How to Survive in the Roanoke Colony-Chapter 172: Royal License (1)

"Yes, I've gathered all the French merchants. However..."

"Please tell everyone. Regardless of their individual destinations, they must definitely go to Le Havre with our ships."

"...What? But some have just arrived and started trading?"

"Still, that would be safer. Isn't it better to wait a few months for those who arrived early than to lose everything to pirates?"

"That's... true."

Hearing my words, Manteo nodded and called out to the merchants gathered at the port. When commotion arose, Manteo handed them an appropriate amount of chips to ease their concerns.

"Don't worry! This is for your safety during travel! One of our ships will depart, so please follow that ship to Le Havre!"

Le Havre is a port city located at the mouth of the Seine River, treated as an important French port serving as a gateway connecting Paris and the Atlantic Ocean via waterways.

In other words.

"We are going to Paris! We are going to Paris to meet His Majesty the King of France!"

We are going to Paris.

And Oitotan, who heard Manteo's announcement, turned to look at me with wide eyes. He seems surprised because I suddenly called him to the port and now we're crossing the Atlantic.

"Didn't we go to London last time to meet the Queen of England? This will be similar."

"But I won't be able to speak the language of those people. Will that be alright?"

"They will know English, so don't worry. I can't send Englishmen or Spaniards, so I'd appreciate if Oitotan could help us again this time."

"I-I am honored to serve our community, but what should I do when I get there?"

==

Henri IV of the Bourbon dynasty, famous for his legendary promise to provide chicken to all citizens every Sunday.

And his trusted advisor Marquis de Rosny (later Duke of Sully) Maximilien de Béthune, who led France's tax reforms.

The two would go down in history as a great king and minister who rebuilt a kingdom devastated by long wars...

"Why, why aren't they coming? Why?"

And right now, that Henri IV was trembling and pacing anxiously.

The Marquis de Rosny pointed out that his lord had already circled the table 164 times, but Henri wasn't listening. His mind was already in disarray.

"Why? Why haven't the merchant ships I sent to Virginia returned! Most of the ships I sent!"

"...That's indeed the question."

It had been months already.

For citizens of developed countries living in the 21st century, the "backwoods" typically refers to places without internet and telephone connections.

Places where you cannot communicate instantly with the outside world.

That is, isolated places.

That's why classic detective novels set in the 21st century all take place in "backwoods areas without internet," and when the "only telephone line" connecting that place to the outside world is cut due to heavy snow or other reasons, people start dying one by one.

"Is it really infested with pirates? Or did they collectively take the money and flee to another country? What in the..."

A place disconnected from the outside world is indeed optimized for killing people without being caught.

And in this era, the true backwoods would be islands in the vast sea or aboard ships.

Therefore, once people are sent off on ships, one usually cannot know whether they're alive or dead until they return on their own.

Perhaps never.

That fact struck the rightful and legitimate King of France, Henri IV, as a tragedy.

"Oh, Lord! Do you know how much wealth I've poured into that place? Do you know how much..."

Unable to bear watching Henri IV now even gesturing accusingly toward the heavens, the Marquis de Rosny spoke.

"Your Majesty, maintain your dignity. The ships that have returned already cover our losses and then some."

"That's easy for you to say since the ships you sent with your personal fortune returned! How can just covering losses in a business that should have yielded massive profits make any sense!"

"..."

"Oh, please. Lord..."

The Marquis de Rosny sighed and shook his head. A servant entered the room where the two were seated, then flinched at the half-crazed look in the king's eyes and stepped back.

"Y-Your Majesty? Forgive me, but I have something to tell you."

"What is it!"

"A-A ship has arrived..."

"A ship?"

At that moment, the king's face brightened. While the Marquis de Rosny was finally feeling relieved, the servant continued.

"It's a foreign ship..."

"..."

The king's face scowled again.

"It came from Virginia..."

"Is it an English merchant ship?"

The king's face brightened again.

"No, it's not that..."

"..."

The king's face crumpled again.

Unable to bear watching this farce, Maximilien de Béthune was about to dismiss the servant. Then the servant desperately called out.

"An envoy has been sent from Virginia with the ship! They're currently on their way to Paris!"

At that moment.

The servant observed that the king's face could shine brighter than the sun.

It was truly an astronomical discovery.

Anyway, after that news, Henri IV, seemingly having perfectly recovered his former dignity and (wealth and) decorum, diligently prepared day by day to welcome the envoy from Virginia.

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After several days passed.

"The honorable... sacred... member of the Virginia Assembly... Chief of the Chesapeake tribe... and representative of the great Your Majesty... Oitotan requests an audience with His Majesty the King of France."

A Native American speaking quite fluent English set foot in the Parisian court.

Henri had already collected all information about Virginia through England. He swallowed hard, knowing that this man Oitotan was the same one who had caused a commotion during his visit to London.

"It is an honor to meet an envoy from such a distant land. I hope my hospitality will satisfy you."

Yes. That man reportedly caused a major scandal by saying "you are poor" directly to Elizabeth's face. As such, Henri was careful in his treatment of Oitotan.

"No... it is. I am pleased... to be in this splendid palace."

Fortunately, Oitotan seemed to have gained a better understanding of European society, as he simply displayed courtesy without making any controversial statements.

With that, Henri IV and his courtiers were finally able to breathe easier inside.

"What brings you all the way here from such a distant place?"

So Henri asked with a gentle smile, and.

"Pirates."

With that single word, Henri's face nearly... collapsed again, but he barely maintained his composure.

However, the Marquis de Rosny could observe the king's hand trembling slightly.

"Pirates are raiding French ships entering our territory."

Oitotan continued his story in a more comfortable and rougher tone.

"Pirates are killing the French people."

"We are also aware of that fact, but regrettably we cannot respond..."

"You can."