Splash!
The hull lurched violently, nearly sending Viscount Louis sprawling across the deck. He glared at the merchant vessel passing them with a look of pure loathing. Damn these low-born merchants, he cursed under his breath.
Viscount Louis was the envoy sent by the Fourth Prince, Liam, to invite Lucas to Liberty City. However, in his mind, it wasn't an invitation—it was an order. He found it insulting that a Viscount like himself was sent to fetch a mere baron.
He had sucked up to the Fourth Prince to get into his inner circle, and yet here the Prince was, placing such importance on a backwater baron. It grated on his nerves. Furthermore, Count George had pulled him aside before he left, handing him a pouch of gold and a specific instruction: Humiliate that little baron. Don't give him a shred of respect.
For a few dozen gold coins, Louis was more than happy to oblige. He didn't think a provincial baron would dare to defy a nobleman coming in the name of a Prince.
"My Lord, Sedona City port is just ahead," A sailor said, pointing toward a forest of masts shimmering on the horizon. There were so many ships docked there that they looked like a dense thicket of trees.
"Oh? Finally," Louis said, a smirk crossing his face. He had been on this boat for days and felt like he was starting to grow mold.
"The stories were true... the port of Sedona is incredibly prosperous," The sailor remarked in awe.
"Hmph!" Louis sneered. "Prosperous or not, it will all belong to the Fourth Prince soon enough."
He wondered why Viscounts Kevin and Scott hadn't sent any word back. Had they failed to secure the perfume formula and were too embarrassed to report in? He planned to give them a thorough tongue-lashing when he arrived.
"Whoa!"
"Look at all those ships! There are more here than at the royal capital's docks!"
"Is it true this place has only been developing for a year? It's incredible."
"Look! There's a bridge across the river!"
The sailors were in an uproar. Louis found himself speechless as he stared at the floating wooden bridge spanning the water, teeming with pedestrians.
The harbor was a cacophony of shouting managers and straining laborers:
"Watch it, you idiots! That cargo is worth more than your lives!"
"Move it! Get those linen crates onto the deck, now!"
"We're out of fodder? Go buy more! Do you want the horses to starve?"
"There must be at least five hundred ships here," Louis murmured, his eyes glinting with greed. Just how much money does Lucas make? No wonder the Fourth Prince wanted him summoned. This place was a literal gold mine.
"Wait, look at that ship!"
"My god... is that a fifty-meter galleon?"
"Look over there—there's another one! And a third!"
"Is this a royal fleet from another kingdom?"
Louis followed their gaze and saw three massive ships looming over the medium and small vessels like giants. He immediately cast Count George's request to insult Lucas aside; he decided it would be better to extort the man instead. A baron this rich would surely pay a fortune to keep a Viscount happy.
"Look! Another bunch of country bumpkins have arrived!"
"Hahaha! Look at their eyes popping out of their heads. Hilarious!"
The sailors on the neighboring ships mocked Louis's crew. Louis's face turned scarlet with rage. He snapped at his men, "Stop staring like idiots! You're embarrassing me! Get us to the dock!"
"Yes, sir!"
The crew steered the boat toward the massive fifty-meter ships, hoping to dock in the open water nearby to get a better look at the giants.
"WARNING! WARNING! YOU ARE ENTERING A NAVAL PORT. CEASE YOUR ADVANCE IMMEDIATELY!"
A booming voice echoed across the water. Louis looked up and saw a seven-meter-tall watchtower standing at the edge of the port. Five or six soldiers stood atop it, one of them shouting through a megaphone.
"WARNING! WARNING! NAVAL PORT AHEAD. DO NOT PROCEED!"
The directness of the order infuriated Louis.
"Keep going!" Louis roared to his crew. He turned toward the tower and made a provocative, insulting gesture. "I don't believe they'd actually dare to do anything to a nobleman!"
"FINAL WARNING!" The soldier on the tower shouted, his voice turning cold. "YOU ARE IN A MILITARY EXCLUSION ZONE. CEASE ADVANCE OR WE WILL COMMENCE A MILITARY STRIKE."
The soldiers on the tower had seen curious merchants before, but usually, a second warning was enough to turn them back. This ship had ignored three and was now openly taunting them.
"Captain, they aren't stopping. They're still coming in," A soldier said, his face grim.
"Crank the winch!" The Captain commanded. "Fire a warning bolt across their bow!"
The soldiers tore the linen cover off the massive weapon and began spinning the winches, locking a heavy, spear-like bolt into the groove.
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