Raising Paladins

Chapter 145. return (1)

“Harpie Island, no, it should be called ‘Pinas Island’ now, its original name. People are flocking here again.”

Crowds of noisy festivals.

People from all over the archipelago held a party praising the priests and militia.

In some archipelagoes, news came that remnants of hiding pirates had been killed or exiled.

The wooden fort used by Henry Morgan had all the outer log walls demolished.

It has been transformed into a temporary shelter for the people who flocked to it or a store where goods are traded.

Henry Morgan’s severed head was hung high on the side of the island’s pier, and his body was abandoned in the hills with the dead pirates.

It was to relieve the anger of the people of the archipelago by making it food for the beasts.

“I could never have done it without you. It’s an unbelievable achievement.”

Gillian thanked Carl and company for watching the crowds at the festival.

Not only that, but the people who gathered also gave gifts along with words of gratitude to Carl and his party.

There were people who brought all sorts of food, rare jewels, precious herbs only found in the Pinas Islands, and even brought a few well-groomed horses as gifts.

A knife that showed no interest in anything else.

His eyes twinkled when he saw the white horse being pulled by a man who said he was the son of a family who had been ranchers for generations.

Of course, he declined several times, but thanks to the ranch keeper’s authority to the end, he finally accepted.

The horses were aboard an old pirate ship, a ship now owned by Carl.

“We’ve only had a small hand in the work of the militia and the natives of the archipelago.”

“You are too humble, Carl. I have heard vivid testimonies that you sent Henry Morgan to the underworld in one blow. Even if all the other operations were successful, if there was no one to subdue the harpy, everything would have gone wrong in the end. Your balls are the biggest. Of course, I also thank Miss Meisa and the other priests. Especially Miss Meisa… … I don’t think I’ll ever forget that dazzling look until I die. That was amazing!”

Meisa has fully absorbed the divine power.

Tira and Hanson, who heard about her activity on Ruins Island, begged them to show it to them quickly.

Meisa reluctantly granted the request.

Tira clapped her hands in admiration at the sight of her disappearing and reappearing as lightning flashed through her body, and Hanson gave her a look of jealousy.

It was so great that many of the militia members wanted to become priests at dawn.

They had already promised to go together when they left for Mayrium.

“I think it’s time for a serious discussion now. Of course, it’s something I’ll have to do after my brother recovers from his injuries, but since it’s urgent, I’ve been granted temporary authority. Now that the fight is over, shouldn’t there be post-war processing?”

“of course.”

The treatment after the war is just as important as the war.

Sometimes there were many people who started a war for it.

“Among the issues we need to discuss, the core is to dispose of the vast amount of wealth that belonged to the pirates, and the second is to make this place a base for maritime trade links between Meirium and Derdrang, as you insisted, Carl. To be honest, on the second issue, we would like to raise our hand to welcome you.”

Carl nodded in understanding.

“Because it has been under the rule of the pirates, there must have been many people who made a living from business related to the pirates, whether they like it or not. Now that the Pirates have been disbanded, they will need new jobs.”

“Exactly! It is not possible to punish all those who were forced into the business by the pirates as traitors. They lost their jobs, so we have to give them something to do. Coincidentally, the trade linkage base business you suggested would be just right. To do that, you’ll also need to build a large-scale wharf and base to serve as a base for your business. We also need to train a professional navigator who will check the route and lead us from the misty outskirts of the Pinas archipelago to Derdrang. Also, how much commission should be charged as a trading base, and an inn for sailors to stay should be built on a large scale… … .”

Jillian’s face looked happy as she had many things to do.

Because they found their lost freedom, and now a large-scale business has been created to help the people of the archipelago live.

If you exchange and trade high-quality fruits and other products from Meirium in the easternmost part of the empire, and pearls, jewels, and spices from Derdrang in the southernmost part, you will make huge profits in the middle.

And that huge profit will be the foundation for the Pinas Islands to grow.

Not only Gillian, but everyone who heard the news of the trade relay point were delighted.

“The problem is the first one. It is an enormous wealth left behind in the pirates’ quarters. I had a meeting all night with Chief Mediel and the elders of the archipelago about how to deal with it. And I made a decision.”

“Listen, please.”

“We decided to give it to you.”

“… … ?!”

Carl and everyone in his party were surprised.

Tira, who was eating the fruit, screamed as if it had gotten stuck in her throat.

Even the calm Cretan old man looked quite surprised.

“The wealth is the wealth the Harpy Pirates gathered by plundering the Pinas Islands. I cannot accept that.”

“I thought you would say that for sure. But if it wasn’t for you guys, I wouldn’t have the glory I have today. The people of the Pinas Islands are not ungrateful idiots. Please accept it.”

“I can’t. We took the name of the sun god and acted according to the doctrines of the Cult of Dawn. It wasn’t something I was hoping for.”

The knife came out hard.

Then Jillian’s eyes were both embarrassed and moved.

“Hello, you are great priests. The fake priests of the Imperial Continent are shouting out the sun god with their mouths and thinking about how to seduce the believers, but you… … I envy you who are detached from riches. If it were me, I would have salivated and said thank you. ha ha ha!”

Jillian’s joke lightened the atmosphere.

But Jillian didn’t seem to want to completely back down.

“Still, it’s something I can’t concede to. Because if you don’t accept riches, we really will become ungrateful idiots. Is there any way?”

“Then let’s do this.”

Gillian listened to Carl’s words.

“Since you said this earnestly, I will accept 1/10 of what I have now. We do the rest by investing in the business. How about that?”

“Tell me more.”

“In any case, a large-scale civil engineering project is essential to create a trade linkage base. The key is a port where dozens of ships can dock and a city to be formed around it. I will invest my wealth in that construction project. Please send a portion of the profits generated from the base business to the Temple of Dawning in Meirium every year. How is it?”

“That way!”

Gillian admired.

“That way, we can pay off our debt to you, and the base construction project will be much easier! Besides, since I have to deliver the profits every year, I can use that as an excuse to periodically contact the Meirium Temple. At that time, I would like to inform you of various circumstances and inform you of business achievements and changes. What a great idea!”

Carl’s trick to solve two big problems at once.

It was a proposal that had no reason to oppose it from the point of view of Mayrium.

It was because there was no place to use it in Meirium even if you had to bring a lot of wealth right away, and if it was already wealth, there was a huge amount of money obtained by saving Derdrang.

I couldn’t even bring all of them, so I left some of them in Derdrang.

To prepare for future wars, wealth was important, but business means to continuously generate profits were more important.

Carl was prepared for that.

“Gillian! Jillian!”

While the details of the agenda were being discussed, a militia came running.

His face was not very good.

“Sigeon is in critical condition!”

“… … !”

Carl and the others quickly ran, led by Jillian.

***

“Cool… … .”

Si-eon, who was lying on the bed, was coughing badly.

The white cloth covering his mouth was stained red before he knew it.

Tira was startled when she put her hand on Sigian’s body.

“I have too much fever! I think I need to treat my wounds quickly!”

Tira quickly tried to loosen the bandage on her shoulder.

But Sigeon held her hand and said with a smile.

“Leave it alone, I’m fine.”

“ah… … .”

Tira reads something in Sigian’s eyes.

She slowly backed away with a downcast face.

Sigian was very emaciated.

Even if you are not a person with special medical knowledge, anyone can know that Si-eon’s life is short.

He vehemently refused treatment from Tira and others.

“Gillian… … .”

“older brother.”

Gillian reached over and took his hand.

“How did the issue of discussing with the priests go?”

“Good. They decided to invest the wealth left by the pirates in the construction of a trade linkage base. I don’t think the people of the Pinas Islands will go hungry.”

“It’s great, it’s really good… … cool… … .”

Tira turned her head with a tearful face at the sight of Sigian coughing up blood.

It was as if I couldn’t bear to see him.

“Gillian, you shouldn’t make mistakes like me. If a crisis strikes, risk your life and fight, and protect the people of the archipelago… … Got it?”

“of course. I promise you.”

The last slowly approaching.

After reading the atmosphere, Carl led the party out of the ward.

After about ten minutes had passed, Jillian came out too.

His eyes were moist.

“My brother is gone. I must hope that I can stay by the side of the sun god.”

“Surely you will.”

“… … I’ll be glad if that’s the case. My brother couldn’t overcome the guilt until the end. If she was cured by Miss Tira, she might be able to live, but she said that she has no face seeing the faces of the people of the archipelago in her future life. He thought people suffered for a long time because he couldn’t protect the archipelago. You’ve got a disease in your heart.”

“… … .”

“My brother said he wanted to ask you one last favor.”

“What is?”

“Could you build a temple for the Church of Dawn in the Pinas Islands?”

Carl nodded.

“The people here also need a place to reach the sun god.”

“Yes, we need faith. A firm belief that can overcome even when trials come… … .”

“Tira said that if you go near the ruined island, the sea breeze and current will automatically lead you to the island. Why don’t you build a temple there? As soon as I arrive in Meirium, I will contact the parish in the capital. They will probably gladly allow it.”

“Thank you. I owe so much to you.”

“It was nothing.”

“Even if you return to Meirium, please don’t forget our Pinas Islands. We, the people of Pinas, regard the Meirium Shrine of Dawn as our brothers. If you have any difficulties, you can contact me at any time. No matter where the empire is, I will run to it.”

Jillian’s gaze turned to the setting sun.

Gillian, who succeeded his brother as the leader of the Pinas Islands.

He was thinking of his older brother Si-eon, who never gave up his pride.

‘Please be happy.’