"Hmm, it's been a while since I've sailed the Nautilus this far."
The last ti I headed north with the Enterprise was primarily to test the performance of our first clipper ship.
And we confird then that clippers were terrible for moving along the coast or sailing against the wind.
For that reason, after excluding the Enterprise, the Voyager, and our newly built clipper the Defiant from this voyage, what remained was the Nautilus.
Vicente strokes the ship's railing with an expression like soone returning to their holand after a long ti.
"Ahhh... this feels so familiar. Yes, how many tis have I wandered these coasts aboard this ship? It's a vessel filled with so many mories."
Raleigh was about to ask if those mories included trying to kill Nemo, but stopped. Vicente's eyes were too full of emotion.
"To think that once again, after so long, I'm moving with this vessel, bearing the duty of exploration..."
As just ntioned, during the last exploration with the Nautilus and Vicente, Nemo was stabbed for the first ti.
"...Strictly speaking, it's trade."
"I know. Aren't there already nurous gifts loaded?"
The cargo packed in the ship's hold was divided into two categories.
One consisted of glass beads, various tals, and assorted toys and luxury goods – items suitable for exchange with natives.
The other category was various jewels and furs obtained through such exchanges.
They could travel around without much worry despite carrying such a large quantity of treasures, because they were followed by other caravels equipped with about ten cannons on each side.
Of course, those ships also contained enormous amounts of treasure.
They had been repeating their adventure, landing and boarding over and over like stones skipping across water.
Perhaps because it was a process they had already experienced, it didn't take that long. After repeating this for about a month,
They had already reached "Massachusetts," where they had been before.
The northern end of Arica they had visited last ti. What lay beyond was still unknown territory.
Raleigh and Vicente landed on the familiar coast with an inexplicable sense of excitent and anticipation, carrying various treasures to give to the chief of this region.
The vast coniferous forests spread out everywhere make visitors feel as if they've entered a majestic and quiet temple.
As they advanced, birds scattered here and there, fluttering and spreading noisy cries. Raleigh was swinging his sword while taking the clear, fresh air deep into his lungs when...
"...Wait."
"What's wrong?"
"There's a human presence over there. Let's stop."
"Of course there would be human presence. Don't we already know whose land this is? I want to go to the village and eat so proper food..."
"..."
In response to Vicente's words, Raleigh quietly parted the bushes to show the mud underneath.
Human footprints were imprinted there.
That in itself could make sense. It's not particularly strange. This isn't uninhabited land, after all.
But the fact that those footprints were in the shape of European shoes?
That couldn't be.
It shouldn't be.
Raleigh holds up the gun slung over his shoulder while holding his breath. Vicente and the other soldiers also beco very tense, looking around.
And.
Rustle.
Slowly, they bend down and move forward, muffling their footsteps.
As they do, a murmuring sound gradually becos audible.
Soon that murmuring becos the sound of conversation.
"...We don't do that 'trade' thing with others. Go see our great chief."
"Så lad os bytte denne perle d den pels?"
"...I have no idea what you're saying. We have no more furs to give you."
"lort! Det her giver ikke ning!"
Along with the familiar voice of the chief, Vicente hears voices speaking in an unfamiliar language. Even before Vicente could ask what language that was...
"They're Danes."
Raleigh mutters, squinting his eyes. At those words, everyone raises their guns and grips their sword hilts.
Of course, Denmark is a Protestant country like England. Relations between the two countries are not that bad either.
But... if they are here, that's a different story.
Raleigh signals the others to wait, then advances alone through the bushes and shouts:
"This is the land of the native Emperor!"
At that, blades flash from all around. Raleigh raises both hands and says:
"And you have not made a treaty with the Emperor."
Then Vicente and others appear from among the bushes, their blades glinting. When they see that the English outnumber them, the surprised Danes step back.
"Kejser...? Traktat?"
When one of the Danes mutters, Raleigh nods.
"That's right. That's why they're refusing to trade."
"..."
"I see you understand English?"
The Danes whisper among themselves and then send one person forward who says:
"Y-yes, English good. My na is Jannik. You are?"
"Walter Raleigh."
"...L-Lord Raleigh?"
"Now Baron of Roanoke."
"..."
Upon hearing that na, the wariness imdiately drains from the Danes' faces. They put away the swords they had drawn and bow to Raleigh.
"B-Baron of Roanoke. Then what should we..."
"Go back. As allies of the Emperor who rules this region, we will prevent your coercion even by force if necessary."
"..."
"..."
"Next ti... unfortunately, you won't be able to co without the permission of His Majesty the Emperor, the protector of Virginia."
At those words, the Danes' expressions harden, and they look around as if contemplating sothing.
But no matter how they looked at it, their nurical disadvantage was too obvious. Seeing that the natives were now standing beside Raleigh, his words didn't seem to be lies...
They all turn around with a sigh.
Only after confirming that they had completely disappeared from sight did Raleigh relax his guard and turn to the chief.
"Ousaquin."
"...You've returned. Yes. We have plenty of fur to give you. Welco back."
"After us, were they... the first?"
To Raleigh, who asked with a stiff face, Ousaquin, the chief of the Wampanoag Confederation, replied:
"No."
"..."
"So people called French or whatever ca."
"W-what did you tell them? What did you say?"
"Naturally, I responded as you told to. I showed them the crown and scepter, and said I was a subject of soone called Nemo."
"Uh..."
"Is there a problem?"
"No, it's not that..."
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