Chapter 444: Why Always Now

"Your Highness, what should we do with these prisoners?"

After a round of interrogation, the scar-faced man had finally revealed everything he knew. Satisfied with the information, Desmond ordered his soldiers to lower their bayonets.

Simon glanced at the captured men, his expression growing cold.

"How have they been treating our fishermen?"

"Anyone the Outsiders capture alive is turned into a slave," Desmond replied angrily.

He had already discovered that many coastal pirates were actually Outsiders naval personnel operating under false identities. They disguised themselves as the notorious Red Wolves, raiding fishing villages, attacking merchant ships, and terrorizing the coastal population.

The discovery had only deepened his hatred for them.

"So, they capture our people and force them into slavery?" Simon asked, his voice dangerously calm.

"Exactly, Your Highness."

Desmond sneered and gestured toward the prisoners.

"Take them to the salt fields. They can learn what it means to work under the same conditions they impose on our people."

The soldiers immediately moved forward, their flintlock muskets held firmly in their hands, bayonets glinting in the sunlight as they escorted the captives away.

Watching them leave, Desmond turned back to Simon.

"Your Highness, ever since the Reavers crossed the mountain passes, the Outsiders have repeatedly harassed our people and seized our fishing grounds. They’ve grown so bold that they no longer bother hiding their intentions. Now that our fleet is finally taking shape, it’s time to teach these two-faced bastards a lesson they won’t forget."

"That is precisely what I intend to do."

Simon’s gaze hardened.

"From this day forward, our warships will patrol the surrounding seas. Any Outsiders or Red Wolves vessels caught threatening our fishermen or merchant ships are to be dealt with decisively."

"Understood, Your Highness!"

Desmond’s eyes lit up.

He had dreamed of this day for a long time.

For years, Brambleford’s coastal population had suffered under the threat of pirates. Fishing boats disappeared without a trace, merchants lost entire shipments, and coastal settlements lived in constant fear of attacks from the sea.

The Eldorian Empire possessed a vast coastline, yet its ability to protect those waters remained woefully inadequate.

That situation was about to change.

With Simon’s support, the navy was growing stronger by the day. Soon, the empire would no longer have to endure every insult delivered by foreign fleets.

For Desmond, this was more than the beginning of a military campaign.

It was the beginning of a new era. A wild grin spread across his face.

***

The decision to establish regular naval patrols was straightforward.

The ocean was too vast for the entire fleet to remain concentrated in one location. Even if every available warship sailed together, large stretches of coastline and important shipping routes would remain unprotected.

Simon therefore decided to divide his fleet into small groups of two or three warships.

Each group would be assigned a specific patrol zone, allowing the navy to cover the principal maritime routes around Brambleford and its neighboring waters.

If a group encountered pirates it could handle, it would engage them directly. If it faced a superior force, it would withdraw strategically and send word to the nearest friendly squadron.

This arrangement would allow Simon to maximize the effectiveness of his limited naval strength without leaving important trade routes exposed.

For now, the fleet’s primary responsibility was protecting merchant shipping and suppressing piracy.

But Simon’s ambitions extended far beyond that.

His ultimate objective was to establish Brambleford’s dominance over maritime trade in the eastern seas.

He wanted to create a situation in which merchants transporting goods between different countries would have little choice but to rely on his fleet, his ports, and his commercial network.

In time, Brambleford could become the indispensable intermediary connecting distant markets, collecting profits from trade while gradually expanding its political and military influence.

The Dutch had already demonstrated the enormous wealth that maritime commerce could generate.

Simon intended to go even further.

However, he understood that ambition alone would not make such a vision reality.

The Outsiders and the Red Wolves would never willingly surrender their existing privileges. Both groups had profited from controlling sea routes, exploiting coastal settlements, and intimidating weaker merchants.

They would resist any attempt to replace them.

And without a decisive military victory, Simon would struggle to establish unquestioned naval supremacy.

He wanted to launch a major offensive immediately, but the current state of his fleet forced him to exercise restraint.

His galleons possessed considerable firepower, yet they were not invincible. Their maneuverability remained limited, and their numbers were insufficient to confront a much larger enemy fleet with confidence.

A reckless campaign could destroy years of investment in a single disastrous engagement.

Simon was not willing to gamble away his growing naval strength merely to satisfy his anger.

Instead, he decided to wait until the twenty-four third-class sailing warships currently under construction were launched.

Once those vessels entered service, his fleet would number thirty-nine warships.

That would give him considerably more flexibility in organizing patrols, escorting merchant convoys, and conducting large-scale naval operations.

It would also reduce his dependence on Dutch cooperation.

Although he had signed a trade agreement with the Dutch, Simon had never mistaken a commercial arrangement for genuine friendship.

A treaty could regulate relations between nations, but it could not eliminate conflicting ambitions.

Never assume that a foreign power will remain friendly when its interests change.

Simon had no intention of placing Brambleford’s future in Dutch hands.

Until his fleet became strong enough to stand independently, he would cooperate with them when their interests aligned and remain cautious when they did not.

After discussing the patrol arrangements in greater detail, Desmond began preparing to put the plan into action.

For the time being, protecting trade routes would remain the navy’s foremost responsibility.

The larger war could wait.

But it would not wait forever.

***

After leaving the naval port, Simon returned to the temporary residence.

As his carriage rolled along the road, his thoughts gradually shifted from naval patrols to the broader strategic situation confronting Brambleford.

If he were still living in his former world, many of these problems would be far easier to understand and manage.

But he was no longer an ordinary man living in modern society.

He was a prince of the Eldorian Empire, responsible for the prosperity and security of an entire domain.

Every decision carried consequences.

A mistake could cost him ships, soldiers, money, or even the lives of the people who depended on him.

And among all the threats facing Brambleford, none concerned him more than the Reavers.

The encounter with the Outsiders warships had strengthened his determination to destroy their naval power. Yet his reasons extended beyond the protection of merchants and fishermen.

The destruction of the Outsiders fleet would remove a major obstacle to his long-term military plans.

In particular, it would open the way for an operation against Purple Flower Island.

Its location made it an exceptionally valuable military position.

The island’s importance lay not merely in its size but in its relationship with the surrounding coastline.

If hostile forces advanced on the city, the defenders could destroy the floating bridge connecting their positions and strike the enemy from the rear.

The island thus formed an important component of the wider defensive network.

Simon had studied enough military history to understand the lesson.

A strategically positioned island could serve as more than a defensive outpost. It could become the foundation for an invasion.

If he could establish a fortified base on Flower Island, he would possess a forward position from which to launch operations against the Reavers’ heartland.

Supplies could be stockpiled there. Troops could be stationed there. Warships could use its harbor as a staging point.

Instead of repeatedly reacting to Reaver incursions along his borders, Simon could eventually carry the fight directly into enemy territory.

Of course, such an operation would require careful preparation.

The island would need fortifications, artillery, adequate supplies, and a reliable maritime supply line. More importantly, the Outsiders’ naval forces would have to be neutralized sufficiently to prevent them from cutting off the garrison.

Without control of the surrounding waters, even the strongest fortress could become a prison.

That was another reason Simon had prioritized naval development.

His ambitions on land and at sea were not separate projects.

They were parts of the same strategy.

***

Despite his growing naval strength, Simon had never neglected the threat posed by the Reavers.

They remained Brambleford’s most dangerous enemy on land.

During the previous campaign at Preston, Fern ultimate fate had remained uncertain. Afterward, the Reavers had unexpectedly reduced their activity, allowing the border regions to enjoy a period of relative calm.

To most people, this might have seemed like good news.

Simon thought otherwise.

An enemy who retreated after suffering losses could be recovering.

An enemy who suddenly became quiet could be preparing something far more dangerous.

The absence of attacks did not mean the threat had disappeared.

In fact, the silence made him more uneasy than a series of minor raids would have.

He could not afford to assume that the Reavers had abandoned their ambitions. If they were reorganizing their forces, Brambleford have to be ready before the next offense.

This was why Simon continued developing alternative trade routes and strengthening his maritime infrastructure.

If the Reavers launched a major invasion and disrupted the overland roads, Brambleford could lose access to important supplies.

External merchants might become reluctant to send their goods through dangerous territories. Prices would rise, essential materials would become scarce, and the workshops responsible for Brambleford’s development could be forced to slow their production.

In the worst-case scenario, the domain might find itself isolated.

Sea trade offered a way to prevent that outcome.

As long as his ports remained operational and his navy could protect merchant vessels, Brambleford would retain access to outside markets even if its land routes were threatened.

The ocean could become its lifeline.

Simon leaned back in his seat, contemplating the challenges ahead.

The Reavers had to be dealt with.

The Outsiders had to be contained.

The navy had to grow stronger.

And Flower Island had to be secured.

Each objective was connected to the others, forming a strategy would take considerable time and resources to execute.

But Simon had never imagined to build Brambleford’s future in a single day.

He only needed to ensure that every step brought him closer to his ultimate goal.

***

When Simon returned to the government office, he found Elin standing beside the pond in the courtyard.

She was feeding the fish, scattering small pieces of food across the water. The fish gathered eagerly beneath the surface, creating ripples that spread toward the stone edges of the pond.

Her expression was relaxed, and the tension that had accompanied her earlier visit to the naval port seemed to have disappeared.

When she noticed Simon approaching, she immediately turned toward him with a smile.

"My Lord."

She straightened and greeted him.

Simon walk up to her, as he wrap his hand around her wrist, while he stare directly into those lovely eyes of her.

"Did today’s events frighten you?"

Elin blinked twice, her cheek’s turning red before shaking her head.

"You underestimate me, My Lord. I wasn’t frightened. I was simply seasick."

"Seasick?"

Simon stared at her in surprise.

"Why didn’t you tell me before we went out?"

Elin lowered her eyes slightly, looking embarrassed.

"I didn’t want to spoil your mood. Besides, I have spent almost my entire life in the Eldorian Empire. I’ve rarely had the opportunity to see the sea, so I really wanted to experience it with you."

Simon finally understood.

During their time aboard the ship, Elin had spoken very little. Her face had also appeared unusually pale.

He had assumed the naval battle had frightened her, especially when the distant explosions and the sight of burning ships filled the surrounding waters.

He had not realized she was struggling with seasickness.

Simon gently patted her head and kiss it.

"So that’s why you were so quiet. I thought you were frightened by the battle."

Elin’s cheeks warmed.

"My Lord faced the Reavers without hesitation when Brambleford was threatened. As your wife, how would I allow the soldiers to laugh at me for being afraid of the sea?"

Simon looked at her for a moment before smiling.

This woman was becoming increasingly different from the sheltered noblewoman he had first known.

She still possessed the elegance and refinement expected of her position, but she was also learning to face unfamiliar situations without immediately retreating.

More importantly, she wanted to stand beside him rather than remain safely behind him.

Of course, there was a difference between courage and refusing to admit discomfort.

Simon decided not to lecture her about that.

Instead, he gave her an amused look.

"Next time, tell me if you feel unwell. You don’t need to prove your courage by suffering in silence."

Elin nodded obediently.

"I understand, My Lord."

The two exchanged smiles, and the atmosphere between them became lighter.

For a brief moment, the burdens of naval expansion, foreign enemies, and looming war seemed distant.

Then a servant hurried into the courtyard.

Do this always have to happen?

He stopped before Simon, bowed respectfully, and delivered his report.

"Your Highness, Commander O’Neill requests an audience. The fishing boats have returned."

Simon’s expression immediately became serious.

"The fishing boats?"

"Yes, Your Highness. They have returned to the harbor."

Simon exchanged a glance with Elin before turning toward the servant.

"Very well. Tell Commander O’Neill that I’ll see him immediately."

The servant bowed and withdrew.

Simon looked toward the direction of the naval port.

The return of the fishing boats might have been nothing more than an ordinary report.

But after the events of the day, he had learned not to dismiss anything concerning the sea.

Sometimes, the smallest piece of information could reveal the beginning of a much larger problem.