Chapter 75
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 75
Chapter Title: Need a Ship (2)
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Ian's words plunged Dominic straight into thought.
'The desert? If it's Sahar...'
Ian added,
"I'm not too familiar with merchant groups. But from what I've heard, the desert traders cross between continents with dozens of ships, right?"
"That's right. The desert merchants are experts in maritime trade, rivaling even the Maritime Kingdom."
"Of course, I know we can't blindly trust Sahar, but since we've shared some camaraderie..."
"Pfft, none of that holds up against money."
"...I see."
"Still,"
Dominic grinned.
"If it's someone we've shared secrets with, that might change things."
What Evergreen needed on the surface was a sturdy ship and experienced crew. But even more crucial was fending off the packs of vultures who were constantly eyeing chances to steal their techniques and trade goods!
It was still too early for rumors to spread overseas, so the most dangerous threats to Evergreen right now were the merchants based in the capital, who used it as their hub.
Dominic was already convinced that the thief who had ransacked the market office last time was one of them, even without hard evidence.
"I should send a letter... no, a communication."
As long as he knew the secret about discovering the elven city, the desert folk wouldn't stir up needless trouble. At this point, they could be the most reliable partners.
The long table in the conference room was filled with all the administrators seated.
Dominic, at the head, stared at the crystal orb and swallowed dryly.
Everyone's lips were parched with tension.
[...Sorry to keep you waiting. The regular fleet from the eastern continent just arrived.]
A slow, peculiar tone emanated from the orb.
It was Sahar.
[I hear my daughter has been up to some amusing business lately?]
"Yes. Fortunately, Lady Rabia is enjoying herself every day."
As expected.
The fact that he knew Evergreen's situation in such detail from afar meant he was no ordinary man.
'Well, who is, when it comes to Sahar?'
As the scale grew and trade volume surged, the number of people coming and going from Evergreen was exploding exponentially.
Any group with real power on the continent would have planted at least one spy here.
It was still just a fledgling little city in its early stages, but with profitable discoveries popping up every season and full of wondrous things, it was only natural that intelligence-gathering efforts continued unabated.
Luckily, even before being promoted to city status, they'd been selective about those wanting to relocate permanently, and they were still rigorously vetting anyone seeking residency in the core areas. That might be why no major incidents had occurred yet.
[Good. As long as that child is happy. I knew she wouldn't take the ordinary path, with her deep passion for art since childhood, but for her to make such a bold decision... I can read people like an open book from ten miles away, yet I couldn't see into my own daughter's heart.]
"Doesn't every father feel the same?"
Even the great Sahar got tongue-tied talking about his daughter. He reeked of doting dad.
[I trust you'll take good care of her, but she must never be made a laughingstock, even on stage.]
"As if we would."
[Don't take it lightly. She's a child blessed by the sun—no blemish must mar her.]
"...?"
At the words from the orb, Dominic paled and scribbled on a paper to show Sahar.
- Sultan's woman!
"Eung?"
From war orphan turned village chief to market mayor in a flash, yet highborn folk kept flocking in. What kind of karma was this?
Dominic wondered.
'No wonder she flaunts that priceless stuff so carelessly. Sigh. Now I'll have to watch out for Lady Rabia too, damn it.'
He sighed involuntarily.
Now, the only easy ones left were Ian and Karim. His mouth felt bitter.
[Haha. Seeing you so shocked brings me joy, such joy!]
"Uh... but singing...!"
Now that he knew her future status, worry set in.
In a world where bards held low status—treated like fortune-telling gypsies or wandering minstrels.
Evergreen treated musicians and bards well due to its romantic tourist vibe, but just the next city over, things could turn ugly.
That was Dominic's concern.
"Uh... um... alcohol... no, I mean, the woman of the desert sun, or rather, the lady herself taking the stage—is that alright?"
[Why block a natural talent from shining?]
"Still..."
[I know where your worry comes from, but the desert scorns the ignorant of art. Isn't it fine to let her be? Just ensure the crowd's eyes hold reverence, not greed, fearing the sun's wrath.]
"...Pardon?"
What was that supposed to mean?
This guy had a knack for complicating simple talk.
He wanted to say he couldn't handle that, he was busy—but he clamped his mouth shut.
[You need a ship?]
He could picture Sahar grinning without even looking.
"Yes, Sahar. We'll figure something out for Lady Rabia. So, the mid-sized ship is a gift in exchange?"
[Heh heh. Still as hasty with your words. What's one ship to me?]
The administrators in the room silently hugged each other in relief.
To think it'd resolve like this!
[But demanding seasoned crew on top? That's another matter.]
Ah, never mind.
Up and down it went.
"We'll meet your conditions as best we can—how could we refuse?"
[Hmmm. As if I lack for anything.]
Dominic bit his lip.
Even offering porcelain trade wouldn't work—they'd already locked in great terms long ago.
Adding coffee and spices to sweeten the deal meant using that as leverage now would damage trust.
'Can't afford to break trust with Sahar. Evergreen would be isolated.'
Dominic knew it, and so did the administrators. The room fell silent.
As hesitation dragged, Sahar spoke first.
[Humans know training talent—not goods—takes unpredictable time and money. So you can't just lend out skilled people carelessly.]
"Exactly, Sahar."
[Thus, people for people is only fair.]
It was unexpected.
"To get seasoned sailors, you want us to send skilled artisans in return?"
[Close, but no. What use have we for imperial craftsmen, with our different culture and ways?]
"Then...?"
[I'll select a few of mine and send them over. As many as the sailors. You said you have places to teach specialized skills—train them to be worth one man's share each, then send them back. A fine deal, no?]
His tone was still leisurely, even-keeled, but the intent was clear.
'He wants exchange students!'
Dominic nodded. Not a bad proposal.
As Sahar said, who knew how long it'd take to train capable sailors and navigators.
And rash contracts with unreliable maritime traders carried too much risk.
'Who'd have thought porcelain profits would be the problem? One betrayal and it's a fortune lost. Tsk.'
So for Dominic, stuck accepting Sahar's added terms, housing and feeding a few students was nothing.
[If so, the gossips will say Sahar accommodated imperials? No—they'll say I boldly invested in desert talent. Good either way.]
Karim scribbled pros and cons furiously, then nodded to Dominic.
No loss for them.
'Teaching desert talent? The capital nobles might gripe, but whatever.'
Those capital snobs discriminated against other races as naturally as breathing, but they were already at odds with the south anyway.
'They'd trash the south regardless of this.'
The bad blood between regions wasn't new.
Plus, Dominic had Count Sinclair to shield him politically.
'Headache stuff is for the lord. I'm just a city mayor—what, consider regional feuds too?'
Decision made, Dominic beamed at the orb.
"I'll send the contract right away."
A few hitches, but now they could start collecting in earnest.
In the meantime, the academy had held its first exam, shops had filled the central plaza, and the port now had basic facilities for mid-to-small ships.
Still no proper space to unload cargo without slogging through mud, so docking trade ships was impossible—but squeezing in the boss's own vessel was feasible now.
"It should be here any moment... What if there's an accident... Ptoo! Ptoo! Ugh, almost jinxed it."
Dominic muttered, biting his nails alone, his face changing by the second.
He even had his own carriage now, but that was no match for a ship.
'Plus, it's a random draw. Gimme something cool! Awesome!'
What if Sahar sent a rickety wreck? Should've specified condition in the contract. Dominic fretted over every possibility.
"Would a famed desert trader stoop to that?"
"...Maybe that's how he got rich, skimping on stuff like this."
"Learn to trust people a bit."
Ian repaying words he'd once heard.
Dominic shot him a dead-fish glare, but Ian just shrugged and gazed at the sea.
With a victor's smile.
"Huh?"
"What, think I'll get duped again...? Huh? Huh!"
Right on cue, a ship emerged from behind the facing island.
Dominic stared, entranced, as it sliced through the waves smoothly.
Whoosh—.
Even the sound was cool.
'This ain't like a car engine—whole different scale.'
- Furl the sails!
- Ship the oars!
A beautiful mid-sized galley, proudly showing its lines.
The crew's shouts carried faintly—they were that close.
"Sent a good one, eh?"
"Stonehammer? How'd you get all the way out here yourself?"
"Had to check my creation's state with my own eyes before loading. Might as well grab some beer while I'm at it."
"Good call. Beer’s on me."
"Tall human. Seems you've made a tidy sum. Heh heh."
As Dominic chatted briefly with Stonehammer, small rowboats launched from the galley, ferrying people one by one.
"Guessing they figured docking's tricky. Hm. Smart move. Bigger than expected."
Dominic and Ian nodded at Stonehammer's words.
If a dwarf said it, it was gospel.
"...Eh?"
Then, Stonehammer peered piercingly at one rowboat and clicked his tongue.
"That one's no human."