Chapter 382 - 283: Wharf Commotion, Royal Academy

The rest of the journey was without incident, and they smoothly entered the waters of Folangji.

The sea lanes here were extremely busy. As far as the eye could see, sails of all kinds dotted the water, each vying for passage.

These merchant ships hailed from all corners of the world. Some, by the looks of them, had endured long, arduous voyages, their hulls covered in scars.

Some crewmen, upon sighting the port, stood at the bow and wept openly—tears of joy for their safe return, and of mourning for the comrades they had lost along the way.

But right now, no one paid them any mind. All eyes were drawn to the merchant ship Wu Liangchen was on and, more specifically, the pirate ship it was towing.

Wu Liangchen had sunk the other two escort frigates that day, then towed this large vessel back.

In Graham's words, the ship itself was a considerable fortune; it would be a real shame to abandon it.

This, however, also drew the attention of the crowd.

Soon, someone recognized the Graham family crest inlaid on the ship's hull and couldn't help but shout, "Is that Count Graham?"

In Folangji, the practice of purchasing noble titles was now rampant, causing the once-valuable peerages to become commonplace.

But the title of Count was still relatively rare; after all, its exorbitant price was not something an ordinary merchant could afford.

It was clear that Graham enjoyed a celebrity-like status among the merchants of Folangji.

For when he appeared at the bow, he was met with waves of cheers.

"It's Count Graham!"

"Good heavens, where is that legendary merchant returning from? And why is he towing a pirate ship?"

Amid the gasps and murmurs, Graham, a smile on his face, gave a slight nod to the crowd before speaking in a clear, loud voice.

"Ladies and gentlemen, this pirate ship is the flagship of the infamous 'Fox of the Seas,' Hoffman! We encountered him on our return journey, defeated him, and captured his vessel."

The crowd erupted into a commotion at the mention of Hoffman's name.

For the past few years, this cunning "Fox of the Seas" had been a headache for countless people. Despite several attempts to corner him, he was never captured due to his elusive nature. Worse, these attempts only provoked more brutal retaliation, causing many trading houses to suffer devastating losses.

So now, hearing that Graham had not only encountered Hoffman's pirate fleet at sea but had also miraculously defeated them, the merchants were naturally incredulous.

"Lord Graham, is what you're saying true?"

"Yes, you defeated Hoffman's fleet, but did you manage to capture the man himself?"

Facing the barrage of questions, Graham maintained his smile. "Of course. Hoffman is in my custody right now. Once we dock, I will hand him over to the city hall. You will all be able to see for yourselves then."

This sent the crowd into an even greater uproar.

Graham, after all, did not look like he was lying.

And if Hoffman had truly been captured, it would be a monumental piece of good news for every major trading house.

Thus, the news spread like wildfire. Before Graham's ship had even docked, officials from the city hall were already at the pier, waiting.

Graham recognized the man in the lead: Monroe, the Director of the port. Beside him stood Fleming, the Chief of Police from the city hall's security department.

"My esteemed Count Graham, it is a pleasure to see you." Monroe removed his hat and performed an elegant salutation.

This was a courtesy employed by the old nobility, a rare sight in the Folangji of today.

Graham hurriedly returned the gesture.

"Your Excellency, the Director, to have you come and greet me in person is more than I could ask for. I am truly honored."

Monroe smiled. "My Lord Count, you are too kind. Setting aside the matter of capturing Hoffman, your courage in pioneering a new trade route for the empire is enough to earn everyone's respect."

Just as the two were about to continue their enthusiastic exchange of pleasantries, Fleming, standing beside them, grew impatient.

He had just turned thirty. A handsome graduate of Folangji's Royal Police Academy, he had cracked several major cases in quick succession right after his promotion to Chief of Police, becoming a rising star in Folangji's political arena.

Under such circumstances, a certain degree of arrogance was perhaps inevitable.

In fact, if he hadn't heard that Hoffman had been captured, he would never have come to the docks to greet a mere merchant.

Fleming couldn't be bothered with him, no matter how rich the man was—not even if he was a Count.

This wasn't just because of his own achievements, but also because of the prestigious name of the Royal Police Academy.

As a graduate, he enjoyed a network of connections within the imperial police system that was practically unparalleled. He paid no mind to a bought-and-paid-for Count; he wouldn't even care about the old, established nobles with their own fiefdoms.

All of this would have been unthinkable just thirty years ago.

Back then, Folangji's aristocracy still held nearly all the power, and social tensions were at a breaking point.

But everything had changed with the rise of maritime trade.

As a now-popular saying in Folangji went:

My lord, the times have changed!

So, he unhesitatingly interrupted their conversation.

"So, where is Hoffman?"

As a shrewd merchant, Graham naturally understood the current political climate in Folangji and knew better than to cross a figure like Fleming.

Even though Fleming's tone was rude, Graham's face remained wreathed in smiles.

"He's in the cabin. I'll have him brought over at once."

"No need!" Fleming didn't even spare Graham a glance as he strode toward the ship.