Chapter 21: Sea Trade

A few hours passed...

Ethan was in his study reading a parchment that was elegantly sealed with the insignia of the Raven's Shadow Knight Order. As Ethan broke the wax seal, he unfolded the letter, his eyes scanning the neat, flowing script. The letter was from Mortimer, a Knight lieutenant of the Order. 

"Your Grace," the letter began, "I write to you with updates regarding our investigation into Princess Luna's recent travels. As our ravens have shadowed her traces, we have found that she had visited several kingdoms and cities, all in the name of establishing a trade alliance." 

The letter went into finer detail, describing Luna's meetings with various rulers. "In the Kingdom of Thule," Mortimer wrote, "she offered a similar proposal - their grains and pelts for Frostfall's ores. In the City of Eirene, she proposed a trade of their medicinal herbs for gemstones." 

The letter further described Luna's demeanor during these negotiations. "Princess Luna has shown great diplomacy and determination in her pursuits. Her words have been consistent, and her intentions clear." 

The letter concluded with a reassurance. "Your Grace, our observations align with Princess Luna's words to you. Her pursuit of a trade alliance is genuine." 

Ethan sat the letter down, pondering the new information. 

< Throne Room > 

Ethan sat upon his throne, his gaze sweeping over the assembly of council heads, the Knight Commander, and the captains. Clearing his throat, he began, "Ladies and Gentlemen, I have received word from my people, and they confirm Princess Luna's intentions are pure." 

A murmur of surprise ran through the room. Asher, the Knight Commander, leaned forward, "Are you certain, Your Grace? Her actions seemed suspicious." 

Ethan nodded, holding up the letter for him to see. "As certain as the ink on this parchment, Uncle. Their observations align with her words to us." 

"I have decided to accept Princess Luna's offer. We shall begin preparations for the trade alliance." Ethan slowly said. 

"B-but your Grace, how would we be able to transport the trade goods?" Leo asked. 

"Does anyone have any feasible suggestions?" Ethan asked. 

Ethan watched as the room descended into heated debate. Leo suggested, "We could use the old trade routes through the mountains. It's a well-trodden path." 

Another man instantly countered, "But that would leave us vulnerable to bandit attacks. Your Grace we've heard reports of increased activity there." 

Ethan turned to Asher," Bandits?" 

"Your Majesty, beyond our borders between the mountain paths lurk a few groups of bandits." Asher replied curtly. "Can't we eliminate them?" Ethan asked suprised.

"I am afraid not. It would take weeks to get there, and no one knows where their lair could be." 

"Very well, do you have a suggestion Uncle?" 

"We could consider overland routes through the plains. The terrain is easier, and we can move larger caravans." He spoke. 

But Rowan shook his head. "The plains are too exposed, Commander. It would take weeks to cross, leaving us open to weather conditions and potential enemy scouts." 

"Then what about the forest paths?" Magnus suggested but was met with dismissive scoffs. "The paths are too narrow and treacherous for large caravans, Magnus. It's an impractical idea." 

The room filled with frustrated sighs and worried glances. Ethan, who had been quietly observing, suddenly furrowed his brows in deep thought. An idea sparked in his mind, something they had discussed long ago. "What about sea travel?" he suggested, his voice cutting through the tense atmosphere. 

Everyone turned to look at him, their expressions shifting from surprise to thoughtful consideration. "We have to have few sturdy ships of course, but if we could get some ships," Ethan continued, "They could carry a large amount of goods and the journey would be faster." 

The room fell silent as they weighed his words. Sea travel was risky, but it was a risk that might be worth taking. The potential for success suddenly seemed greater, and the council members found themselves nodding in agreement. Sea travel, it seemed, was their most feasible plan. 

"But Your Majesty may I be so bold to say, we do not have the corresponding materials, builders or sailors. It may go without saying but we know absolutely nothing about sea travel." Gavin replied. Gavin Fox was also from a newly created council, and he is the council head of the Builders Council. He was a veteran artisan and builder. He was the most experienced artisan in the kingdom and even he knew nothing regarding ships.

"You do not have to worry about that" Ethan laughed lightly. "I will get everything that we need. Dismissed" 

Ethan sat alone in the throne room and summoned the system once more. He searched through the mall and found what he was looking for. 

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System Mall 

Boats Blueprints: 

Swamp Lurker: Built for shallow waters, this boat is perfect for traversing swamps and marshes. 5,000 Gold 

River Runner: A small, sturdy boat used for river travel. Though not the fastest, it can handle strong currents and heavy loads. 8,000 Gold 

Estuary Explorer: A sturdy boat that can handle the changing tides of estuaries. It's small but well-built, making it a reliable choice for exploration. 10,000 Gold 

Sea Sprite: The best of the small boats, designed for both inland and coastal waters. It's quick, durable, and can handle a surprising amount of cargo, making it the most versatile and reliable of the small boats. 20,000 Gold 

Coastal Carrack: This boat is designed for coastal waters. It's faster and more maneuverable than its predecessors, making it ideal for scouting missions. 40,000 Gold 

Maritime Carrack: The Maritime Carrack is a fast and sturdy boat, designed for both warfare and trade. Its versatility makes it a valuable addition to any fleet. 70,000 Gold 

Oceanic Caravela: A robust medium-sized boat, capable of venturing into the open ocean. It's designed for sturdy long-distance travel. 80,000 Gold 

Galleon Guardian: The cream of the crop among medium-sized boats. With its larger cargo capacity and remarkable durability, it can venture into open seas and withstand harsh conditions. It's well-suited for long voyages, trade, and even naval battles. 150,000 Gold 

Leviathan Light: Despite its name, this massive boat is the smallest in the heavyweight category. It's slow and cumbersome, making it best suited for heavy cargo transportation in calm, coastal waters. 300,000 Gold 

Oceanic Orca: A significant improvement over its predecessors, the Oceanic Orca is a massive boat that's built for long-distance travel. It's sturdy and reliable, able to withstand stormy seas. 400,000 Gold 

Colossal Kraken: The best of the best among heavyweight boats. The Colossal Kraken is a true marvel of naval engineering. It's massive, fast, and incredibly durable. It can carry a massive amount of cargo, making it ideal for long voyages of trade or exploration. And with its powerful cannons and strong hull, it's also a force to be reckoned with in naval battles. 800,000 Gold 

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Looking at the amount of boats Ethan decided for now, he would buy the Oceanic Caravela and the Sea Sprite. Ethan thought that since they decided to do sea trading he could also start developing on the great Jubi river and transport inland. The Oceanic Caravela would be used for the sea trade and the Sea Sprite for the river trade.

Ethan wanted to buy better quality ships for safety purposes, but these two ships alone cost him 100,00 thousand gold which at the moment was half of his wealth. Since they wanted to start developing sea trade how could they trade without the proper facilities and as such Ethan kept the last 100,000 gold to build a Port City in the north. Thus he could not afford the more expensive choices.

Ethan decided to rest first then spread his orders to those involved. The day passed and Ethan passed on his orders to the builder's council and economic and agriculture council. After everything was done, he retreated into his chambers and started focusing on his cultivation.