Chapter 299 The Small Ship from the Empire
The night is getting darker.
Luo Yan had just turned off the magic crystal lamp on the bedside and was about to lie down to rest when there were two gentle knocks on the door.
"Dong, dong."
I hope it's not Lady Serena.
Luo Yan didn’t know why he subconsciously thought this way, but based on his past experience, that lady was probably the only demon he couldn’t deal with -
She didn’t give him any time to think.
Luo Yan has a clear understanding of himself.
The reason why he was able to survive in hell as a human was never because of his extraordinary strength, but because of his fairly useful brain.
It is precisely because of this that he is extremely bad at dealing with guys whose hands are faster than their brains.
I believe it was not just him, Mr. Festing must have had more than one headache because of Mrs. Serena's character...
Luo Yan put on his coat, walked over and opened the door.
To his surprise, the person standing at the door was Mia.
She was wearing a dark purple silk nightgown with thin black gauze on the edges. Her freshly washed pink hair still had a trace of moisture, and the semi-dried hair tips were attached to her collarbone. Her body vaguely exuded a sweet scent of citrus and night dew.
Luo Yan noticed that there were still two blushes on her face. It was obvious that she had not completely gotten rid of her previous embarrassment.
Honestly, he admired her courage.
When something like that happened, even if she disappeared for a week, he would understand it from the bottom of his heart.
"What's the matter?" Seeing that Mia had not spoken, Luo Yan took the initiative to speak.
Mia's lips moved, and her eyes were like a frightened squirrel, swaying uneasily back and forth under her eyelashes...
"Well, just now...I'm sorry."
She lowered her head, holding a stack of familiar magic photos in both hands, and the corners were curled up by her, as if she had struggled outside the door for a long time before finally mustering up the courage.
"The photo... is returned to you."
Luo Yan stretched out his hand, but did not take the photo. Instead, he looked down at her slightly white knuckles and patted her fluffy hair.
"You didn't do anything wrong, why do you apologize?"
"You didn't...do anything wrong?" Mia raised her head blankly, unable to understand this answer, and she didn't expect Luo Yan to say this.
Luo Yan nodded.
“How could it be?”
Looking at Mia who was about to cry, Luo Yan comforted her with a smile.
“People’s To avoid accidents, it can also be prevented from being seen by the servants."
No wonder he had noticed that the maids in the manor always looked at him strangely. Miss Mia's hobby was no secret in the Padridge family's manor.
However, Mia didn't seem to realize this, or maybe she was completely immersed in the all-embracing tenderness at this moment.
She was startled and raised her head, obviously not expecting that instead of blaming herself, he thoughtfully helped her come up with a reasonable idea.
The trembling eyelashes were hung with mist like morning dew, and what swayed in the eyes was no longer embarrassment and fear, but the wavering after being filled with warmth.
Perhaps it’s because I’m at my own home.
Perhaps it’s because both parents are here.
In short, it was not a good time in her opinion.
Luo Yan had a clear view of her little thoughts and movements, but he just smiled gently, finally patted the soft and fluffy pink hair, and said in a coaxing tone.
"It's okay, then good night...it's getting late, I wish you a good dream."
"Well...good night."
"Hmm...good night."
"Hmm...good night."
"Mia actually bit her tongue after a few syllables, and Mia, who felt embarrassed, let out a mournful "whimper", and when she regained consciousness, her cheeks were already as red as a hot iron.
She couldn't remember how she escaped. In just a blink of an eye, she was standing at the door of her bedroom, closing the door with a click, then threw herself on the bed, rolled several times in strange postures, and finally rolled into the bed.
I really want to die——
Ahhhhhh!
Several strange screams escaped from the cracks of the pillow. Mia wanted to cover herself in the quilt, but she couldn't.
Her thoughts were now filled with the hand on her head, the heart-warming smile and the thoughtful words.
An hour passed...
The exuberant energy was finally vented. Mia, who was hugging the quilt, took a breath and let go of the pillow and herself that were about to be crushed.
She was lying on the bed, her hooked calves swaying slightly, the slipper of one foot was hanging down, and the other one was gone.
Looking at the photos spread out on the bed, the corners of the gently raised mouth are like the buds that bloom deep in the night at the beginning of the month, hanging with countless dreams and candies.
"I have to find a cabinet to put you in..." Her index finger gently poked the motionless "Luo Yan" in the photo, her eyes full of love.
The night was quiet, with only the ticking of the clock on the wall slowly extending, like filaments, entwining the beat of the heart bit by bit.
When Mia yawned and turned over to sleep, a faint ray of light happened to leak through the gap in the curtains.
That is the light from the amethyst dome of the Magic City——
It is dawn.
…
It’s dawn.
On the beach of Janna continent, the white waves lapped lightly on the beach, as leisurely as the seagulls walking on the shore - as if the storm two weeks ago happened in another world.
This land seems to be still forgotten by the world.
Captain Keidson rubbed his eyes, opened a corner of the awning, got up against the cool morning breeze, and walked outside the house.
He is still wearing the old coat that has been hardened by the sun, and the dried sweat can even wring out salt residue... But right now, he has no time to care about whether it is slovenly or not.
Stretched, he walked along the edge of the camp, stepping on the sand towards the cook's wooden shed.
The big pot for cooking porridge was steaming, and a few grains of gelatinized wheat could be seen in the turbid soup. Oysters were floating on it, and there were a few unknown seaweed floating next to it.
The cook handed him a bowl cut from a coconut shell.
"I added fish bones today, it should taste better than yesterday."
“You didn’t wash the pot yesterday?” Keidson complained weakly as he took the bowl.
The cook smiled and did not answer, which seemed to be acquiescing to many things.
Complaints are complaints, and Keidson knew that this was not the time to be picky about food, so he drank all the wine quickly and even burped.
When you are full, it’s time to work.
He walked to the camp and shouted, waking up all the slackers, and then led them to start a new day's work.
It has been a full week since the Traveler ran aground on this strange continent.
Relying on the hammers, nails, cloth and wooden boards sent by Baron Teach, as well as a bunch of "weird but surprisingly useful" magic tools, they finally managed to erect a dozen shelters that could protect them from the wind and rain on this beach torn by the storm.
I no longer sleep in a tent, which is already a huge improvement.
Although life is still difficult, with endless physical work to do during the day, constant mosquitoes at night, and seawater bathing becoming more and more uncomfortable—but there is always some hope in life.
Human is an extremely adaptable animal.
Especially those who have lost everything are easily satisfied.
They followed Baron Teach's instructions and inserted a few wooden stakes on the seaside, and finally built a simple dock - although the thing was so strong that it could tie up several broken fishing boats.
The name Deadwood Port finally suits the occasion.
Kedson felt incredible every time he saw the fortress on the hill.
At first he thought the city wall was extremely crude, but now he only thinks it is a miracle on the vast ocean - it is amazing to be able to build a castle in this barren place!
It would be better if the uncle could help them build Deadwood Harbor...
Of course, Kedesen was just thinking about it.
He also knew in his heart that that fortress might be the result of hundreds of years of management and accumulation of the Colin family on this land, and they could only rely on themselves now.
It is worth mentioning that the night before yesterday, Keidson discovered that his group was not alone on this continent——
They met a group of lizard people who called themselves the Tide Clan.
Those guys are male and female, or male and female, with fish fins and scales on their bodies, and some even use fish bone crutches - they are migrating from the mountains towards the coastline.
At first both sides were startled by each other, but fortunately it did not turn into a firefight. The other party was very restrained and did not enter their camp, and because of the baron's warning, they also suppressed the urge to take action in order to avoid greater trouble.
In the end, it was probably their leader who proposed to exchange fish catch and pearls for the resources they had - mainly those rum barrels.
Kedson agreed immediately. Since the wine inside had already leaked out, why not make a gift and improve everyone’s food at the same time.
And those pearls, they are all good things.
If they can bring it back to the empire, they can probably exchange it for a lot of silver coins... Of course, that's assuming they can go back.
There is another strange thing.
I don’t know if it’s been too long since I touched the girl’s hand. Keidson suddenly discovered that those lizard men also looked pretty and pretty?
He was not the only one who felt this way, other sailors also had this idea...but the other party obviously did not think highly of them, and just left after the transaction.
The lizard people's matter has come to an end, and there is nothing more to do after they left.
Kedson reported this matter to Teach, but Teach said that he should not bother him with such trivial matters. He was a baron, a noble, a landowner... not their father.
This guy always has that arrogant face, but sometimes Kedeson also feels that he might not be bad in nature?
Although this person always behaves like an aristocrat and likes to show off, point fingers, and force them to work, he is still much easier to get along with than the barons of the old continent.
At least he didn't treat them the same way as the refugees. At least the food after the work was really good. At least they were building their own houses and solving their own living problems until now - and they didn't go bankrupt or hanged because of those damn trees.
This is considered kind in the old continent.
Mr. Teach's kindness goes beyond that.
Just yesterday, when Kedelson reported to him the "progress of shanty town reconstruction," Mr. Teach patted him on the shoulder and said in a serious tone - "Do a good job, young man, I think you are a poor man. You have sailed a whole life and never owned a ship of your own. But I am different. Wait. You build the port, and those houses are not only your own, I also appoint you as the governor of Deadwood Port! "
"A letter of appointment signed by the imperial nobles personally - since you are a citizen of the empire, you should know its value."
It's funny, isn't it?
There is a broken flagpole erected on the beach. Where did the port come from?
Although this barony seemed very large, he had not seen even a single villager so far.
But even so, Keidson's breathing was still rapid.
Port Governor...
The opportunity to change our destiny seems to have come!
It is precisely because of this——
From that day on, he became more motivated than before. He even took the initiative to get up early and lead his brothers to work without even being urged by Tiqi.
Time passed little by little, and soon it was noon.
Just when Kedelson was about to greet the brothers to eat, a sailor suddenly ran over and said to him in surprise.
"Boss! There is a boat on the sea!"
Is there a boat?
Kedson was stunned for a moment, then his face showed ecstasy, he grabbed his shoulder and said.
"Where?! Quick! Take me there - no! Go quickly! Light the fire first! Let them see us here!"
h "I saw it. They put down a small boat and were rowing towards us!"
As he was talking, a sampan appeared on the horizon, and five people could be vaguely seen sitting on the boat, with two oars rowing hard.
Kedson hurried to the shore to greet them, just in time to see the five people jumping off the sampan and stepping on the shore with their boots.
The leader quickly noticed him. After adjusting his collar, he stepped forward with a tall figure and a calm expression.
"My name is Derek," he said in a low-pitched voice, but with a clear articulation, in a standard imperial native accent, "Captain of the Grace. We veered off course in the storm, damaged the stern rudder, and the steam boiler also had some problems. Now we are unable to continue sailing."
He paused, glanced at the flags fluttering in the wind on the coast, and looked at Keidson's dusty coat, and said cautiously.
"I saw the flag of the Empire on the ship... Excuse me, is this a colony of the Empire?"
When he said this, the four people behind him looked around alertly, and invariably placed their hands closest to the gun.
Kedson stood up straight and straightened his back subconsciously. While he was sizing up Derek, he was also making rapid calculations in his mind.
This man spoke with a military accent, but he was not wearing a standard military uniform. The clothes are of high quality, the buttons are made of polished copper, the boots are polished, and the hat has a bit of a "show off" feel.
He is not like an ordinary captain - more like he has an official position in the military, or is a distant relative of a noble.
The most important thing is the name "Grace".
Veteran sailors who have been sailing all year round know that real merchant ships are usually called "Sardine", "Whale", "Brig" and other down-to-earth names.
Like "Grace", it sounds like a name given by a priest after blessing the ship. It is either a warship or a toy of some big shot.
Kedson glanced towards the sea and could only vaguely see the outline of a three-masted steam sailing ship in the distance. He couldn't see the deck clearly, and he didn't know whether it was equipped with cannons.
Reading the alertness in the other person's eyes, Keidson knew what he was worried about. He was simply worried that he was a wanted fugitive or a pirate involved in smuggling.
However——
This worry is obviously unnecessary.
He cleared his throat, imitated Baron Teach's accent, and spoke in a pretentious manner.
…Yes, this is the territory of Baron Tich Kosia, and it belongs to the colonial territory of Prince Roxsay Colin. This is of course the territory of the empire... Did you see the nearby fortress? That is Baron Tich's castle."
As he spoke, Keidson pointed to the hills not far away, where stood a simple but similar-looking fortress, with several imperial-style smoothbore cannons vaguely visible on it - models produced at the arsenal in the eastern part of the Whirlpool Sea.
Derek subconsciously looked at the fortress not far away, was stunned for a moment, then frowned and repeated it.
"...Prince Colin?"
He has never heard of this name.
"Yes, the Colin family has been operating here for many years... I don't know the details, but that's the way it is."
Seeing Kedson speaking so confidently, Derek relaxed his frown and quickly adjusted the expression on his face.
The nobility of the empire is as densely populated as the stars, and the prince's "title that is not a title" is not as rare as a bad street, but it is not that rare.
After all, the emperor is immortal, but his children have reproduced for countless generations, and there are too many related families.
If a noble has a specific duchy, he will call himself a certain duke or grand duke. And if his territory is not worth mentioning, or he does not want to attract attention, he will use the ambiguous title of prince as a suffix to his identity.
It is not unusual for a remote new colony to have an unknown "Prince Colin".
Considering that he needed help, he stopped asking questions and his tone became much more polite.
"Please tell Baron Teach for me that our people need fresh water and food, and it would be best if someone can help us repair the ship..."
After a pause, he added.
"Of course, we will not let you help us for free. We are willing to buy it at a reasonable price... Please also ask him to be accommodating for the sake of Saint Sith."
Seeing that the ship that came had also broken down, although Keidson felt disappointed, he had no other choice, so he could only nodded and said.
"I will tell you, please wait a moment."