The other side.
Located in a bustling port.
"...So you see, the chaos here proves Plato's point precisely, that we need a philosophical leader to bring order..."
"Order? My friend, the chaos here is itself a higher order, the natural result of countless people pursuing their own interests. This is the embodiment of 'Logos'..."
"Listen! The Dolphin is in urgent need of twenty strong sailors! Daily wages, guaranteed to return alive! Come if you have the guts!"
"What?! The shipping rates have gone up again? These damn vampires!"
"Take this contract to the banker's house and tell him that the interest rate can be negotiated, but my ship must leave the port before the full moon. If he delays my olive oil shipment to Italy, he will have to pay compensation!"
At the port, there were shouts everywhere, the crisp sound of iron colliding, and the dull thud of heavy objects hitting wooden boards.
Beyond that, there were thousands of conversations, with bargaining, cursing and laughter blending into one, never stopping.
This is the most prosperous seaport in Greece and also the area with the most powerful maritime power in the entire Greece.
"Look who's back!"
"Welcome back to Piraeus! Businessmen from Corinth!"
Collins's thirty or so large ships slowly approached the port. Many people stopped what they were doing and looked over.
They quickly carried their cargo and rushed towards the big ships.
"This is top-quality olive oil! Do you want to take a look?"
"This is grain shipped from the Black Sea. You can buy a ton for just two German gold coins!"
The accents spoken by people here vary.
Of course, it would be even harder to tell who was Athenian on the long walled avenue leading to the port.
The place was full of dark-skinned merchants with Phoenician accents, arguing fiercely over the price of a batch of papyrus from Holy Egypt.
There were also a few sailors wrapped in gorgeous Persian rugs, who had just stumbled out of the tavern.
In the corner, a Spartan frowned, clearly not used to the chaos driven by wealth and desire, which was even worse than on the battlefield.
Here, the phrase "get out of the way" might even be shouted in five languages at the same time.
"The port of Piraeus in Athens is still as busy as usual."
"Hmm? What are those? Are they new ships?"
On Collins's ship, a businessman who occasionally reached into his pocket to touch his heavy wallet was looking into the distance.
There, was the famous shipbuilding center of Athens.
There are dozens of docks lined up in the harbor, and countless workers are busy building and repairing various ships.
There, several shipyard owners gathered in a tavern near the port, drinking and discussing their business.
The tables were filled with local seafood and wine, and the air was filled with the smell of food and alcohol.
"Have you heard? Holy Egypt is going to attend the World Conference!"
A dark-skinned shipyard owner with a short beard waved his wine glass ostentatiously.
"You don't know yet?"
"I just got word that the Holy Pharaoh of Holy Egypt might need a decent ship."
Another portly boat owner scoffed.
"Holy Egypt? I knew that a long time ago!"
"But, a country that doesn't even have a decent shipyard is actually going to go to sea?"
"Are they planning to sail across the ocean in the same reed boats used thousands of years ago?"
"I don't know what the scene would be like if their Holy Pharaoh came to attend the World Conference in a reed boat."
"Just imagine, what would it be like for a king of a kingdom to sit on a reed boat?"
A burst of laughter broke out all around. It was obvious that the reed boat was the lowest-level sea vessel here.
"To be honest, I heard the news too."
The third ship owner stroked his well-trimmed beard and continued speaking.
"I know someone in town who has gossip. He says the Holy Pharaoh of Holy Egypt must be very anxious right now."
"Because, without a ship, they couldn't cross the Mediterranean to attend the meeting."
"Tell me, how could such a thing be so outrageous? I don't think these guys from the World Conference are sincerely inviting us. They don't even provide them with a ship. Isn't that obviously embarrassing for the Holy Pharaoh?
"Although everyone says that Holy Egypt is rich, it doesn't even have a decent warship. This is really embarrassing."
At this moment, the first ship owner leaned forward and excitedly joined in the conversation.
"So, doesn't that give us a chance?"
"Let me tell you, my shipyard has just completed two new triremes. They're fast, powerful, and have luxurious interiors!"
"If Holy Egypt is willing to pay, I can consider selling some to them."
"However, we must first agree on a common approach to prevent the Saint Pharaoh from comparing prices."
"Suppose we set our lowest price at one hundred gold coins. Then no matter who the Saint Pharaoh approaches, we'll just say the price is one hundred gold coins. That's the lowest price!"
When the other ship heard this, he just widened his eyes and shook his head a few times.
"You're really fucking shady, a hundred gold coins?"
"However, that Holy Pharaoh seems to be quite wealthy. After all, he's the leader of the Holy Egyptian Savage Alliance, so he must have quite a bit of money."
"Let's go all out and set the price at two hundred gold coins!"
After these words were spoken, several people nodded knowingly, and then showed an expression as if they had been stimulated by a general.
"That's awesome! Now that the price is set, we can all compete based on our abilities."
"However, our ships are made of stronger materials than yours. I imagine the Holy Pharaoh will like our ships more."
Hearing this, a ship owner snorted disdainfully.
"Huh, I like yours more? You just open your mouth and say it."
"My boat is the best! During the naval exercises held in Athens last year, the boat I built crossed the entire bay the fastest."
"If the Holy Pharaoh had good vision, he should have chosen my ship."
The fifth ship owner immediately interrupted: "What do you know?!"
"Who is the Holy Pharaoh? After all, he is the king of a kingdom!"
"What does the king want? What does he care about?"
"Of course it's not about speed, it's about face!"
"You know, my ship has the most gorgeous exterior, the most exquisite sculptures on its bow, and can accommodate hundreds of servants in its cabin."
"And this is what the Holy Pharaoh truly needs!"
At this point the argument became increasingly heated, with several boat owners even beginning to disparage each other's products.
"What did you say?!"
From the stability of the ship to the quality of the wood to the skills of the craftsmen, everything became a target of attack.
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