There was the winding pontoon bridge, its end nowhere in sight; rows upon rows of ship masts; Airships gliding across the horizon now and then; and the occasional bird in the peaceful sky.
On the neat, clean streets, crowds bustled and vendors called out from every direction. If not for the ceaseless sound of waves, the sea-damp air, and its salty tang...
The place might not have the Imperial Capital's weight and splendor, but it was already not far behind Monte City. And this was only an outlying island among the Thirteen Misty Islands. What would the central islands of the Barton Empire look like?
"In fact, the Wohuat Royal Family hasn't existed as long as the Barton Empire. And since its founding, the Barton Empire has seen no war beyond the turmoil at sea. In terms of its foundations, it's hardly inferior to the Warwhart Imperial Family."
By now, Gaines could read Ye Chuqi's expressions and the meaning in her eyes. He also felt she didn't mind his interpretations, as long as he got them right and didn't cross a line. She seemed quite comfortable communicating this way.
"As for the Central Five Islands of the Barton Empire, Miss Ye will understand when she sees them." Gaines smiled, leaving it at that.
Ye Chuqi glanced at Gaines but said nothing.
The Thirteen Misty Islands referred to the thirteen major islands at the heart of the region. The Central Five Islands formed the core of the Barton Empire, deep within the Misty Sea. The other seven islands—Ye Chuqi had looked more closely when she noticed that number—happened to form a rough Big Dipper Formation across the sea. The Central Five Islands lay inside the Big Dipper's "bowl," with four more islands standing guard around them.
But five plus seven made