Chapter 645

"Some people were detained?"

Paul felt a trace of unease well up inside him.

Glan spoke in a much quieter voice, filled with remorse. "We visited Goatmen Harbor on the southern continent and resupplied there. At first, the harbor officials were very friendly and provided us with a great deal of assistance."

"However, just as we had finished resupplying and were leaving the harbor, they suddenly attacked us in sail-powered galleys. We chose to fight back with cannons and managed to shake off their galleys, but unfortunately, one tugboat that we failed to retrieve was seized by the Goatmen. Eight crew members were taken captive."

Glan stopped speaking. The hall fell utterly silent. No one had expected such depressing news to emerge from what was supposed to be a banquet welcoming the returning heroes of the expedition.

Paul was the one who broke the silence. His expression remained calm. "Great undertakings are always accompanied by sacrifice. It cannot be avoided. Stanford's Northern Exploration Fleet was the same. Half of them were killed or wounded by disease in the Far North. As long as they sacrificed themselves for an upright cause, they would be remembered by us forever."

"Lord Greiman!" Glan said. "I believe it is too early to speak of their sacrifice. My crew members may have merely been captured by the Goatmen and enslaved. According to the information I obtained from the Minotaur tribes on the northern continent, the Goatmen Kingdoms in the south seem to have been especially enthusiastic about capturing slaves in the north lately."

"Ah, they're still alive?" Paul's eyebrows jumped. "In any case, that's good news."

"Lord Greiman, if they are still alive, I believe it is my duty to rescue them. I hope that, once we are fully prepared, I can lead the fleet