Chapter 343 Arriving at Westport
The Fortune is a cargo ship belonging to Todd Shipping Company. It is a brand new two-masted sailing ship with a "fat" hull with two decks. It travels between Fulan Port and Westport. In addition to carrying cargo, it usually also carries some passengers. Compared with the simple facilities on the Hope and the South, the accommodation conditions on the Fortune are relatively improved. In addition to the captain's room, there are also several small compartments for passengers to rest. Ordinary sailors do not enjoy this kind of treatment. They still set up berths in the cabin when sleeping, and they must take turns. rest.
In a place like this where land is at a premium, ordinary civilians cannot afford to live in compartments. They can only squeeze into the dark, humid and indescribable smell of the bottom warehouse. This part of the space is completely below the waterline of the hull. The conditions are comparable to those of later stowaway ships.
"What a terrible journey!" Liya stroked her chest with one hand and held the side of the ship with the other, her delicate face looking pale. She had just vomited again and had eaten something in the morning, but now her stomach was empty again.
Irene gently hit her on the back with a distressed look on her face, "Oh, you really have to suffer with me."
After boarding the Fortune and setting off, the first day was fine, but on the second day her bodyguard Liya began to get seasick. Fortunately, under the strict order of the Government Affairs Council, every merchant ship must be equipped with a doctor. Under the care of the doctor, Liya Ya's symptoms of seasickness have been alleviated, but it can only be said to be good and bad.
Irene looked apologetic: "I'm sorry for making you suffer so much with me."
Liya frowned: "Miss, what are you talking about?"
Since leaving Arda, she gradually returned to the serious and old-fashioned tone when she spoke as a princess guard in the palace.
“Serving the lord is the most basic duty of a knight, and facing adversity is also a necessary training on the road of knighthood—well!”
Before she could finish speaking, Liya covered her mouth.
"Really, you should be less preachy!"
Irene continued to gently hit him on the back.
"What a loyal and commendable subordinate!" A voice of praise came from the deck.
Irene judged from the voice that this was another guest on the Fortune - businessman Willows.
Speaking of this Velos, he claimed to be from Westport and had been doing business in Huxin Town since last year. This time he also took the Fortune to return to his hometown to handle business matters.
However, Erin and Liya always felt that Velos and several of his subordinates were always hovering around them intentionally or unintentionally.
Are you paranoid? After all, there is only such a small place on the ship, so it is normal to look down and not look up again. No other unusual behavior was noticed on the other side along the way.
Even if Willows has evil intentions, the two women are not afraid. The captain, first mate and others of the Fortune know Irene's identity - a subordinate of Count Grayman and a senior official of the Government Administration. Under Mayor Odo's instructions, they naturally paid more attention to their safety. After arriving in Westport, they would send someone to escort them to the city hall - of course they didn't know what Eileen was going to the city hall for.
A middle-aged man with a rich appearance and dressed as a businessman came over. Irene turned around and thanked Velos: "Thank you, Mr. Velos, for your compliment. Are you coming to the stern of the ship to see the scenery again?"
"Haha, yes. Enjoying the vast sea on a boat is not easy for those of us who live inland to experience it. Having said that, female knights are rare. Since your attendant has the status of a knight, I believe you must Is he a noble?"
Irene frowned slightly and nodded: "I'm a noble for the time being."
"Haha, I didn't expect your status to be so high. A noble man speaks so modestly," Willows said familiarly.
While talking, Irene saw someone coming behind Velos.
"Mr. Captain."
"Ah, Miss Dias, so you are here."
The captain of the Fortune waved here, and the three people, including Velos, nodded slightly to him.
The captain came to them and gently took off his hat. In front of Irene, the captain seemed very reserved. When he was informed by his boss, Mr. Todd, that the famous female executive of the Government Administration Council was going to go south on his ship, the captain was full of worries, fearing that something would happen on the way that he would not be able to explain.
He was careful along the way, and with the blessing of the Lord of Light, nothing else happened except that the female attendant was a little seasick.
"Is Miss Liya feeling better?" "Thanks to your care, I feel less uncomfortable than before."
"That's good, you can get used to it after taking a few more trips on the boat."
The captain glanced at Willows who was standing next to him, and secretly complained in his heart, why is this guy pestering Di again? Miss Asia? Isn't it because the toad wants to eat the swan meat?
"I came here specifically to inform the two ladies that we are about to arrive at Westport. If you stand on the deck for a while, you will be able to see the port on the horizon."
"Really? That's great!"
Erin and Liya looked at each other, and both saw the excitement in each other's eyes, finally about to set foot on their long-lost homeland. Although I was quite excited when I took a boat on the sea for the first time in my life, sailing for so many days became boring, not to mention that Liya was still seasick.
“Look! It’s Westport!”
The crew’s shout came from the front.
“We’re home!” The two women hugged each other happily, and then ran to the bow of the ship happily.
Velos looked at the backs of the two of them, with a smile on his face.
The Fortune gradually approached the port. The captain put up a pergola and looked into the harbor. "It's strange. There are no ships coming in or out. Although Westport can't be said to be very prosperous, it's unusual to be so quiet."
The captain's words A strange feeling gradually arose in my heart. Years of life at sea have made him cautious, and the captain's mind was inexplicably reminded of the pirates, large and small, who roamed the northwest bay two years ago.
"There won't be any pirates ambushing you in the port, right? But the pirates in this area have disappeared for a long time."
In the end, the captain decided to be cautious, and he loudly ordered: "Stop approaching Port!”
Although the subordinates around him felt strange, they quickly conveyed his order.
Soon, the first mate, second mate and other important people on the ship came to the captain, and the captain explained his concerns to them.
The subordinates had different reactions. Some advocated continuing to enter Hong Kong, while others advocated turning around and heading north.
"What's wrong with them? They are about to dock, why don't they continue driving?"
Irene was very strange, she noticed something was wrong with the atmosphere.
“I’ll ask them.”
Leah said as she walked towards the captain and others, and Irene quickly followed her.
"Ladies, there seems to be something wrong with the situation in Westport. I suspect there are pirates..."
"Pirates? Aren't all the pirates on the west coast of the kingdom wiped out? At least the royal family's I haven’t heard any news about pirates along the coast of the direct territory for a long time.”
“We are also hesitating...”
During the discussion, a crew member shouted: “Captain, there is someone coming out of Westport. The ship is coming towards us.”
Everyone looked towards the West Harbor and saw a small paddle boat slowly approaching them.
(End of this chapter)