Firearms in a Fantasy World

Chapter 168: Arrival at Horns Bay

Translator: Cinder Translations

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Horns Bay, a place filled with opportunities and wealth.

It is known as the most developed waterway in the known world. On some busy routes, hundreds of huge cargo ships come and go every day.

These cargo ships are all uniform sailboats, with holds filled with all kinds of goods. Hundreds of oarsmen sit on seats on both sides of the hold, sweating profusely, pulling long oars with chants or drum beats, providing power for the ships' navigation. Only when the wind picks up, the relatively small square sails on the masts provide some power, allowing them to rest for a while.

Most of the oarsmen are slaves bought by the shipowners, shackled to their seats and unable to go anywhere. The reasons for becoming slaves vary: some because of debts they couldn't repay, some born into slavery, some captured in wars.

Once locked to the oar seats, their miserable fate for life is almost decided. Many slave oarsmen continue to be locked here even when they are old and grey, living a dark life under the threat of overseers' whips.

The land near Horns Bay lacks decent plains; it is dotted with hills, the land too fragmented for the birth of a large country. Instead, there are numerous city-states scattered along the coast.

Due to geographical reasons, agriculture is not suitable here, so residents choose commerce to sustain themselves.

Each city-state adopts a mercantilist approach, encouraging trade. Merchants play important roles in national politics, with ruling nobles often doubling as prominent merchants.

Some closely related city-states even form alliances, cancelling tariffs between them and imposing the same taxes on countries outside the alliance. Some alliances even speak with one voice in foreign policy. The Horns Bay Alliance is the most influential among them.

Due to its proximity to the sea, commercial trade via shipping is almost a natural choice. Generations of Horns Bay merchants have gradually expanded their trade to the outside world. They sell furs from the north to the south, grains from the south to the north, spices from the east to the west—selling whatever makes profits.

The flourishing commerce brings immense wealth. The living standards of the residents here are likely the highest in the world, even the poor here cannot be compared to the poor in other countries.

The prosperity of the economy and the luxurious lifestyle lead people to focus more on spiritual pursuits and enjoyment. Many literary figures, artists, and thinkers who left their marks in history emerged in this land. This is also why Paul Grayman commissioned Quill Foster to bring him more popular works. Who knows which writer might leave a mark in history?

After more than half a month's voyage, the Southern Star finally arrived in the waters of Horns Bay.

The journey south went smoothly without encountering any trouble like pirates. However, when they sailed to the southernmost end of the kingdom's coastline, a sailor fell ill. Captain Quik had to order the Hope to anchor so the sick sailor could recuperate onshore and leave some money for him to return to the Northwest Bay by land after recovering.

If the sick sailor wasn't treated in time, it could lead to a major problem if it was contagious.

"Ah, Captain Quik, I finally understand why ships here are all rowed," Alan sighed. After entering the waters of Horns Bay, the Southern Star was like entering the doldrums, sailing at a speed as slow as a turtle on land.

"I bet people on other ships see us as fools," another apprentice sailor shrugged helplessly.

Captain Quik cheered them up, "Hmph! But this is the place! If it were in other waters, our Hope could beat them by miles in speed and distance. By the way, have you learned to use the compass and sextant?"