Chapter 343

Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation

Unintentionally stirring up trouble once again, Ji Chen found himself warmly welcomed by Yasen as they arrived in a large independent harbor within the Elven fleet.

This area was specifically allocated by the Maple Principality for the Silvermoon Dynasty, serving as a berth for Elven ships, housing Elven soldiers, and even providing supplies.

Its nature was somewhat akin to the relationship between a certain small-time landlord and a certain popular streamer.

I provide you a place to station your troops, and you, in turn, protect me.

As a result, while the Maple Principality’s military might was not formidable, no power dared to provoke them.

In one of the halls, Yasen and Ji Chen sat opposite each other.

Yasen poured a cup of tea and sighed.

“Lord Ji Chen, I’ve seen many Lords of Glory, but none of them has been as outstanding as you. You’ve led your territory from humble beginnings to its current prosperity.”

“How do you know that Crown of the Ocean is a prosperous territory?”

“If it weren’t prosperous, how could it produce so many unique goods? And having a fleet with over thirty ships, that’s not something every territory can boast.”

Ji Chen smiled faintly, unable to refute.

He had a question on his mind.

“I have a question, Your Excellency Yasen. I’d like to know your opinion on other Lords of Glory.”

“Other Lords of Glory?” Yasen furrowed his brows slightly and took a sip of tea. “Forgive my bluntness, but based on current observations, except for you, Lord Ji Chen, the other Lords of Glory… are virtually worthless.”

“Why do you say that?”

“Firstly, let’s put aside their ordinary and meager strength. Most of them are only around level ten to twenty, and their professions are quite commonplace.

Secondly, I’ve taken an interest in learning more about them, but the results left me greatly disappointed. Their character and conduct are hard for me to accept—lacking in morality, untrustworthy, motivated solely by greed, and willing to do anything for personal gain.

If it weren’t for their adherence to the law and their ability to be driven by self-interest, they would have been expelled from the Maple Principality long ago.”

Hearing these words, Ji Chen instinctively wanted to counter, but he didn’t know where to begin.

These observations seemed almost accurate.

Players were called players precisely because of their uncontrollable and unpredictable nature. You couldn’t predict what they would do next.

In just a few short months, the number of players locked up in Maple City’s dungeons had reached tens of thousands, a testament to their unpredictability.

But at the same time, if lured by incentives, they could complete difficult tasks and commissions that even the indigenous inhabitants found troublesome through various unconventional methods.

As a result, the indigenous inhabitants held complex feelings towards these Lords of Glory, who seemed to have dropped from the sky.

They had concerns about their absence, but they were equally worried about the potential consequences if they were present.

As the highest commander of the Elven fleet, Yasen couldn’t help but have such thoughts.

But perhaps it was precisely because Yasen held a high position and had a broad perspective that he failed to see the immense potential of the players in the face of uncertainty.

In just a few months, many players had already developed and established themselves. In contrast, if the same amount of time were given to the indigenous inhabitants, they might not have achieved much.

Ji Chen smiled faintly, choosing not to dwell on the matter. Such things would need to be proven with time and facts.

Seeing his response, Yasen willingly changed the topic.

“Lord Ji Chen,” he began, “1 heard from Kris that the gifts you’ve given have even earned the admiration of Miligas?”

“While Miligas may not be strong in terms of combat, his ability to appreciate and recognize various treasures is quite exceptional. If even he finds it impressive, I’m genuinely curious.”

Ji Chen, who already had some understanding of the elves, couldn’t help but internally chuckle when he heard this.

Elves as a race were known for their passion for luxury. Their capital was incredibly prosperous and extravagant, leading them to have a strong desire for all things extravagant.

When they saw something rare, their first instinct was to buy it.

After all, Elves were never short of money, whether it was gold, rare resources, or valuable items. They could easily use their wealth to exert pressure if they couldn’t buy something.

If purchasing it wasn’t an option, they would move on to the second approach: using their influence to exert pressure.

The strength of the Silvermoon Dynasty, an elven power, lay in its political and economic influence. They cultivated high-level relationships with other factions and exerted pressure downwards through these connections.

If the other party remains unyielding, they resort to the third option: using force to seize what they want. It’s a straightforward yet highly effective approach.

Don’t expect a race or empire with immense power and wealth to necessarily possess noble virtues.

Even if they once did, centuries of extravagance and dominance have eroded many of those qualities, leaving behind a carefully crafted facade of goodness.

With these thoughts in mind, Ji Chen smiled and said, “Since Your Excellency Yasen is so curious, allow me to present something.”

“Naga Berserker, return to the manor and fetch a top-grade Deep Sea Merfabric.”

The Naga Berserker, who had been waiting outside the hall, heard the command and headed towards the exit.

Seeing this, Kris, who had also been waiting outside, hesitated for a moment and said, “Your Excellency Yasen, Lord Ji Chen’s Merfabric is extremely precious. I’m concerned that there might be accidents on the way. I request permission to escort a small team to ensure its safe delivery.”

Yasen paused for a moment, then nodded. “Very well, I grant permission.”

As Yasen watched Kris and her team depart, he couldn’t help but be curious.

“Is the gift Merfabric? It sounds quite extraordinary from its name alone.”

Ji Chen revealed a mysterious smile, leaving Yasen even more eager to see it..