C19 The Crisis of the Port Blockade and Countermeasures

Although the advocacy campaign among the Underground Tribe had seen some initial success, with the tribe's matriarch Rosie agreeing to the potato planting trial, Ostar remained vigilant. He tirelessly led his maidservants to the next primitive tribe without pause.

Ostar had a strong rapport with Gonias, and thus far, he had primarily engaged with the Nolanthias people's tribe. Having a leader as an intermediary made things smoother, especially with established relationships and access to translators.

Rosie, known as "Mouse Girl," ranked at the bottom in terms of combat ability among the female chiefs of the primitive tribes in the Bloomfield Region. Her timid and cautious nature made her more amenable to persuasion than other chiefs, whose dispositions were shaped by the female leaders' personal styles and temperaments, significantly influencing the tribes' way of life and customs.

Ostar was keen on introducing potato cultivation to the Underground Tribe, encouraging them to take up the crop. However, he couldn't just make empty promises. Rosie, following his guidance and leveraging her patriarchal privileges, rallied her people to clear the land and plant potatoes extensively.

The crop maturation times on the Strange World Continent differed from those on Earth, rendering Earth's agricultural timelines irrelevant. Without certainty of the potato harvest timing, Ostar needed to find a way to secure food for the tribe during their cultivation period.

As the Underground Tribe began clearing land for potato planting, they lacked the manpower to fish in the unnamed streams or gather fruits. Without addressing this issue, the potato farming initiative couldn't proceed.

Ostar's original plan involved importing food from other continents via sea transport to support the Underground Tribe until they could harvest their potatoes and achieve food self-sufficiency.

The Bloomfield Region's maritime trade depended heavily on the support from Magyr Pier city near the territory. However, Ostar could no longer rely on this port. Shortly after his last purchase of crop seeds, the fleet of the Sixth Prince Ariosto, who had jurisdiction over Magyr Pier, docked there.

Upon taking office, Ariosto declared martial law at Magyr Pier to prevent piracy, plunging the port into a state of emergency, though not a complete shutdown. Under his stringent policies, the import and export of goods faced restrictions. To Ostar's dismay, Ariosto inexplicably imposed additional tariffs and taxes on goods immediately upon his appointment.

Ariosto's tax rates were exorbitant. For most imported goods, an initial tariff of 25 to 30% was imposed based on the total value of the goods, followed by an additional 25% business tax on that same value. The man was ruthless. By splitting the tariffs and the commodities tax, the total tax on imports could reach a minimum of 50%, a rate that would make even the most aggressive tax collectors blush.

Ostar was particularly disheartened by the taxation policy Prince Ariosto had implemented in the city of Magyr Pier, which effectively eliminated any chance for Ostar to import agricultural seeds from that port. The new policy classified food crops, including seeds, agricultural tools, and weapons—such as swords, armor, and arrows—as strategic materials, all subject to stringent import restrictions.

Weapons and equipment were outright denied clearance. Agricultural tools faced limited import quantities and a staggering 60% tariff, though they were exempt from the business tax. Grain crops also had import limits, incurring a 40% tariff and an additional 40% strategic materials control tax, summing up to an 80% tax burden. For example, a cartload of grain valued at around a hundred silver coins would be taxed roughly eighty silver coins in total.

The tariffs and commodity taxes were the brainchild of Sixth Prince Ariosto, but the specific policies concerning food, agricultural tools, and military items were not his doing. They were part of a national strategy set by Emperor Augustus VIII of the Oberiske Empire, who was also Ostar's father.

Emperor Augustus VIII had issued a special edict to the lords with ports in their fiefdoms. Ariosto was merely executing the Emperor's orders. Even if Ostar were to confront him, he could not alter the policy, as it was the Emperor's decision, and he would not take the fall for it.

Emperor Augustus VIII, Ostar's father, had orchestrated these measures with a heavy heart. The Oberiske Empire had faced numerous military setbacks during its campaigns in the Middle Continent, and Augustus VIII harbored a deep-seated wariness of the continent's native inhabitants. He feared their potential rise and the threat they could pose to the sovereign state in the future.

To stifle the development of the Middle Continent, restrictions were imposed on the import of agricultural tools and food, as well as a ban on weapons and equipment. This was to prevent the indigenous people from progressing and potentially causing endless future problems.

At its core, the policy of Emperor Augustus VIII of the Empire was steeped in colonialism. It aimed to extract the Middle Continent's resources for the Empire's benefit, not to genuinely assist in its development. The fear was that the newly established territories might grow strong enough to escape the suzerain state's control, leaving the Oberiske Empire unable to swiftly and effectively suppress them militarily. This containment strategy was not unique to the Oberiske Empire; other continental nations adopted similar approaches after establishing footholds in the Middle Continent.

While Ostar could comprehend the rationale behind his father's policies, he did not endorse Emperor Augustus's approach. He understood it, but he did not agree with it.

Ostar had plans to settle in the Middle Continent for the long haul. If it failed to prosper, he would face a host of complications back home. For example, his maternal grandparents would undoubtedly send envoys to coax him into returning and claiming his inheritance as the heir to the throne and the papacy.

Should the port be sealed off, Ostar had his own strategies to circumvent the blockade. He would simply bypass Magyr Pier, avoiding tariffs and commercial taxes altogether, and dismiss any restrictions. Ostar intended to blaze a new trail by smuggling directly, seeking out an appropriate dock or constructing a new port if necessary.

He entrusted the transportation of goods to the Pirate Queen Liana and Belrose, whom he had previously encountered. They would lead their pirate crews, using the fleet to carve out new ventures by smuggling goods into the Bloomfield Territory. Given the Middle Continent's tumultuous state, pirate-led smuggling would make it challenging to identify the true masterminds. Once the action plan was set, the next step was selecting a site for the new dock.

Finding a suitable location for a new pier wasn't a challenge. Led by Gonias, Ostar and his group visited the second Nolan Tias tribe, the Twin Tribe, located along the coastline. With a population of around six thousand, the Twin Tribe's domain spanned a vast stretch of the coast. Fishing was the tribe's primary sustenance, and this archetypal seaside community had little concern for food scarcity.

In terms of strength, the Underground Tribe paled in comparison to the Twin Tribe, which could be considered their "little brother." The population difference was about sixfold, with the Twin Tribe's residences being wooden structures built from the readily available coconut trees along the coastal beaches. These homes were a significant upgrade from the Underground Tribe's simple thatch huts. For the Twin Tribe, ripe coconuts from these trees served as their second-largest food source after fishing, and harvesting them was far easier than collecting fruits like blood fruit.

Upon reaching the Twin Tribe, Ostar stepped down from the carriage and took in the surroundings with a keen eye. The expansive beach and the pristine beauty of the blue sea and sky rivaled even the Maldives back on Earth. With just a touch of development, this place had the potential to be a prime tourist hotspot. The coastline was dotted with numerous islands that, once developed, could rival the allure of coral islands.

The Twin Tribe's members dressed in garments made from fish skins and wielded slightly more advanced weapons and tools, many of which were fashioned from fish bones, although most were still made of stone.

Perhaps due to prolonged exposure to the sun on the beach, the skin of the Twin Tribe members, while still of the Nolandias race, was somewhat darker and lacked the ivory whiteness characteristic of their kin.

The tribe gathered around the visitor, their initial wariness subsiding once they recognized the guide as their leader, the White Witch Gonias.

"Gonias, surely the chief of the Twin Tribe isn't actually two people, is it?"

"Lord Ostar, how did you guess? Indeed, the chieftains here are twin sisters, and they can be quite difficult. However, they'll heed your commands if they recognize your strength."

Gonias, still somewhat astonished, went on to brief Ostar about the Twin Tribe's current state. The tribe thrived on the bounty of the sea, living without concern for food or clothing. Ostar's previous intentions to encourage crop cultivation would likely find no traction here; the tribe had no shortage of food and saw no need to take up farming when there was no necessity.

The Twin Tribe lived in a state of unease. Situated in the Marianath Beach area, their location was geographically advantageous, perfect for constructing a harbor and benefitting from convenient maritime transportation. Yet, militarily, they found themselves in the unenviable position of being sandwiched between enemies, unable to break the deadlock of being assailed from both front and rear.

Looming behind the Twin Tribe, in the mountainous region beyond Marianath Beach, was the formidable Hidden Treasure Tribe, which effectively blocked any chance of the Twin Tribe's expansion. The Hidden Treasure Tribe, also of the Nolan Tias people, boasted some of the finest equipment and military might, rendering the Twin Tribe powerless in comparison. Not even the Twin Tribe's female leader could best her counterpart from the Hidden Treasure Tribe.

To the front, the Twin Tribe faced another challenge: the sea islands' ownership did not belong to them but was under the control of the Holy Ruin Elf Tribe, who were part of the Lornos Beer people. During the intense conflicts among the original tribes of the Bloomfield Region, the Holy Ruin Elf Tribe, unable to withstand the severe losses of war, retreated. Following their defeat, the female leader led her people to the sea, claiming an island as their new refuge.

Although the Holy Ruin Elf Tribe's combat prowess paled in comparison to that of the Hidden Treasure Tribe, the Twin Tribe's lack of shipbuilding knowledge meant they could only gaze helplessly at their adversaries from afar. The local fishery resources were abundant, akin to those vital migration routes in Earth's oceans, where one could catch plenty of fish just from the shore, eliminating the need for venturing out on wooden boats. As a result, the Twin Tribe's shipbuilding skills never evolved, to the point where they couldn't even construct a simple raft.

Feeling squeezed between two rival tribes, it was natural for the Twin Tribe to harbor some resentment. Ostar could potentially leverage this sentiment to initiate a conversation. With survival no longer an immediate concern, the topic of how to develop the tribe and extend its sphere of influence would likely pique the interest of the Twin Tribe's female leader.

"Lord Ostar, please exercise caution during your upcoming meeting. It would be wise to stay close to the sisters for support. The pair are known for their fondness of pranks, so should any mischief occur, kindly refrain from taking offense."