Lucian looked so peaceful and collected, that it made the southern Vices look like savage barbarians in comparison.
They quickly coughed and straightened their backs, acting like they were the ones that had taught Lucian about compassion and goodness, and that it had nothing to do with their initial reaction of wanting to kill and gut the traitors.
Sometimes they thought Lucian was too kind for this world, but then they remembered how he had no problems smashing a guy's head against the pavement for breaking a promise to him, and it would make them rethink their opinion of him again.
Just be a decent human being, and you would never have to fear him. Lucian was like a father figure that would never hit you unless you did something wrong, and even then, he would only discipline you for your own good. There was no malice in it.
"Well, if Boss is not worried, neither am I," Goblin said, scratching his head. He was already on his feet and looking healthier, but still a bit pale.
"And the ship?" Leaf asked, "Are we going to let it go to waste like that?"
"It's not a waste, we will use it as Lorano's temporary research facility," Lucian replied, patting the railings, "Until we learn to navigate through the waters on our own, that is."
Lucian received their sad faces as a response. Their adventure as a crew was coming to an end faster than they wanted to.
"Now, let's check our competitors and how they are doing," Lucian said, heading to the ship's wheel to steer the ship out of the port, "Everyone back to their places."
"?!?" Fishbone quickly went to remove the anchor, Roland took care of the sails and Leaf was in charge of the ropes.
There was more than one harbor around the Breezy Cove (the town's name), and most of the ships were docked on the other side.
A flag with a golden flower on a white background fluttered on the ship's main mast.
The symbol was inspired by a flower of life, and was created in the similar way, by overlapping hexagons and circles, creating an illusion of a flower.
Lucian didn't operate under his name because there were too many Lucian Arclights in the world.
Not to mention his name wasn't the best way to gain customers' trust. He needed other ways to be identified.
It began with his store called Glory Of The Snow. With time, the first word Glory slowly became the brand name: Glory traded here, Glory hired there, Glory's employees, Glory's products, Glory's services. And somewhere along the way, Lucian became known as Glory's founder.
───────────────────────
The Vices expected Lucian to retreat after he said they waited and observed, but they were dead wrong.
Lucian sailed straight to the harbor where the other ships were docked, and parked his own ship in the middle of the pier, blocking their way out, waiting and observing.
There were a few smaller ships, and five bigger ones. They could see at least a hundred people, possibly more, gathered on the docks.
They spotted Lucian's ship, and some of them were pointing at his flag, wondering what he was doing there.
"Inform your lord that I've arrived," Lucian called out, his voice carrying over the docks easily, "There were a few of my people he took with him and I just want to make sure they are alright before I go."
The lord's men looked at each other, and one of them left to deliver the message.
Lucian smiled at the remaining people, waiting patiently for the lord to come and greet him, "You have been busy, haven't you?" he said pleasantly, "I hope that your lord is treating you well?"
Lucian was wearing a casual white shirt, and beige pants. He didn't carry an intimidating aura, and looked approachable, with his golden hair waving in the sea breeze.
But the lord's men still looked at him warily. They weren't going to give away any information about their employer, especially not to someone who was clearly a rival.
Soon, rushed footsteps came from the dock and a large man appeared.
He wore a blue coat, and a feathered hat on his head. He also had a mustache, and a few rings on his fingers, each of them adorned with a different gemstone.
The Son Of A's father, let's call him A's, looked at Lucian with a sneer, "You have some nerve to block my ships in the middle of the pier. What if we decide to leave?"
"I just want to make sure the people you took from me are alright before I leave," Lucian repeated his intentions.
He leaned against the railing of his ship, and put on a friendly expression, "I would also like to thank you for taking them in and offering them a better deal. Forty five big silver coins a month for each sailor. I can't afford to increase more than that at the moment yet, so I appreciate that you are willing to do so. One hundred silver a month is not a small amount."
A's narrowed his eyes and his mouth pressed into a thin line when his workers lifted their heads toward him.
Hushes and whispers broke among them. One hundred big silver coins? Did the sailors their lord just took in earn that much?
They understood if a captain or a vice-captain of a ship could earn that much, but for regular sailors to be paid that much…
How come their lord wasn't willing to pay them that much as well? They didn't even reach close to the forty five big silver coins mark. Why did he have to be so stingy?
Lucian continued to press on the matter, adding more salt to the wound, "Do you pay everyone who works for you the same fair amount, Lord Ashtor? They seem to be very loyal to you. I've been having a hard time finding such people. Truly admirable of you to know their worth."