The next day, Ryle received the merchandise, took the merchant corps with him, and left. This time, there was an agreement that the next transaction will be done with the new Barbanil silver coins.
[New Barbanil Silver Coin] [Sale Price] 2800 yen.
After that, three months pa.s.sed by swiftly. The trade with the Polo firm represented by Elsa had gone smoothly without any problems. The gold, gold, and gold were gathered in my pocket, and the funds on ‘town data’ were acc.u.mulating like a gushing hot spring.
With this, my everyday life became a little bit “rich”. Recently, I have been spending it on gourmet food.
The finest marbled beef. As I take a bite of the meat that was covered with special steak sauce, I could feel the soft texture of the meat, as well as the meat juice spreading inside my mouth. I was enveloped in unspeakable happiness.
[TL: please not another Death March.]
[TLC: well everyone loves food, delicious food. Who doesn’t anyway lol.]
It melted like the fat under-belly of a tuna in the mouth. Knowing that this was the first time I was able to taste that melting sensation of fatty tuna upon arriving to this world… It was a complicated feeling.
Other than that, there were other delicacies such as sea urchin, abalone, caviar, crab, natural eel, matsutake mushroom, and more that I could never taste in my previous world. I was finally able to taste them now.
Sometimes, I go to Jiharu’s house and use high quality ingredients to make a dish there. His eyes would usually become round because of the deliciousness. Conversely, when he sometimes tried to control his reaction to something he disliked, his expression was pretty interesting to see. Again, this is one of my small entertainments left in life.
Life without inconvenience, and luxury meals... It can be said that I was living a completely blessed life here as compared to my previous world.
Now then, even though it is okay to eat delicious food, I can’t be distracted by it. I also spent money on military aspects. First of all, I bought an armored vehicle for my safety.
[Type 96 Armored Personnel Carrier] 13 billion yen (List Price 130 million yen)
It’s a new generation vehicle with a proper bullet proof windshield, automatic specification, and air conditioning. Although it’s a little bit cramped, it can’t be helped if it is for my safety. Anyway, with this, it will be fine even if i get shot by arrows at close range.
Besides the armored vehicle, I also purchased the [Type 73 heavy-duty truck] and trained up several drivers. As of now, the people that were undergoing training were several people from the Wolf Tribe. In case of an emergency that requires me to use the armored vehicle, there might be a need for them to use the truck so that they can follow behind.
There is a limit to what I can do by myself after all. It is not bad to increase the number of hands available in case of trouble.
In addition, I placed a great number of rifled mountain guns at each wall, and I also gave armors such as the foot soldier armor to the beastmen. The sight of beastmen wearing j.a.panese armor atop the stone walls reminded me of the Sengoku Era.
That is roughly everything I’ve changed regarding the military in this place. Besides military affairs, I also wanted to spend money to expand the town, but I have never exposed my ability in public. Since the beastmen will be suspicious about the materials that appear out from nowhere, I should decide on a cover story for my ability soon.
Once, the Kobold tribe asked about what I had done with the wood. When I refused to answer, they never asked again. I need to be careful about this.
Anyway, my ability is a trump card and should only be used as a last resort. That is why I can’t show it to anyone.
...Then summer and autumn pa.s.sed, and winter arrived.
One day during winter, uninvited visitors appeared from the north. Looking at the cloud of smoke, it was obviously an army.
Immediately the town shifted into combat mode. Presently, I was staring at the army that was marching towards the north gate.
“Fujiwara-sama, please give orders to prepare the cannons!” The gunners of each castle wall cried out as they gathered at the north gate.
“...Unload the sh.e.l.ls from the truck! Gunners will receive the ammunition! However, don’t uncover the cannon until I give the signal!” I ordered after a little hesitation.
I had installed 8 mountain cannons at each gate in the north, east and west. They were usually covered, and the sh.e.l.ls and cartridge bags were only distributed when something happens.
Descending from the stone walls, everyone started unloading the ammunition from the carrier truck. When that is over, I went up to the top of stone walls again to continue my observation of the northern army.
Eventually, the army stopped. Looking through the binoculars, I could see a rather familiar Red Dragon flag hovering above them.
“The Red Dragon Knight Order huh.” I muttered.
They stopped several kilometers away from here, a distance where the cannon may or may not be able to target judging from the last cannon test. Anyway, it’s fine since the enemy won’t be able to measure how far the attack range is.
Then, four hors.e.m.e.n emerged from their ranks. Two of the riders don’t wear any armor, and one of them was a woman with bright red hair - it’s Elsa.
(So that is the reason...)
The other person without armor should be a diplomat.
I have asked Elsa of it before after all. In case the trade was found out by the country, please propose for them to send out a diplomat.
The army was sent out probably so that they would be able to carry out favorable negotiations through their threatening position. However, the location where they decided to stop at was the evidence that they were still afraid of us.
“Fujiwara-san, it is me! Don’t attack!” Elsa, who was taking the lead out of the four hors.e.m.e.n, gave a desperate cry.
“Everyone, absolutely don’t attack!” I ordered the bowmen sternly.
Afterwards, the unarmed man shouted to us.
“I am called Ignats Braunitze! I am a diplomat from the Kingdom of Sandra! I want to talk with the head of the town, Fujiwara!”
His brown hair was divided in the ratio of 7:3, and he also had a rather bushy moustache.
“I am Fujiwara!” I announced loudly.
“So you are Fujiwara! Let’s settle down and talk!” He yelled back.
“Then you guys will need unmount from your horses and place your weapons on the ground!” I would give no quarter on this.
Except for Elsa, the three of them, including Braunitze, had a hushed discussion regarding my request. Then, the 4 unmounted from their horses and placed their swords onto the ground.
“Well then, you may enter after the gate opens.” I declared.
“Wait! We wish for the discussion to be held outside of the town!” Braunitze suggested.
Do they have some kind of plan? However, I also thought that there was nothing wrong with tha.
“Would the front of gate be good enough?” I asked.
“It’s good!” The diplomat accepted my offer.
“Then, wait a while!” I returned to my house with a truck and got 4 pipe chairs before heading to the north gate again.
Chief Jiharu will accompany me, along with two more people from the Wolf Tribe. On top of the stone walls, the beastmen had their bows readied vigilantly.
Then, the gate opened.
As I set up the pipe chair, Braunitze had a slightly surprised face when he look on the folding chair. Jiharu was sitting with me while Braunitze and Elsa sat in front of me. The other two from the Wolf Tribe stood behind me, while behind Braunitze were two knights just a slight distance away.
“Let’s speak frankly. Join our country. If you pay a tax, this place will remain as it is.” Braunitze opened his mouth first, saying arrogant words with an arrogant att.i.tude.
Compared to the Kingdom of Sandra, my town is at most just this one city. Considering the differences, it is natural.
“I refuse.” I replied curtly.
My answer was obviously no. It was obvious that they will suck us dry. If I didn’t have the beastmen, I would be attracted with that story, but now, I need to protect the lives of the beastmen. Of course, the top priority would still be my life.
“You will also be able to get the t.i.tle of n.o.bility too, you know?” He tried to tempt me.
“There is no meaning for something like peerage in this land.” I answered without hesitating.
“Can’t you see the soldiers in the back?” Braunitze decided to try threatening us instead.
“If you are talking about routing us, how about I show you how we can smash your army again?”
“Hmm...” Braunitze looked into my eyes intently.
I was startled. Of course, it isn’t in a strange manner, but Braunitze’s eyes seemed to look directly into my mind. I guess this is what you call a professional diplomat.
[ED: Are you sure that it’s not some mind reading magic thing?]
Elsa can also be said to be a pro in business, so she seems to have a keen understanding of what is happening here.
But, Braunitze doesn’t have it. Like a snake glaring at a frog, it is like he is observing from a high place. How to lure him in efficiently, it was a feeling like that.
But, if I am to be a frog, I will be a very toxic frog. Because the Kingdom of Sandra is very far from this place, my overwhelming advantage doesn’t change. That is why, having a determination to not back down, I glare back at Braunitze.
“...Alright, then let’s talk about business.” Diplomat Braunitze seemed to give up possessing this land, and changed the topic to business deals.
I thought that he might keep pressing about that taking over the land, so I am glad that he changed the topic.
First, I received explanations about future transactions. I am told that from now on, they want to take over our trade with the Polo firm lead by Elsa, and conduct a trade lead by the country instead. They wanted to use Elsa’s sale network, so that if the country can get a profit publicly they can avert oppositions from other countries.
And as for the purchased goods, instead of increasing the amount of transaction, they are requesting a reduction in selling price. I could reject it separately, but I decided to accept the demand instead.
Since the value of this town was now known, it can be said that the clock hand has begun to move towards war. They will definitely not be satisfied with trade only. They will surely try to obtain this land by all means. That is why, even if it is only to delay it for a little bit, I intended to give some profit to the Kingdom of Sandra.
Besides that, when I was asked about the source of the resources of this land thoroughly, I remained silent.
Braunitze had looked at the beastmen’s armor, and seemed very interested in iron in particular.
“There is one person being captured in a battle one year ago. His name is Romatto.” After the business discussion was finished, I brought up the prisoner who was being held at the inn.
Braunitze looked at the knight at the back.
“He ‘was’ the eldest son of the Bidenhulk house.” When the knight answered, Braunitze nodded his head as if saying ‘I see’, and looked at me again.
“That person will have to be returned back.” He stated.
“Only if you can give a reasonable amount of compensation.” I refuted.
“If you returned the prisoner, it will become a sign of goodwill for this friendship, no?” He stared at me.
“No. While it can be said to be a courtesy for friendship, even if one side tries to cling on tightly, it won’t change the master-servant relationship.” I replied firmly.
“Well, it’s okay. Then, let’s leave it as it is for now. It will be a problem for the family head.” Braunitze answered casually.
Thus the discussion ended.
The Kingdom of Sandra intended to conduct business from the beginning, so they have brought a large quant.i.ty of silver coins, and the items sold become twice that of the usual amount.
I talked a little bit with Elsa personally. First, she apologized for the trade being exposed to the country, but that was in the original agreement anyway. When I asked about the firm, she told me that although the profit will be lower than before, at least they will be much safer since it is backed by the country.
The Kingdom of Sandra’s army camped far away from the town and left on the next day. At night, there were humans spotted hanging around the farm, but when the beastmen shouted, they disappeared swiftly.
Really, one can’t be too careless when dealing with them.