Ⅱ
Clang! Clang! Clang!
A bell rang out in Kilger Harbor's Harbor District.
It was called a bell, but it was really just a suspended iron plate-a wooden frame supported it, with hemp rope holding the plate in place. Whenever needed, someone struck it with the metal rod beside it.
At the sound, the laborers who had paid their dues could come over to unload the cargo.
The Harbor District's constable put down the metal rod and stood there waiting.
Behind him stood four soldiers with longswords at their waists and long flintlocks on their backs.
Before long, a first mate walked over.
The money pouch in his hand brought a smile to the constable's face.
Then, once the pouch landed in his own pocket, the constable turned and left with the soldiers.
An inspection?
What inspection?
These ships from the Einhaas Fief carried only commoners and had nothing to do with the nobles of Einhaas. They needed no inspection.
Smuggling?
What smuggling?
The commoners had merely brought some personal belongings, a privilege granted by their kindly captain. As the Harbor District's constable, his education would not permit him to strip them of those possessions. That would insult their dignity.
"All settled?"
The Mermaid's captain questioned his first mate.
"All settled!
Once that bastard saw the money, he couldn't care less about any of this."
The first mate curled his lip and spat beside his feet.
"Good, then.
Unload the cargo!"
The captain shouted toward the ships.
The boatswain immediately sprang into action, and the fleet's cargo holds were opened-crate after crate was carried out.
This was their cargo for the voyage.
Heavy and extremely valuable.
Yet the sailors lifted those heavy crates with such ease that anyone watching might have thought they were carrying empty boxes.
But the boatswain,