How to Survive in the Roanoke Colony-Chapter 20: Exchange (1)

"So many... jewels..."

John White stroked a ruby crystal with his gloved hand while holding back tears.

He holds the blood-red ruby under the bright LED light. The blood-red ruby scatters brilliant flashes of light everywhere.

"How about it? Is this enough to attract more investment in this settlement?"

Asking while knowing the answer.

Some might call it manipulation, but the satisfaction is no joke.

John White shook his head vigorously and said.

"O-of course, Lord Nemo. This is more than enough to buy the livestock I mentioned."

"Is that so? Then would purchasing dairy cows be possible?"

"Of course! But it would be good to bring in horses and other useful livestock too. Like pack horses for farming..."

"Yes, but it would be good to focus on dairy cows."

"Hm? Ah, if that's the case. I'll remember it. 'Must bring in livestock focused on dairy cows...' Yes, I've written it down."

White put down his notebook and began focusing on admiring the jewels again, stimulating my dark satisfaction.

Anyway.

"Oh... good heavens. If this settlement just connects with England... tremendous wealth would pour in."

Brown wiped his tears with joy.

"Then with just one more thing solved, this settlement would have no problems."

"Well, that's right."

Wheat.

Add stability to the colony by growing food that can be preserved long-term.

Plus add economic independence to the colony by exporting surplus wheat.

When White's analysis was presented to others, everyone seemed to agree.

"Then as Lord Nemo says, we should provide friendship gifts to surrounding tribes while going to Chesapeake Bay."

"Yes, Mr. Hewet. That's why I plan to provide various items to Mr. White."

As I took out the whiteboard, Mr. Hewet wrote with the board marker. Shakespearean era English sentences are written quickly.

1). Send various luxury goods with John White to Chesapeake Bay.

2). Buy the favor of friendly tribes there with those luxury goods and purchase ownership of surrounding land.

3). Build a new settlement and endure until it's time to plant and harvest wheat.

4). Send harvested wheat to Croatoan, and export wheat etc. when contact with England is made.

5). Receive more investment to attract craftsmen and livestock and grow the colony.

"...That's the plan."

"Ah, right! We should also check on the rest of our colony's survivors who headed to Chesapeake Bay!"

The last words were added by Eleanor. At her words, Hewet wrote '3-1. Find missing English people' newly on the board.

Then everyone nodded in agreement... but only one person frowns.

"Find survivors? Tsk. That will be difficult?"

"Um... why, Mr. González?"

"It's not really important, but didn't we search Chesapeake Bay trying to kill you all?"

"..."

"..."

"..."

"When we looked then, Chesapeake Bay was almost empty. They might have fled inland after hearing rumors of our coming..."

"Then, we should divide roles."

Mr. Hewet spoke while splitting the list of the native-English expedition that John White would lead in half.

"One side focuses on building the settlement and growing wheat, while the other side searches around Chesapeake Bay. How about it?"

"We'll need interpreters, so take some of our tribe people, John White."

No one raised any objections.

And... um...

Rustle.

Russstle.

"..."

"..."

"..."

Everyone turns their heads toward me again. And they stay quiet focusing as if I'm about to say something important.

Why do they always... look at me with eyes expecting something amazing?

"...Mr. White."

"Y-yes?"

"Congratulations."

"..."

"Go to where you originally intended to go. Go and obtain what rightfully should be yours. I pray you will be able to fulfill your duty."

"..."

"..."

"..."

There, that was appropriate well-wishing right? Now let's wrap up and leave.

"Good work everyone. A voyage awaits in a few days, so rest early today."

Thus I left the meeting hall.

"Sniff, sob..."

"Daddy... don't cry..."

"Sniff, sob sob..."

...What is this?

Did I do something wrong?

==

John White, age 51, December 10, 1590.

Lord of Chesapeake Bay, acknowledged by the Lord's angel.

His lifelong dream just came true...!

White couldn't sleep properly that night. But even without sleep he was full of energy and his body felt refreshed.

Next they selected volunteers to board the Nautilus. Though White was a governor who had already experienced bitter failure, no one distrusted him this time.

Because he was the Lord-acknowledged ruler of Chesapeake...!

Once the crew was filled, preparations after that went smoothly.

Countless treasures came out of the 'treasure warehouse', and more grapes were loaded onto the ship in mysterious white boxes (which the angel called 'styrofoam') from the cold storage.

Thus holding new hope, John White climbed onto the sea again.

This time there was no personality-broken navigator to interfere. No patron to mock his failure, and no fear that he might have lost his entire family.

Just one thing.

The most uptodat𝓮 n𝒐vels are published on freёnovelkiss.com.

"...Lord Nemo, protect us."

Only true faith to believe and follow.

Thus the ship slowly... departed for Chesapeake Bay under everyone's farewell.

The voyage didn't take long either. After about two days, familiar scenery begins to appear beyond the Nautilus's railing.

Again stepping on the familiar sandbar of Chesapeake Bay.

Planting England's flag and Croatoan's grape vine flag there.

Around when everyone was building the first tents and huts while praying to God.

"...Huh? There's a ship coming!"

"Wh-what? What ship? Spanish?"

"No! It's an English flag! Seems to be a ship coming to help us! Haha!"

...Strange.

Wasn't John White himself definitely the last to send a relief fleet?

Moreover, Sir Raleigh was too squeezed to have any reason to send ships all the way here just to save one person.

Then why on earth...?

Who would send a ship here unless they were crazy...?

"Everyone grab muskets first. Whatever that ship is, we should check after arming ourselves."

At those words, natives and English all raise their guns. While dozens were tense, a not-too-large fast ship proudly enters Chesapeake Bay.

And.

"...Look, people! People!"

"They're English!"

With shouts from the ship, rope ladders come down and dozens of people were walking toward White while splashing seawater.

Among them was a face familiar to White.

"...Huh?"

"John White! I knew you were alive! I believed it, damn it! Your success! I! Never! Doubted it for a moment!"

"Calm yourself, Sir Raleigh! Everyone is watching!"

"Right! Is everyone watching? Does the Virginia colony still look failed? I'm asking if it looks failed!"

Ah...

That crazy bastard came.

"John! My old friend!"

"...Um, Sir Raleigh?"

Walter Raleigh ran to White while reeking of sea all over his body.

With the expression of someone who found 150 bitcoins they had playfully bought on a forgotten hard drive right before bankruptcy.

...Actually it made sense that he looked crazy.

Walter Raleigh was pushed to the brink of a Thames bungee show.

"Surely they must all be alive! If they're just alive, with our support they can surely make this strange continent into the Lord's land..."

"...You're scared, aren't you?"

"Very much."

"Do you think everyone's alive? What probability do you estimate?"

"Less than 10 percent."

It was a situation with 90% probability of bankruptcy waiting.

"The weather is too bad. If we go to Chesapeake Bay like this, the mast might break!"

Plus bad weather.

The rough waves around here could constantly torment the ship Sir Raleigh had worked hard to prepare. If they drifted, it would be all over.

"I'll... I'll cover all ship repair costs. I can cover it all. Okay?"

"..."

"Just go north once. Please... please just once..."

"..."

"You need to get paid too! At this rate I can't give you a penny! Not one!"

But he stubbornly overrode the captains' opinions.

They thought everything was finished watching half-mad Sir Raleigh running around the deck reciting prayers.

And at this moment.

"Ah, aah! Aaaah! White! I believed in you!"

Walter Raleigh was happy.

John White is alive.

Whatever happened, over there England's flag was flying, and over there several huts were built.

Though it was too shabby to call a colony, just them being alive was enough to satisfy him. Raleigh pounded White's shoulders almost like a half-mad person.