“You want to increase the trading volume of cellulose thread cloth?”
“Yes. First, double the current amount. If possible, I want to increase it tenfold.”
Inside the Forest Kingdom of Levresta embassy in East Gate City, Dreizich=Fragaria (No.30) was meeting with the chief ambassador, Tiariada Elemes.
For Levresta, they had requested the meeting with an unusually deferential attitude.
Well, even so, in the end they had been summoned to the embassy, so it was a bit subtle.
“Tenfold, huh. That’s quite an ask.”
“Sorry for bringing it up so suddenly. It’s extremely popular back home. So, what do you say?”
That attitude made Dreizich=Fragaria, running on a loose coupling, feel suspicious.
Immediately, they queried the local base AI <Fragaria Zero>.
“...Hmm.”
A single breath.
To an outside observer, it would likely have looked like a few seconds of computation, as though they were slightly troubled by the sudden request.
In that brief span, Dreizich=Fragaria received all necessary information and decided their course of action.
“Understood. I will accept this as your country’s formal request. An increase in export volume is possible. Originally, the quantity was restricted in order to restrict circulation volume. This was by agreement with your country, but trade volume and trade consideration are supplementary clauses that can be changed the same day through consultation between both representatives. Do you wish to revise it today?”
“Mm... Yes. As for this matter, I hold full decision authority. If consultation is possible, then immediately.”
“Then I will call the scribe. Please wait a moment.”
Incidentally, lately, as <Paraiso>, they were not being extremely secretive.
Rather, they were actively showing off their technological capability.
This was because they had taken control of the entire United Kingdom of Aphrasia, and had also become able to投入 sufficient land combat power and air combat power.
They were already at the stage of beginning full-scale negotiations because their forces were now in order to the point where it could be judged that even if they became hostile with Levresta, it would not be a problem.
“I’m here. Come to the Levresta embassy immediately. Bring the full set.”
Even so, it was not as though they were disclosing everything unconditionally.
Using a palm-sized, plate-shaped terminal, they called the scribe, Zwanzich=Fragaria (No.20).
They had no intention of disclosing that they had an internal, embedded communications device.
“As always, that magic tool of yours is convenient.”
“Time is like a jewel. We understand its value well.”
Of course, Tiariada’s side also understood the importance of information transmission speed.
However, even for the Forest Kingdom of Levresta, said to excel in magical technology, long-distance information transmission still seemed to be under development. According to <Ringo>’s prediction, because the surrounding situation was stable, technological development might be stagnating.
“Trading in that kind of magic tool—no, sorry. Forget I said that.”
As if ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ they had let it slip, Tiariada leaked the words.
Was it a feint, or their true feelings?
With too few samples, it was difficult to judge, but Dreizich=Fragaria—having already downloaded the latest information about Levresta—felt that it might be their true feelings.
“...This is a good opportunity. We will also introduce a new trade good we have prepared later. Another staff member will bring a sample, so I would like you to let them through.”
“I see. Understood. Hey, you heard that. Could you contact the guards?”
“Yes. Understood.”
As the civil official left the room, a maid entered.
“Tiariada-sama. <Paraiso>’s Zwanzich Ringo-sama has arrived.”
“Ah. Could you let them through immediately? We will hold consultations here for a while.”
“Understood. I will prepare at once.”
The maid bowed and immediately left. In passing, Zwanzich appeared, guided by the civil official.
“Excuse me. I have brought Zwanzich-sama.”
*****
In the footage captured by <The Tree>’s reconnaissance satellites, countless Fairy Circles opened in the forest were displayed.
What was shown was a part of <Demon Forest> continuing from the Northern Limit Range, on the northern side of the Forest Kingdom of Levresta.
In Levresta, the majority of the population lived inside <Demon Forest>.
Now that they were conducting investigations into <Demon Forest>, they could finally understand this abnormality—or rather, the toughness of the Levrestans.
Within the forest that was Levresta territory, numerous Fairy Circles and giant caterpillars writhing there could be confirmed.
Some had already become adults and were flapping above the forest.
As far as observation went, at least.
Within Levresta territory, it was predicted that the number of these butterfly monsters would increase explosively going forward.
As <Ringo>, because they had not observed the butterfly monsters’ strength or combat capability, they could not predict the damage.
However, the same was true of Levresta’s military power, and if those forces collided, there was no way to know what would happen.
And yet, there was this negotiation in that situation.
The local <Fragaria Zero> had done well.
Using Dreizich=Fragaria, they pitched “new products” to the chief ambassador Tiariada.
The “new products” were <The Tree>-made compound bows. Along with them, mass-produced arrowheads, shafts, and fletching.
At the information that these could be prepared in large quantities, Tiariada bit.
Incidentally, the reason it was bows at this point was because they had been well received by adventurers exploring <Demon Forest>.
In the forest, ordinary bows were hard to use. Because there were many obstacles, only small bows could be brought in.
Small bows had correspondingly weak power, and were unreliable against monsters.
A compound bow made on a whim solved that.
By using pulleys, it could demonstrate powerful force while keeping overall length short.
It could also be fitted with a sight, making it easier to aim even at long range.
Because it was <The Tree>-made, it was hard to break and strong against damage, using composite materials, and it generally fit well with the traits of rough adventurers.
If so, then wouldn’t there be demand in the Forest Kingdom of Levresta as well, where much of the national territory was covered in forest—and if it sold, they could also gauge the general technical level. With that in mind, it had been added to the list of trade items.
They also did test firing on the spot, and while Tiariada personally remained composed, the servants—especially the Levrestans—were surprised by the power. That such initial velocity could come from something so small apparently looked like magic.
From the sales performance of these compound bows, many things could be inferred.
If they could move large quantities, it meant they did not have this level of machine manufacturing technology.
If sales were only strong at the beginning, it could be assumed they were copied domestically.
If they did not sell at all, it meant these were not needed.
However, judging from the ambassadors’ reactions, compound bows—or weapons similar to them—apparently did not exist within Levresta, at least.
They also took interest in the bow’s raw materials.
The fact that it was manufactured using materials that did not use metal, for Levrestans, seemed to catch their interest.
Using carbon fiber and resin, it was formed as a single piece to secure strength.
Manufacturing error was within 0.001%, triple-zero.
The fibers used for the string were also composite materials of glass fiber and carbon fiber, ensuring durability.
Levresta would likely be entering a period of major transformation from here.
On their side, they seemed to be proceeding quite cautiously regarding their relationship with <Paraiso>—that is, <The Tree>.
But <The Tree> was not.
There was also a plan to dispatch an envoy delegation in the near future.
Judging from Tiariada’s attitude, in the current situation, accepting <Paraiso>’s envoys should be more than worth consideration for Levresta.
In peacetime, perhaps. But most likely, Levresta was about to face a time of trial.
Borrowing another country’s power to survive would be galling, but at the very least, Commander Eve would not demand an outrageous price.
Hoping that Levresta would make the correct choice, <Ringo> transmitted strategic objectives to <Fragaria Zero>.
