The Imperial Navy was, in reality, Totnes's private army—or rather, that of the governor of the eastern provinces.
The true significance of Totnes's research into cannons lay here. Equipping ground troops with them was merely an experiment.
No pirate dared to act recklessly in their presence. The prosperity of the harbors and coastlines demonstrated their power—a prosperity difficult to protect without real strength.
"Have you sailed this route before? What's the situation like en route? Are there any extreme conditions?"
Lance knew that ships had passed along this route before the bandits invaded and wreaked havoc. Even though Hamlet had already fallen into such decay, a town, after all, still hosted considerable commercial activity.
Although he had learned some information from Tiffany previously, he made it a habit to understand and learn thoroughly. Only by acquiring more intelligence could he gain control of the situation.
"Of course, I have sailed this route..."
