Javi Alonso is a businessman who trades in the Mediterranean and Africa all year round. The Chamber of Commerce is based in Seville, the front line of Spain's opening to the outside world, and the "Pirnas" Chamber of Commerce owned by him is also one of the largest chambers of commerce in Spain, and its strength is quite strong.

In the early years, his chamber of commerce, which specialized in precious metals such as gold, silver, ivory and precious stones, but also involved the transportation and sale of slaves, weapons and some miscellaneous goods, transformed Javi Alonso from a nobody, into a prominent figure in the Seville Business Association.

However, Xavi Alonso's life has not been smooth in recent years, and in the past few years, the rapid development of his chamber of commerce is absolutely inseparable from the strength of the Spanish Navy.

Within the reach of the Spanish navy, his chamber of commerce could operate unimpeded. As for all kinds of discounts that should and shouldn't be there, they never had to be pursued, and naturally appeared in his business operation process.

But after the defeat of the Spanish Armada, Xavi Alonso's business plummeted, not only walking on the road and sea in fear, but also being restricted everywhere in trade, and the merchants who were originally polite to him suddenly changed their faces, and they frowned at him one by one.

Some time ago, it was said that some kind of agreement was reached between the top brass and the UK, which gave Harvey Alonso and his Pirnas Chamber of Commerce a glimmer of respite.

The blockade and pursuit of the Spanish merchant fleet by sea was significantly less, and the various commercial forces considered the possibility of a Spanish comeback, and their attitude towards Pirnas was much kinder.

This allowed Pirnas's revenue to rebound strongly after a cliff-like decline in the past few years, and the revenue amount was once two-thirds of the revenue at its peak.

Although it is far from being resurrected with full blood, it is much better than the previous half-dead.

This can be seen from the smiles on the faces of the employees of the Chamber of Commerce, people's spirits have returned, and they have begun to believe that everything will be better, and this is the source and beginning of the improvement.

But recently, Britain seems to have fallen out with its own country again, and everything is back to square one.

Especially for the few large orders that have just been signed recently, the deposits have been paid, and the fleet has been sent out, but the incident happened by chance, and there is no time to recall it, so I just hope that there will be no problems.

The destination of this order is Timbuktu, where Harvey Alonso has invested a lot of money to buy a batch of fresh ivory, hoping to take advantage of the easing of the trade situation to sell it to the north in exchange for a sum of money that can save the Chamber of Commerce.

But when the tide reversed again, shortly after his fleet departed, Harvey Alonso was in a dilemma.

Is it to recall the fleet, or to let them move forward and complete this trade?

If the fleet is recalled, the safety will be greatly improved, but the deposit is gone, there has been no recent receipt, and the loan to complete this trade cannot be repaid.

However, if the fleet is allowed to move forward, then in case of an accident - this accident cannot be limited, maybe it is the breach of the contract by the trading party, maybe it is a raid halfway and other unexpected circumstances, it may make Pernas lose all his money.

In this way, this trade effectively becomes a bet.

Without the effective escort of the warfleet, going to sea to trade is a gamble, but the stakes are a little too big, not only in terms of the money invested, but also the future of the Chamber of Commerce, and all the hard work of the generations who have fought for it.

Xavi Alonso didn't like to take risks, but this time he had to.

After all, Pirnas has reached the point where he either dies or lives, and if he doesn't move forward, Pirnas has to die; If forward, Pirnas could die.

Waiting for death, what about the dead country?

So after several entanglements, Xavi Alonso decided to send the fleet to Timbuktu.

The only difference is that he himself decided to go with the team and personally complete this important trade.

From Seville, Pirnas's fleet headed south, past Cape Green, turned southeast, and continued along the west coast of Africa.

Xavi Alonso's heartstrings also went from nervous to soothing, and finally gradually relaxed.

The fleet on the road was very friendly, and even when they encountered two British fleets, they waved a friendly flag from a safe distance, which made Xavi Alonso feel more relaxed, and even the winter sea breeze became much gentler.

As the climate gets hotter and hotter closer to the equator, Xavi Alonso's mood is getting lighter. It seems that things are not as serious as I thought, or that the situation is much better than I thought.

By the time the fleet turned into the Niger River, Harvey Alonso's heart was completely relaxed, and he was already convinced that this trade could be completed smoothly and there would be no uncontrollable surprises.

Timbuktu's climate is the same dry and hot all year round, but Xavi Alonso's mood is warm as spring.

The delivery procedures were also quite smooth, although the merchant looked at him a little strangely, but there were no difficulties and obstacles.

The day after arriving in Timbuktu, slowly eight large three-masted galleons filled with ivory, Harvey Alonso was ready to order the fleet to sail back.

The fleet set sail, I don't know why, Harvey Alonso's heart has always been a little heavy, especially when he thinks of the strange eyes of the business owner, which makes him feel like a beast stepping into a trap, can only silently wait for the hunter to collect the net, but he can't change anything.

He didn't know what was wrong, maybe he was just being too careful, but the haze always lingered, and his heart was very unsteady, as if something would happen at any time.

In this way, Pirnas's fleet sailed out of the Niger River, preparing to sail westward and return to Spain as quickly as possible.

But unexpectedly, just when the fleet was about to go to sea, the accident happened suddenly!

It all happened at dusk, when the Pirnas fleet had seen the outlet to the sea, and Xavi Alonso's heart was completely on his throat.

This position is actually the most dangerous, because if you are still in the river, even if there is an enemy who is unfavorable to you, there is no good attack position to choose from, which is relatively safe.

If you go out to sea, even if you encounter danger, the fleet can scatter and flee in all directions, minimizing the threat.

The most dangerous thing is the current situation, the fleet will go to sea but not go to sea, once it encounters an attack, it is easy to cause confusion in command, so that the fleet is completely out of control, and it is also the most dangerous area that may cause heavy losses.

However, the world is afraid of something, just when Xavi Alonso was nervously looking at the sea outside, the lookout hand above suddenly screamed: "There is a fleet approaching!" There is a fleet approaching! There is no flag! There is no flag! ”

When the lookout shouted the words "no flag", Xavi Alonso's heart chuckled, and his heart immediately screamed badly!

After all, on the sea, no matter which country's fleet you are, you must fly your own flag between driving, which is also the flag rule for identifying the fleet to which it belongs.

Is there a fleet without flags? Yes, the first to bear the brunt is the existence that the maritime merchants fear and hate the most - pirates!

These raiders on the sea have never played according to the routine, they have only one purpose, that is, to rob all the goods, and then use the attitude of the robbed as a yardstick to decide whether they are dead or alive.

Of course, according to the general rule of pirates, if the robbed person voluntarily gives up resistance, then he can leave a quarter of his assets, and as for the remaining three-quarters, he must be handed over to the robber as a "courtesy fee"!

Harvey Alonso looked at the pirate fleet opposite with a numb scalp, and his heart was cold!

The size of this fleet was at least twenty ships, and the largest was a huge Galen warship, with a displacement more than twice that of a normal large three-person transport!

And the artillery is even more different, judging from the dense muzzles on both sides, these pirates are simply battle fortresses!

Why do pirates have such powerful equipment? It's really weird! It's really weird!

But what's the use of thinking about it at this point? The two boats at the head of the row have already left the sea, but the ones behind are still in the river. Cut off at this time, he completely lost control of most of the fleet.

That means that the whole army is wiped out, and it means that there is no return!

Xavi Alonso almost crushed his teeth, but he was still helpless about what was in front of him!

He even began to calculate in his heart whether the remaining goods would be able to repay the debts he owed if he took the initiative to surrender. If so, this is not necessarily an option.

But unfortunately, the answer is no. Xavi Alonso has utter despair in his heart. He watched the pirate's fleet rush towards him, knowing full well that it was all over.

Could this be the arrangement of fate? Xavi Alonso looks up at the sky, he has lost hope in life. After all, when these goods are looted, even if you return to Seville, you are just a bankrupt who has lost his status because of the failure of his investment.

So what's the point? Generations of struggle have been ruined in their own hands, and any excuse is powerless in the face of this cruel reality.

Forget it, so be it!

Xavi Alonso watched the pirate get closer and closer, and pressed his right hand the hilt of the knife, but gently let go.

What's the point? The merchant fleet, deprived of the protection of the warfleet, was as fragile and helpless as a lamb.

It is still unknown how effective it will be if you fight back, but it is inevitable that you will incur a brutal killing by pirates!

Never mind! Forget it!

Xavi Alonso saw his fleet surrounded, and the other side had given an ultimatum to the command of the head.

If they refuse, the pirates will come up and take it themselves! Not a single copper plate will be left to itself.

Finally, with a desperate look at the navigators and sailors around him, Xavi Alonso was hoarse and ready to give orders!

"Attention all! We cast ......" Before the word could be dropped, the lookout above him heard the lookout roar again: "Battle fleet!" Southeast! Battlefleet! Spanish Fleet! ”

His shouts almost tore his throat! Xavi Alonso looked southeast like an electric shock, only to see a fleet of warlords flying the Spanish flag in the wind approaching at full speed!

The pirate's formation immediately became chaotic, and there was already a faint intention of retreating!

"We are saved! There is salvation! ”

Xavi Alonso fell to his knees with a "plop" and could no longer hold back the hot tears that rolled down his cheeks, slipped down his chin and dripped intermittently on the deck.