Restart:Untalented Man-Chapter 500: Van Vernau

The sailor nodded grimly. "Yeah. Stronger than anything we've seen before. It's got this beastly look too. Smokes coming out from the top like a monster breathing fire. You can't outrun it, and you sure as hell can't fight it."

"Who commands this iron ship?"

"Jon Blue. That bastard's got himself a ship no one can stand up to. I bet he's been terrorizing the sea ever since."

Garry's brow furrowed. It appears that he had been away from the sea for too long and the world is quietly changing.

"If no one possesses that ship, where did he get it? From your words, it seems like a rare artefact."

"I'm sure it came from Ryntum. From the hearsay among the dockworkers, iron ships are a common sight at their ports."

"Are they selling these ships to foreigners?" Garry excitedly asked.

The sailor shook his head.

"Not the warships. They only sell merchant and passenger ships to outsiders. But the price is outrageous. I've heard merchants trying to scrape enough coins together to buy one."

Perhaps, only someone like their boss can afford it.

"Then...Jon Blue's ship..."

"Yeah, we suspect Ryntum gave him the ship."

"Give it to him, huh?"

"That's just our suspicion. There's no way he can steal that ship, let alone learn how to operate it on his own."

"Maybe the sharp rise in pirate attacks I've been hearing in the past few months was their doing too," Garry speculates.

"Most likely."

"Alright, that's enough talk for now. We got work to do. Move those materials."

The crew began carrying the supplies.

Lumber, ropes, and all sorts of material were hoisted onto their shoulders. The men trudged their way back through the gradually busy docks.

They returned to the place where the damaged ships moored shortly after.

"Let's get started!" Garry shout. "We'll tackle the hull first. I want those planks replaced before midday."

"And you lot...," he pointed at the idle sailors, "start cutting the lumber. Some of you, get those torn sails down. We'll stitch new ones."

A few sailors grumbled but did as they were told nonetheless.

The sounds of sawing and hammering start to echo.

Garry guided them where needed.

As the hours passed, the captain appeared for the first time today.

Nobody knows where he went before.

He stride toward the ships.

"How's the repair going?" the captain asked.

"Everything's progressing smoothly. You don't need to worry."

The captain nodded and walked away from the repair site.

Currently, all he could do is wait.

He had already sent a message to his superiors about the delay, explaining the situation as best as possible.

Of course, he pinned all the blame on Jon Blue.

He also mentioned the weird ship they used and slightly hinted at Ryntum's involvement.

....

Vernau.

It was a city located north of Vaale.

Long before Blande became a republic, the city and the territory around it were ruled by a family called Vernau.

When the idea of a republic was widespread, the family systematically retreated from the political scene.

When the revolution happened, the Vernau survived while many of their fellow nobles were stripped of power and wealth.

Some were more unfortunate than others. They were stripped of their life.

At present, Vernau is focusing on business. That is... on the surface.

Their power and control over the territory haven't diminished.

In the world of shipping business, Vernau holds a monopoly.

And it was their ships that Jon Blue attacked.

In their centuries-old mansion, the letter from Vaale arrived.

"Since when do letters from a mere convoy captain find their way to my desk?" asked Van Vernau, the patriarch of the family.

At the age of sixty, he still leading the family.

The servant responded, "It is said to be urgent, sir. The courier insisted it was a matter that could not wait."

Van snorted, "Heh! We'll see..."

He tore the envelope open and began reading it.

A few minutes later, the patriarch asks. "Have you heard the name of Jon Blue?"

The servant blinked for a second, "Isn't he a pirate?"

"Yes. That pirate attacked my ships," Van revealed a chilling expression.

The servant instantly questioned Jon's sanity.

Van slowly folded the letter, "He must think Vernau is just another merchant family."

The servant inwardly hopes Jon knows who he's messing with. Pirates usually didn't know who they were crossing until it was too late.

Then again, the servant heard rumours that Jon had a backing.

What if, Jon is not a reckless fool?

Just to be safe, he decided to warn the patriarch.

"Sir, I'm afraid someone is protecting Jon behind the scenes."

"And who do you think that someone is?"

The servant thinks for a moment. This is a rare chance to show his brilliance. Hopefully, he can climb up the hierarchy.

"I believe it's Ryntum. Didn't they the ones capable of constructing those ships?"

"Why targeting me then?"

"Didn't Blande get the notice about war reparation a while ago?"

"Yes. The government decided to ignore it."

Technically, it was he and his colleague who made the decision.

The amount they requested is ridiculous, far exceeding the tax revenue collected.

If they agreed, it would cripple the nation and force the wealthiest families to give their fortunes to make up the difference.

It was unacceptable to them.

"So, they most likely try to pressure Blande by attacking merchant ships."

Van sneered, "Is that kingdom so desperate for money? That upstart king has no grace at all. One might mistake him for a peasant trying to collect dues in a back alley."

The servant agreed.

Ryntum's actions reflected the young age of its monarch. He has ambition and his methods are often aggressive.

"Have Barlia been harassed in the same way?" Van asked. They're the ones pulling Blande in.

"They're under a peace treaty with Ryntum. We, on the other hand, never sign any of that."

"That means..."

"The war between us and them is ongoing."