In the waters outside Franklin Harbor, the "Hope" is performing patrol missions.
After Quirk served as the captain of the "South", the captain of the "Hope" was changed to Yarman. Captain Yarman was very excited to be able to command this warship with great military achievements.
The "Hope" has not been in service for a long time, and it has not been damaged in previous battles with pirates. It is almost a new ship.
Now Captain Yarman is on the deck carefully inspecting the deck after the sailors wiped it.
He walked from one end of the deck to the other wearing only a pair of white socks without shoes.
After walking back and forth several times, the captain took off his socks and found that the soles of the socks were still as white as before. He nodded with satisfaction.
Yarman announced loudly, "Today's deck cleaning work is over."
The sailors around him breathed a sigh of relief and packed up their buckets, brushes, mops and other cleaning tools.
"Captain, there's a situation!"
The lookout on the mast suddenly shouted.
Everyone on the ship immediately went on alert, and the gunners ran to their stations to deal with emergencies.
Yarman shouted to the lookout, "What did you see?"
"A ship, a suspicious ship is heading towards us. It's not a civilian ship, it's a Sailing Ship."
Someone on the deck asked, "We should be the only ones patrolling at this time. Could it be... could it be the South?"
So far, the only Sailing Ship they know of is Arda Navy.
The Telescope, which was held up by the lookout hand, has not yet been put down, and it has been staring at the suspicious ship in the distance.
"I don't know if it's the Nanfang. I can't see clearly yet."
There were sailors on the deck who didn't take the lookout's words seriously.
"Really, who else could it be besides the Nanfang? It's too cautious."
"Shut up!"
Yarman scolded the sailor severely, which scared him so much that he immediately stood up and waited for the captain's next reprimand.
"The cost of carelessness may be the life of the entire ship. I don't want to hear such careless words again in the future, do you hear me?"
The captain's roar was like thunder.
The sailor put his right foot on his left foot and answered loudly, "Yes, Captain!"
Yarman immediately issued an order, "The artillery crews are in position, helmsman, seize the windward direction!"
As the two ships got closer, both sides finally saw each other clearly.
"It's the Nanfang, it's really the Nanfang!"
The lookout's voice was full of surprise. He saw clearly the flag flying on the mast of the ship in the distance - Flying Dragon Flag of the Greiman Family.
A burst of cheers immediately erupted from the deck of the Hope.
"Helmsman, move closer to the South! I really miss that bastard Quirk."
Yarman Captain happily issued a new order.
"We're home!"
The deck of the Southern was filled with excited shouting.
Today is December 25th, and it will be the new year in a few days. The Nanfang set sail on November 11th, and after nearly a month and a half of sailing, it finally returned to Northwest Bay.
But it was a pity that they finally failed to arrive at Northwest Bay before Advent Day. In order to rush for time and not miss the New Year again, all the staff had to spend a very memorable day at sea.
They also spotted the Hope patrolling in the distance.
Since most of the people on board the Southern had served on the Hope, seeing it was like seeing their own brothers. Signal Soldier on both sides communicated endlessly with Flag Language through Telescope, and other sailors asked Signal Soldier to convey their greetings.
"Everyone is very excited to see things in their hometown."
Shelah looked at the cheering sailors all over the deck and couldn't help but sigh.
"Yes, after all, no matter how nice the place is, it is not as important as the place where you were born and raised."
Her daughter, Female Advisor Laddie, responded to her mother somewhat sadly.
"Mom, do you blame me for letting you follow me and leave your hometown?"
Shelah smiled and shook her head. She reached out and stroked her daughter's long hair.
"Stop saying some incomprehensible things. Didn't I say it before? Our home is where you and I are."
"Thank you, Mom."
Female Advisor was a little choked, Shelah hurriedly took out a handkerchief to help her wipe away the tears from the corners of her eyes.
"It will make people laugh if they see it."
The Nanfang and the Hope finally met, and both sides could hear each other's calls through the loudspeakers.
"Quirk! You bastard are you still alive?"
"Yarman! I'm feeling very well, but you haven't even entered the shark's belly yet."
The captains on both sides personally held the loudspeaker and greeted each other.
People in both boats burst into laughter, and the sea was filled with happy sounds.
Then the Hope and the Nanfang sailed towards Franklin Harbor one after the other.
"Congratulations, Captain Quirk! You have finally completed the task assigned to you by the lord."
Shelah came to Quirk and congratulated the captain.
After being on the ship for so many days, she also inquired about everything about Arda Earl Territory.
This ship named "South" is responsible for opening up a new route and preparing for the future large-scale maritime trade between Northwest Bay and Jiaowan. It seems that the earl named Paul Greiman is someone who is working hard to manage.
"Haha, we are all happy together, Mrs. Setia. From now on, you can also live with Miss Laddie, avoiding the pain of separation of flesh and blood."
"Yes, this child used to be an adventurer and often never returned home. Now he has finally settled down. Although he is in a strange place, it is better than not seeing anyone for a long time."
Quirk became a little hesitant, seeming to be thinking about something.
Mrs. Setia saw his expression and asked, "Has the captain thought of asking me anything?"
"Uh... I do have a question in my heart. But I don't know how to express it."
"Haha, Captain, if you have anything to say, just say it."
Quirk made up his mind and said in a low voice, "Mrs. Setia, to be honest, I used to be a pirate. Later, I was captured by Earl Greiman. Thanks to his mercy, he allowed me to make meritorious service for my crime, so I joined the navy and became a captain."
"So, I am relatively familiar with pirates, so... so..."
"Haha, you want to ask about the tattoo on my arm, right?"
Shelah rolled up the sleeves on his arms halfway, revealing a symbol on his arms - a strange skull.
"Uh... yes, although the shape is a bit strange, the skull is a common symbol of pirates, and judging from the way you went to look for Miss Laddie in the forest north of Niceburg at night, you don't look like an ordinary housewife."
"The captain is observing very carefully."
Shelah smiled and said openly, "Indeed, I used to be a pirate."