Rowan did not plan to stay in Southshore for long. Reviving the Norwington Family's economy was only one part of his work; he still had plenty of other things to do.
Rowan had previously learned quite a bit about the Iron Tide Pirates from Skullsplitter. Freehold's pirates had expanded rapidly in recent years. Less than ten years after the Third Pirates Extermination War, the Iron Tide Pirates had assembled four large fleets once again.
The pirates of Freehold, who had survived three extermination wars, posed an enormous threat to Kul Tiras.
If the Fourth Pirates Extermination Campaign broke out anytime soon, the Norwington Family would lose the very foundation it needed to turn its fortunes around in that naval battle, even without suppression from Ashvane and House Stormsong.
Signs of this predicament had already emerged during the Third Pirates Extermination War. If not for the glory the Second Fleet had earned in the Second War, which had kept the two great families from taking advantage of its misfortune for the sake of appearances, the Norwington Family would have long since ceased to rank among the great families.
With troubles at home and threats abroad, Rowan was actually under immense pressure, despite his usual joking manner.
Still, the success of this trip to Southshore had given Rowan a tremendous boost.
Lordaeron's great families, including the Barov Family and Agamand's family, signed future trade contracts with Rowan one after another, resuming purchases of grain and light industrial goods. The Norwington Family once again received a large influx of orders.
News that the great families had resumed trading with the Norwington Family spread quickly. The smaller merchant guilds remained undecided, but a few also began working with the Norwington Family's merchant guild again.
Maritime trade was, in a sense, a gamble. Pirates ran