Paradise Island

The Windbreaker was approaching what was clearly not the main harbor, but a cargo dock specially planned for small and medium-sized merchant ships.

Ian watched with great interest as Captain Homan directed the lowering and furling of the sails, secured the rigging, then glided toward the pier, dropped anchor, cast the lines, and worked with the dockhands to haul the cables tight until the sailing ship was fully secured at its berth.

He would definitely have a ship of his own someday, and it had to be a large one. Learning in advance was a good thing.

Once the ship was moored, the First Mate shouted at the restless crew and began arranging the watch shifts.

In truth, most sailors were not allowed ashore alone. They had to be taken out in batches by senior crew members, who kept watch over one another. They were not permitted to move about freely while ashore, and were generally forbidden from staying out overnight.

Casually going to a tavern or some special establishment where one could "have a good time" was a privilege reserved for higher-ranking crew members.

Anyone who understood where these sailors came from and how they were treated would know such measures were necessary.

Sailors in this era came from many sources: prisoners captured in naval battles, purchased slave crewmen, men exchanged with other ships, men tricked aboard, even deserters from warships. There was no shortage of them, though naturally there were free citizens as well.

Their treatment was naturally far from good, and their living conditions were exceedingly harsh. Withholding wages, or even deliberately refusing to pay them, was commonplace.

Adventure ships, hunting ships, and pirate ships all had systems for dividing spoils, but how those systems were carried out ultimately depended on the captain's conscience.

That was why sailors running away was nothing unusual. If they were allowed off the ship freely, half of them might vanish outright.

Even being allowed out in supervised batches for some fun was enough to make the sailors immensely happy.

Ian was wondering whether he should go say goodbye to Captain Homan when he turned and saw the captain walking over.

"I was just thinking of saying goodbye to you, Captain Homan."

The moment he reached shore, Captain Homan seemed visibly more relaxed.

"Paradise Port is a city that never sleeps. I'm sure it won't disappoint Mr. Trist."

"I need to meet with the person in charge of Hansa Trading Company. I'm sorry I can't see you off."

"After the Windbreaker unloads its cargo, she'll weigh anchor for the repair yard at Moon Bay to the North to fix the ship's damage. If Mr. Trist needs anything, you can find me there."

Captain Homan spoke to Ian with a trace of apology.

"Thank you for looking after me along the way, Captain Homan. I hope we meet again."

"Oh, right. I'd like Milta to serve as my guide for the time being. Would that be all right?"

"No problem. As long as I can help you."

Ian bid Captain Homan farewell, took his money pouch and short sword, and leaped onto the pier in a few strides.

Milta stood waiting by the ship with a small pack on his back.

"Let's go. Find the best inn, change clothes, then have a good meal."

"Sir, they say the best inn is on Central Avenue, but I've never been there. The best inn around this dock is that tallest stone building over there. It's called Breath of the Ocean, and they say it belongs to the Whaling Group."

Milta excitedly pointed at a brightly lit, six-story white stone building roughly thirty meters tall.

"That one, then."

Ian and Milta walked ahead, while the dozen or so slaves who had just gained their freedom trailed behind them at a cautious distance. They did not dare approach rashly, yet wanted some sense of security in this unfamiliar place.

He called Milta over and gave him a few instructions. Milta nodded and walked toward the crowd behind them, while Ian waited where he was.

When they saw Milta approaching, the crowd stirred slightly.

Milta stepped forward, ignored their reactions, and began talking to himself about where the cheapest nearby inns were, where rooms could be rented, where the most affordable Black Bread could be bought, where work could be found, and so on.

At the end, he emphasized Mr. Trist's kindness, then turned and ran back before they could react.

Ian felt that Milta did not look down on those slaves. It seemed more like he was simply socially anxious.

The place Ian was going was certainly somewhere those people could not go. He had merely asked Milta to provide them with some useful information. It cost him nothing.

The white stone building was not close, perhaps two or three li away. It only seemed especially conspicuous because the surrounding buildings were low and mostly wooden.

Along the way, Milta continuously introduced the surrounding streets and shops. Ian kept his spirituality restrained and remained silent, merely observing and memorizing information useful to himself.

Most of Paradise Port's buildings were wooden, with the occasional stone building or structure made of other materials. Though the buildings varied in height, age, and condition, it was clear that they had undergone some basic planning, with distinct roads and simple drainage ditches.

But the sanitary conditions were truly unbearable. Though the roads had received basic paving, they remained muddy, at least near this dock. Waves of fishy stench, rot, and the smell of excrement drifted over, souring the mood.

Fortunately, once Ian and Milta turned onto the main road where the stone building stood, the sanitation improved noticeably, and the road became a relatively clean gravel path.

During the walk, Ian had already sensed several fluctuations of spirituality, some of them quite strong.

None of them bothered concealing their spirituality. Perhaps in the Sea of Miracles, that was a necessary way to avoid trouble.

Trying to play the pig to eat the tiger could easily turn one into the pig being slaughtered. After all, an Extraordinary Sequence could not move mountains or drain seas. Low-sequence individuals were no match for a hundred men, nor could they withstand deadly poison and ambushes.

After some thought, Ian stopped concealing his own spirituality as well, lest unnecessary trouble arise.

The white stone building looked magnificent from afar, and it was indeed magnificent up close.

The entire structure was built from large blocks of creamy white stone, left unadorned. The building itself was a rough, boxy mass with a flat roof, and every floor was at least five meters high.

Its simplicity carried a crude, savage style. The entrance was a plain arched doorway, with an enormous stone slab set above it. Carved into it in Eastern Continent Common Tongue were the words: "Breath of the Ocean."

Ian led the somewhat restrained Milta through the entrance, and the wind chime above the door rang out with a ding-ding.

It was Magic Equipment specially designed to detect fluctuations of spirituality. When it rang, it meant an honored guest had arrived.

"Welcome, honored guests—"

A waiter in gray shirt and trousers with a black vest hurried toward Ian.

The first-floor hall was spacious and divided into several areas. Several enormous notice boards hung to the left of the entrance, while the restaurant occupied the right side, bustling with people and constant movement.

A counter stood beside the restaurant, facing sideways toward the entrance. Farther inside, the hall had been divided into more private dining areas.

"This way, sir. Will you be staying with us, or dining?"

"Both. I'm staying and eating."

"We have shared dormitories, multi-person rooms, single rooms, and luxury suites where you may stay with your family and servants."

Ian chose a superior single room on the fifth floor. It cost two Small Silver Coins a day—more than seven gold coins a year. The prices were absolute shit.

Ian paid for a week's lodging in advance.

"Room 509. Please follow me."

Ian had Milta wait downstairs while he took the key and followed the waiter up to inspect the room first. It was fairly spacious, with a large bed, writing desk, dining table, and chairs. In one corner was a partitioned privy that the attendants cleaned regularly.

Overall, he was quite satisfied.