How to Survive in the Roanoke Colony-Chapter 259: Government Ruled (2)

"...Carefully."

"Yes. Please investigate this matter."

"..."

"I’m counting on you, Manteo."

"Understood."

Manteo bowed his head deeply and had to leave without accomplishing anything.

"M-Mr. Manteo! Right now outside...!"

And, as if on cue, a problem immediately erupts.

"So... what happened?"

When Nemo asked, Oitotan answered:

"Well, that knight friend is from the Muscogee tribe. He’s originally from a village slightly north of Florida."

"I see."

"While walking, he encountered someone. That’s this friend."

Oitotan pointed at two men with his finger as he spoke.

"And, the Muscogee knight apparently asked this friend in Spanish where he lived and how he came here. Just out of boredom. So..."

"Please get to the conclusion."

"That knight friend tried to kill this friend."

"...Please explain the process again as well."

According to Oitotan’s explanation, the situation was as follows:

Muscogee Knight A met American B who lived in this area and started talking to him, during which he learned B’s tribal origin.

The Apalachee tribe.

A tribe that was Spain’s ally and that drove the Muscogee from their land while serving as mercenaries at Spain’s request.

Upon hearing this, A said to B...

"He requested a trial by combat in the name of knightly honor and the Lord."

"What?"

"Yes."

"Uh... what?"

"Yes."

"..."

A European-style trial by combat requested by a Native American to another Native American.

After imagining that scene, Manteo and Nemo shook their heads vigorously to clear the bizarre image, then returned their attention to Oitotan’s story.

"Anyway, I stopped that friend."

"Well done. That knight obsession..."

"I told him it makes no sense to challenge someone who isn’t armed and isn’t a knight to a duel on knightly honor."

Manteo sighed as he saw Nemo’s expression hardening unpleasantly.

"...Nemo, it seems the conflict I mentioned has finally surfaced."

"..."

"..."

"What should we do about this?"

When Manteo asked, Nemo’s pupils began to rotate fiercely. He blinked several times, glared at the idiot who requested the duel or whatever, and...

"For issues like this, we need to seek advice from an expert."

Said with a sigh.

"Let’s go to Raleigh."

==

"...That’s the situation. What should we do?"

For a moment, a strange thought flashed through Raleigh’s mind after hearing the circumstances from Nemo.

’Divide and rule.’

’If one side disappears, there’s no conflict.’

...

...

...

...He wasn’t sure why such thoughts suddenly came to mind. It was as if the voice of a colonialist and imperialist flowing in his blood had spoken that way.

Anyway, Raleigh quickly shook his head to clear the sudden intrusive thoughts and answered:

"That’s troublesome."

"Yes, very troublesome indeed."

Nemo replied with a sigh to Raleigh’s words.

"First, when I spoke with various people forming the government-like entity in Florida... most people wanted to join us."

To Raleigh, that was obvious. The possibility of Florida surviving alone against the mighty fleet and military power of the Spanish Empire was virtually non-existent.

Even without such practical reasons, if they had witnessed a ’miracle’...

How could they not be absorbed into Nemo’s sphere of influence?

Thinking this, Raleigh nodded, and Nemo continued:

"But if they join us and form a government with us, what should we do going forward? It won’t be easy to reconcile conflicts like ’back then.’"

That’s true.

The reason we were able to mediate and resolve conflicts between the Catawba tribe, the Tutelo tribe, and other tribes was partly because Nemo calmed them by burning his own body...

But the fact that they were all tired from hunger and had entrusted themselves to the community also played a major role.

But what about the natives of Florida?

"They don’t particularly want anything from us. No, they’re not even interested in our existence. We’re talking about incorporating such people into our community."

"...That’s right."

"And that’s the crucial point."

Moreover, the largest population group in Florida is precisely those natives. Not the liberated African slaves or Spaniards who formed the government and decided to join the community.

Raleigh pointed to the North American map before him and circled the areas near Virginia and Florida.

"When two separate groups of similar weight become one, there are several methods of governance. First, we incorporate them into our government."

"..."

"Then how many ’representatives’ would emerge from their tribes? And without a moment of reconciliation like before, conflicts will inevitably arise."

Perhaps that conflict could paralyze and destroy the government.

So the first option won’t work.

"Is there a second option?"

"Of course, Manteo. The second is to dispatch a governor."

Dispatching a governor.

Just as England does to Ireland.

"In this case, there’s less room for conflict within the same government, which is convenient. But there are still drawbacks."

"I think I understand. Those unilaterally ruled through a governor would resist."

"No. That’s a relatively minor issue."

"Hmm?"

Nemo, who immediately thought of the Japanese Governor-General upon hearing the word ’governor,’ tilted his head. Raleigh continued his explanation:

"What if... either the governor or one of the various figures constituting the government accompanying the governor... harbors resentment toward the natives of the Florida region? What if he beats one of them to death?"

We couldn’t assume such incidents wouldn’t happen. We had just barely prevented something similar from occurring.

"It would be over. Virginia and Florida would become eternal enemies."

"..."

"..."

"...Is there a third option?"

"Yes! Of course there is. It’s the most stable but trickiest method. Let them establish a separate government."

"..."

"Let them handle their internal affairs themselves, and we just help."

"Then..."

"However, we shouldn’t let them form a government like ours."

"Hmm? Why not?"

"Well, because we are..."

Too democratic.

At Raleigh’s words, Nemo tilted his head, not understanding.

Raleigh continued his explanation.

Think about it. The majority of their population consists of natives who were Spain’s allies.

Wouldn’t it be difficult for our government to maintain friendly relations with a government dominated by them?

Who knows? Perhaps war could break out again.

"..."

So, as we move toward a federal system... it might not be bad to try forming this type of government in Florida.

"What kind of government do you mean?"

To Nemo’s question, Raleigh smiled, leaned forward, and said:

A government ruled by trustworthy people.

For example...

That ’priest.’

Or that ’bishop.’

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