Chapter 274: Elven Slaves, Return, Request for Thotmudo (2)
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
“Your situation has come to my attention. As victims of the elven trafficking trade, you deserve freedom. However, it won’t be immediate. You will need to stay in my territory for a period, and a ship will transport you back to the elven gathering place. Do you understand?
Ji Chen glanced at the elves, their expressions ranging from astonishment to disbelief. He didn’t say anything further. After instructing Anina to stay and take them to the deck, he left the area.
These elven maidens were indeed beautiful, with skin as fair as snow and features akin to finely carved jade. Their delicate bodies, barely covered by thin clothing, only made them appear more vulnerable after enduring persecution.
However, Ji Chen, being who he was, had no special thoughts about them.
Seeing Ji Chen leave after speaking, the elves, with various expressions of surprise or incredulity on their faces, glanced at one another. One slightly older elf bit her lip and stepped out of the cage.
“Sisters, no matter what, let’s go out and see the situation first.”
Hearing this, the other elves nodded in agreement.
Locked in such a small s.p.a.ce for so long, they had long grown weary. It would be a relief to get some fresh air on the deck.
Following the young woman named Anina, they walked out of the cargo hold and onto the deck, where a strong smell of blood immediately a.s.saulted their senses.
As they looked around, their faces turned pale.
The deck was a mess, littered with the lifeless bodies of gnomes. Blood stained the floor and walls, so thick that even the sea breeze couldn’t disperse the smell.
And by the ship’s side, the gnome leader who had orchestrated their capture, with a dozen or so b.l.o.o.d.y holes in his chest, lay dead.
This scene resembled the aftermath of a fierce battle.
Witnessing this, the elves started to believe what the human man had told them earlier.
Amid their complex emotions, the gnomish merchant ship set sail once more.
Despite significant damage to its propulsion system, the ship’s speed had not diminished much, and by the third day, it returned to the New Moon Islands.
Amid the astonishment of the residents of the Crown of the Ocean, gnomes in shackles marched through the crowd in orderly fashion.
But what surprised them even more was that behind the gnomes, there were more than a dozen pointed-eared elves.
Elves were not entirely unfamiliar to them. Some time ago, they had encountered a charming elven lady who had toured the New Moon Islands, and she had been very friendly with them.
“Good heavens! This is the first time I’ve seen so many elves! They all have those pointy ears, just like Miss Elin.”
“Are all elves as beautiful as they are? They’re even more beautiful than Widow Jennifer next door!”
“Tch, no matter how pretty they are, are they as gorgeous as Miss Alice?”
“Hehe, that’s true. Miss Alice is the most beautiful in the Crown of the Ocean!”
The elves walking behind naturally heard the human residents’ curious gazes and discussions. At the same time, they couldn’t help but become curious about the mentioned Miss Elin.
Were they not the first batch of elves to arrive on this island? Had other elves visited before?
The gnomish captives and the elves got separated on their way to the Lord’s castle.
The gnomes were escorted to a specially constructed prison, awaiting Ji Chen’s judgment, while the elves were taken to a reception building where they were treated to delicious food and drink.
After all, he was somewhat familiar with Elin, and in the future, there would be more interactions with the elven people.
Rescuing these elves could be seen as an effort to improve relations with the elves.
As Ji Chen had mentioned earlier, these elves would stay in the Crown of the Ocean for a while until Raymond and the others returned. Then they would be sent to the Northern Continent together.
Once the elves were settled, Ji Chen proceeded to the blacksmith’s shop.
The dwarf hero Thotmudo, with a few drinks of the Crown of the Ocean’s rare liquor in him, was hammering away at his work.
Thotmudo was unquestionably a legendary blacksmith. When he wasn’t teaching forging techniques, he had devoted his spare time to extensive research on the Ruins Guardians. Now, his focus had shifted from the Ruins Guardians to the Ocean Guardians.
Seeing Ji Chen approach, Thotmudo paused his work and said in a slightly intoxicated manner, “Human lad, what brings you here? Don’t tell me you’ve gathered some materials and want me to craft a treasure for you?”
Thotmudo had stated that he would craft a treasure as long as there were materials, which was one of the conditions for rescuing him from Krieg’s cage.
“Master Thotmudo, I’m not here for that this time.”
“Not for that?” Thotmudo, a bit tipsy, thought for a moment, then suddenly brightened up.
“Could it be that you’ve brought me some fine ale?”
Ji Chen’s mouth twitched. This drunkard.
“That’s not it either.”
The dwarf sighed, his intoxication evident. “Then it must be some troublesome matter.”
“Since I’ve shared your ale and you’ve let me research the Alchemy Guardians, 1 can help you with some minor issues. So, tell me, what is it?”
“Master Thotmudo, 1 recall that you have some knowledge of alchemical techniques, don’t you?”
At these words, Thotmudo became instantly alert. “You want me to teach you alchemical techniques? We never discussed this as part of our arrangement! Forget about it; it’s impossible! I don’t even have the facilities!”
The dwarf refused three times in a row.
Ji Chen sighed. “It’s not about that.”
“Then what is it? Speak quickly! Don’t waste my time!” Thotmudo exhaled and said impatiently.
“It’s like this: I’ve captured a gnomish alchemical merchant ship, and 1 want you…”
“What? You’ve captured a gnomish alchemical merchant ship!?”
Ji Chen was interrupted by Thotmudo, who shouted at him with eyes of disbelief.
“That’s right, it happened earlier…” Ji Chen briefly described the incident of seizing the ship. “Right now, it’s anch.o.r.ed in the harbor. If you don’t believe it, you can go see it for yourself.”
Seeing Ji Chen’s sincere expression, Thotmudo began to believe it to some extent and sighed.
“You human lad, you sure have some luck! You’ve managed to capture such a well-preserved gnomish alchemical merchant ship.
When it comes to pure alchemical and mechanical technology, the gnome race’s expertise is undoubtedly the best. 1 can’t tell you how many other races would love to get their hands on an intact gnomish alchemical merchant ship for research.
Every gnomish alchemical merchant ship is a technological marvel, containing numerous unique techniques. Just the gnome’s large-caliber alchemical cannons alone are enough to make even us dwarves envious.”
Ji Chen nodded in agreement. The alchemical cannons on the gnome merchant ships were indeed formidable.
If used in ordinary warfare, they would be a true reaper of life.
According to his estimate, the firepower of these alchemical cannons was comparable to the 6iomm naval guns on Earth, which were incredibly powerful.
In the previous battle, if it weren’t for the fact that the Crown of the Ocean’s forces had submerged deep into the sea to evade most of the bombardment in advance, they would have suffered significant damage from these gnome cannons.
“Alright, do you mean you want me to help you open those locked crates?”
“That’s correct. I dare not risk damaging them myself because there might be self-destructing devices inside these crates.”
During the negotiations with Ernesto, it had been mentioned that the crates had multiple layers of protection and would automatically detonate if violently tampered with.
After all, Ernesto was a cunning gnome, and Ji Chen couldn’t be sure whether this information was true or not.
To be cautious, it was better to have Thotmudo take a look.
Thotmudo stroked his beard. “This isn’t too difficult. Among the alchemical techniques I’ve mastered, there’s a method for bypa.s.sing these gnome devices.
But it’s better if you take me there right now. 1 don’t know if the gnome technology has advanced or changed over the centuries.”
Upon hearing this, Ji Chen nodded and led him to the gnome merchant ship.
Under the sunlight, the somewhat damaged gnome merchant ship still stood majestically, easily overshadowing the wooden warships on either side..