Chapter 61
"We're trying to build a new port right now!"
In the courtyard of Radick's mansion, Al's voice rang out. The men of Merka Island whom Captain Maurice had gathered were assembled before him as he delivered his impassioned speech.
Al sprayed even more spittle as he stood atop the wooden crate serving as a podium.
"This port will be the first one owned by the Kingdom of Lionel! Goods from throughout the kingdom will gather there, and goods from all over the world will come as well. The port we're building will become the heart of the kingdom!"
Al clenched his fist tightly.
"We're looking for workers right now. Anyone who chooses to move here will be given a house for free. Those coming as migrant workers are welcome, too! Now, you can choose whatever job you want, and we'll pay generously! Come work with us!"
Al's clenched fist was raised high. Yet not a single cheer or round of applause answered his speech. His voice echoed hollowly, then faded away.
"Uh... um..."
The complete lack of response seemed to have taken even Al by surprise, and his normally lively brows drooped.
"Are we done here?"
A scruffy bearded man standing at the very front asked indifferently. A sword-slash scar ran beneath his beard, and his exposed arm bore the marks of an arrow wound.
"We only gathered out of respect for Maurice-san, but if you're finished, we'll be leaving."
The bearded man's words prompted the gathered people to start leaving.
"Wait, wait. What's not to your liking? The pay? If that's the problem, we can be flexible..."
Al tried to stop the islanders as they left, but the men kept walking.
I could do nothing but sigh.
Al's speech hadn't been all that bad. His words had passion, and his voice carried well. The pay was above the going rate. Above all, this was a good offer for the people of Merka Island.
The fact that so many men had gathered in the middle of the day meant that Merka Island had no work and nothing for them to do during the daytime. Judging by how thin the children were, food was in short supply as well. Our offer to arrange work should have been welcome to them. Yet no one was willing to support us.
"Hey, wait a second."
Al called after the bearded man who had spoken earlier. The man turned around, distrust and anger in his eyes.
"You lot are just like those others. No matter how much blood we shed, you'll only use us when it's convenient for you."
The bearded man glared at us. No, it wasn't only him. The men behind him were also glaring at us with cold, hostile looks.
Looking closely at the men's bodies, I saw that every one of them bore scars. I had heard that all the men on Merka Island had fought together to oppose the Demon King's army. They were survivors who had fought their way through the war against the Demon King's army.
Al could not bring himself to call them back again, so he turned and looked at me.
"Captain Romelia..."
There was none of Al's usual vigor in his voice.
"I'm sorry, young lady."
Captain Maurice walked over and bowed his head.
"It seems the islanders don't want to leave the island..."
"No, thank you for gathering everyone."
I thanked Captain Maurice as he scratched his head. Our recruitment effort had failed, but we had learned how the islanders felt. I decided to count that as today's achievement.
"What should we do, Captain Romelia? Should we try offering them more pay?"
"No, let's not. What we lack is their trust."
I closed my eyes and shook my head at Al.
Even I hadn't expected them to have such a poor impression of us.
The people of Merka Island had taken the initiative in fighting the Demon King's army and shed more blood than anyone. Yet they had been betrayed by the coastal nations and were now suffering greatly. The Kingdom of Lionel had not been involved in that betrayal. But to the people of Merka Island, we were probably all just mainlanders.
"They probably think that even if they help with the port project, we'll cast them aside once it gets on track."
I was disappointed, but all we could do was give up for the day.
Just as I decided that we needed to think of another approach and start over, Paula-san, who had been silently watching, suddenly sprang forward and cried out.
"Wait! Please! Everyone!"
Paula-san's voice stopped the people who were on their way out. The islanders turned around, directing several gazes toward her. Paula-san pleaded with trembling eyes.
"I've heard about what was done to all of you. It's only natural that you don't trust us. But Romelia-sama is different. Romelia-sama is working to save many people, and she would never treat any of you as disposable."
Paula-san's earnest words halted the men's steps for only a moment. The men of Merka Island left without a word.
Paula-san lowered her shoulders dejectedly. Then laughter rang out. When I looked toward the sound, I saw a woman about my age standing there.
Her hair, topped with a black tricorn, rippled like red flames. Large black eyes shone in her sun-browned face. A short white bodice covered her tawny skin, leaving her ample cleavage and stomach almost entirely exposed. A long red cloak hung over her bare shoulders, and a sword rested at her slender waist.
For a woman, she looked remarkably bold and dashing. Several children followed behind her.
"It's no use, no use. Nobody's going to listen to a word you say."
As the woman laughed, Captain Maurice's normally gentle expression transformed completely.
"Hey! Mary! That's rude to our guests!"
"That has nothing to do with me. More importantly, I have no intention of playing along with Father's little performance, either."
When Mary-san retorted, Captain Maurice grimaced. Beside me, Al tilted his head, wondering what she meant by a performance.
"I'm sorry, young lady. This is my daughter, Mary."
Captain Maurice glared at Mary-san, then bowed to me.
"I don't care about Father. More importantly, you're Romelia, right? Let me tell you one thing: nobody's going to trust you. We were deceived by mainlanders. You say you'll deal with us as equals, but nobody believes such promises. Nobody."
Mary-san pointed at me and Paula-san. After saying everything she wanted to say, she turned on her heel as if she had no further business with us. The children behind her trailed after her.
"I'm sorry, young lady. I can't imagine who she takes after, but she's quite the tomboy. Lately, she's been taking the island's children with her and sailing ships all over the place."
I turned from the bowing Captain Maurice and watched Mary-san's retreating back. Several children trailed after her. Every so often, they looked back and glared at us with eyes as sharp as blades.
"Those children lost their fathers in the war against the Demon King's army. Their mothers leave for other islands to work and feed their children, but once they get there, people take advantage of them and force them to do nothing but backbreaking work. Many of them ruin their health and die, leaving their children behind..."
Captain Maurice's voice was weak.
I now understood another reason the people of Merka Island were reluctant to leave the island for work. The islanders could no longer trust outsiders.
As I narrowed my eyes and watched the children, a child with tangled blond hair stopped walking.
The child looked about ten and wore filthy boys' clothes. The long hair suggested a girl, but it was so tangled that I couldn't tell when it had last been combed.
The girl stopped and slowly turned around. When I saw her face, I caught my breath. A large burn scar marred it. Hatred burned in the eye visible through the raw, scarred flesh.
As I stood frozen as if pinned by her stare, the scarred girl gave an uninterested snort. Then she turned on her heel and walked away.
"...What should we do now, Captain Romelia?"
Al's expression was grim as well. The divide between us and the people of Merka Island was far greater than expected. Bridging it would not be easy. We would have to take our time and earn their trust.
"Let's rejoin Ray and the others."
I urged those around me onward. Ray and the others should have been recruiting migrant workers at the tavern by the harbor, with Rebecca-san speaking to the women she had gathered. But given how things had gone here, their efforts probably had not met with much success either.
We needed to regroup and start over.