Far-Sail Port, naval base
"My lord, this is the Wavebreaker, twenty-five meters long, with a cargo capacity of five hundred tons."
"This is the Mistcloud, thirty meters long, with a cargo capacity of six hundred tons."
"This is the Sea Song, twenty-five meters long, with a cargo capacity of five hundred tons."
Listening to the introductions one after another, Romon withdrew his gaze from the fleet at the military dock and smiled faintly.
"I heard battleships are the strongest now?"
"Yes, my lord. Battleships are the strongest vessels at present, with a cargo capacity of two thousand tons. The Taresa Kingdom has reportedly built three of them already. That is a terrifying expense even for the Taresa Kingdom—the annual income of its entire treasury does not exceed nine hundred thousand gold coins, while a single battleship costs one hundred and fifty thousand gold coins."
"Hmph, that costs more than an ordinary Mage Tower." Romon shook his head. The Mage Tower he had built had ultimately cost twenty thousand gold coins, including the expenses for later furnishing.
"Yes, my lord, but it is said that every part of the hull is magically reinforced, making the wooden body as hard as iron and stone. It is also equipped with magical cannons, and a single ship takes two years to build." Shakat spoke with feeling. For a captain, commanding such a vessel was the pinnacle.
"We can't afford to maintain such a ship, nor should we." Romon paused, then said with a trace of teasing, "If I were a Count, perhaps I could keep a battleship."
Even for a Count, that would have been a mad idea.
"Yes, my lord!" Shakat replied, watching Romon.
At this moment, twenty cavalrymen in leather armor stood around Romon, leading their horses. Among them were several crossbowmen.