There were no more encounters with Cheekclapper 69. That was probably for the best. Mary was true to her word. She and Penelope were carrying knives on them and actively searching for them. He was smart not to show his face around us. Travis had not been recieveing any secret meetings or messages either. I considered that a huge win. I guess some people really need to feel it before they learn. The trip took a full week before we saw the first glimpses of land. Before the coast was not a blockade made of wooden ships. It was just a nice clear sky and pure blue water. We slowly approached and waited in deep enough waters. Allowing the rafts to take the correct personnel to the island and come back took time. We then left the ships for the island. Fin and Dust came to me again to hear about what type of people lived on the islands. I gave them as much detail as I could so that they could be successful. We repeated the process four more times over the course of two days. Our fleet was much smaller as we made our way to the mainland.
I was up first. I said my final goodbyes to Suzie. "You will be fine as long as you're not a dick. Always remember to reach out if you need my help or want something. Lord knows that I will." she said. "Yeah, be sure to visit me whenever you run out of sugar." Suzie rolled her eyes and said "You're way too salty to help me there." We shared a look before we began laughing together. I gave her a hug and she squeezed me back. "Hey. It's time to get in the raft. Go already." Suzie said after a few seconds. I turned to leave when she slapped me hard on the ass. It rang out in the open air. I was going to complain when I was called by Penelope and Mary. It really was time to go. I smiled at Suzie one last time before following my wife and concubine. My children were also waiting to get on the island. The ships were already beginning to break out of the fleet formation. The luggage was also being brought to the rafts as well. We all gathered together and made it onto the island without an incident. Once we had got everything on the beach, the men carried the equipment to the city.
All the Battle and Elite mechas were activated from the ships and flew to the gates of the city to wait for us. The residents of the city were starting to come out and look around. I told them all about my being the new ruler of the area. "We were conquered by a well endowed woman. What authority do you have to take her place!?" one of the better dressed citizens shouted. "I come in the name of the same king you sent her. Yield or die. I am the new count and I will rule over you justly. That is the situation we find ourselves in now." They looked wary as they saw the men and women with guns. They obviously seen them used before from the way they cowered from them in fear. "Listen. Lead me to the keep and the throne room." he said. Everyone looked around before one of the citizens finally sighed and led them in. We were taken to the keep and I instructed Travis to have the men fortify it with their guns and strategy. "Right away Father!" he said as he saluted me. I saluted back and he gathered his men. The rest of us picked our rooms and we then walked around the city.
Since there was an occupation and siege, the city was still messed up. Suzie did not do many things by half. She told me how she was going on a rape and murder fueled pillaging spree. There was a lot of new scaffolding and broken buildings. The city was in dire straights. I assumed the other counties would be much of the same. I could only shake my head, That was going to have to be my first priority. It had been months since we were last here, and they still were not done cleaning up all the mess. I had access to the treasury and I decided to take the money and put it towards speeding up the repairs. It would not be worth being a noble if my land was in shambles. With the cash that I was able to put in, there would be able to restore everything, but there would not be much left over for anything else that was needed. It was going to take a radical new way of thinking to achieve a major comeback. What was really needed was unrestrained capitalism. Luckily, I would be able to explain it directly to the merchants guild of the city.
