SWDnovel Chapter 47 Ghost Buyer
Chapter 47 Ghost Buyer
The next morning, the North Wharf in Boston was already bustling with activity.
The cries of seagulls, the shouts of sailors in various accents, the clanging of cargo being loaded and unloaded, and the rough curses of foremen rose and fell in waves.
The air was filled with the salty sea breeze, the stench of rotting fish, the sweet aroma of rum leaking from the wooden barrels, and the scalding smell of tar used for repairing ships—the very smells Finn knew best.
Finn didn't go straight to his usual tavern, but instead strolled leisurely along the cobblestone path of the dock.
His single eye swept over every corner and every person who passed by him, whether it was a ragged porter or an arrogant first mate. He could glean seemingly insignificant but always useful information from them.
Finn first found a skinny young man named "Pointy Mouth" Pip.
Pip was like a boneless mouse, able to move through the most crowded places and the narrowest piles of goods. His ears were sharper than a seagull's eyes, and his sly hands were always sneakily approaching other people's money bags.
"Go to 'Red Rose,' 'The Drowned Sailor,' and 'The Sailor's Grave.'" Finn's voice was very low, which made him feel a little uncomfortable.
"I want to hear the boasts of those Royal Navy sailors who have just disembarked. I need to know which ships are currently carrying munitions, and which ship's captain or first mate is having the worst luck, or is unable to control their spending."
Pip chuckled, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth, and before Finn could finish speaking, he darted into the crowd and disappeared.
Next, Finn found "Iron Arm" Oakes in a warehouse full of lumber.
Oakes was a seven-foot-six-inch giant with arms thicker than an average person's thigh; he could lift oak barrels that would take two strong men to carry.
Finn patted the giant on the shoulder; the hand didn't seem that big on Oaks.
"Ox, have your men be a little 'careless' when they're working, and have them chat more with the port authority clerks and guards. I need to know which military ships are coming into port recently, especially those carrying 'important cargo'."
"Buy them a few drinks, let them know that the generous fraternity will remember their friendship."
Oakes responded in a muffled voice, never asking why, just carrying out orders.
As night fell, Finn entered the most dilapidated tavern at the end of the dock, "The Mermaid's Song".
The tavern was dimly lit, and an old man with gray hair and a face etched with wrinkles like an old map sat in the corner, sipping cheap ale.
He is "Old Charter" Ham, a pirate who crossed the Atlantic in his youth, and it is said that he kissed every rock in Boston Harbor.
Now, he's a living fossil who earns money for drinks by telling stories of the past and selling bits of information.
Finn didn't sit down, but stood by Ham's table and pushed a silver shilling toward him.
"Ham, what's been happening at sea lately?"
Old Haitu raised his cloudy eyes and slowly put the silver coin into his pocket.
"The sea is still the same sea, and the king still has the same number of ships. However, I heard that the 'Sea Serpent' is almost here."
"The Sea Serpent?"
"A lousy ship," the old chart smacked his lips.
"Its captain, Robert Finch, used to be a good player. Unfortunately, he fell in love with a goddess at the gambling table, who was always emptying his pockets. I heard he's heavily in debt at several casinos in the South District, and his creditors are waiting for him to come ashore."
An hour later, Pip slipped back to Finn's side like a gust of wind, his face beaming with the excitement of someone wanting to claim credit.
"Boss! I heard it! The sailors who just came back from Jamaica said that Captain Finch of the 'Sea Serpent' is a jinx! Last time in Nassau, he lost three months' salary in one night and even pawned his command sword!"
In the evening, Aux also brought news.
A drunken junior port authority clerk showed him the latest inbound vessel forecast.
"Boss Finn, the 'Sea Serpent' will arrive in three days. The manifest clearly states that it contains military supplies, and the escort is the 43rd Infantry Regiment of the Royal Army. The cargo manifest only says 'military supplies,' but the clerk said that such vague wording usually means that it contains firearms and ammunition."
Finn stood on the wooden piles of the dock, watching the sunset paint the sea a golden-red hue.
All the information gathered and collided in his mind, eventually piecing together the complete information.
Ship name: "Sea Serpent".
Captain: Robert Finch, an incurable gambler.
Cargo: Most likely a "Brownbes" smoothbore musket.
Escort unit: The 43rd Infantry Regiment, known for its lax discipline.
A gambling-addicted captain, a arsenal of deadly weapons, and a greedy legion.
This wasn't a shipment at all; it was a public auction laid out on the table.
Finn habitually touched his leather eye patch with his large fingers, his single eye gleaming with the light of a hunter spotting his prey.
He grabbed his coat, strode out of the tavern, and headed toward Oak Bay Estate.
I am now absolutely certain that I have found the answer Mr. Li Wei is looking for.
……
Meanwhile, Seamus was a bit slower.
He turned and left the study at Oak Bay Estate, his tall figure disappearing into the night.
But he didn't go directly to that shady tavern in the North District.
His steps first turned into another, narrower, and quieter alley.
This was his temporary home, a small house with only two rooms. Compared to the luxury of Oak Bay, everything here seemed simple and even shabby, but his wife Maria kept it spotless.
He gently opened the door with his key, a movement quite contrary to his massive size.
There were no lights in the room, only a faint moonlight filtering in through the window. Maria was clearly asleep, but he knew she was a light sleeper. He tiptoed around the creaking floorboards and into the inner room.
His daughter, seven-year-old Bridget, was curled up in her crib, breathing evenly. The moonlight shone on her freckled cheeks, making her appear exceptionally peaceful.
Seamus knelt down by the bed, his large hands, capable of easily crushing human bones, carefully pulling a smooth and lifelike little wooden bird from his pocket.
He gently placed the "little bird" beside his daughter's pillow, just within her little hand's reach. He imagined the look of surprise on his daughter's face when she woke up the next day and discovered this new companion, and the lines on his rugged face softened unconsciously.
He stood up and went back to the outer room.
Maria was awake and sitting at the table, wearing an old coat, her eyes filled with sleepiness and worry.
"You're back." Her voice was very soft.
Seamus didn't speak, but instead poured a small pile of silver coins from another, heavier money bag and placed it on the table. This money was enough for the mother and daughter to live comfortably for several months.
"Buy some better flour and make Bridget a new dress." His voice was still deep, but it lacked the menacing aura he displayed in front of others.
Maria looked at the money on the table, but didn't count it. She just looked up at him and said, "Seamus, this is too dangerous."
"Someone has to do it." He reached out, gently stroked his wife's hair, and kissed her forehead. "Take good care of her."
After saying that, Seamus turned around and didn't linger any longer.
When the simple wooden door closed behind him, the warmth on Seamus's face quickly faded, replaced by an icy coldness.
He was no longer Maria's husband and Bridget's father; he had returned to being Mr. Lee's "Bear," one of the leaders of the North Wharf.
Seamus walked quickly toward the back alley of the tavern, which reeked of cheap beer and sweat.
Behind that unassuming wooden door, he knocked on it with a specific rhythm.
The person who opened the door was a young man who was as thin as a weasel and whose nickname was "Willie".
Upon seeing Seamus, he immediately withdrew his head and respectfully stepped aside.
There were seven or eight people crammed into the room. When they saw Seamus come in, they all stood up, and the previously noisy atmosphere in the room instantly became quiet.
Seamus walked to the center of the room and slammed a rough piece of paper on the table. He marked the locations of several apothecaries and grocery stores with charcoal.
"Starting tomorrow, work in pairs and keep a close watch on these locations."
"I don't care what methods you use—eavesdropping, bribery, or pretending to buy things. I want to know who is buying sulfur and saltpeter."
He paused for a moment, then pointed his large finger at the map.
"Especially those unfamiliar faces who pay in cash, buy frequently, but in small quantities each time. Write down their appearance, clothing, and accents. Report back to me here every night."
After saying that, he took out his money pouch from his pocket and threw it on the table. The clinking of the silver shillings was particularly crisp in the quiet room.
"This is an advance payment for your services and expenses. If you do a good job, there will be a bonus."