Chapter 602: Victory Day Celebration (2)
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Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
“But there is one thing we must insist on, to confront our inner selves and take that brave step at a certain moment.
Just like tens of thousands of years ago, we elves set aside our arrogance and chose to ally with humans, resisting the invasion of the Barbaric Divine Lineage. Just like our Vale bowed our heads and sought help from Lord Ji Chen, breaking free from the barren frozen wilderness. We may not always make the right choices, but as long as we take the right path at the most crucial moments, it will suffice.
Lord Ji Chen is a far more enlightened lord than we could have imagined. If you were to follow him, perhaps you can have a different life and future,” Marianne paused and added, “and give the elves a different future.”
Arlin didn’t fully understand, but she nodded in the end. “Elder, 1 will request Lord Ji Chen to allow me to stay.”
“So be it.”
After leaving the gathering, Ji Chen went to the underground lizardman world to find the dwarf Thotmudo.
Initially, he had invited Thotmudo to join the banquet, but Thotmudo had declined, citing the strong stench of elves on the surface that was worse than breathing the iron fumes underground. Ji Chen had no choice but to let it go.
Ji Chen carried two large barrels of liquor that he got from Lienhardt and found the dwarf who was hammering away at the alchemical submarine with a wrench in the workshop.
“Sir Thotmudo.”
Thotmudo turned to look, his small eyes scanning Ji Chen and the two barrels of liquor. He sniffed hard, and his expression suddenly became animated, breaking into a rare smile.
“Young man, what kind of liquor is this? It smells pretty good.”
Ji Chen patted the two barrels of liquor with a smile. “1 brought them back from Lienhardt. Today, 1’11 let you taste this liquor.”
Thotmudo removed the barrel stopper and took it in his mouth, gulping down one-third of it in one go.
“Good liquor!”
Thotmudo drank the rest of the liquor, looking satisfied. “I heard you defeated an enemy called Lord of the Waves this time?”
“Yes, a snake-person from the Death Sea to the north.”
“The Death Sea…”
Seeing Thotmudo deep in thought, Ji Chen couldn’t help but ask, “Do you know what the Death Sea is like inside?”
“Well, 1 know some things about it. That place isn’t where ordinary people can stay…”
Thotmudo began to explain what he knew.
The Death Sea was formed due to the prolonged and devastating divine war tens of thousands of years ago. Various dispersed divine powers caused its environment to become extremely harsh and desolate.
What was known was that the orderly divine lineage, barbaric divine lineage, and chaotic divine lineage once engaged in a large-scale and brutal battle there, resulting in the downfall of at least five or more deities. The powers they erupted with after their deaths extinguished all vitality at the time.
Due to this harsh environment, the Death Sea remained isolated from the world year-round, with no signs of life.
However, just like the resilient gra.s.s that grows from concrete, even in desolation and decay, life can still sprout from the muck, from the corners, gradually forming powerful marine communities over time. These communities resemble warlords’ sea forces, occupying various locations in the Death Sea, engaging in wars and conflicts with each other for thousands of years, vying for scarce resources and limited living s.p.a.ce.
At this point, Ji Chen understood that Lord of the Waves, Victor, was probably one of the warlords in the Death Sea, likely driven out due to his weakness.
“…But I’ve only heard about it, never been inside. The ocean is not the dwarf’s domain.” Thotmudo took another sip of his drink. “But you are as comfortable as a fish in the ocean. You might consider taking a look sometime. I’ve heard there are quite a few rare resources in the Death Sea.”
“I’ll consider it.”
Thotmudo waved his hand. “If you have nothing else, you should go. Your subjects are still waiting for you.”
Ji Chen nodded and left.
Back on the surface, the residents were still in the midst of revelry and celebration. The streets were filled with a continuous flow of people, humans, sea creatures, and lizardmen, crowded together with no signs of discord or conflict. Even the half-orcs with hidden violent genes wore smiles, mingling with other residents, drinking beer after beer.
Wilus stood on the side, watching them drink alcohol like water, and sighed.
He pondered how many resources this banquet would likely consume.
In the evening, a giant bonfire was lit in the open s.p.a.ce, extending the joy from the day into the night.
A few days ago, the merchant Lein had mistakenly entered the Stormy Sea due to Lord of the Waves, but now he was marveling at the residents of the Crown of the Ocean dancing around the bonfire.
In these days on the New Moon Islands, he had truly opened his eyes.
He had witnessed the harmonious coexistence of various races, the cohesion of this territory, and the strength of its lord.
This place seemed like a paradise amidst the perilous sea, making people want to linger.
As he sipped on a small drink and enjoyed some barbecue, watching the residents dancing in a peculiar but unexpectedly charming manner around the bonfire, a voice came from beside him.
“Lord Lein, have you been enjoying your time on the New Moon Islands these past few days?”
Lein was surprised, and when he saw the person, he couldn’t help but look flattered. “Lord Ji Chen, do you remember my name?”
Ji Chen looked at the only merchant poisoned by Lord of the Waves and said with a smile, “Of course, you are one of the few merchants who have come to the Crown of the Ocean.”
“So you mean there were other merchants who entered the Stormy Sea before?”
Ji Chen nodded, recalling Raymond, who was now overseeing the trade between the Crown of the Ocean and the Northern Continent in the Maple Princ.i.p.ality.
Lein didn’t give it much thought and remarked with a touch of nostalgia, “In a stunning and thriving place like this, and with such a prime location, it’s hard to believe there aren’t any merchants who’ve heard about it.
Lord Ji Chen, 1 know many merchants who engage in trade between the Maple Princ.i.p.ality and Lienhardt, as well as across the Western Continent. When I reach my destination, I will definitely tell them about the existence of the New Moon Islands and encourage them to stop here for supplies and rest.”
“In that case, I thank you, Lord Lein.”
This was exactly what Ji Chen had in mind. As they say, quality will always find its audience. If nothing unexpected happened, the merchant ships on these trade routes probably wouldn’t even know that this island existed.
To quickly spread the reputation and location of the Crown of the Ocean, he would need the help of well-connected merchants like Lein.
Lein quickly shook his head and said, “Having a place like the New Moon Islands for supplies and rest along the way is what makes us long-distance merchants feel fortunate.”
After a night of revelry, Ji Chen was about to set out on his journey to the Maple Kingdom.
Taking advantage of the fact that a week had just pa.s.sed, he carried out another round of recruitment, recruiting another fifty Sea Crystal Wyrms, forming a squadron of one hundred Sea Crystal Wyrms.
These Sea Crystal Wyrms, each the size of a small truck, looked extremely majestic when soaring in the sky. Their take-offs and landings around the giant turtle were reminiscent of aircraft on an aircraft carrier.
Due to the need to build a camp and magical artillery platforms on the turtle’s back, the giant turtle remained at the Crown of the Ocean. Ji Chen, on the other hand, departed with a fully organized Naga Legion, Dragonblood Legion, and this squadron of one hundred Sea Crystal Wyrms.
It’s worth mentioning that about three hundred elves chose to stay on the New Moon Islands last night and pledged their allegiance to him. The leader of this group was the elven warrior Arlin.
Ji Chen welcomed this development, as the residents of the Crown of the Ocean already comprised multiple races, and he didn’t mind having more elves. It also gave Elisya some elven companions.
Moreover, elves seemed to have a unique expertise in improving plant cultivation, which could provide valuable a.s.sistance and advice for the agricultural development of the Crown of the Ocean.
Under the watchful eyes of many of his subjects, with the sound of a loud steam whistle, Ji Chen and his group set off..