Chapter 213. Let ‘s build a boat… a very big boat
. As expected, the saying that you have to live to know the world is right. I think this will be a good thing.”
“okay? How are you? congratulations.”
Do you think they treat animals that are said to bring good luck?
First of all, is it a compliment?
Holding back the words I wanted to ask, I emptied my glass while pretending to reciprocate moderately.
I feel like I brought a good drink, and a pretty good scent fills my throat.
‘Well, I might actually be lucky.’
Because it’s not wrong.
Really, if today’s meeting is beneficial not only to me but also to that man, that’s fine, it can’t be harmful.
Come to think of it, no one who has been involved with me and came out friendly has suffered some loss?
However, that was only limited to those who were friendly to me.
Am I really a symbol of good luck?
I emptied my glass while seriously considering whether I would live with that image in the future.
“Oh, I hope you have a good drink. Is that drink good for you?”
“It’s all right.”
“I’m glad you did.”
As he said that, he laughed, and just in time, the lady-in-waiting came and filled my glass.
Perhaps because it is a manor located on a warm seaside, the ladies-in-waiting are also desirable.
Right now, I am sitting face to face with the lord of this place, drinking the drink he is serving me.
Now that he’s 18 years old, he seems to have been aiming for it, so he boldly offers him a drink just in time.
I don’t like it.
Rather, when I offered to entertain him as a commemoration of his coming first, I raised his evaluation within myself.
He knows something!
“I don’t like this place. No, I rather like it.”
I like alcohol, women, anything sweet as long as it’s enjoyable.
So I hope you don’t hesitate and treat me.
“Is that so? I will refer you! Ha ha ha ha.”
Usually, they think I’m the type of scholar who likes to be quiet, and try to negotiate while staying away from alcohol and women.
Seeing him play without hesitation like this, he is definitely a different person.
Well, even though it seems like a place to go wild like this, it doesn’t change that it’s actually a place for negotiations to determine the future’s rise and fall.
In the first place, true negotiations take place in such a place.
Sometimes, drunkenness decides a war.
I got drunk and made an unexpected contract.
This is also a great tactic.
….not a good way.
“By the way, did you get the job right?”
“No problem. Fortunately, the language was well communicated.”
“That is fortunate. Anyway, if the prince is uncomfortable with it, then I would be at a loss as to how to deal with him.”
“You drink well for something like that?”
Watching him laugh out loud, I followed suit and matched the rhythm appropriately.
And after emptying my second glass, I grinned.
“And now all that remains is for Viscount Gernil to agree.”
“Hmm, I wanted to talk about that after enjoying it a bit more. It wouldn’t hurt to worry less and play.”
As our conversation went like this, the ladies-in-waiting left just in time.
It’s a sign that you’re talking serious now.
Do you really have an eye for it?
It also means that this kind of negotiation is good.
In fact, he wasn’t drunk at all.
“Because what I am about to tell you is really important. It’s a bit of a waste to decide while drunk.”
“…I heard it’s a ship.”
I have already given him a rough outline to ask for his understanding.
It has to be.
In the first place, the ship I will build is not something that can be easily passed over from the point of view of other countries.
“…Actually, our kingdom is a little concerned.”
“You mean this might be a weapon?”
The position of Felsen Kingdom is obvious.
From their point of view, if a state-of-the-art ship suddenly arrives, and one under the influence of the firm belonging to the Ernesia Kingdom, of course they can’t help but be afraid.
“Are you afraid of starting a previous war?”
“Maybe.”
hmm? I don’t deny it.
“I don’t mean to.”
“Even then, you won’t understand.”
It means that you are paying close attention.
“…I hope you understand.”
He put the contents of the glass in his mouth and spoke bitterly.
“We cannot survive if there is a war.”
I guess so. Felsen Kingdom is not that strong.
Of course, that doesn’t mean it breaks easily.
It has the strength to do its own defense, and other countries won’t keep their eyes open to see this place fall easily.
“A steel ship that doesn’t yield to monsters… Surely it’s something to be feared for?”
“A coastal invasion would be something to be feared.”
I said as if I understood.
“By the way, haven’t there been invasions from other countries to the coast so far?”
“Who would have the guts to do that? You’ll have to deal with the Kraken before you even set foot in the territory.”
At best, it means that no one other than fearless pirates would think of an invasion through the rough seas.
But that’s not the only reason.
The reason why this port has been kept free from other interference is because of the intertwined interests.
Ports that can trade with other continents.
However, it is a matter of facing ferocious marine monsters and geographic rigors.
The only ones who can manage this place are those who have been born and raised here for generations.
If you get it in many ways, it’s difficult to get it, but you can’t ignore it, so they have lived under such interests.
“What are Viscount Gernil’s personal thoughts?”
“As for me, I would like to welcome it… but
he blurted out his words vaguely.
“As you can see, my land has no value other than the port.”
Um…
As he said, the main source of income here is the toll through the port.
Literally, it can be said that there is no value other than the corner of the road.
In addition to that, there is his territory, but most of the land is barren and salty wind blows, so it is only a level of self-sufficiency.
To be honest, it’s slightly better than Pahilia when I was just appointed.
“But doesn’t that toll alone suck in some honey? Do you know that?”
They say they die, but there’s no way I don’t know.
Tolls and tariffs here are by no means light.
Otherwise, there’s no way you would treat a guest like this casually like this?!
When I pointed it out, he smiled bitterly and poked the fish dish served with a fork with a fork.
“But isn’t it a place where you never know when it might break?”
“You don’t think it’ll come in so easily, do you?”
“I guess the Kingdom side doesn’t judge it that way.”
I guess I’m surprisingly scared.
“The reason I took charge of this estate is because, in fact, if something happens, I want to pass the responsibility on to me.”
“What a difficult thing.”
Everyone has grievances. I’m not interested.
“Hmm…. It wasn’t a story worth telling Mr. Arell.”
“…So, that’s it. As long as the trouble is not resolved now, is it difficult to allow the boat to come in?”
he didn’t answer
But that alone is enough for the doctor to feel.
In short, it means that there is considerable opposition in the home country.
In addition, if a steel ship to be built by our side comes in, it must mean that it will be annoying because we will have to pay attention to other countries.
Anyway, this is why I hate politics.
Cry whenever something comes in.
“….It’s useless.”
Viscount Gernil wondered if he hadn’t heard me as I drank and drank.
“never mind. Then how about doing this?”
I clenched my hand.
Then, a servant who was doing chores on our side, who was carrying our luggage in advance, appeared and held out a piece of paper.
Viscount Gernil nodded, and his lady-in-waiting took the paper and handed it to him.
“What is this… Puff?!”
As if he was interested in what the hell I was going to say, he was reading the paper and suddenly spewed out alcohol.
Fortunately, the paper did not get wet because it was sprayed sideways.
Instead, the lady-in-waiting was hit with the alcohol.
….Being a maid is also an extreme job.
“Coke! Cuckoo! Oh Arell, what kind of joke is this? You can’t laugh even if it’s a joke?”
“joke? I don’t know about that?”
joke? What is it? Seriously, I don’t know?
I grinned and still sipped my glass.
It smells pretty good.
In particular, drinking alcohol while watching people flustered like this is even sweeter.
“Anyone would have the same reaction as me.”
“okay?”
How disgusting must I be for ignoring myself once again.
I felt that if I didn’t stop kidding and hurry up to explain, he would collapse from excitement at any moment.
“This is the solution I can give you.”
“Is this what you mean?”
Breaking out in a cold sweat, he went through the papers again.
“…Are you talking about the contract that Arel will buy this port?”
Yes.
What I suggested was the intention to purchase the port itself for money.
Will it be money?
how much is it How much can you give?!
When you live in the world, sometimes you need to step out in a simple ignorance.
If you notice that we are putting our ship in someone else’s land.
Wouldn’t that land be mine?
“I ask for correction. It’s a rental, not a purchase.”
However, there is no way that you can easily purchase land in another country by giving money.
And a port that regularly brings in a good income.
So I compromised a bit and chose the method of rental.
“Isn’t that what it is…?”
“300 gold coins to rent the port for the next 20 years. And a contract to allocate 10% of future customs and toll taxes to that side… I think the guys who pay attention to you will be satisfied enough with this?”
“Golden coins… are they Ernesia gold coins?”
The gold coin he was talking about was a new type of gold coin issued by Ernesia Bank.
To be precise, it’s a cast iron that looks like gold.
Anyway, since Ernesia Bank has a guarantee and counterfeiting is difficult, the market price here is much higher.
However, since the coins that were used in the past are still circulating in some markets, merchants seem to classify them as ‘old gold coins’ and ‘gold coins’.
“Okay, or do you prefer Felsen gold coins?”
“no. It’s fine as it is, but…
Viscount Gernil answered in bewilderment.
This is the philosophy of this body that is generously beaten with gold coins.
If they strike you on the left cheek with a gold coin, they will strike you on the right cheek as well.
Then the opponent won’t come to his senses.
“I don’t understand… why do you want a port so much?”
“Did you tell me? This side wants to maintain a place to dock state-of-the-art ships for trade.
It’s for that.”
I can’t say it was to find a kola tree, so I’ll give it a plausible name for now.
“…Do you think you’ll allow it?”
“well. Are you suffering from financial difficulties these days? In the meantime, wouldn’t 300 gold coins that can be used right away be valuable?”
In my judgment, I don’t think they would be that wise.
Rather, if you give and lend 300 sheets, it is highly likely that you will judge it as a profit.
In addition, some of the tolls are paid off periodically.
Even after lending, even if you make a big profit, there are rice cakes that fall.
There is no way to deny it.
“And while we are renting it, we are also responsible for port security and other problems.”
That means that no matter what happens, we are responsible.
This means that if you have any complaints, tell me directly.
Now, no one outside of the Zelnian Holy Land would want to have a conflict with me.
It’s been there for just 20 years.
Why 20 years!
You probably won’t need it after that.
So give me the port!
Let’s float my boat!
Let’s trade with that continent at high speed!
“Not a bad condition, right?”
Give it to me quickly. I think I’m going to go dizzy.
