British hegemon

Chapter 63 Smuggling Port

On the third day after leaving Aran Island, at noon, the Seawolf, which had been traveling at a stop-and-go pace, arrived at an unnamed rocky islet about three miles from Skylis.

This isolated island consists of two connected reefs, the largest of which is about the size of two basketball courts. A stone house and a few thatched huts sit alone in the middle of the reefs.

This is a warehouse for smuggled goods. Ordinary goods transported from various places to the port of Skylis are first stored here, and then secretly transported to various places for sale by the owner of the private port.

"An elderly fishing couple lives here year-round. The old man is partially deaf, and the old woman is partially blind. They usually fish in the nearby waters, and when a ship brings cargo, they take care of it." The hired temporary captain explained to Roger about the rocky island in front of them while maneuvering the stern rudder to make the Seawolf nimbly avoid the reefs.

He used to travel to and from this area every year with the Baron, so he was quite familiar with the situation.

Marne also frequently accompanied the "White Sail" as a guard in this area and was very familiar with it. "This island may look inconspicuous, but it is a lively place. If you sail here in early summer, you can see merchants from France, Castile, Aragon and Portugal."

"Occasionally, even Hamburg Hanseatic merchants would detour here with smuggled goods. Of course, the most frequent travelers here are the pirates who sell their goods."

Roger turned to look at Marne. "Does this place still have dealings with pirates?"

Maren shrugged, looking completely unfazed. "Of course, sir. Pirates don't always manage to steal gold and silver directly. They need to sell their goods for silver pennies or other valuable, easily portable items."

"Your uncle, Mr. Jeffrey, is a shrewd businessman. He knows how to get the most profit with the least cost." Marne's tone revealed a hint of respect.

Roger had no clear impression of this so-called uncle-in-law. He searched his memory thoroughly but only had some fragmented recollections. It seemed that the Irish businessman was tall and imposing.

Suddenly remembering that Baron John had mentioned the pirate Wolf had been a pawn of the Campbell family, he figured they also used this place to sell stolen goods. So he turned to Olaf and asked, "Olaf, did you used to trade here too?"

"I came here once when I first joined. Back then, we were sailing on a Nafi ship. Later, we moved to a small port in northern Ulster."

Roger nodded; it seemed that Ulf had indeed broken free from the Campbell family's control.

The Seawolf successfully navigated around the reef and entered the simple pier on the isolated rocky island, where two elderly people, half-deaf and half-blind, were already waiting.

The sails were lowered, the mooring ropes were thrown down, and the half-blind old woman groped her way to tie the ropes to the sturdy wooden stakes on the pier.

Roger led the way down the gangplank to the pier.

"Brother Marne, what brings you aboard the 'Sea Bitch'?" The speaker was a half-deaf old man wearing a wool coat torn by the sea wind. He stared at Roger, the leader, for a long time, then asked, "And this gentleman is?"

Marne stepped slightly to the side and stood out from behind Roger, announcing loudly, "Sir Colin and Sir Colin have ascended to heaven. This is Sir Roger, the new owner of this ship and Sir Colin's second son." Marne spoke the word "second son" very softly, omitting it.

The half-deaf old man's hearing was indeed poor, and his reaction was a bit slow. After Marne finished speaking, he lowered his eyes and thought for a while before looking up and saying apologetically, "I'm sorry, Sir Roger. God bless your father and brother."

The Irish also speak Gaelic, so Roger had no language barrier here. "Thank you for your kindness, may we?" Roger pointed to the houses.

"Of course, Sir Roger." The half-deaf old man quickly stepped aside and led Roger and his party onto the deserted island.

The island was small but relatively clean. The few thatched huts were a bit dilapidated, but they were kept very tidy. Two old people had built a straw shed to feed chickens, ducks and livestock, so there was no manure to be seen on the ground.

Roger, who had been adrift on the ship for several days, was arranged to rest in a small cabin with a bed and a table, a courtesy reserved for distinguished travelers.

While the half-blind old woman was preparing a simple lunch for Roger, Marne, and the others who had disembarked, the half-deaf old man rowed his small fishing boat away from the island and headed towards Skylis Harbor. He was going to deliver a message to Lord Jeffrey.

Roger's uncle, Mr. Jeffrey, did not participate in the trade on this isolated island every time. Usually, a steward would come to the island, and occasionally his butler would come to handle the arrival of valuable goods.

But now that the lady of the house's family has arrived on the island, Mr. Jeffrey, as the owner of the isolated island, naturally has to personally receive them.

He was burly and could easily be mistaken for a skilled warrior at first glance, but he was dressed in a brightly embroidered cashmere coat, and was followed by an elderly man who looked like a clerk and two wiry bodyguards, exuding the air of a wealthy merchant.

The wealthy businessman's full name was Jeffrey O'Neill. He came from an old Irish Indigenous family that had been in business for generations. His mother was the daughter of an English nobleman, and he was of Anglo-Irish descent, which allowed him to navigate between the English and the Irish.

Jeffrey's father and Roger's grandfather were business allies. Whether for family friendship or business interests, Roger's grandfather married his only daughter to the son of this Irish merchant, who then became Roger's uncle.

The wealthy merchant sized Roger up and down before saying, "We only received John's letter at the beginning of the month. Your aunt cried for a long time after learning of your father and brother's deaths in battle."

It was clear that the wealthy businessman was indeed saddened by Sir Colin's death, but it was unclear whether he was grieving the loss of a family member or a business partner.

"John said in his letter that the autumn trade was canceled this year, so why are you here?"

"Life must go on. The sun will not stop rising and setting because of my father and brothers' deaths in battle," Roger replied simply.

The wealthy merchant was taken aback by Roger's words. He hadn't expected Roger to speak with such wisdom; this was a level of insight far beyond what he remembered from the spoiled young master.

"Your White Sail is gone. What about that ship?" The wealthy merchant pointed back to the Sea Wolf, which was moored on the pier. "It looks like a pirate ship."

These modified hull ships were often used by pirates, and wealthy merchants were no strangers to them.

"I took it from the pirate Ulf."

Roger's simple words sent a shiver down the merchant's spine, but his expression remained calm. "Alright. I'll take all the cargo on board. Have your men unload it for inspection."

"Pack your things and come back to the manor with me. Your aunt is waiting for you."

Roger left Olaf, Baldy with a ponytail, and the young stable boy to lead everyone in unloading the cargo and completing the handover, while he himself took Marn and Blackie and boarded Jeffrey's Bella ship to Skelly.

Bella's boat paddled across the sea, rounding two small islands before arriving at Skylis on the shore.

Skylis Pier is built on a small headland bay, with a stone-paved pier extending into the bay. On both sides of the pier are many fishing boats and two Kirk boats that are slightly larger than the Seawolf.

There are more than a dozen thatched huts for fishermen on the pier, and dried fish and fishing nets are drying on the beach. Some fishermen are loading the dried fish onto a dinghy, which is probably going to be sold elsewhere.

Calling Skylis a port is a bit of a stretch; perhaps calling it Skylis fishing village would be more appropriate.

This was Roger's first impression of the private port.

After Roger landed, he walked through the fishing village and entered the connected land through a narrow passage.

The area began to show signs of prosperity. Walking along the wide roads through the town with its rows of houses, the number of pedestrians gradually increased, and shops and stalls appeared along the roadside, selling fruits, vegetables, smoked fish, and salted meat. Occasionally, one could hear the clanging and clattering sounds from the blacksmith's shop and smell the stench emanating from the leather workshop.

Jeffrey was the owner of the dock and the administrator of the town. Wherever he went, people would take off their felt hats or bow slightly in greeting.

Passing through the town and looking east, a building sits on a slightly higher, gentle hill.

It was a grand mansion—a tall, double-fronted house surrounded by wide steps, even wider than the streets we had just passed.

The thick walls have decorative sections that slope outwards, their slight protrusion giving them a castle-like appearance; above them are elegant pointed arched double-sided windows decorated with clover.

These designs suggest that the owner of the mansion was both powerful and cultured, which is exactly what the wealthy businessman Jeffrey wanted to project.

"Businessmen are so generous," Roger couldn't help but sigh to himself as he stood in front of the mansion.

Compared to such an exquisite and luxurious mansion, Milk House Manor could only be considered a rural nouveau riche estate.

The attendants had already informed him in advance, and Roger's "aunt" was now leading her two daughters and a group of servants to wait for him at the foot of the steps in front of the mansion gate.

Roger took a slight breath; he had to perform that empty script of family affection again.

Roger's "aunt" is named Gina Campbell, a middle-aged woman wearing an expensive bright red Italian wool coat. Although she is two years older than Roger's "father" and is already a mother of four, she looks younger than Roger's "mother".

The two well-dressed girls standing on either side of "Aunt" were around fifteen or sixteen years old, and were clearly Roger's two cousins.