Alfred didn't know for sure what the knife was found in the same condition as the chest meant, but he supposed it probably meant he wasn't getting his knife back. That was rather inconsequential, however, compared to what came next.
"Possession of the ship?" Alfred repeated incredulously. Of course they couldn't demand possession of the ship — it was his bloody ship, and one that he'd worked quite hard to restore and maintain. He hadn't suffered through all those fancy fundraising events and talked to people he had no interest in for nothing. It was also his livelihood, and its ability to sail was a crucial factor in the livelihood of all of his men. Since when did the Ministry go about demanding possession of anything in the first place? Surely this man realized how ridiculous he sounded, talking like that. Or maybe he didn't, because normal people seemed to think that this sailing business was all some sort of elaborate hobby that Alfred just happened to have been indulging in for the past eighteen years. If they had been talking about a shop, or a factory, maybe that would have made it clearer to the man across the table just what a big ask he was making.
"And how long'll that take?" Alfred continued, face flushed with frustration. "We've lost a month already, waiting around on Ministry blokes. I can't afford to just sit around in harbor forever."
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MJ made the most Alfredy of sets and then two years later she made it EVEN BETTER
"Possession of the ship?" Alfred repeated incredulously. Of course they couldn't demand possession of the ship — it was his bloody ship, and one that he'd worked quite hard to restore and maintain. He hadn't suffered through all those fancy fundraising events and talked to people he had no interest in for nothing. It was also his livelihood, and its ability to sail was a crucial factor in the livelihood of all of his men. Since when did the Ministry go about demanding possession of anything in the first place? Surely this man realized how ridiculous he sounded, talking like that. Or maybe he didn't, because normal people seemed to think that this sailing business was all some sort of elaborate hobby that Alfred just happened to have been indulging in for the past eighteen years. If they had been talking about a shop, or a factory, maybe that would have made it clearer to the man across the table just what a big ask he was making.
"And how long'll that take?" Alfred continued, face flushed with frustration. "We've lost a month already, waiting around on Ministry blokes. I can't afford to just sit around in harbor forever."

MJ made the most Alfredy of sets and then two years later she made it EVEN BETTER