CH 87

December 3, 2021 by danmeiheaven

When Segalot, Orville, and Archibald arrived, Xia Zuoyi was at the shipyard in Wissas, watching the huge ship that Samuel had built to explore the new world.

This ship is made of the best materials and has the most comprehensive design… It’s bigger and more beautiful than any ship in Xia Zuoyi’s fleet.

When the big curtain covering the ship was pulled down, all the people present were amazed. Even Xia Zuoyi opened his eyes wide and sighed—Samuel deserves to be hailed as the youngest shipbuilding genius. He’s really capable.

Samuel walked around excitedly.

He went from the bow to the stern, and then from the stern to the middle of the ship, giving a detailed introduction to its situation.

Then he couldn’t help but say to Xia Zuoyi, “My lord, the next step is to conduct a thorough inspection again. After there are no problems, we can go to sea for trial sailing.” 

Xia Zuoyi nodded, “How long will it take to complete the inspection?”

Samuel touched his chin and raised his head to estimate, “Such a big ship…it will take at least four or five days. Or if all our personnel fully cooperated, it will be overhauled all day.”

Xia Zuoyi smiled, “Thank you for your hard work. I’ll give each of you a bonus after the maintenance is over.”

At this time, Walker came over to Xia Zuoyi amidst the cheers from the workers and said that there were guests coming.

All three people came here at once, which was a bit exciting.

When Xia Zuoyi returned to Pal Mountain, he almost didn’t want to go down the carriage when he saw them outside the castle.

At last, he took a deep breath and stepped out of the carriage with a somewhat stiff and polite smile, “I thought that after the Anas Empire was split, you should all be busy for a long time…”

“But how long has it been since we last met?”

Segalot smiled back.

Orville paused and said, “More than two months have passed since you left the empire. It’s been a long time…”

Archibald stood a little behind and didn’t speak.

Behind him is a long line of carriages.

Vincent and Udit are directing the servants to carry the boxes on the carriages into the castle—these are all gifts from Archibald to Xia Zuoyi.

The crates are filled with all kinds of things—cheap but novel objects, expensive and delicate collectibles worth handling with care, etc.

After Xia Zuoyi invited them into the castle, he walked to Archibald and whispered, “You don’t have to…”

Archibald: “I have to do something to get your forgiveness.”

“You’re one of my few friends, Little Zuoyi. Don’t alienate me.”

Xia Zuoyi looked at him, “We are still friends.”

“Then please don’t call me Mr. Leader, call me Archie.”

Xia Zuoyi was silent for a while.

After Archibald’s deep lake-green eyes began to flicker, he suddenly bent his eyebrows and said, “It’s a little intimate, I can’t say it yet. Why don’t you give me a few days?”

When Archibald heard this, he shrugged his stiff shoulders and relaxed slowly, “Thank you.”

Segalot glanced back without a trace, his golden eyes narrowed.

Orville looked around and finally found Briquette probing his head out from a corner, his black and fluffy big head was really conspicuous.

Snowball and Egg Yolk were about to come out from behind him but stopped after being growled at by Briquette.

Egg Yolk tilted his head, his long tail flicking behind.

He watched as Briquette’s big head approached, wanting to bite Snowball’s ears and pull him back, but was avoided by Snowball and swatted with his thick big paws.

Briquette grumbled and then came over to bite Egg Yolk’s ear and pull him back. Egg Yolk retreated obediently.

Xia Zuoyi thought they were playing a game. He waved his hand and asked, “Where’s Brown Sugar?”

By this time they had come close to three furries.

Briquette grumbled at the windowsill behind the corner.

Behind the layers of crimson curtains, a small black head emerged—

Brown Sugar yawned lazily, then walked out a few steps and laid down on the wide window edge in the warm sunlight. It made his already undoubtedly beautiful golden eyes more beautiful.

Xia Zuoyi couldn’t help but secretly glance at Segalot.

The latter was looking at Brown Sugar, “It has grown a lot.”

“Yes.”

“I don’t know if it recognizes me…”

Segalot said, then stretched out the back of his hand in Brown Sugar’s direction. He became silent and didn’t move anymore.

After a while, Brown Sugar slowly got up and jumped off the window sill. His paw pads stepped on the soft blanket and approached quietly…

The tip of Brown Sugar’s nose came close to the back of Segalot’s hand and sniffed, followed by two pairs of equally golden eyes looking at each other—Segalot’s expression remained unchanged, maintaining the movement of his raised arm, and finally got a nudge from Brown Sugar.

Orville: “…”

Segalot smiled and withdrew his hand, “Looks like it recognized me.”

Xia Zuoyi: “Brown Sugar is very smart.” 

In the next few days.

Segalot seemed to have taken an interest in Brown Sugar and spent a lot of time asking Xia Zuoyi’s experience in raising him.

That made Archibald and Orville’s faces unsightly. Of course, the direction of their bad mood is in two aspects.

Five days later, all the ships built by Samuel and his men had finally been inspected. They would set off for trial sailing in Cogit Harbor.

Xia Zuoyi gave the naming right of the big ship to Samuel.

Samuel named it the Wind Rider.

The wind and waves on the sea are most volatile, a little carelessness will cause damage to the ship, or even capsize it and bury it in the sea. Samuel hopes that the ship can ride the wind and break through the waves to lead them to find a new continent smoothly.

The Wind Rider has a large hull, which is dark red and engraved with the Desinia family emblem.

At the bow, Samuel asked someone to create a statue of the sea god Leander—the handsome sea god holding a trident with firm eyes, as if guarding the ship and blessing the Wind Rider with a smooth and safe sailing at sea.

In order to ensure the Wind Rider’s speed, the number of sails has also increased a lot.

One rope after another descended straight from the top of the mast, and a flag of thorns and roses fluttered at the top of the main middle mast.

Segalot and the two others heard about the trial voyage of the Wind Rider and couldn’t help showing great interest in it.

Xia Zuoyi invited the three of them to visit the harbor.

This is a newly-constructed wharf.

At present, ordinary civilians and slaves in Wissas are prohibited from approaching, including some nobles who have no business here. They cannot enter or leave at will without an approved permit.

Samuel observed the weather condition today, “No clouds, breezy, and sunny weather. It’s suitable for going out to sea!”

“My lord, I’ll ask someone to carry some heavy objects onto the ship and at the same time, let the corresponding number of people go up…”

“Today is the first sea trial. When it succeeds, I will choose different weather for trial voyages again, such as windy days, cloudy and rainy days, stormy waves, etc.”

Samuel decided not to leave the shore easily before he had made sufficient preparations, otherwise, he would fail again because of frequent accidents and no timely response measures and solutions.

And if it fails this time…

He can no longer extravagantly pray to the God of Creation for blessings—is it possible for him to have the experience of being rescued for the second time?

Xia Zuoyi nodded, “You’re right, Samuel. You really should be more cautious about going to sea.”

“Now, you can start the first step.”

Samuel’s face was flushed with excitement when he heard him.

The first step is to remove the shelter of the Wind Rider and let it glide down the ramp and onto the sea.

Generally, the ship enters the water directly from the side. In this way, it can successfully float by relying on the stability of the ship itself.

However, the hull of the Wind Rider is huge. Before construction, they must first consider the way the ship enters the sea, such as the buoyancy and hull structure of the ship…

After comprehensive consideration, Samuel decided to let the ship enter the water forward. Therefore, the huge ship is facing the magnificent sea level, waiting for the day when it sets sail.

The shipyard workers quickly unloaded the crossbar. With Samuel’s adjustment, the last shelter was slowly pulled away by them together—

With a “clang” sound.

The sound of the friction between the hull and the track sounded, and then it slowly glided towards the sea under the expectation of everyone.

Finally, at the moment when the bow touched the sea, huge waves splashed everywhere, and the seawater continued to surge and spread to the dry ground. The people standing nearby had their shoes and trousers soaked, but they were still staring at the Wind Rider eagerly and nervously.

Samuel couldn’t help clenching his fists.

His eyes gradually widened. When the sea god Leander, who’s standing on the bow of the Wind Ride, appeared unimpeded in the bright sunlight, he finally couldn’t resist shouting.

Excited, he ran to the front, bathing in the glittering crystal water still splashing around the hull.

“The first phase is successful!”

Everyone was excited.

Xia Zuoyi raised his hand to indicate that Samuel could start the second action as soon as possible—loading heavy objects and organizing personnel to board the ship…

He also planned to participate in the trial trip in person.

After all, the planned navigation route isn’t too far away. Within the safe range, other ships will follow the Wind Rider to observe nearby, so as to provide timely rescue in case of accidents.

Samuel agreed with Xia Zuoyi’s decision. The first journey of Wind Rider should be experienced by the lord himself. It’ll be absolutely great!

Afterward, the three men also expressed their willingness to go up and have a look.

Xia Zuoyi did not refuse.

After everything was ready, the Wind Rider set sail.

The great ship sailed steadily and gradually moved away from the port. Obviously, it went smoothly and without any problems.

Samuel was delighted.

Xia Zuoyi also thought that this sea trial would end peacefully, and then just wait for the weather to change for the second test.

However, his thoughts are still somewhat assumptive.

Just as everyone was relaxed and looking out at the vast and beautiful sea, a group of people dressed in workers’ clothes suddenly rushed out with weapons in their hands—

Xia Zuoyi was lying alone on the ship’s side with his gaze forward and Segalot had just left. One person quickly grabbed him with a dagger. Everyone else on the ship was caught off-guard by this sudden accident and couldn’t come over to rescue him for a while.

This group is clearly well-trained.

They came even more prepared. After all, the latest group of boatmen was recruited to work in the factory a month ago—these people have been lurking until now, looking for a very good time to expose themselves and launch a surprise attack.

Xia Zuoyi hadn’t lasted two rounds resisting the enemy before being restrained.

But there’s a very inconspicuous tail ring on his left thumb—one of the gifts 098 brought back from his various trips in the previous three years. With a little force from clenching his fist, a sharp needle can pop out at the top of the tail ring.

Then he mercilessly stabbed the wrist of the man who held him behind.

The needle of the tail ring was smeared with a lot of medicine.

This drug is not a poison, but as long as it touches you a little, it can make you feel painful, almost as if you’re dying. It’ll gradually fade away after half a day.

Therefore, the man immediately cried out in pain, and immediately released Xia Zuoyi.

But he underestimated the man’s ferocity. The dagger in his hand stabbed horizontally—

Xia Zuoyi was shocked. Behind him was the ship’s side. He couldn’t retreat anymore.

At this time, there was a movement in the system interface. 098 who went to travel came back.

A “crash” sound was heard.

Xia Zuoyi fell into the water without hesitation, narrowly avoiding the dagger that almost cut his neck.

At the bottom of the sea, a huge black shadow is rising quietly…