Black Corporation: Joseon

Chapter 446

Episode 446 Seo Yi (??) comes to Joseon. (3)

The next morning, the interpreter came to visit Prince Henry.

“Did you rest comfortably?”

“You rested well.”

After hearing Henry’s answer, the interpreter informed him of the schedule.

“First of all, we prepared breakfast in the banquet hall. “It may be a little different from what you eat in your hometown, but I hope you enjoy the foreign flavor.”

“Thank you. By the way, I would like to have a meeting with the monarch of Joseon. Is it possible?”

The interpreter nodded and answered Henry’s question.

“Today, I advanced through the first Iron Horse (Ferrum Equss) episode. A reply will be sent as early as this evening or by the evening after tomorrow at the latest.”

“Iron horse?”

Henrik traced his memory to the strange yet familiar word ‘iron horse’. Henrik, who was tracing his memories like that, looked back at the interpreter with surprised eyes.

“I heard it through rumors from the Vatican. “The rumor said it was only in the capital?”

“Not long ago, railroad tracks were laid across the country.”

“Railway?”

“This is the path of the iron horse.”

“I see…”

Henrik nodded lightly and moved on.

“But that’s the thing. “I saw the lantern yesterday and it was amazing. I saw that it was only made of stones and water. Is that correct?”

The inn answered Henry’s question right away.

“ah! You’re talking about a lamp! The stone is called Tungseok. When it comes in contact with water, it emits gas, and when you collect that gas and ignite it, it becomes very bright. Thanks to that class, I saved myself the trouble of finding a candle.”

“It’s a fascinating stone. “This is my first time seeing such a stone.”

The interpreter responded to Henry’s words with a proud expression.

“It’s not a stone taken out of a mine. “It was made by His Majesty the Crown Prince.”

“Your Majesty the Crown Prince?”

“He is the first prince of our Joseon Dynasty and the next successor to the throne.”

The interpreter’s tone and face as he explained the scent were full of satisfaction and pride.

“Is that so? Okay. “I would like to be guided to the banquet hall.”

“yes.”

I knew the location because I had been there once yesterday, but Henrique asked for directions. It may seem pretentious, but it was a formality that had to be observed since one was wearing the sign of a prince. This was the same whether in the East or the West, so the interpreter naturally guided Henrique to the banquet hall.

After a light breakfast of soup full of exotic flavors – something Koreans call soup – Henry gathered his aides and the captain in his room.

“I’ve only been here for a day, but what did everyone think?”

“It’s beyond your imagination.”

Everyone gathered nodded at the words of Pedro, Henry’s closest associate.

Looking at the goods coming in through Alexandria, I expected it to be outstanding, but the reality was beyond my imagination.

Henrik, who nodded his head at Pedro’s words, asked a question again.

“Did you see the lanterns last night?”

“yes!”

“It was truly amazing!”

Everyone in attendance raised their voices at Henry’s comment. It was amazing to light a fire with just water and stones.

“At first I thought it was oil. But when I tasted what was in the jug, I was sure it was water.”

When Cristiano, the most curious person among his associates, shared his experience, several who had done similar work nodded.

Henrique, who was listening to the answers of his associates, got to the point.

“I asked the interpreter and he said it was not a natural stone. “I answered that it was made by the first prince of this country.”

“If it’s the first prince, what about those rumors?”

Henrik nodded to Pedro’s question.

“He is the prince of rumors.”

Pedro shook his head in response to Henrik’s answer.

“You were an alchemist and not a philosopher?”

“Couldn’t he be a wizard and not an alchemist?”

“If that stone was made, wouldn’t there be a Philosopher’s Stone in this country that has only been rumored?”

“Ah… Wasn’t the Philosopher’s Stone simply a product of fantasy?”

Henrik, who was watching his aides and the captain arguing, raised his hand.

“quiet.”

The aides and the captain immediately fell silent and looked at Henrik. Henrik, who gathered the attention of his subordinates, spoke his thoughts.

“Let’s stop talking nonsense like the ‘Philosopher’s Stone’ and just think about that stone. “If we could take that stone and sell it, wouldn’t we be able to make a big profit?”

“ah!”

“That’s right!”

Whether in the East or the West, candles were expensive items. In Europe, where meat was the staple food, candles were made using tallow (cow fat), but it was still an expensive product. In particular, candles made from beeswax obtained from honeycombs were extremely expensive.

Henrik continued speaking.

“According to the interpreter, that stone replaced the candle. That means you can get it in large quantities at a low price. “If we can distribute that stone properly, we can flatten the noses of Spain and France.”

Everyone in his entourage nodded strongly at Henry’s words. If the prince’s words were true, Portugal would be able to dominate the European night. If he could do that, he would be free from the situation he had been in.

“First, I requested a meeting with the monarch here through an interpreter.”

“I will prepare formal clothes.”

“I’ll see if I can find something suitable as a gift.”

Hearing Henry’s words, his associates found something to do on their own. As Henry looked at this, he remembered the people he had forgotten.

“wait! “Where are the monks?”

“They are in their room.”

“Monitor properly. “Considering that the Vatican is still in an uproar over the ‘First Prince’s Questions,’ the most dangerous people are those monks.”

“yes!”

The aides who received Henry’s orders moved diligently. Thanks to this, the monks were confined to their rooms, unable to even dream of going out to the city as they had initially planned.

The next evening, the interpreter brought good news to Henry.

“Your Majesty’s command has come. Two days later, a special episode will be prepared for the prince and his companions. You can take it and go to Hanseong. “His Majesty the Lord will speak with the prince in Hanseong.”

“It is truly something to be thankful for.”

* * *

Hanseong was also shocked by the news that ‘the Prince of Portugal has come to Joseon.’

“A prince of Portugal?”

“yes. According to the information Mansour brought, he is the uncle of the current King of Portugal.”

In response to Lee Maeng-gyun’s answer, King Sejong stroked his beard and was lost in thought. Hyang, who was located under the temple, had an embarrassed look on his face.

‘no! Why is this guy here? ‘For what reason!’

Hyang, who was sorting out her mind that had become a mess due to an unexpected event, soon reflected on herself.

‘Am I too excited? I was so upset….’

“Crown?”

In response to Sejong’s question, Hyang hurriedly gathered her thoughts and bowed her head.

“Yes Abama.”

“Why do you think the prince of a country, not even a nearby country, came all the way to Joseon?”

“It might be because of trade. “Isn’t there a considerable amount of volume that our shipbuilding company directly trades through Alexandria?”

Following Hyang’s words, Kim Jeom immediately responded.

“It is the same in Alexandria, but the amount distributed through Bengal to the surrounding areas of Cheonchuk and Osman is also significant.”

After listening to Kim Jeom’s additional explanation, King Sejong looked at the Hyang and the ministers and asked.

“Then it seems likely that Prince Henry wants a monopoly on trade?”

“Perhaps so.”

While most of the ministers were nodding, Hyang raised a rebuttal with a wry smile.

“If Prince Henry were in his right mind, he would never think of such a thing.”

“why?”

Hyang answered King Sejong’s question simply and clearly.

“Because it came with challenger-level fronts.”

“Hoo…”

Sejong immediately nodded as if he understood what Hyang said, and Jo Mal-saeng looked proud.

The front lines that broke the undefeated record every time they went back and forth between Alexandria and Chittagong were challenger level fronts. The report posted this time also had a record of the engagement attached, and of course it contained the following sentence: ‘No damage to pirates, no damage to friendly forces.’

“However, the country of Portugal also has an excellent navy, enough to return to Africa. “Aren’t we overconfident in our naval forces?”

Hyang confidently answered King Sejong’s question.

“It’s definitely not overconfidence. When making a small challenger-level wire, we designed it with the current situation in mind. The same goes for artillery!”

“It’s really nice to see your confidence.”

“That’s too much praise.”

Bowing her head at Sejong’s praise, Hyang muttered to herself.

‘The ship’s steam engine and propulsion system are almost complete! If you want to attack me, then attack me! If you get angry, I’ll build a space battleship, the Turtle Ship, and send it away! In a situation where only palm-sized wooden ships are floating around, if 100% iron ships are used, it becomes a space battleship!’

It was a scent that made Kim Jeom foam at the mouth and think he would faint when he heard it.

The atmosphere in Geunjeongjeon became more comfortable with Hyang’s confident reply, which had always shouted that people should be on the lookout for Seo-i.

“Anyway, since a prince from another country has come, it would be polite to have a meeting. Prime Minister.”

Hwang Hee responded immediately to King Sejong’s name.

“Yes, we will adjust the timetable and send the Iron Horse special flight.”

“He has come from far away, so treat him with respect.”

Hwang Hee immediately bowed her head at King Sejong’s meaningful words.

“I will pay special attention.”

“Please. Well, let’s leave the prince-related matter to this point. “Let’s move on to the next item.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

In response to King Sejong’s decision, the ministers diligently prepared the next agenda.

The officers sitting on one side of Geunjeongjeon diligently recorded these events and added comments.

-…So the king ordered that there should be no mistakes in dealing with the prince of Portugal, and the ministers obeyed the order.

The officer says:

The Seo-i, whom the Crown Prince had long mentioned as the subjects of greatest caution, have finally arrived in Joseon. However, from the top to the ministers, they are on guard but not afraid, so our Joseon Dynasty has become stronger.

By the way, I feel this every time I write down places and people in foreign places, but the sound quality is really good. As long as there is Jeongeum, there is no need to worry even if all the countries in the world flock to Joseon. Everyone attack! I’ll write it down!

“Officer! Are you teasing Geumpil for a long time again? Long story! “Be faithful to your main job!”

“I apologize, Your Majesty!”

* * *

The new agenda brought out by the ministers was about landlessness.

“There is a limit to the capacity that can be invested, so the first thing to decide is ‘Which direction will the exploration focus on?’”

Minister of National Defense Cho Mal-saeng, who can be said to be in charge of the department, began the meeting by introductory remarks like this.

Jo Mal-saeng walked in front of the map and continued speaking, pointing to the blank space on the map with his baton.

“Do you make full use of the capabilities of the challenger-level fronts that will be used for exploration and go south along the coastline, or do you secure a beachhead and then dig inland to the east? “We have to decide on this right now.”

No sooner had Jo Mal-saeng finished speaking than Hyang opened her mouth.

“We must move east.”

“why?”

In response to Sejong’s question, Hyang explained the reason.

“Some will move west just as we have gone east. “We need to secure as much as possible before then.”

‘We must at least obtain the resource zone called the Rust Belt!’