CH 59

“Samuel Fern, you don’t have any relatives or people you can’t bear to part with in Helgeda, so you can go anywhere.” 

That’s what Xia Zuoyi said to Samuel.

He said that since he didn’t intend to hide his purpose from Samuel from the beginning, then let him know that they came to Helgeda for a reason, and to also let him know their faces…

He absolutely couldn’t let Samuel go back to his house again.

Xia Zuoyi had tested Samuel’s abilities, character, etc. If he passed the test, then it’s the best outcome. But if the test results are disappointing…

“I’m sure I didn’t let you down.” Samuel wiped the cold sweat on his forehead and said.

Xia Zuoyi’s eyebrows bent and he said to him, “Of course not. Otherwise, your body will already be cold in the cave below the cliff.”

“Take it easy, Samuel. This is undoubtedly a happy thing. Don’t you think so?”

Samuel: “…”

No, he doesn’t think there is anything to be happy about…

Although it’s good that he survived, how can his dream come true…

Thinking of this, Samuel’s face couldn’t help showing defeat.

Xia Zuoyi casually said, “The goal you are pursuing is indeed very good.”

“I plan to build harbors and ships in my territory…to make preparations for future voyages. However, in terms of talents…”

He looked towards Samuel, not finishing his sentence.

Samuel is not stupid.

On the contrary, he’s very clever, and suddenly he caught the point from this passage and realized something.

“Harbors… Is it possible, no, it must be the Cogit Sea! Let me think, let me think… Territory… Do you mean the Desinian Territory?!”

“You’re Lord Desinia, and you secretly entered Helgeda with the envoy’s ship. Unexpectedly…” 

The age is indeed right, and it’s not hard to guess why Xia Zuoyi came here.

Before Samuel’s words were finished, Walker’s big sword was immediately around his neck. The cold and sharp blade almost forced Samuel’s hairs to stand up and his heart to quench.

The handsome knight smiled, “Now that you’ve guessed our identity, you must have made a good choice…”

“Yes, I’m ready!”

Samuel immediately clenched his fists and shouted excitedly, “Please take me away! I’m definitely an excellent shipwright! Navigator! I will conquer the sea for you!”

His face flushed.

It’s unknown whether it’s because he’s scared by Walker’s sword or he’s really excited and delighted.

Xia Zuoyi patted Walker’s arm and told him to put down his weapon, “Don’t scare him, Walker. After all, he’s the talent I’m after.”

“Yes, my lord.” Walker took back his big sword.

Samuel breathed a sigh of relief.

He couldn’t help covering his chest and was frightened by the murderousness that the knight just showed, but he still seeks confirmation, “You want talent for shipbuilding and sailing even if it’s from Helgeda… No problem?”

Xia Zuoyi: “What’s the matter? Or are you reluctant to leave this place?”

Samuel did hesitate.

Xia Zuoyi: “I will ask you, is your dream of going out to sea to explore the new world pure enough? Do you think you can realize your aspirations in Helgeda one day in the future?”

“You have neither money nor status here. You are just a civilian.”

“The previous experience of building your own ship has consumed all your savings, and your uncles and distant relatives have alienated you… Is there anything else you can’t bear to leave in Helgeda?”

Say it and it will be solved.

Samuel looked stunned, and then smiled wryly, “You have investigated all my affairs clearly… Did you stare at me on the Dream?”

Xia Zuoyi is noncommittal.

The Dream is only a temporary surprise.

What really made him make a decision was the observation and test along the way—Samuel is smart and persistent, a genius shipwright, and a man with the courage and ability to go to sea.

The “thing” that Samuel longed for was his biggest motivation.

Samuel took a deep breath and finally said, “I want a guarantee.”

Xia Zuoyi: “My territory won’t let you down.” 

After exchanging all the captive cavalry, Fernandi left by ship with a few boxes of gold coins. The envoy went to the port to personally see them off.

He had no choice and couldn’t delay the time. He could only secretly send soldiers disguised as ordinary civilians to stay in the city and wait until Xia Zuoyi returned to deliver the message.

Fortunately, nothing went wrong halfway.

The soldiers who stayed behind successfully connected with Walker and the others a few days later and handed over the news.

After reading the note, Xia Zuoyi said, “We’re going to the west port, Fernandi has already arranged a boat to take us out of Helgeda.”

They still pretended to be businessmen who came to Helgeda for business talks and found Fernandi’s marked ship at the west port.

This ship has always stayed in the port and is also a cargo ship responsible for transporting merchants. On the surface, it’s as usual, but no one knows that the people working on this ship have long been replaced by Fernandi with the black cavalry soldiers.

Because there is a routine cargo inspection on board.

When the servant-like soldiers carried boxes of “goods” onto the ship, the owner of the ship was sweating as he opened one of the boxes and looked at it. It was filled with purchased Helgeda clothes.

Udit: “Can we board now?”

“Yes, sure.” 

The owner naturally did not check the boxes behind, and hurriedly turned over to get out of the way, “Please…” 

The boxes were taken over by soldiers disguised as shipmen and put one by one in the cabin.

Not long after, the stern board placed on the shore was retracted and the sails were raised…

The ship was about to leave Helgeda.

The same people engaging in the business of transporting goods watched the shipowner. They knew that it wasn’t a small business, so they shouted enviously, “Old Bart, you must’ve made a lot of money this time. When you come back, remember to invite me to drink hahaha.”

They often make such jokes.

The usual old Bart would definitely laugh at them and scold them to go away, but today he really couldn’t laugh. He just waved them goodbye with a stiff face.

However, his colleagues did not see that something was wrong with him. They smiled and watched Old Bart leave.

When the ship was sailing in the middle of the vast river and there was only the blue sky and clear water around, the soldiers disguised as servants and boatmen immediately changed their clothes and put on their neat and uniform soldier attires again.

It’s not the heavy armor that they need to wear in combat.

It’s a leather armor that’s much lighter after Xia Zuoyi modified it, soft and practical.

On the shoulders, elbows, wrists, and even important parts are sewn with protective armor pieces. The color of the fabric is dark red and black. Under the armor pieces on the chest are embroidered with the emblem of thorns and roses.

In Xia Zuoyi’s words at the time—he needed the soldiers to have good-looking casual clothes that they usually wear and to take care of the facade in the territory. 

Fernandi and Walker also liked this kind of casual clothes very much.

On the deck.

Udit found a chair for Xia Zuoyi to sit down, and Walker stood behind him with one hand on the hilt of his sword.

Several soldiers went into the cabin and brought out all the original boatmen. Their hands were tied up and their mouths gagged. They looked timid and uneasy.

The owner of the ship was even more fearful as he begged for mercy, “Rest assured, I swear to the God of Creation! I really won’t say anything. Please let us go.”

He originally thought that the person in charge was an older man. But he didn’t expect that after boarding the ship, everyone would obey the young boy in front of him.

Xia Zuoyi lifted his chin to a soldier.

The soldier drew out his sword and slashed it at the tied-up boatman. In two panicked shouts of “no”, the rope fell to the ground.

All boatmen were let go.

The shipowner understood that it was a false alarm, and couldn’t help covering his chest and panting.

Xia Zuoyi turned his head to look at the person who also shouted. He said with a hint of wickedness, “What do you want? Don’t I let them go?”

Samuel: “No… Of course not. I thought you wanted to…”

“Do you think I’m going to kill them?”

Samuel’s expression was so obvious.

He thought that in order to avoid leaking the news, these people would be buried in the Abutin River…

Xia Zuoyi said, “I won’t take people’s lives at will.”

“They’re all innocent, so naturally they won’t die. Besides, do you think my territory will be afraid if Helgeda comes to look for trouble?”

So what if the king of Helgeda knows.

Samuel couldn’t help scratching his hair. He had to admit that the little lord was absolutely right. Helgeda Kingdom really couldn’t conflict with the Desinian Territory.

Xia Zuoyi looked at the shipowner and the boatmen again, and said meaningfully, “Of course, those who keep secrets will always live a long time.” 

They all repeatedly nodded.

In this half-relaxed and half-restless atmosphere, the ship finally arrived at the port of Gaynor.

Looking from the distance, there stood countless soldiers waiting with spears on both sides of the harbor, neatly aligned.

The owner was frightened, secretly wondering what the identity of the people on the ship really was.

Finally, the cargo ship drew ashore, the stern board was placed on the port, and the boxes were carried down one by one by the soldiers…

Udit arranged Xia Zuoyi’s cloak.

Fernandi boarded the ship and whispered, “My lord, you have worked hard.” 

The shipowner happened to hear this and couldn’t help widening his eyes, his heart pounding… Could this be… 

Xia Zuoyi smiled and said, “Thanks to you for arranging this ship in advance, otherwise we wouldn’t have come back so easily. It will definitely take a lot of effort.”

“This is what we should do for you.”

“Let’s go. We’re going back, too.”

“Yes.”

Fernandi nodded, but his dark brown eyes suddenly looked at the shipowner and the others, “My lord, they…” 

Cold sweat broke out on the ship owner’s back and the boatmen showed fearful and uneasy expressions.

Xia Zuoyi: “Settle the money and let them return.”

“Yes.”

Fernandi put a bag in the shipowner’s hand during his repeated calls of ‘no money is needed’ and said solemnly, “You should know what and what not to say. It’s just an ordinary delivery. Do you understand?”

“Yes, sir. Please rest assured.” The owner of the ship nodded in a cold sweat.

“It’s good if you understand. If you don’t say anything, trouble won’t find you.” 

Fernandi turned and left.

Seeing that the soldiers stationed at the port had also left, the owner of the ship didn’t dare to stay there anymore and hurriedly set sail to return.

In the middle of the voyage, the boatmen finally eased up and wanted to ask the owner who the little boy was and what’s the use of such a big troop.

The shipowner thought to himself, what is it for? Such a big formation is obviously all for that little boy.

Of course, the goods in the boxes are certainly not simple.

He didn’t answer. Instead, he distributed the money in the bag to the boatmen and told them not to go out and talk nonsense. It was just an ordinary delivery.

How dare the men not listen.

After all, it was good to be able to save their lives, so everyone assured the shipowner.

Everything in Gaynor is officially on track.

After Xia Zuoyi left enough manpower, he took his people back to Wissas.

At the same time.

The messengers of the Anas Empire also left Helgeda, aiming directly at the Desinian Territory.

A ship bearing the emblem and flag of the Nagabi Chamber of Commerce is traveling on the Volley River and will stop at the port of Niramo.

A low-key but luxurious carriage passes through the forest, followed by two groups of men in black robes with incomparably dignified and icy momentum.

They will arrive at Fort Comoy soon.

Xia Zuoyi has no idea what he’ll experience when he returns home…

Translator’s Note:

OMG, can’t believe that my summer vacation just flew past like that. Good thing I still have a month’s worth of updates in this story left so I can still post but sadly, the other two stories are getting neglected. Don’t worry though, I will try my best to grind out more chapters (because I think I can manage my time XD) so updates won’t be interrupted.

(Also, buying me coffee would really help me right now, just sayin’ XD)