Chapter 414:

Just when Ethan was focusing all his energy on his family, good news came.

No, it was bad news.

Yes, it was bad news!

A red wine merchant ship of the Carlos family, bound for the Osho Empire, was attacked by pirates while passing through the territorial waters of the Duke of Usis, and all the people and goods were buried in the sea.

You should know that the territory of the Duke of Usis is adjacent to the city of Maro, which means that the merchant ship of the Carlos family was attacked just after leaving the door.

When Paparia told Ethan the news, Ethan was so happy that he almost laughed out loud.

No, it was grief and anger!

As the ruler of Maro City, how could the nobles of Maro City be happy when they were attacked by pirates?

Yes, it was grief and anger.

The sneer was caused by excessive grief and anger.

"Is the news true?" Ethan asked while teasing the little girl who was just born fifteen days ago in his arms, while trying to suppress a smile.

Papalia had no scruples at all, and replied with a smile: "Some barrels have drifted back to us.

The Carlos family also came to me, hoping that I could inform you and let you come forward to solve the problem."

Ethan smiled bitterly: "Now you really come to me for everything, am I a god?"

"Of course you are a god!" Papalia bowed: "My master!"

"Hahaha..." Ethan laughed up to the sky.

As a result, because the laughter was too loud, it woke up the little girl who was sleeping. She was unhappy at the time and started crying.

Ethan hurried to comfort her, patted her back gently, and took a lot of effort to coax her back to sleep.

Then he went out to send her back to the room and handed her to Angelina, so that he had time to deal with the business.

Seeing Ethan coming back, Papalia said directly: "Master, I have learned about the progress of the sea trial from Jack.

After recent intensive tests, they can accurately hit any moving hull at a distance of two kilometers.

I think it's time for us to teach them a lesson."

Ethan did not reply, but turned around with his chair and turned to the window.

He looked out the window quietly for a long time, and finally turned his back to Papalia and shook his finger: "No, the time has not come yet!

I don't want to play any pirate games like them, I want reasonable and legal maritime law enforcement rights!"

Hearing this, Papalia was stunned for a moment, and didn't understand what Ethan meant at all.

Before he thought about it, Ethan asked: "Do you know how far the ship in trouble is from the coastline?"

Hearing this, Papalia immediately came back to his senses, and vaguely guessed what Ethan wanted to do.

If I guessed correctly, Ethan probably wanted to clarify the issue of maritime rights.

You should know that nowadays, the dukes do not have a clear statement about territorial waters, so the management of sea rights is extremely chaotic.

How chaotic is it!

Let's put it this way! There is no clear statement even about how far from the coast it is considered territorial waters.

So that if something goes wrong, no one is responsible.

If this issue can be clarified, it will be conducive to the development of subsequent armed fleets, such as long-handed jurisdiction.

Of course, all this must be based on everyone's unanimous agreement to take effect.

Thinking of this, Papalia replied: "I'm sorry, this has not been confirmed yet, I will investigate immediately."

Ethan nodded and ordered: "No matter what the final result is, apply for compensation to Duke Usis in the name of the parliament.

Remember, the wording should be harsher, and it is best to bring some threats."

Seeing Ethan's order, Papalia was more certain that his guess was correct.

"Understood, Master! I'll do it right away? In addition, Master, can I ask, should I prepare the venue in advance?"

Hearing Papalia's random words about preparing the venue, Ethan smiled knowingly, because he knew that Papalia had seen through his thoughts.

So he turned back to his chair, looked at Papalia, and said with a smile: "You are so sure that they will come to negotiate before the negotiation?"

Papalia smiled: "Based on my understanding of the Duke of District 16, they are all stingy people and are definitely unwilling to take responsibility.

In order to not take responsibility and to strike us, it is entirely possible that they do not want territorial rights.

Or establish jurisdiction centered on them."

Ethan smiled bitterly: "You think too optimistically. It is true that they are stingy, but there are also capable people among them. Don't treat others as idiots.

But it doesn't matter. As you said, they are indeed unwilling to take responsibility.

And they are all the kind of people who want to take advantage, but are unwilling to pay, and cannot accept their own interests being damaged.

As long as they have this mentality, it is enough.

Okay, do it as I say first!

Others, it depends on God's will!"

"Yes!"

...

Duke Usis Territory

Ecathia City, Duke's Mansion.

The current Duke Richard Usis angrily slammed a letter sent by the Maro City Council on the desk.

He shouted angrily to the staff officer beside him:

"What do you mean you want me to pay compensation for an accident in my territorial waters?

If we don't pay, will Maro City dare not guarantee the safety of our ships passing through their territorial waters?

Are they threatening me?"

Seeing this, the staff officer beside him did not rush to reply, but slowly stepped forward, picked up the official letter and took a look.

Then he frowned and thought for a moment.

"My Lord Duke, you don't have to be angry, just ignore them.

However, this matter is a bit strange.

Navigation itself is a very dangerous thing. Everyone has always been responsible for themselves, and there has never been a precedent of asking for compensation from the jurisdiction of territorial waters.

Maro City should know this.

But they knew this, so why did they send such a letter that was close to a declaration of war? "

Duke Richard didn't care why, he just wanted to know who did it.

So he asked: "Which bastard came to my territorial waters to make trouble?"

"It was Duke Carter.

He built a base on a small island near the Osho Empire, originally intending to stop the Lawson family's cargo ships from going south.

As a result, he guarded the nearby waters for a long time, but failed to do so.

So he picked the Carlos family's ship to attack, just to get a bargaining chip!" The staff officer replied truthfully.

Duke Richard was even more angry when he heard it: "When did they build the base? Why didn't I get any information in advance?

Also, why didn't they build a base in their own territorial waters to stop the Lawson family's cargo ships from going north, but instead came all the way to us?

The most annoying thing is, why did he launch an attack in my territorial waters?

Want to put the blame on me? "

The staff officer was exhausted after asking three questions in a row.

However, he still explained one by one: "We only learned about their base building after the attack.

And he came all the way to us, mainly targeting the coffee business of the Lawson family.

As you know, coffee has always been a specialty of the dwarves.

Recently, coffee has been very popular in the territory of the Duke of Carter, and even economic sanctions cannot stop this trend.

Because this business has always been exclusively controlled by the Lawson family and there is no other place, economic sanctions not only have no effect, but also make it more popular because of its scarcity.

While the Lawson family made a lot of money, it also made the Duke of Carter more jealous.

So he wanted to grab this business.

It's a pity that the people he sent to negotiate with the dwarves didn't understand the rules there, not only did they fail to negotiate, but were fooled by others.

He knew that he couldn't make the business, so he wanted to destroy it and force the dwarves to surrender.

So..."

...