Translator: Cinder Translations
...
The day after the Foster family arrived in Alden Town, Paul eagerly led a group of shipbuilders to Frand Port.
As for the details of their business cooperation, Old Ford and others would slowly negotiate with Supervisor Christopher.
Quiller and the adventurers also accompanied them, discussing the situation in the South along the way.
"Giles is currently annexing those lords south of Thorn Gate who refuse to submit to him. I'm afraid no one can hold out against him, given how strong he is," Quiller informed Paul.
Paul thought to himself: It seems the war will continue for a long time.
Since Hansel started working for him, he had received quite a bit of information about the capital. The main rebel army probably wouldn't march south until next year. Until then, if the kingdom's army could hold Thorn Fortress, it would be considered good.
Another piece of news from Quiller caught his attention—there was a resurgence of witch hunting in the South.
"A few days before we set off, a witch was burned alive in the square," Quiller shared.
Curiously, Paul asked, "How do they determine if someone is a witch?"
Quiller rubbed his chin and said, "There's something called a 'Demon-seeking Stone.' They say it changes color just by touching objects with magical traces."
Wasn't that the same stone they used when they first met Chancellor Leonard? Back then, they had mysteriously rubbed the stone on their own firearms, ultimately clearing themselves of suspicion.
"But what if a wizard can disguise themselves well, refraining from displaying magic in public or carrying objects with magical traces? Would they be safe?" Paul inquired.
Quiller shook his head and replied, "Not necessarily. Most of the time, it still depends on the judge's varied methods of judgment."
With such flexibility, the possibilities were vast. Paul shuddered, recalling the methods used to identify witches during the European Middle Ages. He had read about many cases of wrongful convictions admitted by the Church itself.
He sighed and said, "I truly wish we lived in an enlightened era."
This statement drew the attention of everyone around him.
Meru spoke up, "Lord Grayman, why do you say that?"
Paul pondered how to respond. He didn't want to say anything too radical.
"I believe... even if someone is truly a wizard, as long as they don't break the law or harm others, there's no need to take their life. And if they do break the law, they should be punished like any other person, based on the severity of their crime."
Quiller shook his head again, "Paul, you're being too idealistic. Many people have proposed similar viewpoints. But have you considered this—if magic truly exists and is as sinister as legends say, wizards could commit crimes completely unnoticed by others."
Paul replied, "I've heard a saying: when the flood comes, it's better to guide than to block."
"So, I lean towards establishing an official organization to uniformly manage wizards, influence their moral tendencies, utilize their abilities for public good, and at the same time monitor them for any criminal intentions, promptly eliminating those who are truly evil."
He added finally, "Just like the Adventurers' Guild, where every adventurer is skilled in their own right."
Meru smiled warmly and said to Paul, "Haha, Earl, your proposal is indeed innovative."
Miss Scholar Ladia listened silently beside them, without saying a word.
...
"Such uniquely styled ships!"
Shipbuilders from the South gathered around the model sailboats, discussing fervently.
Especially Old Benjamin, the stout ship in front of him matched every detail of his various designs perfectly. Indeed, this was the ship he had been dreaming of building for years.
Another type called the "Clipper" ship, though with an odd shape, was clearly designed for high-speed sailing.
The old shipwright's eyes gleamed as he circled the models, carefully observing from different angles, afraid to miss any details.
Rubin, the shipyard manager, stood by with a smile, having previously worried that these snobbish Southerners might look down on the small shipyard he managed. Now, it seemed that worry was completely unnecessary.
"Everyone! Everyone!"
Paul's voice drew everyone's attention.
"The models of these two ships are reconstructed based on descriptions in the ancient texts of the Belad Empire. The books mention that both of these ships can cut through winds and waves, cross oceans, so I think we can directly build real ships according to the models."
They've been in use for a hundred or two years in another world, so how could they not be mature?
Old Benjamin lamented, "I didn't expect people from ancient times to be able to build such ships. In modern times, shipbuilding technology has regressed."
Due to Benjamin's reputation in the shipbuilding industry of Angle Bay, the Southern shipbuilders subtly looked up to him.
So Benjamin stepped forward and asked Paul, "Lord Grayman, judging by the scale of these two models, it may not be realistic to build such large new ships all at once. Could we first try to replicate their structures and build a few smaller ships?"
Being a prudent old craftsman, even though itching with impatience, he knew things couldn't be rushed.
Paul raised his head proudly, "I've already considered this. In fact, the ancient texts also describe another type of ship, and I've also reconstructed its model to show you."
He clapped his hands, and a guard beside him brought out a new ship model from a box.
The favorite of pirates in the Age of Great Voyages on Earth — the Sloop.
This type of ship was extensively used in the 17th and 18th centuries by European countries and their colonies for near-shore trade and patrol warfare. From bow to stern, it was designed for speed and agility.
Typically about 20 meters long, it usually had one, occasionally two, aft-tilted masts, carrying one to two square sails and a large fore-and-aft sail. Seen from afar, it resembled the dorsal fin of a shark cruising on the water's surface.
Whether sailing against the wind or with it, this ship could utilize its large sail area to propel itself forward. Its distinctive long bow and aft-tilted mast provided excellent maneuverability and performance in sailing against the wind. Such sail design was so excellent that even 21st-century sail racing boats on Earth adopted similar layouts.
A large Sloop ship with a displacement of 100 tons could carry 70 to 120 fully armed pirates, equipped with up to 14 cannons.
It perfectly embodied the pirate principle of "if I can outrun you, you can't outfight me." It could swiftly catch up with fleeing merchant ships and force them to surrender, or slip into shallow ports before more powerful anti-piracy frigates appeared on the horizon.
It was also the smallest ship safe for transoceanic voyages, a Sloop barely larger than a near-shore fishing vessel could cross the Atlantic or round the Cape of Good Hope.
Simple in structure, it could be mass-produced, rapidly increasing one's maritime power.
With excellent performance, crossing the Atlantic was already feasible, so a trip to Angle Bay would surely pose no problem.
Compact in size, it was perfect for craftsmen to practice their skills and gain experience.
Once again, everyone was captivated by this exquisite and compact ship. Old Benjamin exclaimed excitedly, "Lord Grayman, let's begin tomorrow!"
Rubin, the manager, also saw this type of ship for the first time, looking at Paul with a somewhat resentful expression, as if blaming him for not bringing it out earlier, so he could have beaten these outsiders to the punch.
Paul smiled apologetically at him; it was only recently that he remembered this type of ship.
(End of the Chapter)