Malik gathered the other mbers of the Maasai Union.
“I apologize for calling you all together so suddenly. However, this is such an important matter that I had no choice but to urgently request your presence.”
Upon hearing the ntion of an important issue, tension crept onto the faces of the tribal chiefs of the Union.
They had already braced themselves sowhat when summoned here. However, the fact that Malik had reiterated the importance of the matter confird that sothing serious had occurred.
The youngest of the chiefs smiled slightly and spoke up.
“Is it a war?”
Since the formation of the Maasai Union, its tribal chiefs had fought a total of fifteen wars in just a few months.
Fifteen victories in fifteen battles, with the size of each tribe expanding more than twice what it had been before the union.
Their power, wealth, and status were now unimaginable compared to before.
The more wars they fought, the more wealth they accumulated, which led to an addiction to war.
It was like a nationwide gambling addiction, akin to the great Empire of Japan, where land and power were acquired through aggressive ans.
“Unfortunately, it’s not a war, my friend. It seems this fellow has fallen for war just as much as he has fallen for won. I’ll reveal just enough, or else it will all crumble down.”
Malik’s joke made everyone chuckle.
“It’s not war, but Baron Pierre… no, that bastard has co to us and demanded we accept their religion. He said that if we don’t, he’ll make us all slaves.”
The chiefs couldn’t accept this absurd reality.
Baron Pierre, though he was soone who only cared about money, was known to bring precious goods like gunpowder, steel, and plate armor to the tribes. He taught them all kinds of valuable skills for free.
They had always seen him as a good-hearted rchant, only greedy for money, but still helpful to the Union.
“Baron Pierre said he would turn us into slaves? I can’t believe it.” “That guy may be crazy for gold, but he would never provoke us so recklessly.”
Malik summarized the conversation he had with Fabio and shared it with them.
After hearing this, everyone exchanged looks and wore stunned expressions.
A period of silence passed, and everyone began to voice their dissatisfaction.
“So, Baron Pierre… or was it Baron Rothschild? That guy is from the Toscanian Empire?”
“I understand why he might lie, but…”
“Honestly, even if he’s working under Governor Nador, what can we do about it?”
Despite their complaints, not a single person suggested betraying Pierre—or Fabio.
No, they couldn’t bring themselves to say that.
Though they felt betrayed, what would happen if their connection with him were severed?
In about a month, they would begin running low on gunpowder. If the neighboring tribes found out...
The neighboring tribes, afraid of the Maasai Union’s expanding power, would likely fall under Nador’s fierce attacks.
In that case, all the people present and their tribes would be t with an awful end.
“Deusism doesn’t seem like such a bad religion. It’s just about worshipping this god called Deus and doing good deeds. And once a month, you eat so thin rice cake and drink a glass of wine. That’s all, right?”
Though the clergy of the Toscanian Empire had long been corrupt, and Fabio—who borrowed the wisdom of the alien nations—was deeply disgusted by them, the clergy brought by Fabio, who had been paid off with money, could only live righteous lives.
Otherwise, they would either beco whale food or et so other grueso end.
Because of this, the Maasai tribes didn’t view Deusism as such a negative thing.
“But don’t they say you can’t worship any other gods except Deus? That bothers ,” one of the chiefs remarked.
“Ha, Chief Verde, isn’t it true that the ancestors we worship are not too different from the god they speak of? Our ancestors watch over us as we rest, but they don’t control everything. They don’t rule the world,” another responded.
The belief in ancestor worship, a primitive form of shamanism, didn’t involve any special doctrine, really. So, the addition of a transcendent god wasn’t really a disruption to their worldview.
It was more of an expansion of their spiritual beliefs.
“Besides, I heard the Kingdom of Granada and Governor Nador are fighting tooth and nail because of their different religions. So, in order to survive, we have to believe in the religion they follow.”
Adopting a new religion was naturally sothing they were reluctant to do.
However, for the tribal chiefs who had managed to survive up until now through sheer will, this was sothing worth considering.
One chief, who had been silent up until then, shrugged and responded.
“Well, our ancestors probably wouldn’t mind resting in a heaven managed by such a powerful god as Deus, would they? The way we honor them might change a little, but if it ans they can rest in peace in heaven, then let’s pray to Deus for them.”
His words were clear, but sowhat reluctant.
However, at this mont, they had no choice but to force a smile.
If they didn’t accept the religion, they would die.
If they had to chew rotten at to survive, they had no choice but to chew through traditions and religions to survive.
“Alright, if you’ve made up your minds, let’s go persuade the tribesn.”
“Baron Rothschild, we’ve successfully completed the first voyage with the new crew.”
I had decided to stay a bit longer to finish so things, but hearing this news made feel like I had gained sothing unexpectedly.
“The first voyage was completed successfully? Alright, have they all changed into sailors yet?”
“Do you think so? To turn a bunch of thugs into decent sailors, it will take at least a year.”
The impoverished nobles of Idalgo and the other city poor would fight ten tis better than ordinary civilians even at sea.
They were used to killing people.
Moreover, naval battles on the Albanian continent didn’t rely much on artillery bombardnts; they were more like street brawls on the decks.
‘Guys who specialize in alleyway brawls are the perfect Marines.’
“A year, huh? If they’re at sea for a year, wouldn’t half of them be dead?”
A 50% death rate after a year of sailing—it would only get worse once the Age of Exploration truly began.
Right now, no journey went beyond a month, but once the new world was discovered, voyages would take a year.
‘They’ll probably die from scurvy from not being able to eat vegetables.’
“Thanks to you giving the soldiers dried seaweed every day, they don’t get scurvy. The other hygiene asures you ordered are also preventing diseases.”
On the sea, it’s best to wash your body with saltwater.
Of course, it would be even better to wash with fresh water.
But on a ship, fresh water was a precious commodity.
Bathing with fresh water? That would only be possible on an aircraft carrier in the 21st century.
‘At least wet a towel and wipe them down. That’s enough to maintain hygiene.’
“Well then, when do you plan to start exploring the new route?”
“After a week of rest following this first practice voyage, we plan to head west. The current of the sea suggests there’s land beyond there. This ti, we’ll try sailing for a month.”
A month of sailing? That’s not a light task.
What’s your na?
I don’t know who you are, but you’re either going to be the great explorer of this age or the idiot who’s going to ruin our fleet.
‘But to open a new sea route, people like this are necessary.’
“What’s your na?”
“Ulfric Erikson, a man who ended up becoming your retainer after wandering the United Kingdom and baking sardines in pie dough.”
A foreigner as my retainer?
I must not have known much about him, as he seed to be of low rank.
I’ll keep an eye on you.
“If you're going to sail for a month, make sure you bring enough food and water for at least two months, three if possible.”
“Yes, understood.”
“Also, make sure the navigation maps are as detailed as possible. I’m glad to know that such a great explorer is serving as my retainer.”
As I was about to leave, a letter was handed to .
[All tribal chiefs of the Maasai Union have converted to Deusism.]
It seems like it's ti to prepare for the Age of Exploration.
From now on, it’s the era of capitalism.
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