24 - Harbor Town

The Harbor town lay to the east of the entire Sekas Empire, renowned for its proximity to the vast Misty Sea.

Thanks to the temporary calm brought about by the effects of Moonrise, the deadly whirlpool known as the Eye of Death had stilled. Countless cargo ships, laden with spices and ores, were now able to sail directly to the capital city of the Sekas Empire, Vikniel.

This was the busiest time for the Harbor.

However, this year was somewhat different. To capture the devilish cultists causing chaos in the Nordland's territory, the entrance to the Harbor town had extra guard posts. Caravans had to line up and endure inspections amid a chorus of complaints.

"Shouldn't be a problem, right?" Lynn, who was skillfully disguised, felt somewhat nervous. He continued to adjust his voice, attempting to mimic the struggling and shouting he had heard during the rescue last night.

It wasn't a particularly challenging task. The essence of sound was nothing more than waves propagating through mediums like air, causing vibrations in the eardrum. 071 had already recorded Lotte's vocal characteristics. All Lynn had to do was imitate it.

Now, it was time to test his composure.

With mixed feelings, Lynn, adopting the most natural demeanor, crossed the line of waiting caravans, nodded at the guards, and stepped into the Harbor town.

A few stationed guards hesitated but did not dare to intervene.

"Who was that just now?" Priest Adan, stationed at the checkpoint, noticed Lynn's departure and furrowed his brows, asking.

"That was His Lordship Lotte, the son of Baron Pedrol. He's been quite generous to the Church in recent years, probably to ensure Lotte's smooth passage through the knighthood test. I remember him a bit," the guard truthfully replied.

On the other side, Lynn, who had successfully entered the Harbor town, was now drenched in cold sweat. The moment he passed the guard post, he even prepared for a physical altercation. Fortunately, everything went as planned.

His current identity was the legitimate son of a hereditary baron. While it might not mean much in all of Nordland, in the small Harbor town, this status offered him significant advantages.

Having passed the most challenging test, Lynn was able to ease his guarded posture somewhat. However, the unfamiliarity of the Harbor town soon became a headache. He had to spend a considerable amount of time wandering the Harbor, silently committing every location to memory, all while pretending to be familiar with the surroundings.

After hours of wandering, Lynn carefully entered a shop with a circular emblem on its façade.

If he wasn't mistaken, this was the emblem of Lame Laut's gang, known as the "Gang of the Ships."

The shop's owner was an elderly halfling. As Lynn stepped inside, he was busy moving a large barrel of heavy yellow-black ore to the other end of the room.

Due to his short stature, the heavy iron barrel pressed against the halfling's face and constantly swayed as he walked. The small pieces of ore on top quickly tumbled to the ground.

Seeing this scene, Lynn stepped forward to lend a hand, and together, they piled the ore from the large barrel into a corner.

"Thank you so much... guest!" The elderly halfling, speaking with a pronounced nasal tone, vigorously wiped his dust-covered hands on his pants before turning to Lynn and said, "Alright, let's get down to business. Welcome to Bill's little shop... I mean, what can I help you with, Lord Lotte?"

After getting a good look at Lynn's appearance, the halfling Bill's casual attitude immediately turned obsequious.

He practically lunged toward the counter and retrieved several ornate boxes from a drawer, each containing red and blue gemstones. "You can have a look at these; they're the finest goods this year... and we also have a whole shipment of exquisite spices that you won't find anywhere else," Bill rambled on.

Lynn, on the other hand, waved his hand with a lack of interest, interrupting the halfling's words. "I'm not here to buy anything. Quite the opposite, I have a valuable shipment that I want to send through the Misty Sea to reach Vikniel."

"I heard that you have the ability to arrange a ship for long voyages and ensure the safety of the cargo, is that right?" Lynn asked tentatively.

"Of course, everyone in the Harbor town knows the reputation of the Gang of the Ships, and even those vile pirates wouldn't dare to intercept our vessels!" Bill puffed out his unruly beard and assured Lynn.

"But renting an entire ship for cargo transport requires a lot of crew and guards..." Bill cautiously observed Lynn's reaction, ready to determine the price based on his expression. This was a golden opportunity to make a big profit.

"Money is not a problem!" Lynn said without hesitation, tossing out a substantial sum. Then, with Bill's exuberant expression, he changed his tone and continued, "However, this shipment is of utmost importance. I need to meet Laut in person, preferably face to face!"

Bill's expression became somewhat hesitant.

"What? Do you think I'm not qualified to meet Lame Laut?" Lynn furrowed his brow and his tone grew stern.

"No, no, no," Bill shook his head frantically. He definitely didn't dare to say that.

After a moment of hesitation, Bill looked around and cautiously said, "In fact, very few people in the Gang of the Ships know the entire truth. Mr. Laut is currently not in the Harbor town."

"How convenient," Lynn clearly hesitated for a moment, scrutinizing the halfling in front of him with a suspicious look before asking, "Do you know where he went?"

Bill smacked his lips and helplessly said, "I'm not sure. Normally, around Moonrise, Mr. Laut stays in the Harbor, but this year seems to be an exception."

Lynn stared at the elderly halfling for a while, then suddenly spoke, "Forget it. If Laut isn't here, I'll seek help elsewhere."

The elderly halfling immediately became anxious. "Lord Lotte, maybe you should reconsider. While Mr. Laut is not in the Harbor town, I can contact Rabel for you. He is Mr. Laut's most trusted subordinate and can handle all matters for the Gang of the Ships..."

"I've said it already, this cargo is extremely valuable. I need to speak with Laut personally. Notify me when he returns," Lynn said, ignoring Bill's continued calls as he walked out of the shop.

Outside, on the well-kept docks, dozens of massive sailboats were moored. Dockworkers in gray attire were busy moving crates filled with goods from the decks to the wooden platforms by the docks, amidst the noisy hubbub of the crowd and the overseer's shouts.

Lynn surveyed the bustling scene of the Harbor town, his mind filled with doubt.

In recent days, this was the busiest time for the Harbor, and according to Jenny's description, the passage to the land of the wizards would briefly open. It was the only chance each year to transport goods to the land of the wizards. At such a critical juncture, Laut should not be leaving.