The warships docked, and the soldiers occupied the pirates' temporary base.
After searching the place, Leonard found the warehouse holding the Iron Smelting Blast Furnace.
To make it easier to transport, the Iron Smelting Blast Furnace had previously been dismantled into separate components and packed into large shipping crates.
The warehouse was a mess, with wooden crates scattered haphazardly about. Only two or three showed signs of having been opened.
Leonard checked the number of shipping crates in the warehouse. There were exactly twenty-five, matching the shipping manifest Ellen had brought.
Apparently, the pirates had been quite professional when they plundered the freighter. They had actually taken every last crate.
Rowan and Jaina went ashore afterward and entered the pirates' crude warehouse together.
"Who sent that fleet?" Rowan asked curiously.
News of the pirate attack on Morris Town had not spread, and no merchants had visited recently, either. The fleet from Boralus could not possibly have known that Morris Town had been attacked by pirates.
Except through Jaina, of course.
"I told my father and asked him to send a fleet," Jaina said, lowering her head and pinching the hem of her clothes.
"Then what about smuggling the Iron Smelting Blast Furnace?" Rowan frowned and pressed her.
Jaina spread her hands and pursed her lips helplessly. "Naturally, that came out. But only my father knows. He told me to stay in my room and not come out, but I didn't listen. I was worried about you..."
At that, Jaina's fair little face flushed. She instinctively covered her cheeks with her hands, paused for a few seconds, then said, "It's your fault for never making anything of yourself. You're careless all day long and have no ambition whatsoever. If you were commanding a large fleet by now, I wouldn't have had to beg my father to send one to wipe out the pirates."
Jaina looked bashful, yet still tried to act as if she did not care about Rowan. It brought a sting to his nose. In all his years, aside from his own mother, no woman seemed to have cared about him this much.
"Do you think steam engines can just be mass-produced? Besides, didn't I win? Of course, I'm really touched that you care so much about me. Can I ask you something?" Rowan stole a glance at Jaina and caught her peeking at him out of the corner of her eye.
Jaina's face grew even redder.
She had only wanted to see how Rowan would react. Who knew he would be sneaking glances at her, too?
At least this guy isn't an idiot. He knows I've been looking out for him.
Has he figured out that I like him? Jaina thought. How can the girl be the one to say something like that first? She immediately hid her bashful expression. "Who cares about you? I just don't want to watch my only childhood friend die at the hands of pirates. And if you have a question, just ask."
"Stop being so coy. You're not a girl," Jaina added.
Rowan gave a dry laugh and cleared his throat. "What exactly do you like about me?"
"I like that you take responsibility, look after me, share your cake with me... Pfft, pfft, pfft! Who said I liked you? You shameless narcissist!" Jaina punched Rowan in the chest and ran out of the warehouse, blushing.
Happiness from Jaina +300.
Jaina, once I rebuild the Second Fleet, I'll come marry you.
Rowan turned to watch Jaina's shapely backside sway as she hurried away, a blissful smile on his face.
The Stormrain's fleet docked, and Tarenford led his soldiers off the warship.
"Greetings, Sir Paladin. I am the captain of the Stormrain, Second Squadron, Third Fleet. Standard procedure requires us to search pirate bases so that we can compile a complete battle report." Tarenford gave Byron a military salute and gestured for him to clear the main path so they could enter the pirate base and search it.
Remembering that the Iron Smelting Blast Furnace was still in the pirates' warehouse, Byron took an extra precaution. He returned the salute and stopped Tarenford.
"Sorry, Captain. I need to ask first: if you find goods in the pirate base, how are they supposed to be handled under your procedures?"
Tarenford's brows furrowed slightly. By rank, the Paladin before him had no authority whatsoever to question military affairs. He said irritably, "That is an internal matter for the Third Fleet. Please cooperate with our investigation."
"Just explain it. A few extra words won't kill you." Seeing how much Tarenford liked throwing his weight around annoyed Byron. Still, the man was a captain, and he had brought three warships. He certainly had grounds to act tough.
Tarenford forced a rather displeased smile and gave a brief explanation. "We will send the goods plundered by the pirates to Boralus, where the relevant personnel will follow up. So please cooperate."
Follow up, my ass. If you haul this shipment away, you'll pocket it for sure.
It's not as if I don't know how your Third Fleet operates. Do you think I never saw your dirty dealings when I was at Light's Hope Chapel?
"That won't do. We brought a fleet, too. If anyone is going to handle the goods, it should be us," Byron retorted.
Tarenford's face darkened. "Sir Paladin," he said sternly, "if you continue to obstruct us, don't blame us for taking forcible measures against you."
"Hold on. How is this obstruction? Our Young Master Rowan is the Norwington Family's only son. The Norwington Family's warships haven't been sold, so they should rightfully still belong to the Second Fleet. In a sense, we're a military organization, too." Byron argued his case, though he did not have much confidence. After all, the Second Fleet already existed in name only.
Tarenford looked at him as if he were an idiot. He waved a hand and ordered coldly, "Seize him!"
The Paladin spouted nothing but twisted logic, and Tarenford had no desire to waste any more words on him.
As five soldiers approached, Byron raised his warhammer, and holy light shone around him.
Seeing that Byron was a genuine Paladin, Tarenford decided that lowering their weapons and continuing to reason with him was the proper way to resolve the issue.
"Wait a moment. You may not understand what defines the Second Fleet. Our Third Fleet has control over the inland sea because we are responsible for protecting the entire inland sea. Thus, every merchant ship, pirate, and even fleet appearing in these waters falls under the Third Fleet's jurisdiction. You have repeatedly obstructed our search of the pirate base and even activated a class skill to intimidate us. This already constitutes the crime of violently resisting law enforcement."
With an official air and a well-practiced spiel, Tarenford painted Byron as a criminal.
For a moment, Byron was speechless. He opened his mouth, then stopped, unsure how to answer.
What you're saying sounds like bullshit, but somehow that bullshit is well-reasoned and convincing.
If I weren't so thick-skinned, I'd have believed your bullshit.
Before you continue