kingdom.
Therefore, he knew the limits of technology well, and he also understood that it was the result of a daunting accumulation of basic research.
In his opinion, the technological progress of the past 40 years or so was amazing.
The fact that there is an opponent that surpasses that is, to be honest, hard to believe.
“Oh. It’s a festival.”
The area around the port was overflowing with people who had gathered to see the fleet in question. The long docking period seems to have made it a popular tourist spot.
Where people gather, there is also business opportunity.
Keen merchants set up stalls, and some even built scaffolding to create makeshift observatories.
“Hmm…”
The man groaned and looked at the harbor Observation Tower standing nearby.
“Then, Your Excellency, please call out when you return!”
“Yes, good work.”
The man made full use of his power and entered the top floor of the Observation Tower. He peered into the installed telescope and immediately began searching for the fleet.
“…This is it. I can’t tell the size because there’s nothing to compare it to…”
He operated the telescope and adjusted the focus. Due to the working accuracy of the lens, it was not possible to see it clearly, but it was better than seeing it with the naked eye.
“…Seriously…? Oh, come on, this is…”
The man groaned as he observed.
“Turret… Damn, I can’t see it well… But what’s that, the muzzle isn’t round… Is that some kind of cover rather than a Cannon barrel…?
But it’s long, we can’t make that yet… And guns… Machine guns, huh?
What is that shape?
It’s a device that doesn’t seem to be related to guns… Is it a pipe, or maybe, could it be an electric wire…?”
The man observed the pure white ship.
“…Crew members. Beastkin…?”
A crew member opened the watertight door of the bridge and poked his head out.
“…!”
The man’s eyes met his.