"The captains under us paid around 1,300 gold coins in tribute this month, 500 fewer than last month." In the meeting room, Annie reported this month's income to Dunn.
"There's nothing we can do about that. Over the last two months, word has spread throughout the route that more than a dozen powerful pirate ships are running rampant along it. Fewer merchant ships are making the journey now."
Over the past few months, the fleet under Dunn's command had operated with Harman Island as its center. Harman Island was the name of the island Dunn and his companions regarded as their base. The ships under their command had scattered, plundering at will along the main shipping routes.
At first, thanks to the pirate ship Homies' formidable combat strength, all but invincible below the third tier, the entire fleet had reaped rich rewards.
At its peak, Dunn's monthly tribute income had reached 3,000 gold coins! It had given him a profound understanding of what it meant to earn money without lifting a finger.
It had made Dunn marvel that keeping all those ships and men fed before really had not been in vain.
Unfortunately, however, that astonishing 3,000 gold coins had also marked the peak of Dunn's income. The situation had not lasted long, and the earnings soon began to decline.
Within just a few months, news of a troublesome new band of pirates on the route had spread like wildfire throughout the Talal Route.
The news had landed like a bombshell, causing an uproar.
Terrified by the news, merchants had rushed to take measures to protect their ships and cargo. As a result, the once-bustling, prosperous Talal Route had fallen into a state of tension and panic.
Now, every merchant ship setting sail had to pay an additional hefty fee