[Ship Gang] and Harbor Town

Harbor Town lay to the east of the Secas Empire and was famous for its proximity to the vast Sea of Mists.

Due to the effects brought by Moon Day, the enormous whirlpool known as the Eye of Death had temporarily subsided, allowing countless merchant ships laden with spices and ore to travel by sea directly to Victnil, the capital of the Secas Empire.

This was also the port's busiest time of year.

However, this year was somewhat different. In order to capture the Demon's Followers who had infiltrated Nordland Territory and caused chaos, an extra checkpoint had been set up at Harbor Town's entrance. Passing caravans had no choice but to form long lines and submit to inspection amid a chorus of complaints.

"There shouldn't be a problem, right?" Lynn, disguised as Lott, felt somewhat uneasy. He continuously adjusted his voice, trying to keep it consistent with the sounds of struggling and shouting he had heard during last night's rescue.

This was not particularly difficult to do.

The essence of sound was merely the vibration of the eardrum caused when a source's waves traveled through a medium such as air and reached the ear. 071 had already recorded Lott's vocal characteristics; all he needed to do was imitate them.

Now came the test of his nerve...

With mixed emotions, Lynn walked past the long line of merchant caravans as naturally as possible. After entering the checkpoint, he did not slow down. He merely nodded at the guards before striding into Harbor Town.

The soldiers stationed there hesitated for a moment, but none dared to stop him.

"Who was that person who just passed through?" Priest Adrian, stationed beside the gate, noticed Lynn's departing figure and asked with a frown.

"That was Lord Lott, Baron Pedrol's son..." the guard answered truthfully.

After thinking for a moment, Adrian immediately recalled him. In recent years, Baron Pedrol had made no small number of donations to the church in order to ensure that Lott could pass the Knight Assessment, so Adrian had some impression of him.

On the other side, Lynn, having successfully entered Harbor Town, was already drenched in cold sweat. The moment he passed through the checkpoint, he had even prepared himself to fight. Fortunately, everything had gone just as he expected.

His current identity was that of the legitimate son of a hereditary baron. It might not amount to much throughout Nordland Territory, but in the small town of Harbor Town, it could still provide a great many conveniences.

Having passed the hardest hurdle, Lynn finally relaxed a little. Yet his unfamiliarity with Harbor Town soon gave him another headache. He had no choice but to spend a great deal of time wandering back and forth through the port, silently committing every location to memory while pretending to be thoroughly familiar with the place.

It was not until noon, after making the rounds again and again, that Lynn cautiously entered a shop marked with a circular emblem.

If he had not mistaken it, this was the symbol of the [Ship Gang] under Lame Laud.

The owner of the harbor shop was an elderly halfling. When Lynn stepped through the door, he was busy moving a large barrel of heavy yellow-black ore to the other side of the room.

However, because he was so short, the heavy iron barrel was pressed tightly against the halfling's face. It swayed constantly as he walked, and the small fragments of ore piled on top were quickly shaken loose.

Seeing this, Lynn stepped forward to lend a hand, and the two of them moved the barrel of ore into a corner together.

"Thank you so much... customer!" The elderly halfling spoke with a heavy nasal tone. He vigorously wiped his dust-covered hands on his trousers, then turned to Lynn and said, "All right, let's get down to business. Welcome to Bill's little shop... no, I mean... what can I do for you, Lord Lott?"

Once he saw Lynn's face clearly, the halfling Bill's casual attitude immediately turned obsequious.

He practically flew to the counter and pulled several exquisitely decorated boxes from a drawer. Inside were red and blue gemstones.

"You may take a look at these. They're all the finest goods of the year... And there's an entire shipload of premium spices, rare treasures you can't buy anywhere else..." Bill introduced them endlessly.

Lynn, however, waved his hand with little interest and interrupted him. "I didn't come here to buy anything. On the contrary, I have a batch of precious goods that I want transported across the Sea of Mists to Victnil."

"I heard that you have the ability to arrange a ship for a long voyage and ensure the safety of the goods. Is that right?" Lynn asked tentatively.

"Of course! Everyone in Harbor Town knows the name of the [Ship Gang]. Even those stinking pirates would never dare intercept our ships!" Bill said, raising his scruffy beard as he patted his chest in assurance.

"However, chartering an entire ship to transport goods requires a great many crewmen and guards..." Bill cautiously watched Lynn's reaction, ready to set the price according to his expression. This was an excellent chance to make a fortune.

"Money isn't a problem!" Lynn threw out the bait without hesitation. Then, amid Bill's ecstatic expression, he changed the subject. "But this shipment is extremely important. I need to meet Laud personally. It would be best to discuss it face-to-face!"

Bill's expression immediately became hesitant.

"What? Do you think I'm not qualified to meet Lame Laud?" Lynn frowned, and his tone grew heavier.

"No, no, no." Bill shook his head frantically. He did not dare say such a thing.

After hesitating for a moment, Bill looked around before carefully saying, "Actually, very few people in the entire [Ship Gang] know this, but Mr. Laud isn't currently in Harbor Town."

"What a coincidence?" Lynn paused noticeably and scrutinized the halfling before him, suspecting that he was being brushed off. He asked again, "Do you know what he went to do?"

Bill smacked his lips and said helplessly, "I don't know. In previous years, Mr. Laud would stay at the port around Moon Day, but this year truly is an exception..."

Lynn stared at the halfling for a long while before suddenly speaking. "Forget it. Since Mr. Laud isn't here, I'll find someone else to help me."

The elderly halfling immediately became anxious. "Lord Lott, why not reconsider? Although Mr. Laud isn't in Harbor Town at the moment, I can help you contact Labul. He is Mr. Laud's most capable subordinate and can handle all affairs of the Ship Gang on his behalf..."

"I believe I already said that this shipment is extremely valuable. I need to speak with Laud personally. Notify me when he returns." Lynn ignored Bill, who was still calling after him, and walked out of the shop without pausing.

Outside, dozens of enormous sailing ships were docked along the flat pier. Dockworkers dressed in gray busily carried crates filled with goods from the decks onto wooden rafts beside the docks. The clamor of the crowd and the shouts of overseers never ceased.

Lynn looked over the bustling scene of Harbor Town, his heart filled with doubts.

These days were the port's busiest period. According to Joanne, the sea route to the Land of Wizards would also open briefly. This was the only opportunity each year to transport goods to the Land of Wizards.

If anything went wrong, decades of accumulated effort would go up in smoke. At such a critical moment, Laud should never have left...

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