"Who?" William asked.
"The only son of the Flashgold Merchant Guild's president," Tony said, shaking off the ash from his cigarette with a pained expression. "Sherlock."
William smiled faintly. "He's the one who helps you fence smuggled goods?"
Tony's heart skipped a beat, and he glanced at William with a nervous smile. "Usually, we only do small deals, but if we want to ship alcohol to the Kingdom of Navia this time, we need a 'bridge.'"
Tony's gaze quickly scanned William and his men. "Even if you guys are tough and can handle threats on the sea, it's useless without proper channels. Sherlock doesn't normally involve himself in the guild's affairs. His father dislikes his business philosophy, so Sherlock has always wanted to start fresh. He might not meddle in guild matters, but his position still grants him privileges in many places—his father wouldn't sever ties completely. So creating and securing sales channels is no problem."
William nodded as he listened; he had already suspected that Tony had a partner helping with fencing. He was just waiting for Tony to confess.
William had little local influence or connections, and although Tony did, his reach didn't extend beyond the area—especially to another country. The Kingdom of Navia, while not far, is still independent.
William's goal in pulling Tony in was to establish a local base for brewing and let Tony, a local, handle production. However, neither of them could tackle the vital sales network alone.
In the end, establishing trade is crucial, but William's strategy was also a test. If Tony revealed this hidden connection when pressured, it would mean he could be trusted. If Tony had kept silent, likely planning to retaliate with Sherlock's help, things would have gone differently.
---
William instructed Edmund to escort Tony and his men back to Redleaf Village. Edmund was also a local there, so Tony wouldn't dare seek revenge.
After they left, William turned to Akin. "The day after tomorrow, you and Wallon set sail to retrieve Danton's treasure. You might not be able to carry everything, so prioritize items that are easy to sell. Cash would be best."
Wallon nodded, and Akin responded with a steady nod.
Aramis's eyes lit up at the mention of sailing. He'd been restless staying in Frostmoon Village for a year. "I want to go too!"
"You stay here!" William snapped.
Akin was mature and loyal, and Wallon was trustworthy. William wasn't worried about Aramis running off with the money, but Aramis was impulsive and had a loose tongue. The sea is filled with all kinds of characters, and it's better not to court trouble. William wouldn't risk sending him along.
As they walked back, Akin asked, "How much should we take?"
"Just as much as you can carry," William replied, rubbing his temples in frustration. In his previous life, he was a heavy smoker, and although his current body had no addiction, he still missed it. Seeing Tony smoke made him crave a cigarette, but as he was now training, he knew smoking would be harmful, so he resisted.
"Do we really need that much money?" Aramis asked.
"I'm going to set up a distillery in Redleaf Village, and I need control over production. I can't rely entirely on others," William said slowly. "And Sherlock, the guild president's son, isn't a local thug like Tony. His base isn't in our territory, so we can't threaten him. Real money is required to negotiate."
"It's too much trouble," Wallon muttered.
"Trouble or not, it has to be done. You can't build a tall building without a foundation. If you don't wash and prep the ingredients, how can you make a good dish? You can't just throw everything into the pot and expect it to taste right, can you?" William shot a look at Aramis.
Aramis scratched his head. "You're still bringing up that one time I skipped washing and cutting the veggies?"
"You threw a whole head of cabbage in the pot and almost broke it!" William snapped, giving Aramis a light slap on the back of his head.
Aramis ducked his head with a laugh. He did it on purpose, and they hadn't let him cook since.
Returning to the original topic, William added, "Our smuggling network for alcohol could support us when we establish a pirate crew. The goods we seize could be sold through this network, and supplies we need could be replenished. As the crew grows, we could even protect this trade network, creating a mutually beneficial relationship."
What William didn't say was that this network would serve as his foothold on land. While the sea is vast, the importance of land to pirates and the navy is just as great since ships inevitably need supplies.
For pirates, who are at a military disadvantage against the navy and world government, it's essential to have the support of local communities. A strong base provides recruits, intelligence, and resources for sustained operations.
The Ottoman pirates even used to leave goods on the docks for civilians under their protection. William knew the importance of such alliances.
---
After sending Manny and Angie to the doctor, Tony dismissed his men, who had been pressing him for details on how the injuries happened.
He went to his desk, took out a small box from the drawer, and opened it to reveal a telephone bug munching on some leaves.
He cruelly took the leaf from the bug's mouth, hesitated a moment, then dialed a number.
After a few rings, a young man's voice came through. "Hello?"
"Sherlock?"
"Tony! What's up?"
"I've got a friend…," Tony's cheek twitched, "and he wants to discuss a big business opportunity with you."
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