Chapter 196: Returning Voyage 3
TL: Etude
Ladi led the Duke and Grand Duchess of Eton to Captain Quik, who was by now in a state of petrification. She formally introduced them. Your Grace, this is Captain Quik of the Southern. Captain, this is the Duke of the Grand Duchy of Eton.
After the introduction, she nudged Captain Quiks sleeve.
Jolted to his senses, Captain Quik awkwardly knelt down, recalling the scenes from third-rate dramas he had seen where foreign envoys met with kings. He managed a clumsy bow.
Your Grace, please forgive my rudeness On behalf of Count Grayman of the Kingdom of Ordo, I extend my respects to you.
No need for formalities, no need. You all are my heroes.
The Grand Duke of Eton personally helped him up.
You braved the danger and delved into a wolf pack to save my wife and sister-in-law. On behalf of the Eton royal family, I extend my respects to you.
The Duke graciously expressed his thanks, using some highbrow noble jargon that Quik could barely understand. Quik could only nod and agree, fearing to say something wrong.
Please also convey my respects to Count Grayman. Ordo has won the friendship of the Grand Duchy of Eton. Should he or his emissaries ever visit Horn Bay, the Grand Duchy of Eton will ensure a warm welcome.
Yes, Your Grace, I will certainly convey your message.
Now, please accept our token of gratitude.
The Duke clapped his hands, and two attendants placed a wooden chest in front of Quik.
When the chest was opened, there were gasps of astonishment all around.
It was filled with glittering gold bars.
No, no, this is too much
Quik was tongue-tied, having never seen so much gold before, enough to build many ships like the Southern.
But the Duke firmly insisted, Please accept it. Half is for the brave souls on the ship, and the other half for Count Grayman.
After several rounds of Quik awkwardly trying to refuse, he ultimately couldnt resist the Dukes insistence and accepted the gold.
This is like undermining the Foster familys foundations!
The thought alarmed the second son of the Foster family.This chapter is updated by nov(e)(l)biin.com
Ahem!!!
Queller Foster cleared his throat loudly, speaking with a serious face. Your Grace.
And you are?
No, they probably want to let it slide.
What are your thoughts on this?
Theres no such thing as a free lunch. My husband has decided to actively promote and join an anti-Church alliance. We havent publicized this incident because the timing isnt right. Once it is, this will be one of the Churchs charges.
Will this lead to war?
As a mage, Ladi was pleased to see the rulers unite against the Church, but she didnt want it to lead to war.
War? Unlikely. The Church only has some self-defensive paladins. Would they dare armed resistance if all the countries unite against them?
The Duchess was optimistic.
Lets hope so.
Despite saying this, Ladi wasnt as optimistic as Helen. She was aware of the Churchs influence among the common people and its loyal followers within the ruling classes of various countries. She hoped it wouldnt lead to war. Ladi, well-versed in history, knew well how devastating religious wars could be, often transcending the usual limits of conflicts driven by interests.
She didnt want to see the prosperous Horn Bay reduced to ruins.
After conversing for a while on the docks, it was finally time for the Southern to depart. Captain Quik, Ladi, and others boarded the ship under the watchful eyes of Queller Foster and the Duke and Grand Duchess of Eton.
The departure of the unusual ship attracted the attention of many at the docks. If not for the Eton guards cordoning off the area near the berth, more people would have crowded around.
A dockworker onshore untied the ropes securing the Southern to the dock, and the sailors aboard the ship pulled in the ropes.
Queller shouted, Weigh anchor!
One, two, three
The crew chanted in unison, straining at the anchor winch.
The heavy anchor was slowly lifted from the water by the winch.
Since the Southern didnt have oars, several small tugboats from the port were hired to help it move away from the berth.
The sailors gestured to the tugboats, whose crew began rowing, gradually moving the Southern.
Quik, Ladi, and others waved farewell from the ships side to Queller and the Dukes family on the dock, who waved back.
Slowly, the Southern left the harbor and reached open waters. It disconnected the ropes from the tugboats, raised its sails, and, using the wind, set off on its journey back to the Northwest Bay.
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