They Came To Visit The Republic Of Promance.

“The Polia Kingdom has joined the mermaid hunt too!?”

“The mermaids caught and brought to port were laid out in rows. Male bodies appeared after female bodies?”

“The Polia Kingdom designated mermaids as harmful marine monsters and plans to reduce their numbers through regular hunts.”

“There are also citizens who feel resistance toward killing female mermaids because they look too human.”

“Mermaids have intelligence lower than even dogs. Is there no need to treat them the same as humans?”

As the hunt began in earnest, people were able to see with their own eyes the frankly revealed images of hunted mermaids through the newspapers. Various reactions emerged. Some people felt resistance, while others said it was well done. Of course, amid all this, there were also those who said they pitied them.

Around the world, the perception that mermaids were nothing but bad monsters that brought no benefit to people was already spreading rapidly. It could not be helped. In some places, people aboard passenger ships had been struck by sonic attacks and had fallen into the sea in pain and died.

Even fishing boats were attacked quite often, and since they were small to medium-sized, there were even cases where mermaids climbed aboard and attacked. There were examples of fishermen resisting and winning, but in many cases, a considerable number of them were helplessly overwhelmed.

Marine accidents that could not have been found in the past had begun to occur, so there had been no means of responding to them. However, after these incidents, safety guidelines were changing to become even stricter. In practice, if no one was on the deck, there was no need to worry about safety.

No matter how much the mermaids charged in, they could not threaten large ships traveling above a certain speed. But fishing boats were different, and because of that, the degree of armament on fishing boats had no choice but to become far higher than before.

In addition, more people began purchasing earplugs to block sonic attacks. The earplugs, a type of magic tool, sold out as soon as they were produced. They were fairly expensive, but since they could be used semi-permanently once purchased, many people resolved themselves and bought them.

Moreover, with magic-tool-related companies having begun producing these earplugs in advance, a fairly large quantity had entered the market from the moment May began. As had been expected in the past, the world itself was changing.

A situation had arisen where people had to worry about sea monsters that had not existed before, and there were many cases of people suffering damage. Still, humans were creatures of adaptation. They quickly became used to it and were coming up with solutions.

The number of mermaid hunters increased a little more. The more mermaids they exterminated, the faster the risk of accidents was bound to decrease.

In that way, as mermaids established themselves in the world and naturally became one axis of it, the world continued to turn leisurely.

May 7.

“We pressured the Rubid Kingdom and forced them into a position where they had no choice but to develop the oil reserves. It seems construction of oil production facilities will begin soon.”

Ian, who was listening to the chancellor’s report, nodded. He thought that his older brother had finally surrendered. He had shown behavior that suggested he intended to drag things out, but we had pressured him strongly and forced him to proceed with development.

In any case, this was a battle against time. The faster we built the infrastructure, the more oil we could bring in.

“How about building a small-scale oil refinery as well?”

“That is a good suggestion. If we refine it to some extent there before bringing it in, it should be more economical.”

Since it would be built solely with the Polia Kingdom’s capital, ownership, at least, would belong to the kingdom. It was not a bad thing for the Rubid Kingdom either. We would hire workers to be used in the construction, and at the same time, a certain number of people would also be employed through the operation of the refinery, so it would also be a way for them to earn money.

‘More importantly, I hear that Brother Vincent is so jealous he is about to die?’

The place showing the strongest reaction after learning that oil had been found in the Rubid Kingdom was none other than King Vincent of the Vincent Kingdom. As proof of that, he was currently placing the most requests with the exploration teams of oil companies. It seemed he thought there was a chance that there was oil in their lands as well.

‘He’s overdoing it.’

Drilling was not something that cost only a coin or two each time, and if he wasted money so pointlessly, the state’s budget situation could become bad. Even if oil was discovered, that did not necessarily mean everything would be good. Of course, it would definitely be better than having none at all, and there would certainly be helpful aspects.

‘For one, they won’t have to import oil, so they can use the import budget elsewhere.’

In reality, although the Rubid Kingdom would have much of its oil taken away, at the very least, it would no longer have to import oil. They would now be able to produce enough for their own use.

“In addition, in response to our movements, it seems the Magnia Empire, as well as the Noma Empire and Moria Empire, are also pressuring the Rubid royal family.”

“They will have to protect what is theirs themselves.”

Unless those states were threatened from outside, there would absolutely be no reason for us to step in. Furthermore, as long as they did not touch parts that were our profits, there would be no need to pay attention. As he was thinking that, the chancellor mentioned one more fact.

“In addition, it appears that our Ministry of Foreign Affairs personnel will officially be able to enter the Republic of Promance.”

“Have they opened the border gate?”

“Yes. As their relationship with the Magnia Empire improved, perhaps they judged that they would no longer be threatened, and they are showing their intention to open their country.”

“If they did so confidently, that means they do not mind showing their own underlying strength, does it not?”

“It seems their confidence is tremendous.”

“Well, since they continued blocking the attacks of that Magnia Empire for an entire year, they would have no choice but to be filled with confidence. They must now be of the opinion that nothing stands in their way.”

Of course, in the last war, they had also endured because they had geographically advantageous factors. Still, they had shown enough of their military strength, and it seemed that, accordingly, they had become free of hesitation about opening their border.

“This opportunity will allow us to learn even more deeply about their interior.”

“It will. Many countries will likely dispatch diplomats. For now, we will need to find out through talks with their government how to establish diplomatic relations.”

“Diplomatic relations, huh. Trade will be conducted entirely through the tunnel.”

“It appears they repaired the damaged parts in the meantime and reinforced them greatly as well.”

“They would not be thinking of widening the inside of the tunnel even more and building something like a railway, would they?”

“It is something they might consider later on. For now, this is only the beginning, so would this not be the stage where we learn about one another?”

The stage where they learned about one another, huh. For the first stage, both sides had already confirmed each other’s military power, so now it would be time to confirm their capacity as a nation. We had confirmed the appearance of their cities through aerial reconnaissance, but I thought it would look different when people crossed over directly and inspected them.

Deep down, I was also looking forward to it. What exactly was the situation inside their country, and what did it look like?

“Tell the diplomats who will go this time to inspect things properly. What situation they are currently in, what their population is like, and what their industrial capacity is like. Since they have opened their borders as well, would they not think it acceptable for us to know?”

“Understood, Your Majesty.”

In that way, the Polia Kingdom began its exploration of the new nation called the Republic of Promance. Not only they, but other countries as well began dispatching diplomats to learn about this unknown nation.

To enter the Republic of Promance, one had to pass through a single tunnel to enter their country. The entrance to this tunnel was currently in a state where the Magnia Imperial Army was stationed there, and the inside of the tunnel was guarded by soldiers of the Republic of Promance.

In reality, ownership of the tunnel became wholly that of the Republic of Promance. Since they had built it in the first place and had managed and used it until now, ownership had been handed over to them. In a sense, it could be said that the Magnia Empire had yielded many things.

In any case, much had changed around this tunnel entrance and its surroundings. During the last war, the entrance had been widened further for smooth supply operations, and even metal doors that could be opened and closed had been installed. Of course, they were now wide open and in a fully open state.

Smooth exchange had not yet continued. However, in order to change this, the Republic of Promance announced to the world a policy of opening its border. Accordingly, many diplomats from countries around the world were currently flocking around this place.

Booooong—

The sight of one massive airship descending onto the airship landing field prepared near the tunnel could be seen. The people descending from there could be called diplomats of the Polia Kingdom. By the king’s order, they had come here to formally establish diplomatic relations with the Republic of Promance.

Because they had taken an airship, they were able to cross the continent a little earlier and arrive directly here. They were soon able to stay at a hotel being used as lodging among the buildings located in this area. Originally, this had been land with nothing at all, but now a village was forming and growing one after another.

If proper exchange and trade with the Republic of Promance began, it was obvious that the village formed here would quickly develop into a trade city. Perhaps because of that, even more people had been gathering recently.

In that way, around evening, there was a person looking toward the tunnel from the window of a hotel located in the village that had sunk into darkness.

‘One week from now. They say we can enter officially, so what kind of place will the inside be?’

Baron Reiman, who belonged to the Polia Kingdom’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, could not help but feel curiosity and anticipation. To think that he had gained the opportunity to enter the Republic of Promance, which he had only heard about until now. The opportunity had come for him to inspect and confirm for himself the interior that had only been full of rumors.

The world was currently curious about what kind of place the Republic of Promance was. It was already a known fact to everyone that, in terms of technological level, it was quite outstanding. Since they even produced fighter aircraft that could contend with the fighters of that Magnia Empire, that said everything.

The most curious point was what the inside of that country was like. He simply wanted to broadly inspect the level of civilization in which people lived, their way of life, and the level of industrial power they possessed. Since there was even an accompanying reporter, they would surely be able to record their appearance without fail.

‘I wish time would pass quickly.’

Along with these thoughts of Baron Reiman, time passed faster than expected. A week passed, and before he knew it, the visit date announced by the Republic of Promance arrived. At the tunnel entrance, many people were currently gathered.

It was a large group of more than at least two hundred people, and all of them were diplomats from various countries and personnel accompanying them. In any case, among these people, Baron Reiman, who belonged to the Polia Kingdom, was also waiting together with around ten people who would go with him.

“If we enter the tunnel, we will not be able to walk through it, so what will we ride?”

“From what I heard, we will ride horse-drawn carriages.”

“Carriages? Why carriages, of all things?”

“They say that because it is inside a tunnel and closed off, exhaust fumes cannot escape well, so carriages pulled directly by horses are more suitable than automobiles.”

“Since they can only enter that country through the tunnel, there must be more than one or two inconveniences.”

“Still, what can they do? That tunnel is the only road connected to the outside, so even if it is inconvenient, they have no choice but to use it.”

As he said that, Baron Reiman raised his head and looked at the towering mountain range. The mountain range, boasting tremendous height, spread endlessly in every direction. Since such a gigantic barrier existed, he thought it was only natural that even the Magnia Empire had not been able to properly project its strength.

‘They will not have to worry about being invaded in the future.’

He thought that, if they only had a certain number of troops and blocked the tunnel along with the path through the sky, who could possibly enter that country? As he was thinking that, a person approached them. It was one of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs personnel from the Republic of Promance.

The Republic of Promance side had already assigned several people, and the person who had come to the Polia Kingdom side had also come as a guide.

“Good day. You are the people from the Polia Kingdom’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, correct?”

“That is right. You speak our language well?”

At Baron Reiman’s words, the approaching official nodded and spoke as if explaining.

“I learned Doicheun. The Polia Kingdom is said to be a place that split from the Doicheun Empire in the past, correct?”

“To be precise, our kingdom first became independent from the kingdom that existed in the past, and afterward, the Doicheun Empire became independent next.”

“Is that so? Please understand that my historical knowledge of the outside is rather limited.”

“That is fine. More importantly, what happens now?”

“Now, in order, each nation will board the carriages prepared for them. Then you will pass directly through the tunnel and enter the inside of the mountain range.”

“When do you think our turn will be?”

“I think it will probably take about an hour.”

If it was one hour, that meant it was being matched to the movements of those departing ahead of them, and they were probably the Ministry of Foreign Affairs personnel sent by the empires. As expected, they had been placed later than the empires, and in a way, that might have been a natural action.

“Then we will have to wait.”

“If you wait just a little, your turn will come soon.”

Along with those words, the sight of prepared carriages exiting the tunnel could be seen before long, and the first people to board these carriages were the officials from the Magnia Empire’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. They boarded first and departed.

Amid that sight, Baron Reiman waited for their turn to come. Neeeeigh— With the sound of horses crying, the carriages were departing one after another before long. Amid that sight, the number of people riding the carriages gradually began to increase.

So many carriages had been prepared that it made him think the other side had made extensive preparations. Meanwhile, their turn came faster than the expected time. After roughly forty minutes had passed, it became the Polia Kingdom’s turn. From the fact that the Polia Kingdom had been assigned after the empires, one could tell that they were certainly well versed in the circumstances outside.

In that way, Baron Reiman and the personnel of the Polia Kingdom boarded the carriage, and they immediately began entering the tunnel in the departing carriage.