The Hungry Fortress Wants to Build a Battleship in Another World – World of Sandbox

Which is to say—
Baron Gachilad Grand had just insulted the royalty of a foreign nation—specifically, a woman who formally holds the rank of Duke—by calling her a little girl.
Because diplomatic relations had not yet been concluded, there was no treaty or law this directly violated.
However, if a foreign state were to fling the same words at a Kingdom of Lepuitari diplomatic mission, it would not end as a mere “diplomatic issue.”
On grounds of lèse-majesté, being killed on the spot would leave no room to complain.
Well, they could complain—but afterward {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} it would be deemed a declaration of war, and hostilities would be inevitable.
In fact, throughout diplomatic history, such casus belli abounded, a matter every high official of the Kingdom of Lepuitari knew perfectly well.
Silence fell over the room.
“By your laws, the rule is that aboard a vessel carrying diplomats—and within a warship—the law of the flag state applies. Is that correct?”
“Th—that…!”
“That understanding is not mistaken, Lady Drei,”
said Navy Lieutenant Commander Deck Estainka, face stiff, to the flustered Army Colonel Gachilad Grand.
If the counterpart were a minor state, they could have browbeaten this into a diplomatic muddle.
But that kind of threat, when the balance of power behind it does not reach the other side, will not pass as an excuse.
“As I said a moment ago, this is an informal meeting, and we see no necessity to stir up trouble indiscriminately. So long as you conduct yourselves properly in public, there is no particular problem.
That said, even by your navy’s own regulations, captains of large ships are colonel-class, and fleet commanders are rear admiral or above. You are Army, Colonel; perhaps you were unaware.”
It was a savage piece of sarcasm.
Unspoken was the point that even without mentioning peerage, Drei outranked him.
Naturally, Colonel Gachilad Grand could not possibly be ignorant of that. He was the classic small fry who adjusted his attitude meticulously to the other party’s status.
His animus toward the navy, his pointlessly high pride, and the counterpart’s appearance as a tender young girl had merely warped his judgment.
Called out on it, Colonel Gachilad Grand flushed scarlet and fell silent.
Had he been able to apologize here, what followed might have been different.
“…Now then. I must apologize to you three from the navy. In our country, flaunting one’s status is considered shameful. Therefore, I had only conveyed my position as fleet leader.
Accordingly, there is no need to change your conduct going forward. Let us begin today’s discussion.”
When the insulted party says as much, the Lepuitari side can only nod.
The highest-ranking person present was Colonel Gachilad Grand. If he would not apologize, a lieutenant commander or a major could hardly apologize in his place; and once asked to commence, they had no choice but to end that part of the matter and proceed.
“Now, the issue at hand is tariffs. Have you, in the end, reached an internal conclusion?”
“…I will answer for the moment. As of now, debate over abolishing tariffs remains at an impasse. We have conveyed your other conditions, and there is some acceptance of tariff reductions. But when it comes to complete abolition, entrenched resistance remains strong…”
“W—wait, wait! Tariff abolition! What are you thinking!”

No sooner had they broached tariffs—the biggest agenda item—than Colonel Gachilad Grand wedged himself in.
“Have you not been briefed on our prior meetings? In trade with us, tariffs are not acceptable; we have requested that each time.”
“T—tariffs not acceptable? You mean you are actually discussing such a thing! Lieutenant Commander Estainka, this is treason!”
“…Colonel, this is the principal point of contention with Paraiso, and I have already recorded in my report that we must search for a compromise.”
“I know nothing of it! I was not told! Such a discussion cannot possibly pass! You litt—… L—Lady Drei as well, do you imagine such an absurd demand could be granted! Abolishing tariffs amounts to a blatant interference in our domestic affairs!”
That, certainly.
In ordinary interstate commerce, zero tariffs are unheard of. Except where a nation has extreme confidence in its industries, establishing tariffs to protect domestic production is common sense.
They were well aware of that.
Even so—and with force as the backdrop—Paraiso was demanding it.
Naturally, it was the same unequal-treaty imposition the Kingdom of Lepuitari had heaped upon weaker states time and again.
“We are not asking for unconditional abolition. We have said we will cap the annual volume of transactions so as to minimize impact on you. Naturally, the volume would be reviewed each year. From an industry-protection standpoint, there is no particular problem.”
“I—industry protection! Are you saying our industries are inferior to yours!”
He knocked his chair over as he sprang up, slammed a fist onto the table, and shouted.
“D—don’t be ridiculous! Is that an insult to our nation! A—and the navy is seriously considering the prattle of a little girl like this…!”
It was beyond discourteous.
Were they his direct subordinates, they might have dragged their superior down and contained the scene.
But Colonel Gachilad Grand was Army, and Lieutenant Commander Deck Estainka belonged to the Navy.
An insult to the Royal Family, a verbal attack on a Duke—and both directed at the diplomatic mission of another nation.
Under domestic law, out. As a diplomatic matter, out. Under Paraiso’s national law (concocted by Ringo), also out.
The three from the navy had written him off.
As the navy, they had no intention of shielding this colonel, whatever befell him.
Observing their disposition, the local Strategic AI also rendered judgment.
“Don’t push your luck, Colonel Grand.”
Drei raised her right hand and snapped her fingers—snap.
In the same instant, the forward vertical elevator’s upper deck popped up, and from within it the Multi-legged Tank MLT-E-04 emerged.
With agility belying its bulk, it sprinted straight to the venue and seized Colonel Gachilad Grand in its manipulators.
“Guh—agh…!”
Staring down his nose at him was the upper turret’s gun muzzle of the Multi-legged Tank, leveled squarely.
Being a railgun, it would not have been a familiar type of muzzle to him.
But that did not make it any less a vicious weapon.
He was, however imperfectly, a commissioned officer of the Army.
He understood, to the point of nausea, what artillery could do.
“……!”
The three from the navy had tumbled from their chairs. There had been no physical shock, but the sight of that giant mass charging straight at them had blown their wits away.
In stark contrast, the Paraiso girls did not so much as twitch.
Including the bodyguards waiting behind them, not a face changed; no one moved.
“Regrettably, we are compelled to show force.”
Drei pronounced sentence.
“Our fleet maintains ground-combat power as well. If you wish it, we are not averse to demonstrating that power.”
Overall length 6 m; walking top speed 65 km/h; wheel-running top speed 110 km/h.
Upper rotating turret: one railgun, one coaxial Gatling gun, one grenade launcher.
Lower rotating turret: one Gatling gun.
Two missile launchers; one anti-air laser gun.
A newly developed Multi-legged Tank designed for embarkation on Hedgehog-Class destroyers and Panas-Class cruisers.
It shortened overall length to reduce weight, enabling shipboard carriage.
With floats built in, it also excelled in maritime maneuvering. Buoyancy control allowed submergence; compared to prior models, its underwater adaptability was higher.
Nickname: Hopper.
As the name implies, its jumping performance was exceptionally high.
“Colonel Grand will take his leave. An insult to our Royal Household is identical in meaning to an insult to Paraiso. Regrettably, we will be recording today’s proceedings.
Once was forgiven; there will not be a second time.
Etch that upon your hearts.”
“G—gaaah! W—what are you—!”
Still gripping the colonel, the Multi-legged Tank Hopper paced across the deck with an organic, fluid motion and approached the ship’s side.
“N—no way—hey, stop, sto—ooOOOOOO—!”
It thrust its manipulator outward and released Colonel Grand.
The Army colonel surrendered to gravity and, flailing hands and feet, plunged into the sea.
A scream.
A splash.
“Given today, we are in no condition to hold a meeting. Let’s resume as usual tomorrow.
It was an unhappy encounter, but the person himself has received a commensurate penalty.
Today’s events will not affect subsequent negotiations—but there will not be a second time.”
“Y—yes… agreed. We are grateful for your magnanimity…!”
“Adding personnel is acceptable, but I would ask that you take care with your selections.”
And so, shoulders slumped by an incident too much to swallow, the three naval officers headed back to shore.