Chapter 50: Gold Piles as High as a Mountain

Mirtha, dressed similarly to Ian in a long coat and wide-brimmed triangular hat, carried both short and long muskets and exuded a commanding presence. His once slender frame had grown noticeably taller, adding to his imposing demeanor.

Mirtha had a tendency to unconsciously mimic Ian—his style, posture, even his demeanor. Ian never bothered to correct him; he let him be.

Liya had also donned a hat and wore a more neutral outfit, a coat that could pass as unisex. In the Sea of Miracles, beautiful women were often synonymous with trouble, and even the extraordinary beings weren't much better off.

As the Leviathan and Swordfish neared the docks, their arrival caught the attention of the workers, especially the Swordfish, which clearly showed signs of having endured a brutal naval battle. Whispers spread through the crowd, speculating about the relationship between the two ships.

Under the guidance of the dock workers, both ships successfully docked. Mirtha and Liya skipped the rope ladder and jumped straight onto the quay.

A raven circled overhead, then landed on the shattered mast of the Swordfish. "Back to the cabin—" Ian's voice, rasping and harsh through the shared sensory link, made the crew rush back to their quarters in alarm.

Ian turned to the temporary captain. "Bring out Sam, the first mate, second mate, and the bosun, quickly…" Under the raven's unsettling stare, the captain's scalp tingled, and he trembled as he hurried off to summon them.

Liya took a while to finish negotiations with the dock workers and made her way toward Ian, Mirtha in tow.

Mirtha, with a cold expression, muttered, "These people have some nerve."

Despite their respectful attitude toward the two extraordinary individuals, the dock workers were dragging their feet unless money was involved. "This area doesn't meet regulations; that one needs checking," they would say. But a little bribe, and all procedures could be skipped.

Liya chuckled softly, accustomed to it. "They're just after the money, old pros. They're backed by the Bureau of Administration and the Governor's Mansion. Ordinary extraordinary beings wouldn't dare cause a fuss."

The Governor's Mansion was unique to Storm Cape and Heaven Island, a new political system pushed by the Crown Prince. Governors had five-year terms, appointed by the royal family.

By the time they reached the Swordfish, Sam and the others had been waiting for a while.

Ian was uncertain of the impact of his actions in taking Rebecca, but he had to prepare for the worst. If conflict arose, they'd need to return to the ship and head out to sea—where he was most at home.

Plans were set in motion. Liya, along with Sam, carrying the contract they'd signed and witnesses, would head straight to the Extraordinary Profession Union to finalize the notarization, collect the ransom, and handle the spoils.

Mirtha, accompanied by a raven and the Leviathan, would remain at the docks, guarding the Swordfish. Ian would go alone.

"I need it sold quickly, don't worry about losses," Ian said seriously to Liya. "Don't use consignment or commissions. The longer it takes, the worse it gets. We need to be ready to leave at any moment."

Liya nodded firmly. She understood the urgency. She and Sam headed straight to the Union.

Ian patted Mirtha on the shoulder. "Don't hold back. If anything happens, have the raven notify me."

Mirtha clapped his chest and nodded earnestly. "Got it, Captain."

Ian adjusted his hat and walked off toward the docks. On the other side of the cliff where the Calvin Castle stood, a lone raven circled low, seemingly confirming something before it dove and perched on a low camphor tree. The gravestone beneath it read: Arnold Calvin.

Ian was deeply familiar with Storm Cape. His favorite pastime used to be standing in the castle's attic, looking down at the bustling city below.

He didn't go into the city, though. Instead, he followed a narrow path, bypassing the port warehouses and taking a winding gravel road up to the highlands. It was a road seldom traveled by anyone else.

Ian walked three or four kilometers along the gravel path, finally reaching the highland. One side sloped down into the city, while the other dropped off sharply to the sea cliffs.

The highland was expansive, around 20 square kilometers. Ian stood at a fork in the path—on the west side, the ruins of the castle, and on the east, a forest. He didn't hesitate, turning east.

Minutes later, he arrived at a small patch of lowland forest, where dozens of gravestones stood. Ian slowed his pace and expanded his spiritual energy, spreading it out across the graveyard, quickly covering more than a hundred meters.

After confirming its authenticity, Ian sighed deeply and lowered his head. He didn't approach any closer, his gaze sweeping over the gravestones. He looked several times before abruptly turning back toward the castle.

An hour later, Ian left the castle with a grim expression. There was not a single intact chair left inside, and it was obvious that a thorough, destructive search had taken place before a fire was set. The flames had consumed everything flammable before dying out on their own.

Even though he had expected it, Ian's mood was still soured. Pirates were all about plunder, but in their haste, they had left such a clean sweep—it didn't add up.

At a small tavern near the Truth and Justice Church's residential district, Ian had been sitting for two hours.

The residential district was actually the family quarters for the clergy—bishops, priests, monks, nuns, and their families lived here for free, along with orphans raised and educated by the church.

The district was well-guarded by church knights and soldiers, making it difficult for unknown individuals to enter.

Now, Ian's dilemma was how to get into the district and bring Rebecca out, or at least get her to leave on her own.

A raven, its spiritual energy suppressed, circled above the district. It tried to land a few times but was spotted and driven away by the guards. Ravens during the day were just too conspicuous.

Looks like I'll have to wait until night, Ian thought.

His eyes refocused as he scanned the area. He hadn't found Rebecca, but he had spotted a familiar figure. With that person here, he was certain of his course of action—he'd have to wait until evening.

At dusk, Ian and the others stood at the docks, watching as a tugboat slowly pulled the Swordfish away.

Ian exchanged a glance with Liya. "We can go back now."

Inside the Leviathan's crew dining hall, a long table was piled high with coins—literally a mountain of gold. The sight was truly overwhelming.

Even Ian, usually composed, found himself momentarily stunned. Mirtha, too, couldn't hide his surprise. But Liya remained calm, a small smile on her face as she watched the spectacle.

"How much… is this?" Mirtha asked, his voice filled with disbelief.

Liya smiled. "Seventeen thousand six hundred gold coins."

She turned to Ian. "Things went pretty smoothly. These kinds of attacks, where the attackers are captured, do happen from time to time. The ships and crew are in high demand, and there's a lot of extra profit to be made. If we're not in a rush, we could easily sell for a few thousand more."

"The big earner is the Swordfish, priced at 9,000 gold coins. Then the crew—these experienced men are worth over 5,000. The rest comes from the ransom for the captain and some crew members, plus a bit of profit from the cargo."

"These were all sold to the Extraordinary Profession Union, so we don't have to worry about any follow-up issues."

Each Podelia gold coin weighs about 15 grams, and these coins weighed over 255 kilograms. Gold's density is high—100 kilograms of gold forms a cube only 17 cm on each side.

But once these 17,000 coins were converted into gold and poured out from the metal crates, it was truly an awe-inspiring sight.

Ian had previously earned thousands of gold coins each week by working with the Whaling Guild, a sum that exceeded many extraordinary beings' expectations. Now, tens of cannonballs had earned him more than 10,000 gold coins. Truly, blood, fire, and gold belts!

As the night fell, Ian turned to Liya. "You take your share, the rest goes back in the box and to the captain's quarters."