The fleet

If not for the chance to mend his relationship with Kronos, Philip would not have come this time.

Now that the two were on good terms and Duke Negan had struck up a conversation with Marquis Argyle, there was naturally no need for him to waste any more time here.

Marquis Argyle, however, stayed behind, clearly having something to discuss with Kronos. The others tactfully gave father and son some space, leaving after offering a few brief congratulations.

"Dad, you seemed to get along pretty well with Duke Negan. Everything should be fine, right?" Kronos spoke first.

But Marquis Argyle brought up something else. "We've signed our contract with the Conston Coal and Steel Consortium. The coal and iron ore will be shipped over in batches."

Kronos did not quite catch on at first. "Conston? Isn't that our territory in Midseashire? What contract is this?"

His confusion was understandable. Midseashire was arguably the region richest in resources, and the Argel Family controlled nearly half of them, quietly building up its strength. Yet the remaining half had still managed to support a "city of steel" like Conston.

Marquis Argyle was so annoyed that he picked up the cane beside him and swung it at Kronos. Luckily, Kronos was wearing his uniform and had left off his weighted bags, or he really would not have managed to dodge.

"The Conston Coal and Steel Consortium! Earl Hall!" Marquis Argyle snapped.

"Oh, right, right. I forgot. How am I supposed to remember a name that long?"

Marquis Argyle continued, "Earl Hall also contacted a trading company and suggested we buy it outright. They already have a sizable fleet. While I'm here in Pritz Harbor, I'll take a look at it as well. Want to come along tomorrow?"

"Sure! I'll get familiar with it too. I want to join its first voyage afterward!" As a boy with a taste for grandiose fantasies, how could he miss a chance to see the King of the Pirates-no, the Pirate King-in person?

Marquis Argyle looked a little surprised. "You want to go to the Southern Continent?" Kronos had not told him about this at the outset.

"No, no, not just the Southern Continent. I want to visit the islands along the way too. Broaden my horizons, you know." Trying to persuade Marquis Argyle, Kronos unwittingly slipped into a wheedling tone.

"Tell me the truth. What exactly are you planning?" Marquis Argyle could tell that was not the whole story.

"I want to get stronger quickly. The older generations of our family all slogged through Sequence 7 little by little because Warlock is hard to act as. Everyone cares about their dignity, but my standards are lower. I don't know anyone outside Backlund and Midseashire, so I can act out the role at sea and on the Southern Continent." Kronos offered a more convincing answer.

Marquis Argyle thought it over. That was indeed a good option. The Northern Continent was a harsh place for Beyonders to live. The moment they revealed even a hint of their powers, someone would come knocking. The Churches did not care whether they were nobles.

That was another reason Warlock was so difficult to act as. It was not just a matter of dignity-what kind of Warlock had no Beyonder abilities? But things were different at sea. The existence of Beyonders was common knowledge there, and as long as they did not go too far, there would be no trouble.

"But it's dangerous. Aren't you afraid?" Marquis Argyle was still somewhat worried.

"I'll keep a low profile. If it were really that dangerous, wouldn't all the natives and seafaring merchants have died out ages ago?" Kronos seemed completely unconcerned.

Marquis Argyle was not one to agonize over every decision. "Fine. Go if you want. If you can advance before May, you can sail with them."

"May? You've already set the departure date?"

"Yes. That was what Duke Negan was just discussing. They want to mend relations with us too, so they've given us a coffee plantation in the Paz Valley on the Southern Continent. We can bring coffee back on our first voyage, along with some local specialties."

At Marquis Argyle's words, Kronos remembered and repeated what Philip had told him, including the Prime Minister's role in the matter and the issue of the Corn Laws.

"Then there shouldn't be any major problems. With Duke Negan involved, Aguesid won't be an obstacle anymore. As for the Corn Laws, they have nothing to do with our family. We consume all the grain we grow in Midseashire ourselves. We've never sold any outside, so prices aren't an issue." Argel had a clear grasp of the situation.

Kronos offered a suggestion. "But when they really are repealed, we should still make a show of suffering losses. Otherwise, we'll stand out."

Marquis Argyle laughed and scolded him. "Do I need you to teach me that? Have I lived all these years for nothing?"

Marquis Argyle continued, "Do you have anything else to do here? Would you like to head back with me tomorrow?"

"Dad, I was just about to talk to you about that. I've found someone talented here..." Kronos explained Gner's circumstances to Marquis Argyle.

Marquis Argyle naturally knew that his son had no intention of meddling in the military, so he asked directly, "You want me to put in a word with Earl Levett so you can bring him into your service?"

"Exactly. With Gner's abilities, he's already a capable Warrior and Pugilist. From what I can tell, he should be pretty good with daggers and sabers too. Drinking a potion from the Warrior pathway would definitely let him achieve twice the results with half the effort. Then I can take him to sea with me. He can protect me and lend me a hand."

Argel did not refuse. Putting in a word was a trivial matter. "Decide for yourself. Remember to assess his character before making your decision. Once you've decided, just let me know."

"One more thing. At the rate you're going, you won't digest Melee Scholar very quickly. It's best to fight Beyonders. The notes left by our predecessors also say that bloody, life-and-death battles work best."

Kronos asked in confusion, "I've read all the books at home. I didn't see anything about that."

"Of course not. How could our predecessors' notes be left lying around so casually? They're all in my study. Once you've wrapped things up here, come home, and I'll give them to you."

With the freedom that wealth afforded him, Marquis Argyle treated everyone at the Navy Base to dinner that evening. There was alcohol too, though only a small number of people got to drink it. After all, soldiers were still forbidden to drink when they were not on leave.

Gner, however, thoroughly enjoyed the drinks. Kronos had claimed the fine liquor originally intended for the base commander, so the liquor served to the commander naturally dropped a grade.

Early the next morning, after finishing his sparring session with Gner, Kronos put on his uniform and left the Navy Base with Marquis Argyle.

In any era and any world, a powerful nation's military uniform was the smartest formal attire. Besides, Kronos had only just received this outfit and loved it so much that he had even wanted to wear it during his morning sparring session.

In fact, Marquis Argyle eyed the uniform with envy too. What man did not like military uniforms? But this was no longer three hundred years ago. Otherwise, Marquis Argyle would have been an Army general at the very least.

Before long, they saw merchant ships lined up from the harbor's shore to several nautical miles out.

Pritz Harbor was the port closest to the capital, Backlund. Smaller vessels could also follow the Tussock River all the way to Awwa County, Midseashire, and Winter County, so its shipping industry was extremely well developed.

When father and son reached the harbor entrance, a plump, balding middle-aged man jogged over to meet them.

The middle-aged man eagerly extended his hand to shake theirs. "Welcome, Marquis Argyle and Major Argel. We're delighted to have you inspect our fleet."

This was Benjamin Bowen, the owner of the trading company Earl Hall had introduced. He had once spent an enormous sum to buy an entire fleet of the finest merchant ships, thinking he would soon recoup his investment and turn a profit.

But once he reached the Southern Continent, he discovered that all the bulk trading deals already had established partner companies. After considerable effort, he managed to pick up a few scraps of business, only to find the goods difficult to sell when he returned. In less than three years, he could no longer keep going.

Marquis Argyle had not driven a hard bargain in the acquisition. He simply bought ninety percent of the shares at market value and allowed Benjamin to continue managing the company, provided it turned a profit every year.

Naturally, Benjamin agreed to those terms. Marquis Argyle's acquisition allowed him to pay off his debts, and with a noble backing him, business would be easier. His shares would soon rise in value.

Benjamin led the two on an inspection of the fleet. It consisted of seven ships, which was already a considerable number. After all, many trading companies did not even own ships of their own.

These merchant ships bore the distinctive features of the era, with smokestacks and sails standing side by side. The smokestacks served the steam engines installed aboard, while the sails could further increase the ships' speed.

These truly were the finest oceangoing ships of the age. Ordinary people were not even eligible to buy them, yet Benjamin had acquired seven at once. He was clearly no ordinary man.

Kronos asked about this directly, and Benjamin made no secret of it. He and a sales manager at the Pritz Shipyard came from the same hometown and had met by chance. Even then, he had only secured permission to buy the ships by exhausting every favor he could call in and paying substantial bribes.

"No wonder. If you'd had any connections in the navy, you wouldn't have had trouble finding good cargo," Kronos remarked.

"What are the captains and first mates in your fleet like? Are they reliable?" Since Kronos would later be sailing with this fleet, he naturally wanted to learn more about them.

Benjamin was just about to answer when Marquis Argyle interrupted. "There's no need to ask him. Once your business at the Navy Base is finished, go work at the trading company for a while. You can get to know them yourself then and judge whether they're reliable."

"That's a good approach." Kronos agreed with the idea, then said to Benjamin, "I'll be counting on your guidance."