Zanzibar Island.
More than a month after the East African government demanded that Zanzibar abolish slavery, a group of unexpected visitors arrived at the Zanzibar royal palace once again.
A steam merchant ship flying the British flag docked at Zanzibar Island. The crowds on shore found nothing strange about it; Zanzibar Island's location meant that merchant ships from nearly every country sailing the Indian Ocean might appear here. Of course, that had been before the Suez Canal opened. Now, the vast majority of ships took the Suez Canal route.
Yet the Zanzibaris had not forgotten the grand sight of merchant ships from every nation docking at Zanzibar in the past, so the appearance of a British merchant ship was not particularly abrupt.
Once the merchant ship had docked, a group of people disembarked. They had not come for trade or supplies, however, and headed directly for the port administration office.
"Are you an official of the Sultanate of Zanzibar?"
"Yes, I am Amani, the person in charge of the port."
"Good. I am a special envoy of the Great British Empire, here to visit your Sultan. Please inform him."
Upon hearing the visitors' purpose, the Zanzibar official did not dare delay. "Sir, please wait a moment." After saying this, he turned and gave several instructions to his subordinates, then took a carriage to the royal palace to report the matter.
"Hello, I am Akaram, deputy manager of the Port of Zanzibar. May I ask how to address you, sir?" Akaram, who had remained behind to receive the British envoy, asked politely.
Edward ignored the Zanzibar official. He looked around at the state of Zanzibar Port. Because the Sultanate of Zanzibar handled East African trade, it had not declined after the opening of the Suez Canal and remained prosperous. People thronged