Chapter 2: Cooperation of the Merchants 2
“Now then, let us move on to the second main topic.”
Saying that, Apollo smiled and produced something. It wasn’t very large. It was a small box that an adult male could cup in both hands. However, the box looked quite sturdy. Everyone watching looked at the box with interest.
“What is this?”
I asked on behalf of the group. Apollo placed it on the table so everyone could see and slowly opened it. The steel-looking box opened, revealing a round object wrapped in red cloth inside. When the cloth was pulled back, an object I had encountered several times before appeared.
“Black metal!” I exclaimed loudly without thinking.
Nodding, satisfied with my reaction, Apollo agreed.
“Exactly. This is the black metal our Merchant Guild procured under contract with the Solstice Empire.”
“You’ll sell it to us!?” I asked back excitedly.
Apollo nodded, but his expression grew serious.
“Of course… However, I must also share a slightly disquieting matter.”
“The Empire’s reaction?”
“Precisely… Were you anticipating this, perhaps?” Apollo asked.
I nodded with a wry smile.
“We captured Prince Freightliner during the war with the Kingdom of Yelenetta. We heard various things. Although it’s a consideration from a singular perspective, it seems the Solstice Empire was indirectly trying to expand its territory by using the Kingdom of Yelenetta… If that’s true, the Kingdom of Scuderia has thwarted the Solstice Empire’s plans.”
When I said that, Apollo smiled.
“It helps that you grasp the situation quickly. I haven’t reported this to His Majesty yet, but I trust you, Lord Van. The Solstice Empire will likely restrict the export of black metal solely to the Kingdom of Scuderia. And after demonstrating the strength of black metal and its advantage over nations that do not possess it, they will likely propose that we become a vassal state of the Empire.”
Apollo casually spoke of a grand matter that could change the entire continent’s political landscape. Even Esparda slightly widened his eyes at the shocking content. However, this was something I had been considering since I first learned about black metal.
In Japanese history, ever since the introduction of firearms, those who effectively utilized guns and cannons began to prevail. In Europe, the age of the cannon began after the creation of gun barrels that could fire iron balls.
In short, the Solstice Empire is the nation that took the first step in the world by developing gunpowder and weapons such as cannons that utilize it. They must have used that power to expand their territory on the Central Continent. While the period from creating gunpowder to developing cannons seems short, the previously mentioned problems might have arisen as they expanded their land.
If we assume this, the Solstice Empire, having learned the danger of reckless territorial expansion, devised a plan to proliferate vassal states while keeping the manufacturing method of gunpowder secret… The assumption makes things clear.
If this assumption is correct, the Solstice Empire’s next likely action is to investigate the cause of the Kingdom of Yelenetta’s defeat and select the next vassal state candidate. Rather than carelessly scattering black metal to another continent and leaving it alone, they might try to make a nation their vassal before they can research and develop gunpowder themselves.
The obstacle to this plan is the Kingdom of Scuderia, which defeated the Kingdom of Yelenetta, a nation that was even lent black metal and cannons. Now, if I were the Empire, I would want to investigate how that nation won, but this is an event that occurred on a neighboring continent. How would they gather that information?
Thinking that, I looked at Apollo’s face.
“…Apollo-san. You don’t know how to make black metal, do you?”
When I asked, Apollo blinked, then offered a wry smile.
