Just like the ancestors of all pirates, the North Bayfolk, the Remit People had also left a striking mark on the history of the Continent.
The tribal creed of the North Bayfolk: Revenge is certain!
The tribal creed of the Remit People, on the other hand, is: Every penny counts!
Most Remit People are silver-tongued, greedy, and ruthless. Without a country of their own, they are always roaming throughout the Continent. From the East Coast to the West Coast, their presence could be found everywhere. Yet this group was extremely powerful, not only having created the "Gold Sequence" but also possessing a vast and united business conglomerate.
For average citizens, it was normal to earn money in their own countries and spend it there. These people without a homeland, however, would amass huge fortunes in one nation and mostly transfer them out, continually draining resources. Clearly, no Royal Family of any nation would like these tumor-like beings feeding off their land. Compared to them, even the North Bayfolk, who only knew how to rob openly, seemed more honorable.
Nevertheless, the already powerful Remit People had an even more formidable backup. In their propaganda, their ancestors were worshippers of the "creator," the sole deity of the Old Continent! Though the Church had not directly recognized their claim about the creator, they had not denied it either. Only a very few amongst the upper echelons knew that every year the Church's central cathedral received substantial religious donations from the major Remit commercial groups.
The maxim of the Gold Sequence, "Money talks, truth stays silent," was taken to an extreme by them. In any case, although many people disliked the Remit People, they not only could not get rid of them, but many times they had to hold their noses and cooperate with them. Even some kings had to borrow money from them to wage wars.
Bloody Eye Salman had clearly suffered losses at their hands before. He turned to his first mate, Miles, and whispered a command, "It's up to you to make sure you gather enough funds to cover the repairs for the Man-Eating Shark!" Then he went back to the captain's cabin without looking back. He had no desire to deal with the Remit People and was even more worried that he would not be able to restrain himself from smashing their heads, attracting the Iron Anchor Bay enforcement division.
"Aye, Captain!"
As the most senior pirate on the Man-Eating Shark, second only to Salman, First Mate Bone Crusher Miles was responsible for logistics and fencing the loot. He was certainly no stranger to the Remit merchants and knew very well how difficult they could be.
Since the disappearance of the North Sea Pirate King Whale Hunter, Iron Anchor Bay had adopted a captain's council system. After the most powerful pirate captains had divided the benefits, every drop of profit that emerged there already had an owner. It was even faster than plundering!
Since they had docked at this particular berth, if they did not sell to the Golden Palm Trading Company, it was very unlikely any other black market merchants would come for their spoils of war. If they chose not to sell for the time being and rented storage in the port's warehouses, the numbers on the rent bill would make one question life itself. He could only grimly accept Salman's orders, forcing himself to do what needed to be done.
Even though the Man-Eating Shark often spread terror with killings, it did not count for much in the eyes of real Great Pirates. We also do not have enough stable loot to make the big trading companies take notice and arrange special reception staff. This time, we can only deal with these carrion-eating vultures.
He could only pray internally that after liquidating the goods seized from the Pelican, they would truly meet the requirements for repairing the ship. Otherwise, the next crew member to go missing from the ship would probably be himself.
"HEAVE HO! HEAVE HO!"
Under his orders, the sailors quickly chanted their work songs as they hoisted the various goods from the cargo hold with a makeshift crane improvised from a yardarm. The Remit merchant who called himself Michal, along with his assistant, came aboard the Man-Eating Shark and amiably appraised every item.
Everyone knew the market price for bulk items like textiles and ironware; even price-cutting had a limit. The trickiest items were the art pieces, jewelry, and a variety of noble luxury goods with the most complex compositions and the highest added value. Among the pirates, literate individuals were few and far between. Who could expect them to have much appreciation for the arts? Were they not just at the mercy of what the black market merchants said? After being taken advantage of enough times, they would rely on their rich experience of being swindled to choose a black market merchant who was... not so deceitful.
Even with his expectations set for being swindled, the Remit merchant still deeply disappointed First Mate Miles. For every item the merchant inspected, he would inevitably devalue it to worthlessness. Whereas others might bargain by halving the price, true to the tribal creed of the Remit People, he would cut prices down to the bone.
CLANG!
At this moment, the sly-faced huckster Michal casually drew a lavish scimitar and shook his head. "Aside from the gold plating and bluing process, it is just a run-of-the-mill pirate scimitar. I will offer 8 pounds."
At this point, First Mate Miles's complexion had already turned a shade of green, and he barely restrained the urge to draw his sword with tremendous willpower. Even with his limited expertise, he knew that this gem-encrusted noble's collector's scimitar was worth far more than 8 pounds.
But price is determined by supply and demand. Luxury goods for niche markets can have wildly different prices depending on the buyer. He had no idea what the scimitar was specifically worth, nor could he ascertain what made it valuable, leaving him without the ability to even negotiate.
The grinning Michal smoothly picked up the scimitar in one hand and, with the other, just as deftly plucked a gemstone necklace from an exquisite silver jewelry box. The silver chain was nothing extraordinary, but the large gemstone on the pendant, with its faintly purple-tinged blue hue, exuded a unique, misty, velvet quality.
His eyes brightened then quickly dimmed. Shaking his head, he said, "This iolite necklace is a dime a dozen near volcanoes, hardly worth anything. At most 3 pounds."
By now, not just First Mate Miles, but the other pirates too, had grim expressions. Each piece of loot had been stained with their blood. It was because of this raid that they were targeted by the Navy, losing over half of their comrades' lives. The dead were gone, but the living still hoped to live their lives in prosperity.
Although his words were different, this all-too-familiar tactic—dismissing their hard-won treasures as if they were "moth-eaten, rat-gnawed, and utterly tattered"—shattered their composure.
"Wait a minute!"
Just as Michal was about to pick up another piece of jewelry, Byron, who had been watching from the side with a cold gaze, suddenly spoke up and stopped him. Under the puzzled gazes of the pirates, he confidently walked up to the merchant.
With his gaze lowered slightly, he glanced at the scimitar in the merchant's hand and casually corrected, "Overall length 85 centimeters, weight 1.2 kilograms, made of white steel, bluing process, gold-inlaid ruby guard, one of the 17 main variants of the Fischer Slash Sword. Artisan: Swordsmith Master Thomas Blinca of Hightins. While merely a piece for flaunting wealth, its craftsmanship and materials touch a certain zenith of mundane objects. Compared to the Miracles crafted by an [Artisan] with [Cutting Inscriptions], it lacks only a distinct transcendent ability. With its inherent quality and the fame of the swordsmith factored in, its value should be around 100 pounds. Such a weapon would even be directly recycled by an [Artisan], used as practice material for enchanting novices, with no worry about sales."
He then looked at the necklace in Michal's hand and continued to correct, "The gem hanging from this necklace is not cheap iolite but the highest quality sapphire! Its weight, clarity, and cut are all top-notch, weighing 62 carats, with the cut crafted by Hightins' Jewelry Master Candice Boston. Most valuable is that it is an authentic 'Cornflower Blue,' co-ranking with 'Royal Blue' as the highest gradation of sapphire colors! Brought to Peridot, the art capital of The Holy Silver Empire—the only Empire where the cornflower is the national flower—this gem would fetch a sky-high price at auction. An asking price of 800 pounds is entirely reasonable."
Byron looked confidently at Michal, the merchant, who had silently gaped, showing no sign of yielding. In Byron's eyes, not just this batch of goods but even the pirate ship Man-Eating Shark had long since fallen under the name Lancaster. His uncle, the Mad King, and his father had taught him from childhood that on their turf, the most unforgivable crime is... tax evasion!
As a noble gentleman, one must be frugal and manage the household well, cherishing every copper coin as dearly as one's own eyes.
Indeed, though the money is currently yours, it will all be ours sooner or later. Wasting my money? That is absolutely out of the question!