28: Messenger visits

The simple shipyard of Iron Sand Island was located in a relatively secluded bay on the east side of the main pier. Before Linn and Elise even drew near, they could already hear the clanging of hammers and the sounds of woodworking coming from within.

Walking into the dock, the skeleton of a warship that had already begun to take shape lay quietly on the slipway. Its build was sleeker and more streamlined than a typical cargo ship, and the bow had been specially reinforced—clearly designed for better ramming and wave-breaking. Dozens of craftsmen and slaves were busy working under Henry's direction.

Great Master Henry was about fifty years old; his hair was somewhat graying, but his physique remained sturdy, and his skin appeared rough and dark from years of construction work. Wearing a set of overalls covered in wood shavings, he was gesturing with a set of blueprints toward several craftsmen. Seeing Linn's arrival, he immediately put down his work and hurried over to meet them, placing his right hand over his chest and bowing slightly.

“My respects to you, Lord Linn.” Henry's tone carried sincere respect, a world away from the numbness and wariness he had shown when he was first captured.

“Great Master Henry, no need for such formalities.” Linn gave him a light supportive gesture and cast an eager gaze toward the warship. “It seems progress is going very smoothly. Is this our first warship?”

“Yes, My Lord.” A hint of pride appeared on Henry's face. “According to your instructions and my design, this ship discards many of the redundant structures of merchant vessels to pursue greater speed and flexibility. The keel is made from the best ironwood on the island, with a sturdiness far exceeding ordinary oak. It is estimated that after launching, with a tailwind, its speed can be more than twice as fast as our existing cargo ships—enough to handle the pursuit or interception of most pirate ships.”

Linn nodded with satisfaction and walked a circle around the slipway. “Very good. Regarding what I mentioned last time about installing long-range heavy crossbows, Elise should have discussed it with you already, right?”

At the mention of this, an excited light flashed in Henry's eyes: “Yes, My Lord! The concept Miss Elise brought is extremely ingenious! We are designing a large torsion ballista that can fire specialized heavy bolts. The range is expected to reach over three hundred paces, enough to cause effective damage to enemy hulls, rigging, and even personnel before a boarding action. Not only can it be installed on warships, but as you said, if we miniaturize it and install it on the towers of coastal fortresses, it can also greatly enhance our shore defenses.”

“Whatever Materials and support you need, just ask Steward Morton for them.” Linn patted the rough planks of the ship. “This is the cornerstone of our maritime borders; it must be crafted with excellence.”

“Thank you for your support, My Lord!” Henry said gratefully, then hesitated slightly. “My Lord... you promised before that when the time was right...”

Linn understood what he was referring to and said solemnly: “I promised that I would not treat you as a slave. You are the shipbuilding master I have hired. Once we have established a firm foothold, possess enough power to protect ourselves, and find a safe route, I will fulfill my promise and send men to escort you back to the Kingdom of Ceris. This potion,” Linn took a crystal bottle from his robe, inside which a heart-stirring emerald green light rippled, “can help you achieve a Breakthrough to the Silver Rank. Not only will your strength increase, but your lifespan will also grow. This is the reward you deserve, and proof of my sincerity.”

Henry's hands trembled slightly as he took the potion, his eyes turning moist. After being captured by pirates, he thought he would spend the rest of his life in dark, endless slavery; he never expected to encounter a lord who respected skill so much and kept his word. He took a deep breath, carefully tucked the potion away, and bowed deeply once more: “Lord Linn, your kindness is something Henry will remember in his heart. Before I leave, I will surely do my utmost to build a fleet for you that can dominate the nearby seas!”

Just as Linn and Henry were conversing happily, a soldier from the guards ran over in a hurry.

“My Lord! News from the pier: a fast ship flying the banner of Baron Nocturne is requesting to dock. The other party claims to have brought a personal letter from the Baron.”

Linn and Elise exchanged a glance, both seeing the gravity in each other's eyes. The neighbor who had occupied Thunder Island for nearly twenty years had finally come knocking.

“Bring the messenger to the council chamber of the Lord's Manor,” Linn ordered, then nodded to Henry. “Great Master, you carry on with your work; I will go meet this neighbor's messenger.”

Soon, within the solemn council chamber, Linn met Baron Nocturne's messenger. He was a middle-aged knight wearing exquisite chainmail with an arrogant demeanor, possessing the strength of an early Silver Rank. Behind him followed two fully armed guards.

“Respected Pioneer Knight, Your Excellency Linn,” the messenger bowed slightly—a mere formality—but his tone was not very respectful. “I am here by the order of Baron Nocturne to convey his greetings and bring the Baron's personal letter.” As he spoke, he took out a letter sealed with wax, which Morton then presented to Linn.

Ocean Jack prepared to step forward to teach this fellow a lesson for his disrespectful tone toward Linn, but he was stopped by Linn's gaze.

Linn opened the letter and scanned it quickly. The contents were basically consistent with the intelligence Ocean Jack had scouted earlier. In the letter, Baron Nocturne first politely congratulated Linn on his pioneering efforts here, then shifted his tone to severely condemn the Flamingo Pirate Group's threat to the surrounding waters, calling them “plunderers of merchants, attackers of territories, and perpetrators of every evil.” Finally, the Baron formally extended an invitation, hoping Linn would join forces with him to suppress the Flamingo Pirate Group together once the spring storms had completely subsided. The letter promised that the spoils would be distributed according to the effort contributed and hinted that if Linn participated, the Baron could recognize his legal right to rule Iron Sand Island and its surrounding islets in the future.

Linn put down the letter and looked at the messenger with a calm face: “I am aware of Baron Nocturne's proposal. The Flamingo Pirate Group is indeed a major concern. However, my territory is newly established and my military strength is limited. This is a matter of great importance; I need time to discuss it with my subordinates.”

The messenger seemed to have expected Linn to respond this way, and he tilted his chin: “The Baron hopes to have your clear answer before mid-March. After all, opportunity knocks but once. Once the Flamingo Pirate Group is allowed to catch its breath, I'm afraid we will all be in big trouble.” His words carried a faint, underlying threat.

“I understand.” Linn remained unfazed. “The messenger has traveled far and worked hard. Morton, take the messenger down to rest and treat him well.”

After the messenger left, Linn looked at the core members in the hall—Morton, Elise, Clay, Ocean Jack, and the others.

“You all heard it. Tell me your thoughts.”

Ocean Jack was the first to speak: “My Lord, that old dog Nocturne has no good intentions! He wants to use us as cannon fodder! The Flamingo Pirate Group is powerful; even if we join forces, the outcome is fifty-fifty. He’s been established for years and can afford losses, but we can’t afford too much attrition.”

Clay also said in a heavy voice: “Captain Ocean is right. But if we refuse, we will likely offend Baron Nocturne. Moreover, the Flamingo Pirate Group is a threat to us after all.”

Elise said softly: “Young Master, this is a crisis, but also an opportunity. We might be able to use this to gauge Baron Nocturne's true strength, and even... look for opportunities to strengthen ourselves in the chaos. But the premise is that we must be fully prepared and not be used as his tool.”

Karl added from the side: “We can agree to him first, but the timing, route, and how to coordinate the deployment of troops all need careful consideration. Our interests must come first.”

Linn's fingers tapped lightly on the table as he fell into deep thought. Nocturne's invitation was like a double-edged sword. Refusing might lead to the risk of being picked off one by one or isolated; agreeing was a life-or-death gamble with an uncertain outcome.

“Elise is right; a crisis is also an opportunity.” Linn finally spoke, a sharp light flashing in his eyes. “Ocean, send out more scouts to closely monitor the movements of Thunder Island and the Flamingo Pirate Group. I want the most detailed intelligence on them. Elise, speed up the manufacturing of the warships and heavy crossbows while stockpiling more food and supplies. Clay, Karl, Angus—the army is to enter a state of combat readiness. Intensify the training!”

He stood up, his gaze sweeping over everyone: “We will feign agreement for now. As for exactly how to act... we will decide after we return from trading at Tianhai City and see the situation clearly! Until then, strength is our only reliance!”

“Ocean, go and call that messenger back. It won't be that easy to make us deploy troops for nothing.”

“Yes, My Lord!”