Winters wasn't sure if it was because they had offended the tax collector, but the Bandit Gull had to wait at the anchorage for one evening and the following morning; it wasn't until the sun was well into the west the next day that they were finally allowed to enter the harbor.
When the pier was within sight, Winters began to reorganize his gear. Only then did he understand why Instructor Narl had said that people no longer used the Longsword, opting instead for more portable weapons.
That was because compared to the sabers worn by Major Layton and Major Moritz, the Longsword used at the military academy was just too "long."
Winters tried to figure it out a few times. Attached to his belt? The bare scabbard didn't look very appealing.
Slanted on his belt? The scabbard easily scraped the ground, and it was uncomfortable to have a 1.3-meter iron bar strung around the waist.
On his back? He wasn't the silver-haired, scar-faced witch hunter of legend, and it felt strange; he had never seen anyone carry a sword that way.
In his hand? It probably looked a lot like he was a thug about to get into a brawl with someone.
After much consideration, hanging it from a horse might be more convenient.
The sabers of the major and colonel were one-handed swords, about the size of an arming sword, and could be easily hung from the belt.
Compared to Winters's Longsword, their sabers were shorter, lighter, and more ornate. He wasn't sure about their effectiveness in actual combat, but in terms of portability and aesthetic value, they made Winters's Longsword look absolutely outdated.
Winters glanced at Bard and Andre, and suddenly smiled. He laughed at himself for being fearful as he neared home, too nervous from the thought of returning that he became clumsy.
Having realized this, he stopped fussing over how to wear the Longsword in the most dashing way and instead tied it together with his luggage, carrying it by hand as he stepped onto the deck.
The Bandit Gull was very close to an available mooring spot. Sea Blue Port was filled with ships, and one careless move could lead to a collision.
Consequently, the sails of the Bandit Gull had been retracted, and the sailors were using long poles to cautiously prevent hitting other vessels. Discover more stories at мѵʟ Fresh chapters posted on NoveI-Fire.ɴet
When they felt they were close enough, the acting captain picked up the task of the first mate again, grabbed the rope and threw it with all his might toward the wharf's mooring spot. The dockworkers who had been waiting there deftly caught the hawser and tied it to the pilings.
The sailors on the ship then shouted in unison and pushed with force, while a few others with long poles helped to steadily dock the ship at its berth.
The sailors began to place planks between the dock and the ship's side. Just as Winters was about to disembark, he was called out by the major by name.
Winters keenly noticed the major's unconscious habit of playing with coins was gone, and even his hands were trembling slightly. Clearly, the combination of alcohol withdrawal and dehydration was tormenting him.
Even the major's voice sounded a bit hoarse as he listlessly told Winters, "After you disembark, take your classmates and form up first. Don't disperse right away. Report to the military headquarters first, and then you can go home."
Winters accepted the order, saluted and turned around to disembark the ship.
He was a bit puzzled as to why the major called him out. Could it be just because he had shared a drink with him and looked familiar?
On the pier, the acting captain was exchanging bills with the port's customs officer.
As a commercial republic, customs was an important source of revenue for Sea Blue, and successive executive committees placed great emphasis on customs infrastructure.
In Sea Blue, tax collectors would board the cargo ships before they entered the port to inspect the goods and are responsible for collecting the duty. A set of three identical bills was issued: the tax collector took one copy, while the merchant ship kept two as proof of duty payment and port entry permit.
After entering the port, the customs staff at the dock would check the goods again and take one of the bills left by the tax collector for reconciliation and inspection. Only after the inspection was confirmed to be correct could the merchant ship begin unloading its cargo.
This simple and effective system curbed corruption within the customs to some extent and was considered a model of efficient administration in that era.
After a long walk down the wharf and finally stepping onto solid ground, Winters suddenly felt out of sorts.
Right after regaining consciousness, Winters nearly vomited his stomach out because of seasickness. But once he had gotten used to the constant rocking of the Bandit Gull, stepping onto dry land actually made him feel seasick again.
Despite the solid ground under his feet, Winters felt like he was treading on air, swaying uncontrollably.
However, this feeling wasn't too intense. Winters gathered his spirits, looked up, and scanned the Sea Blue Port dock, scanning his familiar yet strange homeland.
Sea Blue had some subtle differences from his memories, but its spirit was the same—busy, bustling, and crowded with people.
Everyone was busy with their own affairs, walking their own paths, and no one noticed or cared that a junior military officer who had been away from home for years had returned to his hometown.
A hand landed on Winters's shoulder. Bard said with a smile, "Is this the Alliance's premier port? It does seem more vibrant than Guidao City."
"Ah, Lord Bard!" Winters placed his hand over his heart and made an exaggerated bow, then waved toward the bustling crowd on the wharf, smiling at Bard, "Welcome to the heart of the esteemed Republic of Vineta, the gem upon the Inner Sea, the city of commerce, the city of wealth—Sea Blue!"
Bard played along with the exaggerated gesture, jokingly saying to Winters, "But why have I heard that Sea Blue is the city of masks, conspiracies, assassinations, and secret societies? Aren't assassins the most famous thing about Vineta?"