Chapter 189: Negotiations in the Forest Country
“Do you wish to increase the trading volume of cellulose fabric?”
“Indeed. First, I would like to double it. Ideally, I want to increase it tenfold.”
In the embassy of the Forest Country (Lebresta) at the East Gate city, Dreißig (She) of Fragaria was meeting with the head ambassador, Tiariada Eremes.
For Lebresta, this was quite a humble approach, as they had requested the meeting. However, it was somewhat ambiguous since they were ultimately summoning him to the embassy.
“Tenfold, you say? That’s quite a bold request.”
“I apologize for the suddenness, but it has become extremely popular back in our homeland. So, what do you think?”
Dreißig, operating with a loose connection, felt a sense of doubt regarding this attitude. Without delay, she made an inquiry to the base AI, Fragaria Zero.
“…Hmm.”
After a brief pause, it might have appeared to an outsider that she was slightly troubled by the unexpected request, as she engaged in a few seconds of computational thought.
In that short span, Dreißig received all the necessary information and determined her course of action.
“Understood. I will accept this as your country’s formal request. Increasing the export volume is feasible. Originally, the quantity was limited to control distribution. This was due to an agreement with your nation, but the trading volume and compensation can be modified immediately through discussions between both representatives. Would you like to revise it today?”
“Well… Yes. I hold all decision-making authority on this matter. If discussions are possible, I would like to proceed at once.”
“Then I will call for the secretary. Please wait a moment.”
By the way, recently, as Paraiso, they had not been overly secretive and were rather actively showcasing their technological prowess. This was due to their ability to control the entire Afrasia United Kingdom and deploy sufficient land and air forces.
Having already assembled a force capable of determining that they could confront Lebresta without issue, they were now at the stage of initiating serious negotiations.
“It’s me. Come to the Lebresta embassy immediately, bringing everything with you.”
That said, they were not disclosing everything unconditionally. Currently, they were using a palm-sized flat terminal to summon the secretary, Zwanzig (She) of Fragaria. They had no intention of revealing the existence of the internal communication device.
“That magic tool is still quite convenient.”
“Time is like a precious gem. We understand its value thoroughly.”
Naturally, Tiariada was aware of the importance of information transmission speed. However, even for the technologically advanced Forest Country (Lebresta), long-distance communication still seemed to be in development. According to Ringo’s predictions, the surrounding situation had stabilized, which might have led to stagnation in technological development.
“Regarding the trade of such magic tools—no, forgive me. Forget I said that.”
Tiariada inadvertently let slip those words. Was it a tactic, or was it genuine?
Judging from the limited samples, it was difficult to ascertain, but Dreißig, having already downloaded the latest information about Lebresta, felt it might be sincere.
“…This is a good opportunity. I will also introduce our new trading items later. Another team will bring samples, so please allow them through.”
“I see. Understood. Hey, did you hear that? Please inform the guards.”
“Yes. Understood.”
As the official left the room, a maid entered.
“Tiariada-sama, the representatives from Paraiso, Zwanzig and Ringo, have arrived.”
“Ah, please let them in right away. We will be discussing matters here for a while.”
“Understood. I will prepare immediately.”
The maid bowed and exited promptly. Just then, Zwanzig, guided by the official, appeared.
“I apologize for the intrusion. I have brought Zwanzig with me.”
The reconnaissance satellite of The Tree captured images of numerous Fairy Circles scattered throughout the forest.
The displayed area was part of the Demon Forest, extending from the North Wall Mountain Range to the north of the Forest Country (Lebresta).
Most of the population of Lebresta lived within the Demon Forest. It was only now, while conducting research on the forest, that one could understand the abnormality and resilience of the Lebrestan people.
Within the territory of Lebresta, numerous Fairy Circles and the writhing forms of giant caterpillars could be observed. Some had already transformed into adults, fluttering above the forest.
From the observations, it was expected that the number of Butterfly Monsters would explosively increase within Lebresta’s territory.
As Ringo, the strength and combat capabilities of the Butterfly Monsters themselves had not been observed, predicting the damage they could inflict was impossible. However, the same could be said for the Lebrestan military, and it was entirely uncertain what would happen if these forces clashed.
Yet, amidst this situation, negotiations were underway. The local Fragaria Zero had done well. Dreißig of Fragaria was promoting the “new product” to head ambassador Tiariada.
The “new product” was a compound bow crafted by The Tree, along with mass-produced arrowheads and shafts, and fletching.
Tiariada was intrigued by the information that they could prepare these in large quantities.
By the way, why bows now? Because they had been well-received by adventurers exploring the Demon Forest.
In the forest, conventional bows were difficult to use due to numerous obstacles, necessitating the use of smaller bows. However, these smaller bows lacked sufficient power, making them inadequate against monsters.
The compound bow, created as a playful experiment, solved this issue.
By utilizing pulleys, it could maintain a compact size while delivering powerful force. It could also be equipped with a sight, making it easier to aim at distant targets.
Being a product of The Tree, it was made from composite materials that were resistant to malfunction and damage, perfectly suited to the rough nature of adventurers.
Thus, even in the Forest Country (Lebresta), where much of the land was covered in forests, there would be demand. If it sold well, it could also provide insight into their technological level, which is why it was added to the trading items.
They even conducted a test shot on the spot, and while Tiariada herself was impressed, the attendants, especially the Lebrestans, were astonished by its power. The ability to achieve such initial velocity from such a small size seemed almost magical.
The sales of this compound bow could lead to many deductions.
If it sold in large quantities, it indicated that they did not possess this level of mechanical manufacturing technology. If sales were only strong initially, it could be predicted that copies would be made domestically. If it did not sell at all, it meant there was no demand for such items.
However, judging by the ambassadors’ reactions, it appeared that compound bows or similar weapons did not exist within Lebresta.
Additionally, they showed interest in the materials used for the bows. The fact that they were manufactured without using metals seemed to pique their curiosity.
Using carbon fiber and resin, they ensured strength through integrated molding. The manufacturing error was within 0.001% (triple zero). The fibers used for the bowstring were composite materials of glass fiber and carbon fiber, ensuring durability.
It was likely that Lebresta was on the verge of significant transformation.
It seemed they were proceeding cautiously regarding their relationship with Paraiso, that is, The Tree.
However, The Tree was not the same.
Plans were in place to dispatch a diplomatic mission soon. Judging from Tiariada’s attitude, under the current circumstances, accepting a messenger from Paraiso should be worth serious consideration for Lebresta.
While it would be one thing in peacetime, it was likely that Lebresta was about to face a time of trials.
While it might be distasteful to rely on the strength of other nations for survival, at least Commander Eve would not demand exorbitant compensation.
Hoping that Lebresta would make the right choice, Ringo transmitted the strategic objectives to Fragaria Zero.