Byron and Tarenford argued back and forth without getting anywhere, leaving them at an impasse.
Byron was a Paladin, while Tarenford was only a level two Warrior. If it came to a fight, Byron would pin Tarenford to the ground and thrash him. Worse, Byron seemed rather bullheaded. No amount of reasoning could get through to him.
Accustomed to dealing with law-abiding citizens, Tarenford could only patiently explain the consequences of violently resisting the law when faced with a hard case who refused to play by the rules.
In truth, Byron had studied the "Kul Tiras Coastal Defense Fleet Regulations" during his military service. Under those regulations, Tarenford's claims were not baseless. They had some legal grounding.
But Tarenford had overlooked one crucial point in those regulations.
If pirates attacked within the waters defended by any of Kul Tiras's fleets, that fleet could temporarily seize the pirates' cargo after sinking their Pirate Warship and send it to Boralus. If an investigation found that the cargo no longer had a buyer, it could be treated as spoils of war and become the fleet's property.
Viewed that way, Tarenford's argument did not hold up. The warship that had sunk the Pirate Warship belonged not to the Third Fleet, but to the Second Fleet.
"Sir Byron, there is a limit to my patience. If you insist on remaining obstinate and ignoring our advice, I can petition a military tribunal in Kul Tiras to convict you. I imagine you have no desire to visit Tol Dagor Prison." Tarenford ground his teeth in frustration. This Paladin would not listen to anything and seemed determined to oppose the Third Fleet.
Had these pirates really plundered a huge shipment of goods? Did the young master of the Norwington Family intend to keep it all for himself?
This was outrageous. It was a blatant violation of the coastal defense regulations, and they clearly had no respect for the Third Fleet.
The corner of Byron's mouth twitched. Seeing that Tarenford and his men were not making a move, he wore an expression that all but said, "Keep babbling. I'm not listening."
When it came to official arguments, Byron was no match for Tarenford. But in a contest of sheer shamelessness, Byron had never feared anyone.
Besides, your reasoning is clearly just bullying dressed up as rules, using the Third Fleet to pressure us. Why should the spoils we recovered have to be shipped back aboard your Third Fleet's vessels? If you hadn't brought a fleet with you, I'd give you a dose of Crusade and Judgment right now!
"Can your Norwington Family really bear the consequences of openly resisting the Third Fleet?" Tarenford kept testing Byron's limits. When Byron showed no reaction, he raised his voice in warning.
"Has the Third Fleet become this overbearing? You're awfully full of bureaucratic airs for a captain. If you have a problem, take it up with me. Don't bully our Norwington Family's Paladin." Rowan emerged from the cargo hold and immediately spotted Byron and a squad of soldiers mingling with the Third Fleet's men, apparently arguing over something.
Listen to that! Was that any way to talk? Your Paladin openly violated the coastal defense regulations, and I've spent all this time patiently trying to persuade him. Somehow that makes me the bully?
Tarenford gave Rowan a military salute, and Rowan returned it with a noble's hand-over-heart courtesy. Arguments were one thing, but the formalities still had to be observed.
"Young Master Rowan, here is the situation. Under the proper procedure, the goods plundered by the pirates must first be transported to Boralus by our Stormrain fleet. After an investigation, we will return them to their buyers. I hope you will support the Third Fleet's work," Tarenford said, suppressing his simmering anger.
Rowan nodded calmly. "According to the coastal defense regulations, that is indeed how it should work. But there is one thing you've forgotten, Captain Tarenford. Coastal defense is one thing, but the pirates' stronghold lies within our Norwington Family's territory. You don't dispute that, do you?"
Tarenford's expression turned awkward. He neither answered nor indicated agreement.
He had spent enough years in the fleet to know that following Rowan's line of argument would mean accepting it. Then he would no longer be able to take the pirates' cargo back to Boralus.
"Certainly, if we were at sea, your Third Fleet would have the right to dispose of this cargo. But that is clearly not the situation here. We sank the Pirate Warship, and the pirates' stronghold is on our Norwington Family's land. Your Third Fleet came all this way without fighting a single pirate, did nothing but sightsee, and now you want a share of the spoils. Isn't that rather dishonorable?" Rowan's reasoning was clear and his delivery precise. He laid out the facts and argued his case without resorting to any unreasonable quibbling.
Tarenford, by contrast, clung stubbornly to the coastal defense regulations, intent on shipping the goods back.
"That is what the coastal defense regulations stipulate," Tarenford repeated through gritted teeth.
Rowan nodded. "I know. I'm not denying that."
"Then please comply with the coastal defense regulations, Young Master Rowan."
Rowan shook his head. Are you a broken record? Can't you understand what I'm saying?
"Have I not made myself clear enough?" Rowan asked.
Tarenford glanced at the Level Four Warrior standing behind Byron and abandoned the idea of arresting everyone who opposed the Third Fleet.
"Young Master Rowan, there are numerous Norwington Family factories and granaries along the waters under the Third Fleet's jurisdiction. If you insist on violating the coastal defense regulations, we must remind you that you are creating unnecessary trouble for the Norwington Family."
You're an underage brat who can only see the profit right in front of you, Tarenford thought. As your elder, I have to tell you that you're still too young. The waters and shipping lanes guarded by the Third Fleet are closely tied to the Norwington Family's businesses. Even if you won't consider the Third Fleet's prestige, you should think of your family.
"Do you want this plundered cargo that badly?" Rowan looked at Tarenford with disdain.
He truly had not expected the outwardly stern Captain Tarenford to use the Third Fleet to threaten the Norwington Family.
If our Second Fleet were still around, would we need your Third Fleet to guard the sea routes?
Why was the Second Fleet destroyed? Don't you have a damned clue, Captain? Thousands upon thousands of Second Fleet soldiers died in the sea of fire spewed by dragons. If the Second Fleet hadn't fought the Orcs' fleet with everything it had, the Kingdom of Lordaeron-and the entire Alliance-might never have enjoyed the peace and stability they have today.
Have you forgotten the peace the Second Fleet bought with their lives? Besides, the Norwington Family pays the Third Fleet every year for guarding those waters and protecting those shipping lanes.
"That is what the coastal defense regulations stipulate!"
"Fuck your regulations! Go back and tell Lord Ashvane that I said no one is taking this cargo. Even under the regulations, the Second Fleet should handle it. And if Lord Ashvane is as stupid as you are, our Norwington Family won't survive by begging for the Third Fleet's favor. At worst, we'll stop doing business!" Rowan was so furious that he wanted to leap up and punch Tarenford. Anger churned inside him, accompanied by a sense of loss.
Without the Second Fleet, even a mere captain dared claim that the Third Fleet controlled the Norwington Family's trade.
It seemed that no matter the world, only strength held in your own hands truly mattered.
Trade agreements and the sacrifices the Second Fleet had made in the past were all hollow. In the face of profit, they carried far too little weight.
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