Chapter 139: Backbone
The news of the Redstone export, a trump card of the Paraiso trading ship, sent shockwaves through the upper echelons of the Kingdom of Repuitari’s Navy. However, this information was only shared with a select few trusted individuals. Given the gravity of the matter, they were keen to avoid any potential leaks.
Three days later, the Kingdom of Repuitari’s Navy made the decision to import Redstone.
It was undeniably a hasty decision for such a significant national matter. Yet, the truth remained that there were no other viable options.
The high-quality Redstone blocks presented as gifts from Paraiso had been confirmed by a discreet and reliable scientist to be genuine Redstone crystals.
The performance of Redstone depended on its size. The larger the mass, the hotter and longer it could generate heat. Additionally, having well-defined edges was crucial. By applying uniform pressure, the amount of heat generated—essentially the firepower—could be easily adjusted.
According to the scientist, the blocks appeared to have been cut from a much larger piece of Redstone. If such a large Redstone existed, it would be considered a national treasure, and he expressed a desire to see it with his own eyes.
Paraiso had brought these gifts, but the source of the Redstone had not been disclosed. However, it was clear that this was fundamentally different from what the Kingdom of Repuitari had previously imported.
“This is indeed enticing. The performance of our steam engines will likely improve dramatically. But at the same time, it is a devil’s temptation. If our industry and military become dependent on this, we will be at the mercy of those from Paraiso,” Duke Amagio Silverhead warned, highlighting the dangers of the situation. This was a concern shared by everyone in the Navy’s leadership.
Standardized, high-quality Redstone. If they designed specialized engines, they could dramatically enhance performance. Loading it onto ships would increase their top speed, extend their range, and reduce fuel storage space. To put it mildly, the performance could double.
Resisting such allure was a daunting task.
“Paraiso welcomes your nation’s decision. This will allow for more concrete negotiations. Let us both expect sincere cooperation,” the representative from Paraiso stated.
“For us, this will serve as a persuasive tool domestically. May our golden age last long, and may we both prosper,” replied the representative from the Kingdom of Repuitari.
There were certainly many concerns regarding the mining locations and processing methods. However, it was clear that they could not directly inquire about such matters. Their strategy was to quietly benefit from the arrangement and strengthen their national power.
“That said, having only this as a trade item feels rather dull. To build a deeper relationship, I would like to discuss other items as well. What do you think?”
“We agree. Our nation has many specialty products. For the time being, we plan to continue trade between our nations without opening it to the public. Is there any objection to that?”
“None. It is only natural to prepare multiple products. Redstone does not take up much space. I support increasing the trade items for effective use of cargo space.”
From here, discussions began regarding the resources desired by the Kingdom of Repuitari. The Navy was particularly interested in how much they could extract from Paraiso. How could they draw out technology from those who possessed more advanced capabilities than themselves?
However, everyone understood the risks of relying on foreign nations for essential goods. Allowing their national lifeline to be held hostage any further would surely invite accusations of incompetence.
“…Water?”
“Yes, water. It has been sealed to prevent spoilage, allowing for long-term storage. While your nation is not lacking in water resources, it is not abundant enough to spring forth everywhere, as we understand.”
The proposal from Paraiso was for long-term storage water containers, which were bulky, reasonably heavy, consumed quickly, and had a low unit price.
“How you distribute it is up to your political means. The amount we can provide will not strain your existing water resources. Unlike the continent’s water, this is tasteless, odorless, and easy to drink. We have provided it here on several occasions.”
Duke Amagio Silverhead nodded appreciatively at the explanation.
“Our country’s water is soft. The continent’s is hard. It’s a matter of personal preference, but soft water is certainly easier to use. If it can be stored long-term, it would have a certain appeal. …Regarding the containers, what is their capacity?”
“In our units, they are 2 cubic meters. In your units, that would be approximately 0.71 cubic F.”
That equates to 2 tons of water. While not particularly convenient to transport, the sealed cellulose containers are likely lighter than they appear due to their hardened structure. If stored in a cool, dark place without opening, they should last for five years.
Though the cost is low, the brand value is high. The ability to place long-term storable water in areas lacking water sources holds a certain worth.
“For a while, it would be best to distribute it to the upper class. Nobles have an eye for rare items,” Amagio suggested.
“Lord Amagio, you are a duke as well,” one of his companions chimed in.
“Alban, you are too,” Amagio replied with a hearty laugh, which was shared only by the top two leaders of the Navy.
“Additionally, while we will keep the sales volume limited, we can also provide industrial materials such as steel plate rolls. This will be sold directly to you, and you may use them freely.”
“…Are you saying these steel plates are produced by you?”
“I affirm that. I guarantee their performance. This is more about exchanging them for iron ore.”
“So, if our export of iron ore increases, your export of steel will increase accordingly, correct?”
“That is an accurate understanding. This is simply a matter of the amount of iron as raw material. We will refine and reduce a portion of the imported iron ore.”
For Paraiso, as long as they could import resources, the rest was of little concern. They were aware that breakthroughs could occur from exporting over-technological products, but they were indifferent to it. The breakthroughs that might arise would never surpass Paraiso’s own technology.
That said, there was no need to provide these resources for free or sell them without limits. If possible, they wished to maintain a healthy trade indefinitely. Thus, the super intelligence of The Tree meticulously calculated an equitable transaction to propose.
“We have not brought any sample products this time. We will provide them during our next port visit.”
“That is appreciated. What we can likely provide soon are a certain amount of ores and food items?”
“For art, the products from the Wheat Country (Weitzenland) would be ideal. Our nation tends to prioritize practicality.”
“Each ship is equipped with large refrigeration facilities. We could also purchase vegetables, if that is acceptable?”
“I see. By cooling them, long-term storage becomes possible.”
“Refrigeration, huh… I wonder if we could implement that in our country.”
Thus, the trade treaty between the Kingdom of Repuitari and the unknown entity, Paraiso, was established. The backbone of this trade was Redstone and metal ores. Other trade items were set, but they were negligible in comparison.
Nonetheless, fundamentally, most items provided by Paraiso contained some useful implications. The Kingdom of Repuitari would likely ascend to further heights of development from here.
Even if that direction was controlled by Paraiso.
“The local Strategic AI seems to be developing smoothly,” one officer remarked.
“Yes, Commander. I did not expect much, but it appears we can utilize it as a backbone for local intelligence,” another replied.
“That’s good. After all, with the distance involved, it’s unsettling not to have an AI on-site.”
While Ringo had written the scenario, it was the local Strategic AI that executed it. The Brain Unit crafted by The Tree indeed had high foundational capabilities. It had exceeded expectations and was steadily enhancing its abilities.
“We should obtain a backup of the Strategic AI soon. We will optimize it within The Core’s computational domain and create a template,” one officer suggested.
“Yes. Next, we will send a cargo ship, right? It would be good to bring in the equipment as well,” the Commander affirmed.
“Yes, Commander. I will proceed accordingly.”
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Author’s Note: This concludes “Chapter 4: The Maritime Nation.” Thank you for your companionship. From here, Amagio’s dominance begins, but the main focus will return to the United Kingdom.
Also, due to the increasing demands of reality, updates will be irregular for a while.