Chapter Twenty: Departure

Page 1/3

Hughes found Jeremiah’s changing expression somewhat amusing; he didn’t even need to guess what Jeremiah was imagining. The title of Border Count was indeed intimidating, but in truth, its greatest function was simply to intimidate.

The Empress tacitly allowed them to use this title to seek benefits, and naturally, the Empire could also reasonably claim a share.

Yet Hughes never expected to solve all problems by relying solely on a title.

“Iron and timber are definitely off the table—at least openly—but I can get you something that will satisfy you.” Hughes leisurely flipped through the ledger. “Of course, you can keep collecting your sea tax. Let me see... two baskets of fish? Thirty crates of sweet fruit wine?”

He smiled, shaking his head over the ledger. “You hardly even manage to bring in any gold rum, mostly just goods to offset the taxes.”

Jeremiah glanced gloomily at the ledger in Hughes’s hand.

He had to admit, Hughes was right—Castell was a poor place, or rather, the islands scattered across the Storm Ocean were generally impoverished.

If it were rich enough, why would pirates still exist? If one could earn money legitimately, who would risk their life at sea?

It was precisely the barrenness of this place, combined with the storms that could suddenly descend and destroy everything, that turned the Storm Ocean into a pirate’s paradise.

And the choice Hughes offered... damn, could that even be called a choice? It was a blatant threat.

He was undoubtedly taking revenge—for their interference in his territory, for their kidnapping of his chief clerk.

Jeremiah recalled the first words Hughes said: “Why isn’t Jewel Bay collecting taxes this year? Are you collecting from my men instead?”

No wonder he was so brazen.

Watching Hughes’s smiling face, Jeremiah knew he was bound to suffer a loss.

Could Jewel Bay refuse those scarce resources? Certainly not. Others might not realize it, but Jeremiah understood just how desperate the pirates were for ships and arms.

The Black Sail Fleet roamed the Storm Ocean unmatched, yet they were already struggling.

Ships were hard to replenish, and the mainland Empire had embargoed resources. They were like rats trapped in a pot, helplessly watching the Empress smirk as she boiled the water dry.

As long as Hughes could produce resources, Jewel Bay would immediately clear a place for him—higher than even his own captain.

“What resources? And when will they arrive?” Jeremiah asked dryly.

“You’ll see them at the port a month from now.”

Jeremiah’s face twitched. Hughes wouldn’t even tell him what was coming—no sign of sincerity at all.

Page 2/3

But Jeremiah truly had no choice. He cast a subtle glance at the tattooed man nearby. Although the man had come with him, he answered only to the pirate governor—a form of surveillance.

There were many pirate captains. If Jeremiah ruined this deal, the governor would simply replace him and send Jeremiah to feed the fish.

Jeremiah took a deep breath, drew the curved dagger from his waist along with its sheath, and solemnly placed it on the table before Hughes.

This was pirate protocol: after reaching an agreement, both parties exchanged an item. Offering one’s blade symbolized solemnity—and a threat.

If Hughes failed to uphold his promise, Jeremiah would hunt him for life, until his head hung from the mast of a ship.

Hughes took the dagger indifferently, then casually plucked a small, mud-covered conch shell tangled in his hair and handed it over.

An insult—thorough and complete!

Jeremiah inhaled deeply, thought it over, then inhaled deeply once more. He grabbed the conch shell without a word and turned to leave.

He would personally lead the fleet to collect the goods a month later... No, starting tonight, he would deploy men at sea to watch, preventing the damned lord from sneaking back to land.

If Hughes couldn’t deliver on the day of exchange, the Black Sail would surely hang his head from the highest mast.

Jeremiah sneered coldly.

If you’ve got the guts, take the whole island and fly away.

=================================

At the dock, watching the skiff carrying two pirates leave the island, Alexei looked at Hughes with a complex expression.

Today had completely shattered his impression of the lord.

When they first entered the room and began negotiating with the pirates, he had been full of pride, intent on using these pirates to his advantage.

But he had quickly hit a wall with the tattooed man. When he thought he would have to endure the pirates’ humiliation today, his lord Hughes arrived.

To be honest, Alexei had no hope when Hughes showed up—expecting much from this “weak” lord? He’d be lucky not to soil his pants.

Yet every move Hughes made exceeded Alexei’s expectations.

He didn’t suffer any loss to the pirates; in fact, he toyed with Jeremiah and took revenge on their behalf.

From start to finish, Hughes neither wielded force nor uttered insults. He simply demonstrated his worth, leaving the other party no choice but to grudgingly negotiate.

Page 3/3

Is this the essence of nobility? Previously, Alexei would have been indignant, feeling these achievements weren’t earned by merit.

But when the unfair side stood on his own, Alexei felt a strange mixture of feelings.

He found it wrong, yet somehow... satisfying.

Perhaps he should change his prejudice against Hughes.

Even if Hughes had previously made him deliver money to the pirates...

Wait!

Alexei suddenly stiffened, recalling Hughes’s earlier order to engage with the pirates. Perhaps... he had misunderstood his meaning?

At first, when Hughes sent him to handle the pirates, Alexei had thought it was because Hughes was weak and afraid to act himself.

Weak and afraid? Impossible. Thinking of that tattooed man, Alexei’s heart trembled. Such terrifying strength, and Hughes could speak so confidently before him.

There was no weakness or fear—only trust.

Trust that he could manage the pirate affairs well, just like this time.

And how had he repaid Hughes’s trust? By sending money to the pirates and feeling he was bearing humiliation.

In truth, it wasn’t that the pirate problem was unsolvable—it was his own incompetence. Lacking both skill and force, he had no choice but to submit.

After his poor performance, Hughes neither scolded nor punished him. Instead, he personally took charge in today’s negotiations, leading by example.

Alexei clenched his teeth, thinking that having a superior fight in front of you on the battlefield was a humiliation—and negotiations with pirates were no less a battlefield.

And what about him? Could he even call himself a soldier? Was he qualified? Alexei felt he was not; he was far from enough.

He had caused the trouble, yet made his lord clean up after him.

A fire seemed to burn within him. Ashamed, he lowered his head, straightened his posture, and stood firm. He decided that no matter how Hughes scolded or berated him next, he would not resist.

But Hughes’s next words stunned him.