Chapter 48
I continued the meeting while studying the map of Merka Island.
The cooperation of Merka Island was essential if we were to operate the port under construction without any problems. Zeze nodded along at my words, though I had my doubts about whether he truly understood.
"But Romelia-sama, what are we going to do about a ship to take us to the island?"
Ray asked, but I had already made the necessary arrangements.
"Seryure-san's merchant ship will arrive at this port today. Seryure-san has hired an escort ship, and that ship should be from Merka Island."
"Ah, so we'll ride that ship to Merka Island?"
I nodded at Gatt's answer. Just then, someone knocked on the reception room door.
When I gave permission to enter, the door opened. The person who entered was a woman wearing silver-rimmed glasses and navy-blue clothes. Her back was perfectly straight, as though it had been aligned with a ruler. She was Quins-sensei, who had also been my teacher. Despite being exhausted from her relentless workload, her hair and clothes were perfectly neat. As expected of her.
"I apologize for interrupting the meeting, Romelia-sama. I have just received word that Seryure-sama's ship has arrived offshore."
I nodded at Quins-sensei's report.
"That's perfect timing. Everyone, let's go take a look together."
When I stood up, Al and the others rose as one. Taking everyone present with me, I headed for the inlet, where the land-reclamation work was still underway.
We made our way through the workers and soon reached the inlet. Two piers extended from the white sandy beach. However, black rock walls beyond them blocked our view of the open sea.
From here, we could not tell whether a ship had really arrived. However, through a gap in the rock walls leading to the inland sea, we could see a small boat laden with wooden crates approaching us.
The sailors, their heads wrapped in cloth, rowed in time with their calls. At the prow of the boat heading straight toward us stood a man with long silver hair tied back. The bespectacled man was Seryure of the Yarmark Trading Company.
When the small boat reached the pier, the sailors disembarked and secured it with ropes. Once the hull was fastened in place, Seryure stepped onto the pier. I walked along it to meet him.
"Welcome back, Seryure-san. How did business go?"
"Ah, Romelia-sama. It was a tremendous success!"
Seryure broke into a broad smile when he saw me. As wooden crates were unloaded from the small boat one after another behind him, Seryure opened the lid of one. It was packed with several lengths of lustrous cloth.
"Look at this cloth. It's the finest silk from Beria! I managed to buy it for half the price it used to cost. If I take it to the royal capital, I'll make a fortune without a doubt!"
The normally calm and composed Seryure's eyes were shining like a child's.
"Seryure-sama, I will check the inventory of the goods."
"Yes, please do."
Quins-sensei stepped forward, and Seryure handed her a document listing the goods. I was shown part of the inventory as well, and every item was expensive. Seryure's eye for quality was clearly reliable.
"Romelia-sama, this voyage was supposed to help us build a track record, but I want to send out another ship as soon as possible."
"Let's discuss that with Master Gantze and decide. Please get some rest today."
To settle Seryure's excitement, I encouraged him to rest first.
"Yes, quite so. This unfamiliar sea voyage was tiring, as expected."
"How was the journey? Was the voyage comfortable?"
"It was quite pleasant. We didn't encounter any storms. However, we stopped at the Vaal Archipelago in the Mebyum Inland Sea along the way..."
Seryure looked away and let his words trail off.
"Did something happen?"
"No, nothing I would call a problem. But, shall we say, my merchant's intuition gave me a rather bad feeling. We didn't seem to be welcome."
"I see... The Vaal Archipelago..."
As I listened to him, I recalled the map of the Mebyum Inland Sea. The Vaal Archipelago was the collective name for roughly ten islands, both large and small, northwest of here. They lay near our neighboring country, the Hameil Kingdom.
We were building a port and preparing to venture into the Mebyum Inland Sea. But from the perspective of its inhabitants, we were newcomers. Some of them were bound to view our maritime expansion unfavorably.
"I would like to go to Merka Island next. Have you made arrangements with the escort ship?"
"Yes, everything is in order. Allow me to introduce you to the captain of the escort ship."
Seryure turned around and looked at the sailors unloading cargo from the small boat. In the direction of his gaze was the back of a large man wearing a navy-blue tricorn hat and a matching long coat.
"Captain Maurice. Could you come here? I have someone I'd like you to meet."
At Seryure's call, the man in the long coat turned around. Red, unruly hair hung down from beneath his hat, and a bushy red beard covered his chin. His large frame made him look like a bear. However, the round, gentle eyes peering out between his red hair and beard gave him an oddly endearing air.
"Aye, Seryure, sir. What can I do for you?"
"Yes, Captain Maurice. Allow me to introduce you. This lady is Romelia-sama, who built this port."
Seryure extended a hand toward me, then gestured with it toward the bearded man.
"Romelia-sama, this is Captain Maurice, who escorted my ship."
"Captain Maurice. Nice to meet you. My name is Romelia."
After Seryure introduced us, Captain Maurice removed his tricorn hat and bowed.
"Pleased to meet you. My name is Maurice. I captain a humble ship."
Despite his large build, Captain Maurice was remarkably humble. However, the eyes that looked up at me from beneath his bowed head were as sharp as blades. That sharpness lasted only an instant, though, before a gentle smile appeared on his face.
"I hear you wish to go to Merka Island after this?"
"Yes. I would like to meet Radick, the lord of Merka Island. Would it be possible to meet him?"
"Leave it to me. We are from Merka Island, so I can arrange for you to meet the island lord."
Captain Maurice nodded.
"Please do. When can the ship depart?"
"Today, we have to unload the cargo from Seryure's ship. But that will be finished by this evening. We can depart tomorrow morning."
"How long will it take to reach Merka Island from here?"
"Two days aboard our ship."
"Two days? That's fast."
I was a little surprised. Merka Island lies at the center of the Mebyum Inland Sea, and I had heard it took four days to reach by ship.
"Well, our ship is special."
Captain Maurice laughed proudly. There had to be a reason for that, but I had no choice but to leave it to him.
"Then I will be in your care."
I bowed and asked him to take care of it.