Fall of the 3 Dutch Kingdoms: 2

13th July 1660 

Panaitan Island

On an island situated at the southernmost point of Java, a couple of Dutch lookouts stationed on top of a tower stared at the coast with bewilderment. They were dumbfounded as they looked at the empty and calm waters with their eyes wide like saucers.

"Hey Lucas. Why do you think there are so few ships traveling today?" David Verhoeven muttered, unable to believe his eyes. He kept rubbing them until they turned red. The always-busy coast, bustling with Bharatiya merchant ships, was now completely empty. It was as if this was not even a trade route but a simple, isolated coast in some remote corner of the world. 

Lucas Meijer, his colleague, also looked confused. "Do you think the merchants are finally using the Malacca Strait?" he asked, but he was not too sure.