CHAPTER 55: CHAPTER 55 SMUGGLING SHIP

"Lighthouse Island" on the surface is just an ordinary, overseas isolated island without resources or scenery.

But in reality, it is the place where the Phaletis Kingdom’s great navigation movement began, and also the first non-coastal island discovered officially, holding extraordinary significance in the entire maritime history.

The annual "Departure Day" commemorates the kingdom’s ongoing pioneering spirit and commitment to exploration.

During the annual festive events, besides the participating populace, merchants, explorers, and various civilian organizations, the kingdom’s three major fleets routinely send representatives to participate.

This year, the Third Fleet sent Vice Admiral Snite leading a Level 3 Battleship "Warm Wind" and a Level 5 Cruiser "Silver Wings," demonstrating their emphasis on the event.

It’s worth mentioning that, although the fleet’s logistics chief ranks among the top three senior executives, the Third Fleet isn’t affluent enough to dispatch main battleships above Level 3 for the celebration.

In the Age of Navigation, every warship has its own important responsibilities.

Moreover, the area east of Lighthouse Island belongs to the coastal zone where safety is fully guaranteed. These two warships were temporarily enlisted in line with the logistical officer’s practical spirit.

Aiven weighed the comparison between the pirates he had encountered before and the current strength of his side.

"Hmm, this mission should be stable. Besides One-Eyed Becky, who else would recklessly attack a warship? There’s no profit in it, and you might get your skull cracked accidentally..."

The journey had just begun, but Aiven had unknowingly set himself a flag!

Unbeknownst to him, three Black Sail Pirate Ships, roaming far away on the New Continent route, quietly changed course, heading collectively towards the Black Sea East Coast.

The sea breeze aided their journey; the black sails filled with wind, the massive shark-toothed mouth painted on them opening and closing as if about to come to life.

...

"Fire a warning shot! Make them stop the ship."

Boom——

Boom——

Cannonballs splashed massive sprays of water near the ship’s sides, slowly forcing a fast merchant ship, ignoring the warship’s stop signal, to halt.

Everyone from the silk-robed portly merchant, the merchant ship captain to the ordinary sailors and slaves, scrambled to line up on the deck for inspection, having no thought of resistance against two heavily armed naval warships.

Step.. Step.. Step..

Soldiers ran in formation on the deck, their military boots producing orderly and loud footsteps, swiftly controlling everyone in just a few minutes.

Now it was the fifth day since the two warships participating in the celebration had set sail, and it had been smooth sailing, yet under General Snite’s "piercing eyes," they spotted a fast sailing ship suspected to be smuggling.

The monotonous and dull sea voyage rendered the restless general with a fun discovery, naturally leading to the above scene.

"Sir, we are legitimate merchants!"

The portly merchant, incessantly wiping the greasy sweat on his forehead with a handkerchief, attempted to slip an exquisite golden pocket watch into the hands of the major leading the inspection team.

"Legitimate merchants? Then why were you running?" The officer sneered, not even acknowledging the bribery attempt. Vice Admiral Snite was watching from the warship behind him, and he’d be mad to open the back door for this swindler.

"I... we just didn’t see, right, didn’t see the signal!" The merchant’s face was drenched with sweat even faster, realizing the officer’s refusal to accept the bribe was a bad omen.

Not long after, the navy soldiers inspecting the ship’s interior returned.

"Report, sir! The upper layer of the cargo hold is filled with oak barrels containing ordinary liquor, but there’s only a thin layer, with the rest of the hold packed full of premium whale oil."

Upon hearing this, the major smiled, patting the portly merchant on the shoulder: "Mr. Legitimate Merchant, can you explain why your actual cargo doesn’t match the tax documentation?"

With a pale face and a slap from the officer, the fat merchant collapsed to the ground, crying mournfully.

"My entire fortune, boohoo..."

According to the kingdom’s laws, a smuggling ship without paid taxes doesn’t receive naval protection, and once caught, all goods are confiscated.

If he hadn’t coincidentally encountered the naval inspection and successfully sold off the smuggled goods, the profit margin between whale oil and ordinary liquor would have multiplied his fortunes four to five times after deducting all necessary expenses.

Greed gave rise to luck, but the fat merchant’s mindset instantly collapsed when his dreams of sudden wealth were shattered.

Everyone knew he was not regretting the smuggling but lamenting his bad luck and the loss of his entire fortune. If he could go back in time, he would make the same choice, just not take this route...

The news quickly traveled back to the general’s "Warm Wind" warship.

Standing on the main deck, beside the mid-aged officer clad in a general’s cloak, a young man in a captain’s uniform who bore some resemblance to the general immediately cheered: "Hahaha, I knew it was a smuggling ship."

Apparently, it wasn’t the general’s so-called "piercing eyes" that discovered the smuggling ship but rather the young man beside him.

"Wow! My brother is amazing!" A girl in a gothic-style lolita dress cheered along, evidently a family member accompanying the general to the celebration.

A circle of assistant officers and Warm Wind officers chimed in with praises, "Truly, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree!"

Ironically, on the parallel sailing Silver Wings, from a prime spot on the lookout, Aiven, eagerly watching the scene, also noticed the young man who was the center of attention.

"Wow——!"

"Mr. Zorro truly is a ’big shot’!"

Although, aside from standard signal communication, there was minimal interaction between members of both ships.

Today, upon seeing this young man, Aiven immediately recognized him as Mr. Zorro, the thief and Divination Master he had encountered before.

Without needing to guess, it was clear that the smuggling ship’s misfortune wasn’t due to some so-called "insight" and "experience," but rather Zorro’s extraordinary level of divination art.

Honestly, upon recognizing Zorro, apart from noting his status was higher than expected, Aiven didn’t think much of it.

Though journeying together, there’s been little interaction between them, and after this mission, their lives likely wouldn’t intersect at all.

But Aiven quickly jolted in realization.

Wait!!

Aiven suddenly remembered Zorro’s words after their encounter that night:

"I remember you! Here’s something for you; next time, I’ll seek your advice."

That night, he hadn’t disguised himself, the guy recognized him!

Yet, after pondering, Aiven repeatedly confirmed they shouldn’t have irreconcilable conflict, though he did take a witchcraft note from him, he had also supported his divination business!

It shouldn’t be that he’d put me in a difficult position... right?