Chapter 153: Meeting

Chapter 153: Meeting

The smell of canned wolf-fish really was overpowering… Not only did it stink, it was nauseating… It was practically biochemical gas! Klein crouched in a corner and took more than ten seconds before finally returning to normal.

At that earlier instant, he had badly underestimated the odor of canned wolf-fish. He had failed to make the most effective response in time, either by using Paper Figurine Substitution on the spot or creating an invisible tube of air and pretending he was breathing underwater.

Now, he finally understood on a visceral level how wise the decision was to forbid opening canned wolf-fish in public!

Phew… Klein exhaled, slowly stood up, picked up his luggage, and walked step by step out of the docks.

His first impression of the city of Nas was that most of its buildings were white, with stone widely used as construction material. His second impression was that, although it was not located particularly far north, the weather was still quite cold. Even in April, the temperature hovered only around a few degrees Celsius. His third impression was that whaling houses were everywhere. Enormous white whales were being broken down inside them into hide, meat, fat, bone, and “gray amber.”

Of the latter two, one could be used for making the cage frames of banquet gowns, while the other was a top-grade spice. Whether used as incense or blended into perfume, both were luxuries only nobles and magnates could enjoy.

As for the hide, flesh, and fat of white whales, they had their own uses as well. They could be made into clothing, food, and oil respectively. In Nas, and throughout the Gargas Islands, the cooking of white whale had already developed into a distinct culture, with all sorts of techniques and famous restaurants.

Klein passed one whaling house after another. He saw masses of separated fat loaded onto cargo carriages and carried toward a nearby factory that was belching black smoke. It was a refinery with unmistakable Gargas characteristics. There, white whale fat would be rendered into whale oil, bottled or barreled, becoming excellent fuel and the lifeblood of certain industries.

Quite distinctive… Klein exhaled white mist and paused to watch for a while.

After leaving the port and entering the city proper, waves of noisy Feysac entered his ears.

Having mastered ancient Feysac, the source language of the Northern Continent, Klein was long familiar with the speech of the northern barbarians. Hearing the commotion, he turned his head and looked over, seeing one tall, fair-haired local after another carrying banners as they marched through the street.

The banner at the very front clearly stated their demand:

“Oppose the excessive hunting of white whales. We need sustainable development!”

Pfft… Klein nearly lost composure. He immediately believed there was a ninety-nine percent chance that the concept of “sustainable development” had been “invented” by Emperor Roselle.

His gaze shifted to the banners behind it, and he came to understand the purpose of the protest even more clearly:

“Hunt whales for survival, not for pleasure!”

“Humans are no nobler than white whales!”

“Greedy devils, leave Nas!”

At that moment, policemen in gray uniforms appeared, carrying shields, long forks, and clubs, blocking the protestors from advancing.

After a brief quarrel, the situation quickly grew intense.

Quite a few young people among the protestors hurled opened cans of wolf-fish and bottles of strong liquor stuffed with lit strips of cloth. The police no longer restrained themselves either. They pushed back with shields and struck out with clubs.

Klein pinched his nose, glanced at the flames burning in the street, and discovered that many passersby were wholly unmoved. Aside from a small number who stopped to watch, the rest continued toward their destinations as usual.

Looks like this happens often in Nas… Has every protest here evolved into a clash? As expected of the Feysac Empire…