Paul was stunned by what was inside the wooden crate.
It turned out to be an entire crate of gold coins. Their dazzling shine nearly blinded his titanium alloy dog eyes.
"Uh... can someone explain to me what's going on?"
Could Quirk have gone back to his old ways at sea and pulled off a few big jobs? "Er... my lord, these were sent by His Majesty the Grand Duke of Eton. We didn't dare handle them without authorization, so we left the decision to you."
The more Paul heard, the more confused he became. "Why would the Eton Grand Duke send you a crate of gold coins?"
This was an entire crate of gold coins. In most countries, including Aldo, people talked about money in terms of gold coins, but that was merely for convenience. In reality, commoners were forbidden from using gold coins. Among non-nobles, the most valuable currency in circulation was the silver coin.
Gold was simply too precious in this era. Even when minted into gold coins, it was mixed with other metals.
Laddie stood up nearby.
"My lord, the Eton Grand Duchess and I encountered a pack of wolves in the forest. Captain Quirk led his men to rescue us, so the Eton Grand Duke sent this crate of gold coins as an expression of gratitude. Half the coins are for you, my lord, and the other half are for everyone aboard the Southern."
"The Eton Grand Duchess? With you? How did you two come to know each other?"
"I studied with Her Highness Helen, the Grand Duchess, in the past. She was technically my senior. When I arrived in Niceburg, the capital of the Horn Bay Alliance, she happened to be visiting the alliance with her husband, so I went to see her."
Paul