Chapter 164 Treasure Ship
The sun was blazing overhead, and sunlight streamed down vertically.
The Estonian River surges like molten silver, each wave's crest scattering glittering spots of light. The pine forests on both banks sway gently in the wind, their shadows barely touching the riverbank before being swallowed by the shimmering waves.
In the river, a merchant ship is moving forward, leaving a long white trail behind it.
The hull was not made of ordinary wood, but of black ironwood treated with alchemy. It was as strong as steel yet could float on the river. The surface was engraved with faint runes, and there were heavy cannons and crossbows on both sides and at the bow and stern.
on deck.
Nick leaned against the ship's side, his arm half-pressed on the railing engraved with protective runes, his gaze following the light spots dancing on the river's surface.
The Treasure—this ship belongs to him.
Upon receiving news of the migration from the Ironforge clan, Nick was initially taken aback, but then acted decisively.
He spent almost all his wealth, used his eloquence to attract some investment, purchased a decommissioned warship, repaired and converted it into a merchant ship, recruited sailors and crew, and through some connections, obtained the necessary documents to trade on Estonian rivers.
From the land trade route of the Thousand Serpents, we turned towards the Estonian River.
This was undoubtedly an adventure, but also a new beginning. The cargo capacity of the Treasure Ship far exceeded that of his previous fleets, and as long as the trade went smoothly, the haul for each round trip could be several times greater than before.
Before long, he will be able to recoup his investment, and the merchant ship may even be developed into a fleet.
"What are you thinking about?"
Maggie's voice came from behind, carrying the cool, aloof quality characteristic of Tifflin.
She handed me a glass of chilled mint liqueur.
Nick took it, sipped it to savor the refreshing taste, and said, "The future, our future."
At this point, he knew very well who his mastermind was.
dragon!
And there's more than one.
The young dragons killed nobles from the Principality of Raymond and stormed the mine's outpost to steal gems. These events caused quite a stir and naturally reached Nick's ears.
But instead of panicking, he became excited.
Nick's childhood dream was to build his own chamber of commerce, comparable in size to the Jade Chamber of Commerce, within his lifetime.
However, even at his peak, this dream seemed a distant dream. But now, Nick felt there was a sliver of hope. His heart, which had gradually quieted down with age, was now pumping with the same excitement it had in his youth.
Although I have never met the lord of the Ironforge clan.
However, based on its behind-the-scenes operations, Nick concluded that the other party was a rare, intelligent, and cautious dragon. Once it grew up, its future would be limitless, and the fact that it could stir up trouble in the Principality of Raymond meant that it had already begun to show its strength.
Follow such dragons.
He also has the opportunity to reach heights he never dared to imagine before.
Of course, opportunities and dangers go hand in hand, and this path will not be smooth sailing, but Nick has shrewdly calculated that the benefits of following the dragons far outweigh the risks.
The Treasure continued its journey under the blazing sun.
During the mission, they encountered an attack by an underwater monster, which was dealt with by the ship's guards and the Treasure itself, and they survived without serious injury.
As time passed, the Treasure turned and entered a northern tributary.
About an hour later, as dusk settled, the Treasure, bathed in the glow of the setting sun, dropped its anchor and moored on the riverbank.
Cole directed the troll slaves to move the cargo out of the ship's hold, checking each box against the manifest.
Night gradually fell.
Clatter, clatter—the sound of horses' hooves pounding on the hard earth resounded in rapid succession.
A group of people, each over three meters tall, emerged from the night and approached with vigorous and steady steps.
Having communicated beforehand via the communication stone, Nick was not surprised by the centaur's appearance and was secretly pleased by the young dragon's caution.
The Ironforge Clan and the young dragons are currently wanted.
The monsters under their command, especially the ogres and werewolves, are of particular concern. Although the area north of the Estonian Great River is no longer under the jurisdiction of the Wilderness Garrison, it is always better to be cautious.
Centaurs are not monsters of the evil faction.
They have human-like upper bodies, their intelligence is no less than that of humans, and they are not violent or bloodthirsty, making them more easily accepted by the civilized nations of the Lorthern Federation.
in addition.
Within months of migrating to their new territory, they regrouped and recruited men as their retinue.
It should be understood that for creatures like centaurs, relentless and brutal coercion will only make them more resolute than submit. The fact that the young dragon was able to subdue the centaurs further proves the young dragon's strength and wisdom.
He signaled to the guards not to be nervous.
A warm smile spread across Nick's face.
He took half a step forward and gave the men a standard merchant's salute.
"This is just a small gift, nothing more."
He tilted his head slightly, his gaze falling on the silver-maned centaur who was leading the group. The man's robust body was like a sculpture in the moonlight, and his silver mane shimmered like flowing water as it was gently blown by the night breeze.
Nick presented a bottle of gin with both hands; the amber liquid rippled gently in the bottle, reflecting a honey-like luster.
"This is a 30-year-old vintage brewed by the dwarves of the Blackrock Duchy, and it is highly favored by the nobles."
He paused at just the right moment, looking at the other person with sincere eyes: "This valiant and extraordinary man, may I ask how I should address you?"
Silvermane let out a low laugh.
He took the bottle and said, "Just call me Zachary."
He skillfully fastened the wine bottle to his belt, which was inlaid with ivory ornaments, and then took out a bone dagger from his pocket.
"Reciprocity is key."
Silvermane's voice, deep and resonant like that of a centaur, said, "This was carved from mammoth ivory. The cloud patterns on it contain our wishes for travelers and can bring them good luck."
A hint of surprise flashed in Nick's eyes, which then blossomed into an even brighter smile.
He took the bone dagger with both hands, feeling the fine patterns on the ivory with his fingertips, and then put it in his pocket.
Unlike the cold and aloof werewolf warlock of the past, this centaur is clearly more well-rounded.
In fact, Silvermane, as the hunting leader of the Whitemane clan, had dealt with merchant ships traveling on the Estonian rivers before and knew how to make both parties feel comfortable in the transaction. He was also skilled in social interaction.
He managed to anger the Iron Dragon, but ultimately received his forgiveness.
This is also enough to prove the 'wisdom' of the silver mane.
After initial pleasantries, the two parties officially began the transaction process.
The crew of the merchant ship unloaded the cargo with practiced ease.
Barrels of viscous black oil were carefully moved and piled up into small mountains.
Exquisite desserts were placed alongside wooden crates of spirits, the sweet aroma of caramel mingling with the spicy scent of liquor in the night breeze, and precious alchemical tools were neatly arranged, gleaming in various colors under the moonlight.
The horsemen brought local specialties from the neighboring region.
The heavy gray magnetite ore was packed in a wicker basket with natural spiral patterns on its surface. The tanned beast hides were soft and thick, while the claws and teeth were bound in categories, and the sharp edges still retained the smell of blood.
The most eye-catching item was a box.
When the lid is lifted, the Tianbo gemstone refracts a sky-blue shimmering light under the torchlight, creating a breathtakingly beautiful sight.
"These magical gems must have been stolen from the mines of the Principality of Raymond."
Nick remained expressionless, thinking to himself.
Although the money came from illegitimate sources, he has plenty of ways to sell it, so it's not a big problem.
While their subordinates were taking inventory of the goods.
Nick and Silvermane were having a casual conversation.
Silvermane was curious about the lives and cultures of the southern countries beyond the borders, and Nick patiently explained the culture of the Lorthern Federation to him.
Both are good communicators and know how to maintain appropriate boundaries, which has brought them closer together through their interactions.
By the time the moon began to set in the west, all goods had been delivered.
Nick lowered his voice, asking with a mixture of anticipation and nervousness, "Zachley, besides the official deal, does he have any other instructions?"
Silvermane grinned and nodded slightly.
"Keep your people where they are."
"Come with me."
Upon hearing this, Nick's smile widened even more.
He instructed the crew of the Treasure to stop and wait there, then walked back to the centaurs. At Silvermane's instruction, he clumsily climbed onto the back of a centaur warrior and headed towards the borderlands further north.
The horses and men were moving very fast.
They carried heavy loads, their hooves leaving deep and shallow tracks on the ground, yet they were still incredibly fast even under the cover of night. Their tall and strong bodies combined power and speed, but there was no comfort to speak of.
Nick doesn't have the habit of riding horses.
He was jolted so hard that his face turned pale, and he felt as if his internal organs were churning inside him, and the scenery in front of him turned into blurry patches of color.
Since the centaur had no reins, he had no choice but to shamelessly cling tightly to the male centaur warrior's muscular waist and abdomen to prevent himself from falling over.
(End of this chapter)
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