Chapter 979: Volume 31: The Hand That Conceals the Sky, - 23: Reach Out
When Vladimir Koff and his group arrived at Xifnos Island, it was already half a month later.
Although they had heard about the situation on Xifnos Island when they stopped along the southern Mediterranean coast, the actual prosperity of Xifnos Island still stunned Vladimir Koff and his companions when they saw it with their own eyes.
The endless sea of sails and masts awed Vladimir Koff and his companions, who all knew that Xifnos Island was nothing but an uninhabited piece of land just two years ago. Yet, in such a short period of time, Xifnos Island had transformed into a dazzling jewel in the Southern Mediterranean, a hotbed of central importance, an essential stepping stone between the vast Continent and the Storm Ocean. Who could really understand the twists and turns that occurred during this transformation?
Traders from various places were conversing in their local dialects on the docks, boasting about the fine goods they brought. Shipowners were discussing changes in freight rates and the volume of goods in small groups, while customs officers maintained a high level of work intensity. They could only take turns to eat and rest, as ships were constantly arriving and departing. They needed to complete customs and tax procedures in a short amount of time.
Without a doubt, the dockworkers were the busiest of all, hustling to load and unload goods, store them in warehouses and cabins. Overseers were shrewdly checking the quality of the merchandise, and prostitutes roamed about, hoping to attract one or two generous clients for a lucrative transaction. The two-kilometer-long, narrow docks of Xifnos Island were a microcosm of the city itself.
Xifnos Island had now truly become a trade hub located at the southern edge of the Mediterranean and bordering the Storm Ocean. The power vacuum left by the disappearance of Demisheme was quickly filled by Hayreddin’s reorganized fleet. In this area where even the Carter Fleet could not intervene, Hayreddin became the undisputed boss.
Ships sailing from the Storm Ocean to enter the Southern Mediterranean or to head east to the Continent all inevitably had to pass through these waters, voluntarily or not docking at Xifnos Island. Especially after Hayreddin issued a declaration promoting trade and ensuring the safety of shipping lanes, the number of fleets from the Storm Ocean surged, also fueling the resurgence of the shipping industry in the surrounding areas.
Ports like Tilo City-State, which had declined due to the obstruction posed by Demisheme and the Carter Fleet, immediately sensed the opportunity for a local resurgence from Hayreddin’s declaration. If Hayreddin could truly ensure safe passage through these complicated maritime areas, it would be a rare opportunity for growth for the entire Southern Mediterranean region.