Chapter 941: Volume 30 The Rise of the Empire - 12 The Bathtub
Komer did not show his feelings towards the scenes unfolding before him; he had mastered the art of keeping his joy and anger from coloring his features. The dramatic transformation of Xifnos Island deepened his impression of Hayreddin and made him realize that there must be many talented individuals around Hayreddin. To create such a grand scene in such a short amount of time—despite having Komer’s substantial funds at his disposal—was no easy feat.
The island, which had been neglected despite its excellent location, was mainly barren due to the rocky and uneven terrain of the site. To transform this island into a major trade hub, the first and foremost challenge was to overcome the difficulty presented by its landscape.
From what he could see, Hayreddin had succeeded admirably in this regard. By using the funds he supported to cyclically develop a fleet, in addition to the incorporation of Demisheme’s naval power, the previously dangerous waters became a clear path. This facilitated the rapid development of shipping between the coasts of the Storm Ocean, the Mediterranean, and the Mang Continent, turning Xifnos Island into a dazzling pearl on the Mediterranean.
The horse-drawn carriage ran smoothly on the stone path, and though the streets of Xifnos were somewhat inferior to those in towns like Ugru and Mattdam, Komer was quite satisfied. After touring around Xifnos Island, the place brimmed with vitality. A spacious square in the center and numerous buildings were built upon gently rolling hills, terraformed into relatively flat high grounds, certainly not a minor engineering feat. Countless merchants carried out their trade here, and the prosperity was not much less than that of a city like Odessa.
After making a full round, Komer returned to the dock and his gaze drifted toward the fleet hidden behind distant rugged hills. "Hayreddin, is that your fleet?"
"Yes, Lord, our main fleet is stationed there, separated from the merchant vessels—it’s a military zone where outsiders are not permitted," Hayreddin nodded. "Ships setting out to sea regularly patrol through the merchant vessel areas, deterring other powers from filling the void created by Demisheme’s withdrawal. This region can only be occupied by our force."
"How are the naval activities of the Mediterranean countries?"
"They seldom sail out of their actual control areas, spending most of their time patrolling their own waters; we rarely have conflicts with them. How should I put it, there’s a kind of unspoken understanding. They acknowledge our existence, and we respect their rights. After all, we are no longer pirates. To be precise, these city-states and nations’ fleets are not really capable of waging war anymore; they are more like coast guards, capable of apprehending smugglers perhaps, but to face a real fleet, their only outcome would be annihilation," Hayreddin explained.