After resting on White Whale Island for two days, Ronin and his party took the more than eighty prisoners who lived there and set out for Rapids Island.
According to the experience of the four ships’ captains, this leg of the journey would take about three days.
It turned out the four captains were quite capable. On the morning three days later, the silhouette of an island appeared on the horizon.
"Look, that’s Rapids Island!"
On deck, everyone broke into smiles.
A long sea voyage is a tedious and dull affair.
You’re confined to the sa tiny space day after day, and the only scenery is the blue sky and the sea. Those who had never seen the ocean before might have found it novel at first, but after a while, it grew monotonous. It was nothing compared to the relief of standing on solid ground.
However, not everyone was bored.
Under Ronin’s arrangents, Tom and David were diligently learning theory from the Sailors from White Whale Island, while also learning how to fight on a warship from the mbers of the Dennis Clan’s Knight Squad.
If nothing else, at least the two of them no longer got seasick like they had on the Denis Three.
As the ships neared Rapids Island, a harbor far more complex than the one on White Whale Island gradually ca into view.
Several vessels were docked in the harbor. The largest was a sailboat about twenty ters long, used for training away from the island. The others were small oar-boats, likely used for coastal fishing.
According to King Bruno, Rapids Island’s special products were fruit and wood suitable for building ships and furniture.
Transporting timber from the island to Horn Bay required a dock capable of berthing cargo ships. Although this one looked rather simple, at least Ronin wouldn’t have to worry about constructing a new one for so ti.
A deep Horn blast sounded, and the four ships slowly approached the shore.
On the dock, n who were either Guards or administrators sprang into action, directing the Sailors to slowly bring the ships in to moor at the dockside.
At that mont, in a building not far from the harbor, Knight Wally Price, the warden of Rapids Island, heard the Horn signaling the ships’ arrival. He imdiately went to the window.
From his vantage point, he could clearly see four ships docked in the harbor. The largest of them flew the banner of the Oduin Royal Family high.
’The reinforcents have finally arrived!’
A smile spread across his face as he rushed downstairs, taking the steps two at a ti and hurrying toward the harbor.
As Ronin and his party stepped off the dock and onto the shore, Wally’s hearty voice rang out.
"Haha, welco to Rapids Island, esteed guests!"
He approached the group and bowed low. "Wally Price greets you all."
Ronin had learned about the Knight before him from Philimon. Although the man was only a Bronze Knight, his Knight Squad had been responsible for the defense of Rapids Island for more than ten years.
"It’s a pleasure to et you, Wally Knight."
Ronin stepped forward. "I am Roning Wushan, Commander of this reinforcent mission. Could you tell about the current situation on the island?"
"Commander, and everyone, please follow inland to rest first!"
Ronin, along with Karda, Tom, David, Missy, Reis, Lu Qi, and lonika, followed Wally toward the harbor building.
As they walked, Wally Knight explained the situation on the island.
Although Rapids Island was a penal island, it had evolved over the years into what was essentially a small city with a population of over twenty thousand.
With more people, society naturally beca more complex.
Currently, Rapids Island was roughly divided into three factions.
First was Wally Price’s faction, representing the Royal Family. They numbered over five thousand and lived mostly in the area near the harbor.
The other two factions were called the Laren Association and the White Flower Association.
"The Laren Association is led by a Knight nad Laren. They are relatively conservative and manage to hand over their monthly quota of collected oak wood. It’s just that in the last two years, they’ve been demanding supplies from us with increasing frequency and in ever-larger amounts."
"The White Flower Association is led by Knight Marcelo. With over fourteen thousand people, they are the largest and most unruly faction. A conflict broke out last month when we tried to collect our timber shipnt. My deputy, Kolon, was injured by them and is still bedridden."
Ronin nodded. From the other man’s explanation, he now had a basic understanding of the situation on Rapids Island.
"From what you’ve said, there are no large-scale food crops on Rapids Island, and the islanders rely on supplies from the ships that co from Horn Bay to pick up timber. If the White Flower Association is opposing you so blatantly, aren’t they afraid you’ll cut off their food?"
At this, Wally shook his head helplessly. "I’m not entirely sure. To be precise, my n haven’t ventured deep into the White Flower Association’s territory to investigate in a long ti. It’s possible they’ve cultivated their own farmland and can now produce enough food for themselves."
This was the current predicant.
’Originally, the purpose of Wally and his Knight Squad was to monitor the criminals on the island. But now... The supposed overseers, the prison guards, didn’t even dare get close to the criminals’ living quarters.’
’No wonder His Majesty Bruno said this place was about to slip out of his control.’
"What is the White Flower Association’s overall combat strength?"
Wally shook his head. "I’m not sure."
At this, Lu Qi, who was standing to the side, couldn’t help but interject, "They’re just the descendants of criminals. They lack proper Weapon and armor, and they haven’t received any formal training. Even if their few leading Knights have so skill, it would be no trouble at all for us to eliminate them."
Ronin nodded.
’He currently had two Knight Squads under his command, as well as a Fourth-level Magical Beast—a Griffin.’
’As for Advanced Level Combat Power, besides himself, he had teor Knight lonika as a fallback.’
’Add Wally’s Knight Squad to the mix, and their combined force could crush the White Flower Association. It would be a completely one-sided fight. There was no need for complex ploys or strategies; a direct frontal assault would suffice.’
’In Ronin’s mind, all the unruly people and factions on Rapids Island had to be suppressed, including the supposedly conservative Laren Association.’
’Leaving them be would only cause him more trouble when he took over Rapids Island later.’
"We will rest well today. Tomorrow, Wally Knight, Knight Lu Qi, and Missy Knight, you will lead two-thirds of our forces to take down the White Flower Association first. Reis, you will be in charge of the rest, who will remain here to guard the harbor. Prevent anyone from the Laren Association from taking this opportunity to seize the harbor and steal our ships."
The n contemplated his words for a mont, then nodded. The plan, which covered both offense and defense, was sound.
This arrangent even made Wally look at Ronin with newfound respect.
So ti ago, he had led his entire Knight Squad out to suppress the White Flower Association. If he hadn’t been warned and returned in ti, the harbor would have fallen into the hands of the Laren Association.
Ever since that incident, Wally hadn’t dared to deploy his full squad.
"By the way, Wally Knight."
Ronin asked, "The leader of the Laren Association is Laren. Why isn’t the leader of the White Flower Association called ’White Flower’? Where does the na co from?"
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