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nChapter 80: News of the Crystal

nTranslator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation

nAfter two days of sailing in the open sea, the New Moon sailed gradually into a bustling area.

nThe number of ships around them suddenly increased.

nHowever, most of them were two-masted sailing ships, with very few three-masted ships.

nThe majority of the ships were merchant vessels, with a few serving as escort ships.

nWhen conducting long-distance trade, some merchants would hire merchant ships for added security. And among them, the wealthier ones might directly hire an escort vessel for the entire journey, similar to a private security company on land.

nOf course, there were also instances where the escort ship would seize the merchant ship it was supposed to protect. In the vast sea, order was at its lowest, and violence and brutality were the dominant themes.

nDuring the turbulent Age of Exploration, the saying “Today I rob you, tomorrow you kill me” reflected the harsh reality of the seas. In this lawless realm, acts of piracy and vengeance were all too common, epitomizing the brutal nature of the era.

nThe New Moon merged with the established trade route and sailed for another half-day.

nFinally, they spotted a cluster of islands in their sight.

nShips came and went, buildings stood tall, and the islands were bustling with people.

nTo put it simply, it exuded an air of civilization.

nSoon, an official inspection ship from the local alliance rapidly approached, requesting permission to board and conduct an inspection.

nAfter a brief inspection, the officials hurriedly departed. Besides some exceptionally powerful “sailors” on board, there was nothing else to be found. Little did they know that hidden just a few meters beneath the water’s surface were hundreds of fierce and monstrous beast warriors. However, whether it was a figment of lichen’s imagination or not, he couldn’t help but notice the peculiar looks in the eyes of the inspection personnel.

nWithout dwelling on it, Jichen immediately ordered the pirates to steer the ship towards the bustling White Harbor, located on the largest island of the Silver Archipelago.

nBeing unfamiliar with the place, he knew that the most prosperous area would likely provide the best opportunity to gather information.

nDuring the journey, he noticed something remarkable at the ports of various islands. In addition to the usual docks and taverns, imposing shore-based artillery batteries stood tall, with thick cannons protruding from their embrasures. These fortifications symbolized the authority and defense capabilities of the rulers of the Silver Archipelago.

nUnderneath the cannons, all ships were regarded equally.

nlichen’s island-based territory also had a high demand for such shore-based defensive artillery. This got him thinking about acquiring a few cannons to construct defensive emplacements on his own island. With this added capability, the New Moon Archipelago would have the means to resist potential enemies during his maritime expeditions.

nGuided by the pilot boat, the New Moon gradually entered the harbor. Whether they were natives or players present in the area, all eyes turned to observe the arrival, paying their silent respects.

nCompared to the other single-masted and double-masted ships in the harbor, the New Moon, a three-masted ship, stood out as remarkably large, almost reaching the level of a warship. As the onlookers whispered among themselves, speculating which prominent merchant guild the ship belonged to, an incredibly peculiar man descended from the gangplank.

nAccompanied by a large group of robust soldiers, it was clear that he was also a player. Clad in relatively plain clothing, slightly disheveled hair, and an excited expression on his face, he appeared to be an unsophisticated rustic. However, what surprised everyone was his strikingly exceptional appearance. His eyes radiated a restrained brilliance, exuding an indescribable sense of nobility.

nThe contradictory combination of his appearance created a strong sense of dissonance. This piqued the curiosity of many players. One bearded veteran, with a look of curiosity on his face, approached with a few companions. Observing Jichen’s hurried demeanor, it seemed as though he had arrived from somewhere else. The bearded man seemed to have an inkling and enthusiastically spoke up.

n“Brother, did you hear that a mythical realm gate has appeared here and rushed over?”

n“Fortunately, you arrived on a three-masted ship just in time for the excitement! Under the pressure from the Alliance officials of the Silver Islands, they have announced that they will open the mythical realm gate to everyone tomorrow morning. Then, you can bring your troops inside.”

n“Oh? Is that so?” Jichen responded with slight surprise.

nIt seemed that the mythical realm was extraordinary. Several days had passed, and the Alliance officials here had not fully explored it yet. Clearly, there was something challenging inside that compelled them to open the realm.

nHowever, it worked out well for him. It saved him the trouble of sneaking in secretly.

n“I heard that the realm produces high-level resources like crystals,” the bearded man continued.

n“That’s right.” As the topic turned to crystals, the bearded man’s eyes gleamed with enthusiasm. “In the past few days, the Alliance officials here have retrieved several ships of crystals. There must be a considerable amount of crystals inside the realm.”

n“If we can obtain a batch of crystals from there, we’ll be rich.”

nJichen shook his head, “The realm must be very dangerous, even the Alliance officials finds it challenging. Otherwise, they wouldn’t open it so generously.” “You’re right, brother.” The bearded man regained some clarity and nodded in agreement. “That’s why I’ve been in contact with other players these days, planning to enter the realm together. Strength in numbers, you know.” “Brother, I see that you’re alone. How about joining us and exploring together for safety?”

n“Sorry, I’m more accustomed to acting alone.” Jichen smiled and shook his head.

n“I see…” The bearded man appeared somewhat disappointed.

nThen, as if remembering something, he added, “The location of the realm gate is on the sea surface, so you need a ship to reach it. If you want to enter the realm, you’ll need to reserve a ship to take you there. Alternatively, I can give you a lift on my way.”

nHe pointed to a medium-sized single-masted sailboat in the distance, a proud expression on his face.

nThat medium-sized single-masted sailboat was something he had obtained after completing several quests for the native people, making him part of the group with a ship among players.

nJichen smiled lightly, “I have my own ship.”

n“Oh, so you’ve already hired a ship. My apologies for the assumption,” the bearded man responded.

n“No, I mean I have my own ship.” Jichen calmly pointed to the New Moon anchored at the pier.

nThe bearded man was instantly dumbfounded, his face filled with disbelief. “Brother, are you saying… this three-masted ship is yours?”

n“That’s right. Is there a problem?”

nDefinitely, there was a problem, and it was a big one!

nThe bearded man and his companions mentally ridiculed the situation. Having such a large ship, this guy couldn’t be from the countryside. He must be a rich man!

nSeeing their astonished expressions, Jichen smiled faintly.

nBeing cool was his nature that would always follow him.

nHe bid them farewell casually and walked towards the city district with the pirates.

nIn the Silver Islands, including the main islands like Silver Island and the surrounding waters, killing was prohibited. Anyone who violated this rule would be hunted down and wanted by the Alliance officials governing the area. Therefore, the island was relatively safe, and he only brought around twenty pirates with him.

nThe rest remained on the ship as guards.

nAlice, Sparrow, and other troops also stayed on the ship, ready for orders.

nThe mythical realm gate would only open tomorrow morning.

nHe thought for a moment and decided to take this opportunity to explore the island.

nHe also wanted to see if there were any territories that were lacking and worth acquiring.

nBesides searching for crystals, he had intentions of making some purchases on this trip.

nCompared to the bustling Silver Islands, the foundation of the New Moon Archipelago was still weak, lacking many things.

nTo build a prosperous and civilized society, they needed to obtain necessary resources from the outside world..

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