Port Invasion

The sky was blanketed with dark clouds deep into the night, hiding the moon and stars completely as a curtain of darkness covered all of Lion Harbor.

Only the lighthouse in the dock district still burned fiercely, guiding ships in the distant waters.

Following its light, a fleet approached the harbor. The dutiful Port Staff on watch noticed them and immediately sent out a small boat to inspect them.

The small boat drew up alongside the lead vessel. By regulation, they had to check the newcomers' harbor permits and get a general idea of what cargo they carried. Once the ships docked, more personnel would board to conduct a thorough inspection and collect taxes based on the type and value of the cargo.

"Jess! Is that Jess?" someone suddenly shouted down at the small boat from the lead vessel.

"Martin, is that you?"

"Haha, it's me! I recognized you from your figure at a glance. I asked, and sure enough, it was you. My permit is still valid—you remember!" the man aboard the fleet continued shouting at the small boat.

On the Port Staff's small boat, one of them asked the colleague whom the man aboard had called Jess, "Do we still need to board and inspect them?"

Jess shook his head. "No need. Martin is a regular here, and he's right. Their permits are still valid. Let them enter the harbor. We can inspect them carefully once they've docked."

The Port Staff's small boat guided the fleet's five large vessels into Lion Harbor, bringing them gradually closer to the docks amid the sound of waves crashing against them.

A squad was already waiting in formation on the docks. Though the fleet had valid harbor permits, not a single inspection procedure could be skipped. Especially during this tense period, Lion