Our Family Has Fallen

Redbeard certainly knew who those people were, but he didn’t hesitate much under pressure.

As long as he could plunder enough funds, he could recruit more manpower. It was possible to become the Pirate King, instead of just having small skirmishes here.

Perhaps he could even occupy a place, become a lord. It’s been said the Empire is now in civil war, so as long as he is strong enough, he could become a noble.

Then he arrived at Hamlet and ran into Lance.

The memories beyond that point, Lance wasn’t keen on questioning any further, nor was there any need.

This Redbeard was quite strong and had a very resolute will. Previously, it was only the shocking appearance of the No Light that managed to break through his consciousness; mentioning the No Light might agitate him.

It’s not that he could threaten Lance, just that it wouldn’t be as convenient for the interrogation.

But those simple questions revealed a lot.

Redbeard was previously a crew member under Black Jack, and he even participated in the ancestral transaction between Black Jack and the elders, knowing the shortcut of a small dock in the bay.

It’s just when he was promoted to control a ship under his own, that’s when he dodged a bullet.

To be honest, they all suspected something had happened to Black Jack in Hamlet, but no one said anything, as they all wanted the spoils for themselves.

Just a pity that the coming pirates would have no chance against the fishmen in the water.

That Sword Saint who cleaves through the deep sea, that Shaman who stirs the waves, those Giant Pincer Tidestealers clutching you with those enormous pincers...

If they can’t beat you, there’s always the alluring sirens; if one’s will isn’t incredibly strong, escape is almost impossible, and one can only give up everything to become one of the fishmen.

It seems the fishmen have protected Hamlet for a long time, but soon enough, Lance felt something strange, and the more he thought about it, the more off it seemed.

Damn it, weren’t there always pirates going to the bay, confusing the fishmen, making them think humans were attacking them?

So they went to attack nearby humans in revenge, and Hamlet happened to be the closest, thus bearing the brunt of the assault.

Is it possible? Indeed, there is such a possibility.

Lance had delved into the bay, knowing the fishmen didn’t worship the elders, but rather another Evil God.

Moreover, they truly consider the bay as their home, with traces of civilization inside, albeit it’s merely the most rudimentary tribal form.

Constant intrusion by pirate ships would certainly make them sense a threat, making Hamlet seem the likeliest enemy.

Perhaps the truth here is the elders sacrificed something again for trade with them, as back then the timing was crucial.

But now, with the fishmen gone, this mess loses its significance.

As for those contacting Redbeard, although they didn’t meet directly, it was through intermediaries.

But everyone knew they were from Totnes.

As for why Redbeard is so certain, it concerns a very important factor.

Why could a lonely island in Shipwreck Bay become a pirate haven?

Excluding the many reefs and turbulent currents that make it hard for the regular army’s large ships to besiege it, only skilled vessels can navigate in and out.

An even more significant reason is that it’s a place where stolen goods are disposed of.

To be honest, pirate looting mainly aims for money, but merchant ships aren’t foolish. They rarely carry large cash sums, opting instead to trade the money received for goods.

After all, one can’t run a route empty-handed; it’s enough to sell the goods at the destination for profits.

Just like those Totnes merchant ships coming to Hamlet, bringing various merchandise, exchanging it for gold coins with Lance, then filling their ships with goods to spend the gold coins on their way back.

The conversion of people and finances into gold is more straightforward, but the plundered materials are hard to sell through regular channels, hoarded with a shelf life; for instance, if food rots, that’s a significant loss.

Thus, a distribution center for selling stolen goods emerges, forming a pirate market.

Why could Redbeard guess the origin of the other side? It’s because only Totnes could consume so much without raising suspicion.

Pirates mainly spend on eating, drinking, and having fun, unable to consume the goods, and theirs are swift ships, with merchant ships partially convertible into pirate ships, but most are unsuitable for modification.

They would indeed want to ransom the merchant ship’s owner, but not everyone can do that, giving rise to a powerful broker.

Sometimes to dispose of goods quickly, those merchant ships and cargo prices are usually fifty percent normal, or even thirty percent lower, as swapping for cash is better than none.

These individuals handle stolen goods, bridge connections with owners, opening taverns, casinos, brothels, and all sorts of entertainment facilities in Shipwreck Bay, and they could bring in such great things.

But in reality, everyone knows those fellows are from Totnes.

In Shipwreck Bay, they are pirates; in Totnes, they are the navy.

Is Shipwreck Bay backed by Totnes then?

Lance briefly processed this information, then recalled something.

That’s the decline of Hamlet’s commercial activities, precisely due to the severed maritime supply chain. Though the elders are responsible, it’s the pirates perpetually consuming that are key.

And at the same time, Totnes’s maritime trade began to rise significantly. If Totnes supported pirates to open sales channels, it makes sense.