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Keira turned to her, "What exactly did we accomplish?"

Erin scrutinized the two of them. They had done nothing more than travel a long distance, arriving here only to witness Professor Barry Brandt being captured.

Erin frowned, and after a moment of thought, she seemed to understand. "So, it\'s all a diversion! The real rescue mission must have already been set in motion!"

Lewis checked the time and nodded. "Everyone knows the quickest route from Country A to Crera is through this river, so it\'s heavily guarded here. But Professor Brandt took a different route."

Erin\'s eyes widened in realization. "Another route would take a whole day by sea and pass through a dangerous strait. No one would expect him to go that way… Lewis, you\'re quite cunning!"

Lewis gave her a sidelong glance but didn\'t respond. Instead, he turned his gentle gaze to Keira and explained, "Professor Brandt has just boarded a ship and left Crera. He\'ll likely return to Crera around this time tomorrow."

Keira nodded in understanding.

Erin, however, scoffed. "I doubt Professor Brandt will make it back."

Keira looked at her. "Why do you think that?"

Erin pulled out her phone, opened a map, and showed it to Keira. "Are you familiar with maritime routes? Although this river is the shortest route from Crera, the authorities there are aware that Professor Brandt might choose an alternative route. But they haven\'t fortified the other direction because it involves the Trident Strait!"

She pointed to a location on the map.

Keira stared at it, puzzled. "The Trident Strait?"

Erin\'s disdain was palpable. "Don\'t you know anything? The world\'s largest surface is the ocean. Maritime routes are crucial for global trade."

Keira nodded. "I\'m aware of that." n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

"Good," Erin continued. "Sea transport is essential for trade because it\'s much cheaper compared to air freight. But you should also know that pirates still exist."

Keira blinked in surprise. "Pirates?"

Erin pointed to a spot on the map. "There\'s an island here where a group of pirates live. They survive by raiding ships. They\'re known as the Trident Pirates!"

She continued, "Because of these pirates, this sea route has never been opened up. Ships always have to detour, making it dangerous for Professor Brandt to travel through there."

Keira\'s eyes widened in disbelief. "Are there still pirates in the world?"

Lewis chuckled softly. "Yes, there are. The competition over maritime routes happens behind the scenes, so it\'s not well-known. These pirates control key straits, making them very important for navigation."

He added, "If a maritime route is opened up, the time and fuel savings are significant, lowering the cost of shipping goods substantially. So, there\'s fierce competition over these straits."

Keira was astonished, feeling like she had discovered a new world.

She understood the importance of transportation and how essential it was for economic development. Disruptions in transportation could lead to isolation.

But she hadn\'t realized there were still maritime challenges in the modern era.

Erin spoke again. "You mentioned the pirates, but you didn\'t say how fierce they are. Do you know that anyone passing through their territory has to pay a hefty toll? The fees are so high that ships prefer to detour rather than risk encountering them. Professor Brandt would certainly be detained!"

Keira turned to Lewis. "Did you make arrangements with the pirates?"

If the pirates could collect tolls from cargo ships, they could certainly do the same with people!

Before Lewis could answer, Erin snorted. "It wouldn\'t help if he tried. No amount of money would work. We all know Professor Brandt\'s value is immeasurable. The pirates know it, too! They\'re involved in weapon development and research, and Professor Brandt is the scientist they need!"

Erin glared at Lewis, clearly frustrated. "Don\'t underestimate the pirates. If they were weak, they\'d have been taken down by surrounding nations long ago. They\'re formidable opponents, familiar with the sea and its geography. They\'re a tough nut to crack!"