Paul explained to Yarvis why he wanted to establish the Academy of Social Sciences.
The Northwest Bay's overseas trade had expanded tremendously. While bringing in immense wealth, it had also led to an increasing number of conflicts due to differences in cultural backgrounds.
Experience was a valuable form of wealth. Merchants who had already paid the cost of learning and established mature channels were not very enthusiastic about teaching newcomers how to avoid potential losses.
They might fail to understand the consumption preferences of the locals or inadequately anticipate changes in the policies of the local rulers, leading them to make unprofitable deals.
Moreover, because they lacked an understanding of the locals' customs and cultural taboos, they might provoke conflicts. Not to mention doing business—even losing their lives as a result was possible. Local people's impressions of individual outsiders often extended to outsiders as a whole.
"We need to understand how the locals think and predict what decisions they might make, especially those in positions of power."
Paul explained to Yarvis somewhat helplessly, "We can't bring warships to the other party's port and intimidate them every time something happens."
Yarvis smiled. "So you've done that before?"
When he had been in Franklin Harbor, he had seen the Arda warships moored at the docks. Their majestic hulls had left a deep impression on Yarvis. By then, he already knew about cannons and their power, so he clearly understood what the densely packed gun ports on the Arda warships meant.
Imagine a warship the size of a castle, equipped with long-range weapons whose power and accuracy far exceeded those of ballistae. If just a few such ships anchored outside an enemy power's harbor, it would be practically the equivalent of placing a noose around the necks of those port cities.
"Ahem!" Paul