How to Survive in the Roanoke Colony-Chapter 115: Conversion (2)

Residents' tent living is coming to an end, and internal conflicts have been temporarily reconciled...

Now I need to fill in what's lacking.

"Walter, could you ask Queen Elizabeth if it's alright to bring more blacksmiths?"

"Of course. As long as they're not cannon makers, Her Majesty the Queen will approve of any number."

Expanding Roanoke's ironworks and blacksmith shops.

More resources are circulated.

==

Paulo, who had recovered from his injury, went into seclusion again.

He still couldn't forget that situation.

"Are you alright?"

That single phrase, echoing endlessly in his mother and father's language from that distant Africa and in Spanish... that memory.

'...Is it a devil?'

He looked too benevolent to be a devil...

No. Get a grip.

Devils originally change their appearance freely to tempt humans.

They don't appear as ugly and dreadful figures but as beautiful and sweet ones, pretending to be God's messengers to lure and deceive humans.

They clearly do good deeds, liberate slaves without compensation, distribute land and housing without any payment, but surely some evil plan is hidden somewhere...!

As Paulo got up, steeling his resolve...

"...Wait. But then how do you distinguish between devils and angels?"

"What?"

"If they pretend to be good, do good deeds, don't do anything particularly bad, and even liberate slaves, isn't that an angel?"

"..."

"..."

'That's logical?'

He faces a rebuttal.

After pondering for a moment, Paulo finally thinks of a counterargument.

"...They are not Catholics! This is the devil's trick to bewitch people with the teachings of a false church, as can be seen here!"

"Is... that so?"

"...Probably."

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"..."

"..."

The number of spies Spain dispatched to Virginia was exactly 25.

Currently, 5 people have gathered here.

It's obvious what the remaining 20 are thinking, but even the 5 gathered here are wavering like this.

Paulo was also beginning to realize that something was going wrong when...

Knock knock.

"W-what is it?"

Slam!

"Is Paulo Ramirez here? The one who hurt his head in the football match."

"...I'm here."

"Nemo was worried and sent gifts. Please accept them."

The items he received in confusion were...

Shine Muscat grapes.

Cast iron pots and various equipment.

Various furniture.

And...

"Al, alumi... alum..."

A small piece of aluminum.

"Take the aluminum to Raleigh later to exchange it for other items."

Slam.

The door closed again.

"..."

"..."

"..."

Silence fell.

And so the last remaining Spanish spies converted to the Nemo faction.

It wasn't just them.

Numerous indigenous people began to open their eyes to 'wealth' while enjoying all sorts of luxury goods.

==

Give them houses—sturdy timber-framed dwellings with thatched roofs and stone chimneys that stand resilient against the harsh Virginia winters. Provide various items to decorate their houses: hand-carved oak furniture from England, colorful woven tapestries to brighten their walls, pewter plates and copper cookware that gleam in the firelight, glass windows that let in precious sunlight. For now, the residents' economic difficulties have been resolved, creating an atmosphere of cautious prosperity throughout the settlement.

It was thanks to actively moving English merchants who seized the opportunity to transport resources while there was no threat from Spain's naval forces. These enterprising traders, with their swift caravels and sturdy galleons, established regular shipping routes between Bristol, London, and Jamestown, ensuring a steady flow of goods and materials despite the treacherous Atlantic crossing.

As a result, in Virginia, where the food problem has been somewhat resolved through improved farming techniques and trade with neighboring Native tribes, various spices—cinnamon, nutmeg, and pepper from the East Indies—metal goods like iron tools and brass fittings, and luxury items such as fine English textiles, French wines, and Dutch ceramics are circulating everywhere from the governor's mansion to the humble craftsman's workshop.

Of course, the plan to distribute these luxury goods as compensation for labor or barter, thereby boosting work motivation while increasing luxury goods to send to England...

"It's a deficit again..."

"Even when selling Shine Muscat and wine?"

"Yes. Shine Muscat was only introduced a few years ago, right? The trend hasn't died down, but as people have become somewhat familiar with it, they're not as willing to pay easily."

It failed.

Tsk.

It seems the problem was expanding the ironworks and blacksmith shops significantly because of the tractors.

The cost of bringing new iron specialists and foundry workers from England was much higher than expected.

'Well, it's a country at war... so the value of blacksmiths can only rise.'

Because of that, the amount of gold and silver we've accumulated is gradually decreasing.

No matter what, we always had a small surplus in trade with England...

Moreover, due to the recent mass migration of natives, it has also become difficult to obtain furs or jewels.

The original gift trade network completely collapsed, and its members flocked to us.

Occasionally, some natives go hunting and bring back foxes and such, but that alone is far from enough to meet demand.

In the end...

Is there no other way than 'that method'?

I called Walter and Vicente and whispered back and forth.

Then their faces brightened.

"Just leave it to us. We can handle this splendidly!"

"They already recognize you as the great chief, don't they? We'll get moving right away!"

"This time, trade should be central. As gifts, we should give a little surplus food, aluminum, and PC plates that we have in excess..."

"Of course!"

While England's early North American colonies had populations of hundreds, most of France's early North American settlements had only about 10 people.

When establishing colonies, the English separated themselves from the natives and built fences, while the French were deeply entwined with the natives.

Quite a significant difference.

And that difference stemmed from the different purposes for which the two countries managed colonies.

The English developed colonies to release their overflowing population and solve food burdens.

That's why they needed large farms and residential districts.

But the French were different. They wanted to trade in luxury goods like fur.

That's why they only needed small trading posts.

So while English colonies grew larger and expanded, French colonies moved in the direction of generating large profits with a small scale.

What we're trying to do now is, in other words...

"Nemo! We'll be back! We will definitely plant Virginia's flag in that land called 'Canada'!"

"...That's not necessary, just return safely."

'French-style' development.