Jerome's words sent Roy into deep thought.
He knew this was unavoidable. Trying to intercept every merchant ship trafficking Half-Elves was nearly impossible.
There were many routes marked on the sea chart.
Even after entering the Mensa Strait, Imperial Merchants could still choose from several routes.
The room grew somewhat quiet. Woods also walked over to Roy's side and studied the sea chart on the table.
Jerome looked at the sea chart spread across the table and said to Roy:
"We know that the tribal orcs have never truly possessed naval power."
He pointed at a vast stretch of sea on the chart and continued:
"This area of sea has actually always been controlled by the Gray Dwarves."
"At present, its true rulers should be the Northern Army Fleet, the largest military force the Gray Dwarves have in Durag."
"Although they lack the courage to face the Dark Legion on Durag's Knee, they are extremely ruthless toward the Naga Sea Clan and Imperial Merchants. The Naga Sea Clan has been forced to migrate into the deep sea, while Imperial Merchants can only pay a certain transit fee to pass through the last stretch of the Frozen Sea."
"They failed to stop the Dark Legion's invasion and lost most of their territory on Durag's Knee. They have been entrenched on several islands off the West Coast of Durag's Knee, surviving mainly by plundering the Naga Sea Clan of the Endless Sea and human merchant ships."
"Before we took control of the Kui Island Sea, Gray Dwarf Three-Masted Sailboats could sail south from Durag's Knee all the way to Galuo Island in the Seven Realms Sea. The islands and waters around this route were all controlled by Gray Dwarf Bandits."
"In fact, the Gray Dwarves in the Kui Island Sea no longer