Dearborn

The Golden Route was a paradise for all kinds of adventurers.

Ever since the Great Navigation Era began, pirate ports had sprung up to match the pirates.

Some ports accepted only pirates, making them prime targets for the navies of every nation.

Others were known purely for their high degree of freedom. They kept a loose eye on pirates, but enforced strict law and order within the port.

To pirates, these were often the perfect places to fence their loot and unwind. And wherever pirates went, they brought an endless stream of wealth and immense business opportunities.

A peppercorn from the Spice Islands might be worth one Gold Galon, but pirates could sell it for two or three Silver Narl. Just like that, the profit doubled!

Lured by profits of a hundred percent, these private ports were able to thrive for generations.

For the sake of such enormous profits, the port owners could cozy up to any great noble family—or even the Royal Family—and gather powerful forces around themselves.

Even the navy dared not casually wipe out such ports, unless it was willing to make enemies of half the world!

"Port Dearborn!"

The Mockingbird towed the merchant ship as it slowly approached a port.

Fang Yuan raised his spyglass and spotted a fine harbor nestled between hills and water. Ships crowded around it, while rows of buildings undulated across the slopes.

"This is a private port owned by the Dearborn family. The first Viscount Dearborn was a great navigator. After retiring from the navy, he received this island as his fief and built Port Dearborn here. Nowadays, it's the family's greatest source of income!"

Bill eagerly filled Fang Yuan in. "Of course... that's just a story to fool the common folk. The Dearborn family is nothing but a front. The