So it seems that everyone was going south with Joseph and John this time around. They were going via the sea because there was a whole fleet of Morgan family going south to conduct their trade and it would be much safer going with a group. Plus it would anyways save time and reduce tolls going via the sea. The only problem was the Noble funded pirates but it was safer with a fleet this time around. Hence all of them got busy in their preparations for their journey the next day. This time Grandma Melanie didn't nag as she hoped Eva and John got closer while John was also learning at an alarmingly fast speed so she wanted a breather in teaching him as she thought John would learn everything in no time. As there was no time everyone was in a hurry to make preparations for the journey. Sally as always joined them as she didn't want to be left behind while Josephine had no qualms about this issue. This made Sally very sure that there was something going on as both Josephine and Eva seemed proactive nowadays but she couldn't figure it out but knew that it was related to John somehow. However, she was more interested in food served in John's mansion this time around so she didn't bother much about other things and hence started doing the preparations for the journey.
Next day Jay, Eva, and her team and everyone else left for the east seaport. John also took most of his money with him since he was going to make big deals this time around.
They left with Joseph as he had prepared carriages for travel this time around. They reached East sea city in a day after they traveled from North-frontier City. John had automatically become the chef for the group this time around.
After they reached the port they saw various fleets of various nobles this time around. However only Morgan family recently traveled with a big fleet here in North because of their Soap business with John.
This time the Fleet was led by Captain Eric who served in Morgan family for a long time. It was so that He could protect both the trade fleet and Joseph.
Captain Eric was a tall middle-aged man with sharp features, fair complexion, and brown hair. He had a slight tan probably because of all the sailing he did at the seas. He looked like any other Navy men from medieval times however he had jolly nature unlike most strict men from the army or navy. This was because he believed in having fun and not be serious all the time. So he was like a handsome navy man with a jolly nature. The woman had a good impression of Eric after meeting him.
The fleet was with 5 ships with 1 main big ship and 4 medium sized ships. The fleet was equipped with a Morgan family flag. Soaps were loaded in the Main ship while other materials for trade were loaded in other remaining ships. The fleet had a total of 110 men with 30 men in the Main ship and 20 in other ships. These men were sailors and hunters as they perfectly fitted the criteria for Navy battles. Knights weren't preferred in the Sea where mobility was important as they would be considered more of a burden.
The fleet also had 2 magicians as support for healing men at times of danger.
Captain Eric was drinking and having fun with his fellow men on the ship as they had nothing to do and all the preparations were already made and they were only waiting for Joseph to return for the past two days. Joseph quite liked Eric because of his jolly personality unlike the strict men from his family who only preferred interests above anything else.
After getting informed by the guard that Joseph had arrived with everyone else. Eric stopped the chattering and started giving commands to his men to prepare for the journey. He then arrived to invite Joseph into the ship.
"Joseph you have arrived at last. I was pretty bored for these two days waiting for you. Well, we are anyway prepared for departure so would you like to rest first or should we depart immediately?"
"So what do you think?" Joseph asked John and others for their opinion.
"Well, I think it's better to depart early now that sun and seas are clear" John and Jay said their opinion.
"We don't have any problem with an early departure. I guess its better if we leave now, What do you think captain?" Eva said to Joseph and asked Eric's opinion.
"Well its certainly true that now is a good time to leave," Eric said his opinion to everyone.
"Since everyone is in agreement. I shouldn't be a party-pooper and ruin everyone's fun. Eric, we will depart after all the preparations are made. Ready the men and load the ship." Joseph gave his order to Eric.
Joseph later introduced everyone to Eric after the Fleet set sail. During these days on the ship Eric was caught trying to steal clothes of women but they didn't think anything of it and it was only later known from Joseph that Eric was a pervert. Joseph sighed as he said the harsh truth regretfully. However, this didn't change the fact that Eric was Joseph's most trusted man.
After watching all the shenanigans of Eric, the looks of all the women changed from a good handsome man to a pervert with looks of scorn burning from their eyes.
The sailors on the ship were all laughing as they had long known how women's views would change after staying together for a few days because they had seen this scene quite a few times already.
"People don't understand me" Eric sighed as he left. Before he left he glared at Joseph, it seemed his eyes said the words 'Traitor' to him.
People became used to the atmosphere on the ship. John also taught the Chef of the ship some of his recipes as he was plenty tired these days from all the cooking. During these 3 days of travel, they experienced attacks from pirates only once however after watching the big fleet, the pirates only tried to probe and left after they watched the firepower of John's team from the main ship.
They thought the Fleet was well armed this time around and they would most probably lose if they didn't have enough firepower to overpower and occupy the ships.