Captain Ellis was the first to set foot on the soil of the Kingdom of Zambesi. He took a glance around, noting the apprehensive and inquisitive looks of the people surrounding him.
They sure are wary of foreigners, he thought, carefully observing the guarded expressions on their faces. The atmosphere was thick with tension, but there was no open hostility yet.
His soldiers were the next to disembark. They moved swiftly, fanning out and securing the perimeter in a non-hostile manner, ensuring there were no sudden movements that could be misinterpreted.
Mateyo and Jafari followed, stepping onto the dock nervously. The crowd's eyes shifted to them as if wondering why they were along with the foreigners.
Captain Ellis glanced at Mateyo, sensing the man's unease. "Who should we have a discussion with?"
Mateyo, snapping out of his momentary reverie, cleared his throat before replying. "The Governor. He is the one who can speak on behalf of the Kingdom."
Ellis nodded, his gaze shifting towards the center of the town where a more prominent building stood, likely the seat of the local government. As much as he'd want to get there as soon as possible, he can't. The reason? The local militias were still surrounding them. Even though their muskets were lowered, he knew that any moment, they'd trained it towards them if they made any unwanted movements.
But seconds later, Captain Ellis and his soldiers noticed the crowds parting as if making way for someone important. merging from the crowd was an older man dressed in ornate traditional robes. Behind him followed a small entourage of officials, their expressions a mix of curiosity and caution.
The man stepped forward, his gaze locking onto Captain Ellis with a piercing intensity. He stopped a few paces away, maintaining a respectful but cautious distance.
"I am Governor Moyo," the man introduced himself and Ellis was glad that the Governor could speak Triesenese. "I'd love to have a discussion with you alone in private."
"You want me to come with you and leave my guards behind?" Captain Ellis asked, his brows narrowing.
"You come here to our country so it is only a common courtesy to abide by our customs," Governor Moyo replied. "I assure you, no harm will come to you while you are in my care. Your men will be treated with the same respect, but I must insist on this condition."
Captain Ellis weighed the situation carefully. Leaving his guards behind would place him at a disadvantage, but he also knew that refusing the Governor's request could escalate tensions. After a brief moment of consideration, he nodded.
"Very well, Governor Moyo," Ellis agreed. "I will accompany you alone. My men will remain here under the watch of your militia."
The Governor's expression softened slightly, a sign that Ellis's decision had struck the right chord. "Thank you. Your understanding is appreciated."
Ellis turned to his soldiers, giving them a reassuring nod. After that, he followed Governor Moyo into the heart of the town, leaving his soldiers behind on the docks.
Ellis took this opportunity to scan the surroundings. There were paved roads but there weren't many vehicles. The few vehicles he did see were rudimentary. Most of the townspeople moved about on foot or used simple carts drawn by animals. Buildings were constructed primarily from wood and stone, with minimal signs of modern infrastructure.
As they walked deeper into the town, Ellis observed that the architecture was heavily traditional, with ornate carvings and vibrant colors adorning many structures. However, the lack of electrical lines or other signs of modern amenities stood out to him. The town was clearly functioning on a much lower level of technology, possibly decades or even a century behind Valoria.
At this point, he wondered how this measly town could repel foreigners. As they approached the governor's office, Ellis put that thought down and focused on the task at hand.
Governor Moyo led Ellis through the wide double doors of the building. Inside, the atmosphere was cool and dimly lit, with the scent of incense lingering in the air. The walls were lined with paintings and artifacts. It was clear that this room was designed to impress visitors and flaunt its beauty.
Not far from the main entrance was the office of Governor Moyo. They entered there and Governor Moyo gestured to Ellis.
"Please have a seat."
Ellis complied, sitting down and positioning himself where he could see the entrance and most of the room.
Governor Moyo took his seat at the head of the table, with his officials flanking him on either side. Their expressions were serious, but there was a hint of curiosity in their eyes as they observed Ellis. It was as if they were trying to gauge his intentions before a single word was spoken.
Moyo broke the silence. "Introduce yourself to us."
Ellis cleared his throat and spoke. "I'm Captain Ellis, captain of the VNS Titan and the commander of the Expeditionary Fleet tasked to visit your country and establish diplomatic ties. I'm from a country called Valoria, one thousand kilometers east of this city."
"Valoria?" Moyo repeated. "We haven't heard of that country before and you lie. There is no country 1,000 kilometers east of us. It's just the ocean."
"Well, you are wrong because there is a country that exists there and that's where I came from," Captain Ellis said and knew that this was going to be difficult to explain to them the appearance of a new country near them.
Governor Moyo still isn't convinced. "You speak the Empire of Triesenberg's language. How can we be so sure that what you say is true?"
"It's just a similarity, a coincidence you might say but we are in no way affiliated with the Empire of Triesenberg."
"Hoh?" Governor Moyo mused. "I still can't trust your words, none of us will. All the more reason we can't is because you have an armada on our territorial waters."
"I know that it's going to be hard to trust what I say and I completely understand that but I tell the truth. If you want, you can send your representatives to our country and judge for yourself. As for our fleet, I can assure you that nothing is intended to provoke or intimidate your people. Our presence here is purely diplomatic."
Governor Moyo leaned back in his chair, his gaze never leaving Ellis. The room was silent as the governor seemed to weigh Ellis's words carefully. His officials exchanged glances, their skepticism evident, but none dared to interrupt their leader's contemplation.
After a moment, Moyo spoke again, his tone measured. "Captain Ellis, you must understand the position we are in. The Kingdom of Zambesi has faced countless threats from foreign powers who sought to take what was ours. Many of them came with promises of peace, just as you do now, only to reveal their true intentions later. We have every reason to be cautious."
Ellis nodded. "I respect your caution, Governor Moyo. In your position, I would feel the same way. But I ask that you consider the possibilities of what we offer. Valoria seeks to build alliances, not conquer. We are prepared to share our technology, our knowledge, and our resources in a way that benefits both of our nations. We do not wish to impose our will on you, but rather to collaborate as equals."
The governor's eyes narrowed slightly, his expression unreadable. "And what exactly do you seek in return, Captain? No nation offers such things without expecting something in exchange."
"Mutual cooperation and security," Ellis replied.
Governor Moyo seemed to consider this for a moment, his fingers drumming lightly on the armrest of his chair.
Finally, Moyo leaned forward, his tone softening slightly. "Captain Ellis, I will speak to our King. Give us two days to decide."
"No problem, take the time you need, we will be waiting," Ellis said.