Starfish island.

This island, located in the bay sea area, nominally belongs to the kingdom of Qianhu in the south of the mainland, but it is actually no different from the independent kingdom.

Because starfish island is isolated overseas, it is more than 300 kilometers away from the mainland.

Due to the low latitude, the temperature on the island is obviously higher than that of the tidal islands.

In Haichao islands, the temperature at noon has been as low as minus 10 degrees, and the sea around many islands has frozen, but the temperature of Haixing island is above zero all day.

This large island with a total area of more than 200 square kilometers, most of the area is the territory of count Erikson, and less than 20% of the land belongs to other nobles, including a baron and several knights, who are also the vassals of count Erikson.

On starfish Island, count Eriksson has the right to make decisions in almost all affairs.

It''s only because of the unique environment of Haixing bay where the pirates don''t have to face the sea.

However, the pirates would only harass outside the port at most, never attack a count''s territory, and they had no courage to set foot on land.

Because under a count, there must be powerful and extraordinary effect.

Although starfish island is far away from the mainland, it is not such a remote and poor territory. On the contrary, the island is quite prosperous.

It is only more than 600 kilometers away from the southern Xinghai continent, which makes it the most ideal transit station. Most of the merchant ships going to the east of Xinghai continent will stop at Haixing island to replenish food and fresh water, and repair here at the same time.

The total population of the island is slightly more than 30000, of which more than 50% are concentrated in starfish city. There is a large natural harbor on the south side of the city, and the water depth is generally more than 20 meters.

Due to the unique geographical advantages, Earl Eriksson of all dynasties paid great attention to commerce and trade, and spent a lot of money on port construction. After years of continuous expansion, the total number of berths in the port exceeded 200.

This amazing scale makes starfish port one of the top ports in the south, with thousands of merchant ships coming and going there every year.

The prosperous trade also made count Eriksson rich. Relying on the business tax and various income brought by the port, count Eriksson''s annual income was far higher than that of the aristocrats of the same level.

Unfortunately, due to the impact of the storm season, there will always be half a year when the maritime trade routes are completely cut off.

At this time, the busy port will become very lonely. In the past, groups of ocean going merchant ships will disappear without a trace, and only fishing boats in the coastal waters will enter and leave the port.

This is the time when Hansen, the berth manager, is at his leisure.

He doesn''t have to run around in various berths of the wharf, because he doesn''t have to climb up and down in different merchant ships all the time to handle the berthing procedures for merchant ships from all over the world.

In the storm season, Hansen only needs to deal with a few dozen large fishing boats every day, most of the time doing nothing.

When the weather is good, these fishing boats will sail along the coast, fishing for conches and seashells. After all, they are idle, and they can get some fish at a time.

Of course, there are more than a dozen fishing boats on the island, but most of them are small wooden boats, which can be moored in any corner, so they can''t use these large berths of the port.

What''s more, the poor fishermen can''t afford the expensive berthing fees. Now the fish are scarce, so I''m afraid their hard-earned catch is not enough to pay the berthing fees.

Now, just after the new year, the waves are quite big, and all the fishing boats in the port are honestly parked in the berths, without any intention of going out. Hansen already has a premonition that today is mostly a day of leisure.

The cold sea wind whistling across the dock, blowing Hansen ''.

He tightened his collar and missed those busy days in his heart.

Of course, what Hansen missed was not the busy work, but the extra money at work.

When handling berthing procedures for merchant ships, many shipowners often don''t mind giving hansenser a little advantage and "encouraging" him to improve his work efficiency.

These benefits are either a handful of copper nals, or goods transported by merchant ships. Occasionally, a generous shipowner can even get a silver nals.

In the busiest time, the extra income is higher than the salary, but this damned storm season not only drives away the merchant ships, but also makes his pocket dry.

Hansen sighed unhappily, turned around and walked to the office on the wharf. After standing outside for a long time, his hands and feet were cold because of the wet and cold sea wind. He urgently needed to go to the office to warm up.

When passing by a withered and yellow weed field, he couldn''t help glancing at the big pit not far away. The brown soil in the pit was exposed, forming a sharp contrast with the surrounding dry grass industry.

A bloody picture immediately appeared in his mind: blood all over the ground, hollowed out internal organs, and gnawed body.Hansen could not help shivering. He thought of several similar events during this period, and his shadow became deeper.

He sighed and drew a triangle pattern on his chest. The father was on it, hoping that the knights in the territory could catch the murderer as soon as possible.

After another 30 meters, he vaguely heard someone calling his name.

Hansen stopped, turned his head and looked around. He found that Derek, the watchman, was shouting his name on the tower more than 20 meters high.

As Hansen looks at him, Derek waves his right hand and shouts louder.

"Hansen The sea The boat... "

But because of the distance, Hansen only heard a few words intermittently.

He walked dozens of steps to the watchtower before he heard Derek''s words.

"Hansen There are two sailboats on the sea... "

Hansonton was taken aback.

He subconsciously looked into the distance. The strong sea breeze set off layers of waves on the sea. Waves 2 or 3 meters high were everywhere. He knew that this was just an appearance. It was the new year''s month and the storm season was in its heyday. There were countless dangerous turbulent currents in the angry sea.

In Hansen''s heart, there was a strong question: how can a sailboat dare to go to sea now? What''s the matter with the owner? Is Derek wrong?

He rushed to the watchtower, intending to confirm with his own eyes.

Before he reached the tower, Derek''s voice came down from the watchtower, full of deep shock.

"Hansen Come and see The sailboat looks strange... "

Panting up to the top of the tower, Hansen rushed to the window and looked into the distance.

Only a few kilometers away on the sea, it is true that two thousand ton sailing boats are floating.

Hansen was so surprised that there was a sailboat that dared to sail in the storm season.

As Derek said, their appearance is very strange, the left and right sides of the sailboat seem to be connected with a small boat, this is the first time he saw such a strange structure of the sailboat.

Hansen instantly realized the benefits of doing so. He suddenly realized that no wonder they dare to go out to sea in the dangerous storm season. After encountering turbulence, this special structure can greatly stabilize the hull and avoid capsizing.

The person who designed this structure is really smart, he praised it secretly.

"They Could it be a pirate Derek asked hesitantly.

This kind of suspicion is very normal. In normal people''s minds, those who dare to sail in the storm season are either lunatics or outlaws. Those ferocious pirates are very consistent with these two points.

In addition, there were several terrible murders during this period, which made Derek think about the bad side unconsciously.

"I don''t think so. Lord Schroeder is in the territory, and there are guards in the port. Pirates dare not go ashore..." Hansen replied.

"Derek, you stare here. If the situation is not right, you ring the bell and I''ll get someone to inform the port guard..." For safety''s sake, he added.

Derek nodded nervously. Hansen rushed to the narrow stairs quickly, and the sound of "Deng Deng" was fading away.

After a while, more than 50 members of the port guard, led by two awakeners, appeared on the dock.

They were well-equipped, each wearing uniform leather armor, metal helmets, a melee weapon in the back, and a crossbow in the hand.

It''s not cheap to build a crossbow in a foreign world. Because it''s all made by hand, the price of a crossbow is often as high as two jinnals. To arm such a guard, the money spent on the crossbow alone is more than 100 jinnals.

I''m afraid that the total cost of equipment, such as armor and weapons, is more than 200 jinnals, which is only a small sum. The larger expenditure is on labor, and the annual salary paid to the guards will not be less than 300 jinnals.

However, a count''s armed forces were not limited to this guard.

In this world, a knight''s order led by the extraordinary is the standard for almost every count.

Count Erikson''s collar is no exception. There is a Knights'' order with more than 600 people in the territory, which is nearly twice as many as the ordinary count''s collar, and the annual expenditure is close to 8000 guineas.

To be able to afford such a strong armed force, count Eriksson''s annual income is very rich.

The huge noise made by the port guard attracted many civilians. Soon more than 100 people gathered on the dock, but they did not dare to get close to the fully armed guard and all stood in the distance to watch.

When the two sailboats were 2 kilometers away from the port, everyone saw the sailboats and their strange appearance.

As a result, the whole pier was a sensation.

Because, in the count''s recorded history, and in the memory of everyone present, this is the first fleet to visit starfish island during the storm season.

There is no doubt that the sailors on these two sailboats are real warriors.Only the bravest people are willing to risk their lives to challenge the terrible storm season and cross the extremely dangerous ocean.

Ten minutes later, under the intense gaze of the port guard, the two strange looking sailboats approached the wharf. A big bald man appeared on the bow deck and yelled:

"I''m moss from Haichao chamber of Commerce, leading the merchant fleet of the chamber of Commerce, asking to enter the Harbor..."

After hearing the word "extraordinary", everyone, including the port guard, lowered their heads humbly.