It had been a week since Arthur delivered his designs for the telegraph machine, the block signaling system for trains, and the M-94 cipher machine to William for production. During this time, the diplomatic delegation sent by Pendralis had finally reached the capital city of Aragon, Ardenzia. The delegation, led by Mathew Barrie, had a critical mission: to address the excessive taxes imposed on Pendralis ships passing through the Maraz Strait and to secure guarantees for the safety of Pendralis vessels, which had been increasingly targeted by pirate attacks near Aragon's territorial waters in the White Sea.
Upon his arrival in Ardenzia, Mathew wasted no time in formally requesting an audience with King Juan to discuss these pressing matters. However, the king had yet to accept the request. With no choice but to wait, Mathew decided to observe the social and economic conditions of Ardenzia and include his findings in his report to Pendralis.
As Mathew wandered through the city, the first thing that caught his attention was the poor state of hygiene. Unlike Pendralis, the city had little to no sewage infrastructure. The streets, except for those in areas inhabited by nobles and the wealthy, were filthy. Garbage, human waste, and the unbearable stench they created were immediately noticeable.
Economically, Mathew observed that the majority of the population lived in villages and small towns outside the capital. This clearly indicated that most of Aragon's people were engaged in agriculture. Recalling the information in Arthur's books, Mathew concluded that Aragon was still very much an agrarian society. Thinking back to how Pendralis had resembled this only a few years ago, he couldn't help but admire the transformative power of Arthur's reforms and inventions, which had elevated Pendralis in such a short time. His respect for Arthur deepened even further.
Politically, Mathew found that Aragon's governance was in an even worse state than Pendralis's had been before Arthur's reforms. While Pendralis had established some degree of centralized authority even prior to its modernization, Aragon remained firmly entrenched in feudalism. The country's lords maintained complete control over tax collection and judicial systems within their territories, and unlike Pendralis, they even commanded their own private armies. The king's laws held little sway over these feudal lords, who often disregarded them and sometimes even rebelled against the central authority.
Considering that a large portion of Aragon's revenue came from controlling the Maraz Strait, a critical trade route, Mathew began to understand the reasoning behind their high taxes on Pendralis ships. Aragon's recent war with the Fasi Kingdom had placed a significant economic burden on the kingdom. Faced with Pendralis's growing maritime trade, Aragon had likely seized the opportunity to impose heavy taxes as a means of offsetting their losses. Mathew suspected that some nobles might even be profiting from the pirate attacks on Pendralis vessels, given how frequently these attacks occurred.
Mathew also observed the power dynamics among Aragonese nobles, taking note of which factions were allies and which were rivals. He carefully analyzed which groups the crown supported and which it sought to suppress. These observations were meticulously recorded for his report.
After a week of waiting, Mathew finally received word that King Juan would grant him an audience the following afternoon. That evening, Mathew spent hours strategizing how to approach the negotiations.
The next day, Mathew and his delegation arrived at the royal palace. The guards searched them thoroughly for weapons before allowing them to pass through the massive iron gates. They were escorted by palace guards to the throne room, where they were searched again before the grand doors were opened.
As Mathew and his companions stepped inside, one of the guards loudly announced, "Envoy of the Kingdom of Pendralis, Mathew Barrie!" The group began walking toward the throne at the far end of the room. Along the way, Mathew noticed the expressions of those present—likely soldiers, bureaucrats, and nobles. Some regarded them with cold, emotionless stares, while others sneered with condescending smiles. From these expressions, Mathew immediately realized that this would not be an easy negotiation.
When they reached the throne, Mathew and his delegation bowed deeply in formal salute. As Mathew straightened and met King Juan's gaze, the two men silently assessed each other. After a brief pause, the king broke the silence. "I am listening. What brings the Kingdom of Pendralis to send envoys to my court?"
Mathew began, "Your Majesty, I have been sent by King Cedric of Pendralis to discuss two pressing matters: the excessive taxes imposed on Pendralis ships passing through the Maraz Strait and the alarming increase in pirate attacks targeting Pendralis vessels near Aragon's territorial waters."
The king nodded, motioning for him to continue.
"Your Majesty," Mathew continued, "Pendralis is deeply concerned that the additional taxes imposed on our ships are severely affecting trade. Merchants are finding it nearly impossible to make a profit. If these high taxes persist, it is likely that the number of Pendralis ships passing through the Maraz Strait will decrease significantly. Such a decline would harm the economies of both our nations."
King Juan responded, "I do not believe these taxes are affecting trade as you claim. According to the information I have received, the number of Pendralis ships passing through the Maraz Strait has increased significantly in recent years. Naturally, the costs of maintaining the ports and infrastructure have risen accordingly. Additionally, as you know, our nation recently emerged from a war, and the revenue from these taxes is being used to rebuild the damage caused by that conflict."
Mathew silently cursed the king's response, finding it absurd. He knew that port maintenance could not possibly justify doubling the taxes, and the supposed war damage was clearly exaggerated, as Mathew had seen little evidence of significant destruction on his way to Ardenzia. "It would be more honest if he simply admitted he wants to extort Pendralis," Mathew thought bitterly.
"Your Majesty," Mathew continued, "even if our merchants pay these taxes, they face another issue. Pendralis vessels near Aragon's waters in the White Sea are increasingly targeted by pirates. We request that Aragon take stronger measures to protect Pendralis ships and ensure the continued prosperity of trade between our nations."
King Juan replied, "We, too, are troubled by the rise in pirate activity. During our war with the Fasi Kingdom, pirates became more active, and we have also suffered losses due to their actions. Rest assured, we are taking steps to address the issue."
Mathew decided to take a risk and adopt a more aggressive tone. "Your Majesty, I appreciate your efforts. However, if this situation continues, the number of Pendralis ships trading in the region will decline further, and this will inevitably harm trade relations between our countries."
The king realized that Mathew's veiled warning referred to Pendralis's supply of affordable steel weapons to Aragon. If Pendralis ceased supplying Aragon but continued arming the Fasi Kingdom, it could tip the military balance in Fasi's favor and encourage them to launch another war.
After a long pause, King Juan finally spoke. "Aragon greatly values its trade relations with Pendralis. I agree that any disruption to this trade would harm both nations. I will issue orders to reduce the taxes on Pendralis ships passing through the Maraz Strait. The exact amount will be decided after consulting my advisors, and you will be informed of our decision. Additionally, I will instruct our navy to provide better protection for Pendralis trade vessels and to intensify efforts against piracy in our waters. Please convey to King Cedric that Aragon is committed to maintaining good relations with Pendralis. While we may face challenges, I hope this resolution will serve to strengthen the ties between our kingdoms."
Mathew, maintaining a composed demeanor, stepped forward and bowed deeply, his voice filled with gratitude. "Your Majesty, I am honored by your understanding and your willingness to address these pressing issues. On behalf of my king and government, I express my heartfelt thanks for your cooperation and commitment to fostering good relations between Pendralis and Aragon. I will ensure that King Cedric is informed of your generosity and wisdom in handling this matter."
As Mathew and his delegation straightened and prepared to leave the throne room, he couldn't help but reflect on the negotiation. Although the outcome was not perfect, it was a step forward, and he was confident that Pendralis's interests had been effectively represented.
After Mathew and his delegation exited the throne room, General Antonio Fernandez, one of King Juan's most trusted advisors, approached the king. "Your Majesty, forgive me, but why did you agree to their demands?"
The king replied, "As you know, our war with the Fasi Kingdom has only recently ended. Although we emerged victorious, our forces are nearly evenly matched. If Pendralis ceases supplying us with affordable steel and instead supports the Fasi Kingdom, they could gain a significant military advantage and launch another war to reclaim the Maraz Strait."
The general nodded, recalling the abundance of Pendralis steel weapons used in the war. King Juan added, "For now, escalating tensions is not in our interest. Reduce the taxes slightly and instruct our men to focus pirate activity on ships from other countries or nobles who oppose us."
Meanwhile, Mathew prepared a detailed report on his observations of Aragon's economic, military, and social conditions, intending to complete it during the journey back to Pendralis. After finalizing his report, he planned to present it to King Cedric upon his return.