How to Survive in the Roanoke Colony-Chapter 122: Birth of an Empire (1)

"..."

"..."

A serious atmosphere, a large North American map attached to one wall.

It was a map showing the territories of Native Americans spread across North America, from the Pennacook and Mi'kmaq tribes in the east to the Navajo and Shoshone tribes in the west.

And colored pencils placed in front of it.

"...Mr. Hewett, please give me the tablet that Vicente left behind."

"Here it is!"

So I turn on the tablet at one side of the desk, and open the catalog at the other side.

As I opened the catalog, a list was written there.

It was a list of North American indigenous tribes.

Fortunately, not only the modern names but also the names they called themselves were all listed. I could easily compare and contrast them with the tribal names on the tablet.

"Eleanor, please pin the places I'm about to mention.

"Ah, understood!"

"Mi'kmaq."

"Mi'kmaq... here it is!"

"Pocomoke, Manokin, Wicomico, Lenape, Mohican."

"W-wait a moment."

"Ottawa, Mississauga, Petun, Wendat, Mohawk."

"P-please speak a bit more slowly!"

I can't. We have at least dozens of indigenous tribes under our command now, and if I adjust the pace while speaking, it will take all day.

Anyway, as Eleanor moved to pin various locations on the map as I called them, slowly... the outline appeared.

The outline of the areas that newly came under our influence.

"Uh, uhh? Nemo? Is this... correct?"

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"...It is, Eleanor."

Among the natives of this region, tribes with sufficient productivity to maintain a settled life are rare.

Most at best practice slash-and-burn agriculture combined with hunting and gathering, so inevitably they lead a nomadic life, and as a result, the concept of 'owning land' is weak.

Even so... well, if it's land where tribes belonging to our sphere of influence live, it could be considered our territory.

The roughly marked area was approximately...

North Carolina,

Virginia,

Pennsylvania,

Delaware,

Maryland,

New Jersey,

New York,

Connecticut,

Rhode Island,

Massachusetts,

New Hampshire,

Thus, of the original 13 American colonies, roughly 11 coastal states excluding Georgia and South Carolina,

Plus the coasts of the Labrador Peninsula, Newfoundland Island, Nova Scotia Island, the Great Lakes region, and so on.

"..."

"..."

That was our territory.

Of course, we don't actually govern these regions.

Just a little away from the coast, our influence probably wouldn't properly reach.

At most, the natives in the area are taking a stance like "Yeah, yeah, Nemo is our Grand Chief. So give us those damn iron axes and cute cats."

"G-good heavens..."

Even considering that, it's unbelievably vast enough to make Eleanor unable to close her mouth.

That entire area has been co-opted into our multi-level marketing.

...Although I called it multi-level marketing, in the end, we're not unilaterally selling things to the natives, so it's just an intermediary trade network.

Like Mon*t Hunter that exploded in popularity in the early 2010s, there are just a few bonuses given when friends are recommended

So we're taking products from the eastern coast and the entire Great Lakes region of North America and selling them to England.

England then gives us glass beads and various castings and other products to meet the demands of Virginia and the natives within its sphere of influence.

Several ships are constantly traveling back and forth across the eastern America, carrying various items from land several times larger than England.

And even now, natives are probably expanding that territory by holding active promotional events towards surrounding tribes, saying 'This is called network marketing...'

"Uh... well, no wonder Vicente and Raleigh are busy."

This, with the two of them responsible for the major route connecting the Native Americans of eastern North America-Virginia-England, they can't help but be insanely busy.

...I should treat them well when they return.

==

"300 glass beads to be sent to the Northeast, 50 iron axes, 120 cats, 200 daggers, blankets..."

"Excuse me, are you alright?"

"I'm fine. 450 glass beads to be sent to the Great Lakes region, 150 iron axes, 200 cats..."

"Baron? Are you really alright?"

"I-I said I'm fine, Thomas!"

Raleigh shouts once at Harriot, then moves his fingers again. Numbers were fluctuating on the Excel file in front of him.

"Ah... uh... where was I counting, Vicente?"

"You were counting the number of cats to be sent to the Great Lakes region."

"Ah, thank you. Tsk tsk tsk, Thomas, I almost forgot because you spoke to me..."

Thud.

"...What are you doing?"

In response to Raleigh's question, Harriot silently drags a mirror to his front, then holds his head and makes him face it.

Then in the mirror, a man who was energetic enough to oversee the development of the New World, passionate enough to participate directly in numerous battles, romantic and charming enough to capture the Queen's heart...

...had disappeared without a trace.

"Uh... who is this?"

"It's you!"

"...Was this a mirror, not a portrait?"

The once energetic 20-something young man who stood by the Queen's side had now turned 47, but that was secondary.

First, with dark shadows under both eyes and fingertips trembling from fatigue, he looked exactly like a sick person.

The whites of his eyes were bloodshot with prominent capillaries, and neither his beard nor hair was properly groomed, making him look like some lion.

"...D-did I go before Her Majesty the Queen looking like this?"

As Raleigh presses his temples due to a suddenly rising headache, Harriot laughs hollowly and says:

"Why are you so shocked? Have you lived for days without looking in a mirror?"

"No... what need is there to look in a mirror and primp on a ship? It's all just dark-skinned men."

"That's right! Besides, aren't we handling holy duties?"

"T-that's right! Vicente's words are correct, Thomas! We are devoting ourselves to resolving resource shortages in the New World and expanding his domain as Nemo instructed!"

"Mr. Harriot, don't scold the Baron too much! When doing great work, sometimes one has to temporarily sacrifice one's well-being. He must have a grand plan..."

Thud.

"Oh, is this a picture of a sick person?"

"This is also you, Vicente."

"..."

"Do you all remember when you last slept?"

"...Two days ago?"

"It was three days ago."

"Oh."

"If you don't want your epitaph to simply say 'Oh,' go to sleep right now. Vicente, the same goes for you."

"..."

"..."

Though he wanted to refute, Raleigh lost his words because the figures in the mirror were so miserable.