Southern Tulip Islands.
Ilya Kingdom, Balero Port.
Dong——
A seemingly unremarkable white-sailed merchant ship quietly docked at the pier under the cover of night.
Hundreds of sharp-eyed, fiercely-spirited sailors, each with a pirate saber at their waist, disembarked in an orderly manner under the leadership of a short-haired young man. After confirming there were no abnormalities nearby, they stood at attention on the dock.
Only then did a "middle-aged merchant" in a silk robe, looking quite prosperous, slowly step off the boat.
On the surface, apart from the eight highly distinctive beards under his chin, he was no different from any other grand merchant.
However, a colonel who had been waiting there with two pale-faced subordinates quickly approached, showing not the slightest hint of the pride typical of a kingdom's officer, and bowed deeply in greeting:
"Lord Hawkins, welcome to the Ilya Kingdom.
