Chapter 78: The Image of a Slap on the Cheek with a Gift
The effect of the strategic materials (gifts) was nothing short of dramatic.
While the gifts themselves were impressive, the various accompanying phenomena seemed to leave a profound impact on the head ambassador of the Forest Country, Tiariada Eremes.
First and foremost, the striking resemblance between Dreißig and Zwanzig was noteworthy. Although they were not twins, they belonged to a similar clan, which I explained, but it was unclear how much she truly understood. In reality, they were almost like twins.
Then there was the fact that Zwanzig single-handedly finished unloading the cargo. When a maid attempted to lift one of the items she had taken down from the carriage, she nearly strained her back. Ultimately, it was Zwanzig who took the items to the designated location, stopping Tiariada from calling for laborers. It’s worth mentioning that Zwanzig was wearing an Assist Suit, which allowed her to exert over five times the physical strength of an average adult male.
Furthermore, the prepared trade samples (gifts) garnered significant interest. While Tiariada was impressed by the refined salt and granulated sugar, it didn’t seem to astonish her too much, indicating that she was already familiar with similar items. What truly surprised her were some of the metal products. The swords and precious metal crafts prepared as samples were examined with an attitude that suggested disbelief, as if she were witnessing something extraordinary. It appeared that she was more interested in the materials rather than the shapes or intricacies of the craftsmanship. This unexpected reaction will be analyzed further by RINGO in the future.
The samples of preserved water received an enthusiastic response. It seemed there was a keen interest in the concept of storing water. Additionally, while there was some interest in canned food, it was noted that the use of iron was not well-received. Glass jars, however, posed no issues.
Cellulose-based threads, fabrics, and paper were met with great delight. The fabric, in particular, was praised to the point where it could be described as exceptional. Its texture was pleasant, and the weave was both fine and uniform. Moreover, it could be woven to have elasticity, and this particular sample was received with immense enthusiasm. They even expressed a desire to procure it immediately if a stable supply could be guaranteed. Agritend was visibly astonished, indicating that such a level of interest was quite unusual.
As for gemstones, there seemed to be little interest, but they did express admiration for the precise cutting techniques of various stones.
Finally, there were the alcoholic beverages. These were distilled spirits made primarily from grains resembling barley. Although the Tree had yet to establish a production line for alcohol, the spirits brought from the Port Town of Terek were distilled from what was available there. Rather than the alcohol itself, it was presented as a demonstration of distillation techniques. Several varieties were offered, with the highest alcohol content reaching 96%. It was potent enough to ignite easily from a cigarette’s flame. Judging by their reactions, it seemed that distilled spirits were already known to them, but they were indeed taken aback by the high alcohol content.
“Wait a minute, the Forest Country is an elf country!!”
After watching the visual explanation, Commander Eve exclaimed.
“While there is no specific term for elves in this country, it can be assumed that they are a race similar to that concept,” RINGO replied.
“They have pointed ears, handsome faces, and are tall. Look at the reception room; there are bows displayed! Did you notice? This gentleman isn’t wearing any metal accessories at all!”
Eve spoke excitedly, and RINGO nodded in agreement.
“Yes, Commander. It is quite possible that those from the Forest Country, aside from maids and butlers, typically do not wear metal decorations, suggesting they may have an aversion to it.”
Their lack of interest in canned goods could be attributed to this. It was unclear whether it was a dislike or simply discomfort with metal, but the fact that they accepted glass jars while rejecting cans strongly suggested this. However, since they handled the items with their bare hands, it didn’t seem to be an extreme aversion.
Afterward, the group was welcomed on the terrace, resembling a standing buffet. While the conversations were mostly casual and provided little valuable information, RINGO summarized the content.
First, regarding the Communicator Androids, or beastmen as they were referred to, Tiariada mentioned that there were indeed races with animal characteristics. However, they were not settled on this land and had established a nation across the sea.
Some insights were also gained about Tiariada and the people of the Forest Country. It was confirmed that many of them had a strong aversion to metal, particularly iron. Prolonged contact with metal accessories could lead to inflammation. It seemed that a genetic predisposition to metal allergies was quite common among them. Of course, there were rare individuals who exhibited no such reactions, but those with such traits were highly valued.
Additionally, Tiariada introduced his wife, Ereka Eremes. She was strikingly beautiful, embodying the image of an elven princess. A tall, handsome man alongside a slender beauty. A few others were introduced, but RINGO deemed them unimportant, so they were omitted. After all, Commander Eve didn’t need to memorize every name; RINGO could provide explanations if necessary.
The light refreshments served included sandwiches, sweets, and something resembling well-chilled green tea. Upon inquiry, it was revealed that the tea was one of the trade goods and a specialty of the Forest Country. It was harvested from tea plants grown in the shade of the forest. The vegetables were said to be sourced from farms operated under the guidance of the Forest Country, and they were reportedly very delicious—though Commander Eve remained skeptical of RINGO’s taste as a Communicator Android, taking the information with a grain of salt. However, Agritend and the two secretaries from the Port Town of Terek seemed to enjoy the food, suggesting it wasn’t particularly unusual in flavor.
The conversation then shifted to the current state of the Afrasia United Kingdom. Given that they were personnel from a city isolated from the political center at the southern edge, the discussions were mostly complaints or grievances. It seemed that the situation around the royal capital of the Afrasia United Kingdom was quite dire, severely hampering trade. The primary trade item was Redstone, but its supply was dwindling day by day. Under such circumstances, it was hardly surprising. They did manage to secure a decent amount of wheat and horses, thanks to the Wheat Hill City maintaining its independence. However, just as there had been pressure on Flatara City, the situation appeared to be gradually worsening. For outsiders to say such things, the situation must be quite severe. It could be concluded that the Afrasia United Kingdom was no longer functioning as a cohesive nation. Various regions were fracturing, declaring independence at will, and small pioneer villages were being wiped out one after another. The most pressing issue was that the primary cause of these troubles was internal strife, creating a nuisance for neighboring countries. There was a possibility that deserters and refugees could flood the borders, turning into bandits.
“Just to confirm, this country is in dire straits,” Eve remarked.
“Yes, Commander,” RINGO acknowledged.
If a promising mine were discovered, perhaps a forceful development could be initiated. She thought this, though she was wary of facing hundreds of thousands of infantry. However, the more information she gathered, the less likely a full-scale war seemed. The severance between regions was severe, and reliable information was hard to come by, but that was the case for every town. Even if the Tree made some advances, by the time the information circulated, they would likely have amassed a significant military force.
“Nevertheless,” she mused.
To the north of Flatara City lay Wheat Hill City, a strong independent force. The Tree’s military strength was still lacking, and the prospect of a full-scale war was daunting. For the time being, it would be wise to continue trade or diplomatic efforts, maintaining peaceful contact.