Captain – Chapter 422 – Hipalia

Hipalia, not belonging to any nation within the Federation Covenant, possessed an independent administrative system and, due to its strategic significance and location, held an extremely special position within Pronora.

In terms of strategic importance, it was the absolute center of the world’s military industrial complex. In cutting-edge research and development, it could even challenge the imperial military, serving as the chief supplier to the Federation fleet for many years.

As for its location, this giant port capable of accommodating and maintaining an entire fleet was only a five-day voyage east of the border between Auran and Pronora, while to the west it connected to at least three Federation military stations.

From this perspective, this giant port could truly be called the undying heart of the Federation.

As long as Hipalia stood, the Federation’s fleet would not perish, and it could serve as a solid wall to resist imperial ships from the east.

Therefore, in recent times, any Auran emperor with ambition, wanting to subdue the Federation and unify the northern continent, invariably viewed this giant port as a thorn in their side, making it a priority target for destruction.

But whether through direct assault, covert seizure, or various forms of infiltration, after nearly a hundred years, the Empire still hadn’t shaken the foundation of this place.

The reason for this naturally fell on the powerful family that solely controlled Hipalia, whose history was stained with deep darkness.

That is, the Anderson family.

In this world, apart from the Auran royal family, the nameless royal house of the Federation, and the Shelley family, no other family could reach the height of this behemoth or touch its glory.

Even if Roy, under the name of the York family that had entered the imperial customs, could only slightly match the Anderson family in terms of commerce.

As for the rest…

No matter how many estates and lands it owned, they would hardly match even half of Hipalia, right?

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“My God, this place is much more impressive than Yadris. It’s hard to imagine…”

As the sail shadows ahead of the Mermaid gradually parted, Roy and the others standing at the bow finally saw the full view of the giant port. At this moment, even the captain couldn’t help but show surprise on her face, muttering under her breath.

Even searching through all her memories, she couldn’t find a port or city that could compare with what she saw now.

Before that magnificent port, even the port built by Elvet, known as the world trade capital, would pale in comparison.

It shouldn’t even be called a port, but rather a semi-circular landform projecting from the land, as if a giant from mythology had stretched out its arms, wanting to embrace all friendly visitors without evil intentions.

On that ring-shaped coastline stood lighthouse-like torches, interspersed fortresses, and high, seemingly endless city walls.

On those fortresses and city walls, honeycomb-like cannon holes could be vaguely seen.

Anyone who saw this scene would instantly understand that this port, which gathered immense wealth, was not a cornucopia to be taken at will, but an unfaltering wall that made invaders almost despair.

What could have left the Empire without solutions for hundreds of years could not possibly be mountains of coins and goods, but rather formidable military strength.

“What’s hard to imagine? That this entire territory belongs to my family?”

Approaching his home ground, the ship doctor, contrary to his usual behavior, had come to the deck early. Now he was leaning against the wooden railing at the bow, opening his arms to the captain, with a restrained yet hateful smile on his face.

Like a prodigal son showing off family assets…

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Well, you could remove the “like.”

Suppressing her surprised expression, Roy cast a sideways glance at this young master and said: “But as far as I know, this place should belong to the Federation.”

Although the Pronora Federation was a coalition, it was not loose. In terms of centralization and mobilization, it was not far behind the imperial system of Auran. After all, only in this way could it contend with the Empire.

Therefore, whether it was the old capital of the Shelley family or the giant port of the Anderson family, ultimately, it should be under the jurisdiction of the Council.

“Please, this kind of talk is treated as a joke among us.”

The ship doctor put down his arms, resting them on the railings on both sides, turning his head slightly to look at the ring-shaped coastline facing the Mermaid. His gaze swept over the lighthouses, fortresses, and city walls, proud as a returning prince.

“They say it’s to counter Auran that the Federation adopts a centralized system and conducts, uh, ‘democratic’ elections to select representatives from all parties, but in reality, they’re just puppets on strings.”

When saying the word “democratic,” Anderson deliberately dragged out his voice, full of sarcasm, and when mentioning those so-called representatives, he even showed some disdain, as if talking about pests.

“Those people with their minds full of power, money, and sensual pleasures—do you really expect them to keep the Federation running smoothly?”

“Talk about benefiting the people and resisting the Empire, don’t even think about it. Compared to this, it would be better to hope they don’t empty the treasury.”

Unable to truly understand these political issues, Roy could only catch words like money, power, and sensual pleasures from the ship doctor’s speech, thinking that except for power, aren’t these exactly what pirates pursue?

To put it that way… these representatives aren’t much different from pirates.

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“Saying one thing and doing another—that has indeed been the Federation’s character throughout history.”

Unlike Roy, the First Mate standing beside her was quite sensitive to these political issues. During a pause in the ship doctor’s narrative, he added a merciless comment.

“Hey, hey, hey, I’m saying, no matter how hypocritical the Federation is, isn’t it still much better than your royal family? Tsk, that scheming and treating human lives as passing clouds, I shudder just thinking about it…”

Before the ship doctor could finish, Caine interrupted expressionlessly: “I think what the captain found hard to imagine earlier was how this ‘nation’ full of pests has managed to survive until now.”

“Hey, now you’re attacking me personally…”

Seeing that these two were about to start another big argument, Roy quickly raised her hand to them: “You two, how can you argue about everything?”

Seeing the captain step in to mediate, the First Mate naturally quieted down, and the ship doctor, after some consideration, feeling it unwise to offend both of them at once, grumbled a little before dropping the matter.

“Continue with what you were saying. What exactly is the situation within the Federation?”

With the two calming down, Roy lowered her hand and urged the ship doctor to continue. Although she didn’t fully understand, she was quite interested and planned to note some points to use to fool others later.

Anderson naturally didn’t know her thoughts. He glanced at the First Mate who had turned his gaze away but was obviously still listening, and continued: “What’s there to say? It’s just that behind each representative…”

As the ship doctor was using the Federation’s internal issues to highlight himself and his family’s absolute control in this region, the Mermaid had also circled around the chain and gradually sailed into its interior.

After passing through the routine inspection and formally entering the “embrace” of this giant port, its awe-inspiring full view truly came into sight.

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Within the ring-shaped coastline was a body of water that could almost be called an inner sea. Countless merchant ships of various regulations shuttled through it, and neatly arranged warships surrounded it in the shadow of the city walls.

Looking ahead, at the edge of the visible horizon, was a cluster of buildings largely ivory white, yet unlike any great city of any empire where the tallest buildings were always churches symbolizing faith.

At a glance, among the buildings of Hipalia, apart from a not-too-conspicuous church built to show respect to Goddess Hestia, various landmark buildings emerged one after another.

Slender clock towers, sprawling museums, university towns, statues of scales representing fairness, ancient astronomical observatories…

Buildings embodying history, culture, and art appeared in endless succession, but strangely, when they were situated in this building cluster, they didn’t stand out awkwardly, instead blending in naturally like rivers flowing into the sea.

Thus, the final scene that entered the eye returned to a sea of ivory white, emanating a pale golden radiance under the warm winter light.

Like the legendary city of gold.

“So, Captain, First Mate, and everyone…”

As the Mermaid followed the queue of merchant ships and approached that splendid city, Anderson finally finished his narration, slightly raising his hand and making a welcoming gesture toward the approaching city.

Then, he smiled and generously said:

“Welcome to my hometown, the dazzling jewel of the Pronora Federation.”

“Hipalia.”