August 20, 1027 of the New Calendar, Friday.
After more than two months of arduous sailing, the St. Margaret finally entered the harbor of Gladstone Fort in South Innis, on the New Continent.
Most colonies established in South Innis lay at river mouths and other vital transportation routes. Named after forts such as Dilan Fort and Darcy Fort, they stretched along the long coastline like a necklace of pearls.
Across this narrow strip of land, like a necklace, were immigrants from the Old Continent, plantations and mines of every size. South Innis's cocoa beans, black tea, spices, gold, silver, and ores were continuously shipped back to the Old Continent, sustaining the extravagant lives of high society and the nobility.
Native states, rebel armies, voodoo cults...
Conflicts of faith, ethnicity, race...
Wars born from all sorts of bizarre reasons played out on this continent every moment. Naturally, there were also colonists, adventurers, mysterious figures, witchcraft, heretical cults... as well as treasure and beautiful women, all combining into the New Continent's myth of adventure and wealth!
Aaron stood at the bow, gazing toward the harbor.
The others aboard had long been unable to contain their excitement at seeing land. They kept waving their hats and canes.
—Those who had never lived at sea for months on end could hardly understand such exhilaration.
"South Innis... we've finally arrived!"
Aaron let out a sigh.
"Yes... though South Innis is only what we call this continent. In truth... farther inland beyond the coast, there are all kinds of temple states, native states, warlords, rebel armies... There is no unified government at all. Our strength is only enough to barely hold this narrow coastline with the fleet. Once we organize troops to push into the interior, we have to worry that they may never return... This