The western sun had already sunk into the sea, leaving only a swath of red where sea and sky met. The monsoon blowing in from the water whipped up towering waves that crashed violently against the island's rocks.
A ship sailed across the sea when a shout rang out.
"Stop the ship! Inspection!"
An angry roar came from a patrol vessel.
A moment later, the huge merchant ship came to a halt. Shortly afterward, footsteps sounded in one of the ship's passageways.
The captain of the Patrol Unit assigned to inspect the merchant ship was walking and speaking with his subordinates.
Several tall soldiers followed behind them. They were heading toward the warehouses.
"My lord, even if they are stowaways, there is no need to execute them, is there?" the first mate said cautiously as he accompanied them.
They had just discovered two stowaways.
"This is the law, understand? This is the law! The law is sacred and inviolable!"
"Anyone found sneaking aboard must be thrown into the sea! If we do not do this, everyone will follow suit. How will our fleets sail in the future? What will our lord, the Sea God, think?"
"But..."
"They need to live, and so do we. Do not forget that we are the Sea God's people! Those who attempt to defect through sea routes, or infiltrate our country to cause destruction, do not deserve the right to live. Offer them all to the Sea God!"
"If there are more than ten stowaways, even this ship will face severe punishment!" The Patrol Unit captain's expression was solemn. It seemed this decision could not possibly be changed.
Just now, not only had they found two stowaways, but while inspecting the ship, they had unexpectedly noticed sounds coming from the second-level warehouse.
Based on past