Chapter 189: Tales of Yore
The sea breeze was cool, and the waters calm: a day of rare, welcome weather.
Crates of gold coins were carried onto the deck and loaded into small boats. A full ten million gold represented the Silent Sea Pirate Company's first year's "employment fee."
Of course, this could hardly be interpreted as anything but tribute. To make things sound better, the contract stated that, aside from not attacking ships of the Ragetide Kingdom, the Silent Sea Pirate Company was also required to provide assistance within its capabilities. For example, if they happened to be nearby during a storm, they had to render aid to Ragetide ships.
Naturally, such situations would never occur in practice.
The Ragetide Kingdom knew full well the pirates would never lift a finger to help them, that they would always claim that they weren't nearby. But with that clause in place, the ten million gold could be interpreted as an escort fee, rather than war reparations.
The small boats, laden with gold, drifted toward the center of the sea where a massive whirlpool churned. This was where the exchange would take place.
As the last of the gold-laden boats was swallowed by the vortex, Ariel walked over to Ambrose and asked, "Shall we head directly to the Emerald Dreamwood now?"
Ambrose forced himself to remain calm. The gold he had just thrown away could technically be reclaimed from Aige later, but he had planned to claim the gold and then vanish straight away.
Who could have predicted that the King of the Ragetide Kingdom would insist that Ariel accompany him as envoy to the Emerald Dreamwood?