The sea breeze was cool, a rare day of calm seas and favorable winds.
Case after case of Gold Coin was carried onto the plank, then placed into the skiff. A total of ten million Gold Coin, the "employment fee" for the first year.
Though it's called an employment fee, it's essentially tribute. But to make it sound better, the contract stipulated that the Silent Night Pirate Group, aside from not attacking any ships from the Fury Tide Kingdom, also had to offer help within their capacity. For example, in the event of a storm, if the Silent Night Pirates happened to be nearby, they were obligated to rescue those in need.
That "happened to be" was merely a fig leaf.
The Fury Tide Kingdom was well aware that the Silent Night Pirates were unlikely to lend aid, so if they didn't help, it was as if they "just happened" to not be nearby. But with this clause, the ten million Gold Coin became an escort fee rather than a war indemnity.
