Chapter 300 These "natives"... are unfathomable!
Derek did not wait long.
About an hour later, Keidson did come back, but this time he was not alone. He was accompanied by a middle-aged man who was dressed in an exaggerated manner.
He was wearing a dark red gown, holding a silver scepter in his hand, and a peacock feather on the brim of his velvet hat, as if he had just slipped out of a Duke's cocktail party.
Derek's expression couldn't help but be a little strange.
It was not because of his exaggerated dress, but because there was an aura about him that he felt familiar.
Strange.
This must be their first meeting.
Just as Derek was thinking about it, Teach walked up to him, with a standard aristocratic smile on his lips, and raised his chin slightly and said.
"Welcome, Captain Derek, I have heard what my servant said about you. I sympathize with your plight, and please don't worry. Since you have docked at my Deadwood Port, you are the guests of the Corsia family."
He spoke in a mellow and slow voice, as if he was deliberately giving each word a light of authority and rhetoric.
Kedson coughed slightly and reminded in a low voice.
"That is Baron Tich Kosia."
Derek immediately performed a standard naval military salute and said solemnly.
"Thank you for your acceptance, Your Excellency, Baron."
Teach nodded slightly and continued:
"As for your request for supplies, rest and ship repairs, I have also heard from Kedson. I will ask your logistics officer to give me a list of supplies that need to be purchased later. My servants will prepare what you need."
"Although our supplies are The resources are also very tight, but I will still try my best to help you. I also hope that you will not be picky. Deadwood Port has just experienced a storm, and the situation here is as bad as you can see. "
"I admire your generosity, and I would like to express my highest respect to you on behalf of General Hamelton of St. Ilburg." Derek nodded respectfully and expressed his gratitude.
Although it is the obligation of the colonial lords to provide logistical support for the imperial army, there is a prerequisite for this-that is, it does not affect the interests of the nobles themselves.
The situation in Deadwood Port is indeed not optimistic, which he had already seen through the telescope when he was on the deck.
If he hadn't really had no other choice, he wouldn't have come here to try his luck.
"You're welcome, please also say hello to General Hamelton for me."
Satisfied with the naval officer's reaction, Teach nodded in approval, but soon changed the subject and his tone became slightly more serious.
"However - for the sake of safety, I must remind you that during your stay in Deadwood Port, it is best not to go deep into the forest area on the south side of the port."
“What’s the problem there?” Derek asked subconsciously.
"There is no problem, but it can avoid unnecessary trouble," Teach shrugged and continued, "According to the treaty signed by Prince Roxai Colin and the Gutav United Kingdom, the forest from the Sun Staircase Mountains outside Deadwood Port is a neutral buffer zone. We and them have agreed to non-aggression, so any cross-border behavior may cause diplomatic disputes."
The Gutav United Kingdom?
What is that?
Derek frowned slightly, confusion written on his face.
He had never heard of this strange name, but just when he was about to ask, he held back the words that came to his lips.
After all——
He had never heard of "Prince Roxey Colin" either.
He is not a knowledgeable scholar, nor is he a businessman who travels all year round. He is just a naval captain serving in St. Ilburg.
He knew the location of every supply port in the empire and the nearby waterways, but his knowledge of the territory outside the garrison was very limited.
But——
Him He can take the kingdom's intelligence back to Fort St. Il and hand it over to General Hamelton stationed there for judgment.
"I understand." Derek nodded cautiously and politely, "Thank you for the reminder. I will restrict my men to only move within the boundaries of Deadwood Port."
After a few pleasantries, Baron Teach raised the brim of his hat and said goodbye calmly and arrogantly.
Having long been accustomed to the arrogance of nobles, Derek did not feel any dissatisfaction. He turned around and ordered his men to leave two sailors on the shore to guard, and then took the other two brothers to row the famous sampan back to the "Grace" anchored offshore.
As soon as he returned to the ship, he immediately called the quartermaster and ordered a comprehensive inventory of material losses and needs.
Within an hour, a handwritten list was compiled, with neat handwriting and clear content.
When he rowed ashore again with his list, Keidson was already waiting for him on the beach.
Not long after the list was handed over, Keidson called on a few sailors who were working, scanned the list ten lines at a time, and waved his hand.
"I can get it... you guys, bring the cart and come with me."
The group of people took the simple wheelbarrow and walked along the gravel path towards the fortress on the hill.
That place is currently the only "building" in Deadwood Port. Derek is thinking about how to get the baron to invite him to his house for a night. Captain Keidson and a group of people have already returned with loads of supplies.
Baron Teach was not among the crowd.
Derek was slightly disappointed, but soon the abundant supplies made him relax his brows and look happy.
Bags of grain were piled neatly, and the boxes were stuffed with dried fruits, vegetables, wooden boards, nails, and even a few salted dried fish in sacks.
A total of about twelve tons of materials.
Enough to support their return!
"Total, two hundred and seventy silver coins." Keidson spread his hands and said calmly, "This is the price quoted by Baron Teach. The things are all dragged out from his castle."
Derek glanced at it. Although the price was high, it was not a big deal.
Considering that this place was far away from the main trade routes of the empire, transportation was difficult, and the money spent was not his own money anyway, he simply nodded and asked the quartermaster to hand over the money bag.
The transaction was successfully completed.
"When will the ship repair technician arrive?" After counting the things, Derek continued to ask.
"It's almost time." Keidson said while counting the silver coins. "Baron Teach said that he has sent an envoy to the United Kingdom of Gutav to call for people, and they will arrive soon."
Derek was stunned.
"You mean, let... the locals come to repair the ship?"
Kedson shrugged, with an expression of "I'm just a messenger": "Yes, the Baron said 'someone understands' over there."
Obviously——
This citizen of the empire also felt unreliable.
The corners of Derek's mouth twitched, and his eyebrows were almost twisted into knots.
Leave this matter to St. Ilburg, if anyone says "Let the indigenous lizard people build steam sailing ships", they will be laughed into the sea on the spot.
But just as he was saying "Are you serious?" written all over his face, a deep and hoarse voice sounded from behind.
"Who is the captain among you?"
As soon as Derek turned around, he saw two tall lizard men, one tall and one short, standing on the beach.
One of them is carrying a package and the other is carrying a tool box. They look quite professional. It's just that the tail is swaying behind its back, and its scales glow with an ominous dark green sheen.
"I heard that you have a ship with a boiler problem."
"Hurry up!"
Derek was stunned.
Are lizard men really here? !
He is completely out of control.
Perhaps because he didn't respond, the two lizard-man natives began to mutter incomprehensible sentences, and raised their heads from time to time to pray -
"Is this NPC stupid?"
"Crooked! Where's the dog planner? Did you see it? If you see it, fix the bug!"
Derek couldn't understand what they were talking about, so he could only look at Keidson for help, but the latter was also confused.
Happily at this moment, Baron Teach's servant stepped forward and coughed.
"Dear Captain Derek... The ship repair technicians have arrived. Let's get on the ship quickly." Lumir looked at Derek and urged.
Derek nodded subconsciously and mechanically waved his hands to indicate to his men to put the sampan that had just been dragged ashore back into the sea.
Twelve tons of supplies had to be transported back and forth several times. They decided to let the ship repairman board the ship first, and then turn back to get these items.
Two lizard men jumped onto the sampan, their tails swaying wildly, making the small sampan look like it had been hit by a big wave, making the two sailors in charge of rowing the boat nervous.
Derek also had a sullen face.
He always felt that it was the first time for these two reptiles to take a boat ride. They were chattering as if no one else was watching them. Especially when they saw the imperial warships, they even shouted excitedly.
"Holy shit!"
"What a retro model!"
"Is this an imperial battleship?"
"I feel like I can't stop a shot from the magic crystal cannon..."
"Not necessarily, there may be priests, mages or something on board the ship, maybe they can get a magic shield?"
"Then put on the torpedo! They must have never seen it!"
Derrick coughed, looked at the baron's entourage who called himself Lumil and said.
“What are they talking about?”
Lumir was silent for a while and then said.
"They are saying...the empire's warships are so big."
Derek: "...?"
It's gone?
Those lizard men were still chattering, but Lumil had no intention of translating, and just maintained his persona as a servant of the baron.
Seeing that the other party didn't intend to say anything more to him, Derek finally gave up asking... Originally, it wasn't an important matter.
The sampan approached the side of the ship.
A rope ladder was thrown down on the deck. Derek had just grabbed the rope ladder and was about to climb up. The two lizards had already squatted and jumped directly to the deck.
The two sailors sitting on the sampan almost fell into the water. They managed to stabilize the capsized boat and cursed on the deck.
“Damn——”
“These rude beasts!”
Lumil, who was holding the rope ladder, was also a little embarrassed, but it was obvious that he was already familiar with the "players" who had their own way of doing things, so he was not surprised. He just gave an embarrassed smile.
Derek’s face was dark, but seeing that no damage was caused and the other party was here to help him, he didn’t say anything more.
"Okay... don't be like the natives. Drive the boat back to the shore and transport the things back."
"Yes!" The sailor gave a military salute and rowed the famous boat back to the shore.
Derek and Lumil climbed up the rope ladder to the deck, and saw the two lizard men looking around with interest, full of curiosity about everything here... They didn't look like they knew how to repair a ship.
Derek has begun to regret it.
If he hadn't wanted to offend the baron, he might have had these two impolite and rude guys removed from his deck.
Does this look like it can repair ships?
However, in line with the idea that he had to give it a try, he still suppressed the distrust and dissatisfaction in his heart, looked at Lumil beside him and said.
"When shall we start?"
"Just now... you arrange for someone to take them there."
After speaking, Lumir stopped talking and said something to the two lizard men in a strange tone.
That is probably the language of the indigenous people.
Derek didn't say much, but called the ship's technician and asked him to take these two natives, who seemed to have abnormal minds, to the boiler room.
When the ship's technician heard Derek's instructions, he immediately looked at him like he was looking at a sea monster.
"Are you sure? Let these...guys? go to that kind of place?"
Derrick said with a straight face.
"Yes, they are experts hired by Baron Teach...at least let them give it a try."
"Okay, I don't care if something goes wrong." Seeing that Derek had no intention of compromising, the ship's technician finally gave up.
With some doubts, he took the two chirping lizard men into the boiler room.
This is the core military restricted area of the "Grace". Even the officers on the ship are not allowed to enter or exit at will, and the entry and exit of professionals such as them are also subject to strict disciplines - each entry and exit requires the name and time to be registered on the form.
However, now, he actually had to bring two lizard men in without shoes and with tails swaying, and he had to let them inspect them.
Even if it’s the captain’s order, even if it’s a special measure at a special time... isn’t this too casual? !
He was beating a drum in his heart all the way.
But what he didn't expect at all was that as soon as the two lizard men entered the door, they actually started to "do business"? !
They changed from their previous nervousness on the deck, and suddenly they had a professional air about them - as if the soldiers had seen a gun.
I saw one of them stretching out his nails and tapping the boiler shell lightly, putting his ear to it to listen carefully to the sound.
The other one quickly turned up the joint of the pipe and slid his claws quickly between the valve and the steel pipe. While mumbling words, he exclaimed "Tsk, tsk" and "Fuck, that's okay" from time to time.
At first, the ship's technicians thought they were amazed by the empire's technological power, but they soon figured out something else from their tone and demeanor.
“I think, this design is too unsilver...”
“It’s not as good as the antique machine from the 1950s in my factory.”
"At first glance, it's the problem with the pressure relief valve - hey, look what I'm talking about," the taller lizard man stretched out the tip of his claws and tapped the position of the pressure relief valve, and said proudly, "Scale! The case has been solved."
The other shorter lizard man walked half a circle around the boiler, mumbling in his mouth.
, Just let their boat move. If it breaks down, come to us to fix it next time, hehe."
The ship's technician couldn't understand what they were talking about, so he could only look at Lumil, the baron's servant who came with him, for help.
Lumil hesitated for a moment, then selected some parts that he could understand and spoke out.
For example, some valve is blocked.
For example, the stopper is aging, etc.
The ship's technician looked at him in disbelief, and then at the two shoeless natives, whose open mouths seemed like they could fit a large bolt in.
This group of lizardmen... really discovered the disease! ?
What made him blush even more was that according to Lumil, the problems with the steam engine were not caused by the storm at all.
It has existed for a long time.
And it has existed for at least three months!
lumil gave the surprised ship's technician a strange look.
"Although I don't know much about steam engines... but haven't you noticed these problems?"
The ship's technician shook his head mechanically.
"Question? Aren't those... normal?"
Lumir fell silent for a moment.
Perhaps he stayed at sea for too short a time and did not encounter these problems, so he didn't know what the so-called normal standards were.
As long as you can move?
Looking at the two lizardmen pointing at their baby bumps, the ship's technician now felt something was wrong wherever he looked, so he swallowed and said.
"Can it be repaired?"
Lumiel smiled lightly when he heard this.
"It's not a big problem."
That's what His Majesty the Demon King said himself——
He can doubt the reliability of those "players", but he never has to doubt the two brushes in their hands.
Lumir didn’t know what the two brushes were, but seeing the shocked expression on this “professional”’s face, he somewhat understood.
The two lizardmen worked together seamlessly, moving quickly and steadily. Within a few minutes, they disassembled the pressure relief pipe, flushed it, and rewrapped it with a temporary sealant mixed with linen and resin.
"Done!" The slightly taller lizard man clapped his hands when he was done, and proudly took two steps back to admire it.
"Brother, you are so good at your craftsmanship! Where can you find a better job?"
"Hey... I won't mention the name of the community. The owner's privacy needs to be protected."
"Pfft..."
They were chatting so much while working that the technician next to them was stunned for a while.
Although I couldn’t understand a word, judging from the operating efficiency and eye contact... these "natives" seemed to really know their stuff.
Not only that, they also "widened" the air inlet of the boiler combustion chamber, straightened the slightly deviated flame nozzle, cleaned up the carbon deposits, and even repaired the seams of two iron plates, solving seven or eight minor problems with the steam engine in one go.
The boiler is re-ignited.
The old steam engine runs like new!
The sound of hissing steam became clear and smooth, and the pointer of the pressure gauge that was originally weak and drooping returned to normal...as if the machine soul was in great joy!
The expression on the ship's technician's face cannot be described as shocking.
This...
Is this really a lizard man?
Is he really not a senior imperial mechanic in lizard skin? !
He even had a strange illusion in his heart -
As if he was the savage who knew nothing.
And these two "natives" with big tails are the real experts...
...
The repair work is over.
The door of the boiler room was pushed open with a creak.
The ship's technician walked out with a strange expression on his face, and his steps were much heavier than when he entered.
Derek had been standing guard in the corridor for a long time. When he saw him coming out, he immediately stepped forward and asked eagerly: "How is it? Is it repaired?"
He heard the sound of the boiler running and felt that it was different than before, but he couldn't tell whether it was worse or better.
The technician was silent for a moment, as if he was organizing his words, but in the end it just turned into a sigh.
"You can move now, you...feel it for yourself."
Derrick's heart skipped a beat, and his face suddenly darkened.
He immediately turned around and gave the order.
"Sail!"
The whistle sounded soon.
The sailors quickly got into their positions, and the steam boiler started running gurglingly, and the heavy sound of steam gradually turned into a brisk roar.
The ripples of the water flow driven by the propeller are as neat as a comb, and the whole ship moves forward smoothly as if it has been reborn.
Derek stood on the bridge, feeling the smooth silky vibrations coming from under his feet, and could hardly believe his senses——
He felt that his Grace... was actually in better condition than before the storm? !
"This... what's going on?"
He stared at the ship's technician who had just walked up from the boiler room.
The latter smiled bitterly.
"Sir, I really want to share the shock in my heart with you, but I can't say a word. I can only tell you that the efficiency of the engine has increased by 30%...at least 30%." I’m confused. You know I graduated from the Mechanical Repair Department of the Royal Naval School and served in the Navy for several years. My experience and knowledge can definitely stand the test... But in front of them, I felt like a new recruit."
Derek fell into silence for a long time.
Although he also graduated from the Royal Naval School, he was not an engineer, and he did not understand the principles.
But as a soldier, he knows what it means to increase engine efficiency by 30%, and he knows even better what it means to "can do this just by tinkering".
The technological gap between the two sides is probably extremely terrifying. It is no wonder that Prince Colin signed a non-aggression treaty with the local "indigenous people"... If it wasn't for the fact that they couldn't bear to eat this piece of fat, when had the nobles of the empire ever compromised with the indigenous people?
In comparison... they are more like indigenous people.
"It's unbelievable..." The first mate walked up to Derek, glanced at the Deadwood Harbor in the distance with a complicated expression, and struggled to squeeze out a sentence from his throat, "They are not like a maritime civilization, they have no docks, no docks, let alone a fleet... How do they understand steam power better than us?"
"I don't know... but this may explain why the empire's territory has not been expanded here, so that we don't know that there is a prince here."
Derek's brows frowned more and more, and a thought gradually emerged in his mind -
The situation here must be reported to General Hamelton of St. Ilburg immediately!
If necessary, the empire should provide appropriate assistance to Prince Colin and help the local lords open up this colonial territory!
Of course.
This is just his opinion as a mid-level officer and cannot influence the empire's decision-making. However, he believes that this is the choice that is in the best interest of the empire——
They must not let an uncontrolled hidden danger suddenly appear in the vast ocean!
Let’s not let hell take the lead here!
Thinking of this, he turned around calmly and walked towards Lumil who was standing on the deck not far away.
"Thank you for your help!"
He said it very politely, with a sincere smile on his face, carefully hiding all the previous shock.
"Now that the equipment has been repaired, I will send you and the two guests from the Kingdom of Gutav back!"
Lumir nodded slightly, his expression as normal.
The two lizardmen were still wagging their tails at the bow of the boat and gesticulating excitedly, but after Lumil talked softly, they both jumped back on the sampan.
"Thank you for your efforts... Lord Demon King is very satisfied. Now I will take you back to the shore. You will receive the task reward after landing."
The boat docked again.
Derek came back in person and directed his men to move the supplies. The twelve tons of goods were quickly moved after several trips.
Kedson came over with a bottle of rum that he had collected for many years and invited Derek to have a drink, but the latter declined politely.
"Thank you for your generosity, but I am on official business... I must go back."
Kedson was stunned for a moment.
"Didn't you say you would stay for a few days?"
Derek smiled sheepishly.
"I wanted to...but the sailors were all exhausted and wanted to go back early."
Kedson immediately understood that smile, and was a little moved for a moment. He had been holding it in for so long that even the lizard man felt that his features were beautiful.
Besides, Baron Teach did not restrict their whereabouts.
He believed that if he took the initiative, the imperial officer would not see him and his men wandering in a foreign country, and would at least allow them to make bunks in the cargo hold and survive until the nearest port.
But in the end, he still did not say anything.
He no longer has nothing in this port.
He has the pearls he exchanged from the Tide Clan, and the 27 silver coins that Teach gave him - this salary is almost as much as his monthly income!
It is foreseeable that ships from the empire will frequently approach here in the future. As the future governor of Deadwood Port, he can earn even more!
And if he leaves here, he will be just a captain and have nothing!
"Wish you a safe journey!" Keidson opened the bottle cap and took a sip, then handed the bottle to the captain of the Grace in front of him.
The Traveler has chosen its own harbor, and they want to stay here.
"Take care, too!"
Derrick happily accepted the gift, nodded and returned to the sampan, directing his sailors to row out of this simple and mysterious harbor.
The "Grace" raised the canvas before nightfall, ignited the steam engine, and slowly sailed away from the storm-washed coastline.
It seems like I don’t want to stay for a moment longer...