Lin Lan and Charles talked for a very long time.
It wasn't until the sky began to darken that Charles left the lord's manor and returned to the shabby inn not far from the coast.
The big merchant stood by the window, looking toward the shore, and his eyes were no longer as despondent and dejected as they were in the morning, but instead sparkled with renewed vigor.
The setting sun hung obliquely in the sky. People were still busy by the shore, but the skills of these commoners were very crude. Expecting them to repair those finely crafted decorations with Alliance style was undoubtedly a fool's dream.
The cracks on the surface of the cargo ship were replaced with hastily made wooden boards, while smaller gaps were filled haphazardly with hemp rope and resin. The once beautiful White Sail now looked utterly unsightly.
If this ship were placed in front of other colleagues now, it would surely make them laugh out loud.
"Captain Charles, we've already lost quite a few people on this trip."
Old Will, standing by the side, was full of worry: "First Mate Andrew, Gunner Mike, and Sailor Wright are all dead, and we don't have enough regular sailors either."
This old sailor had already been promoted to first mate and boatswain of the White Sail.
"Just recruit some good lads from the town. The lord has already agreed to this,"
Charles said casually, "Once the ship is repaired, we'll set off again."
"But the remaining supplies on the ship aren't much." Old Will hesitated a bit: "Even so, do you still plan to go to the original destination?"
"Of course, we're going,"
Charles smiled, "The nobles in Lion Heart Royal City are all filthy rich, and I can't miss the chance to make friends with them..."
He pinched his neat little mustache, and his eyes were full of a malevolent gleam.
Coming to Seagull Town was truly the right decision!
He planned to use his own money to build a large port here that would satisfy the lord, then firmly bind the interests of the White Sail Fleet with Seagull Town.
Charles gave the new first mate a few simple tasks, and Old Will hurried away, leaving Charles alone in the room.
After confirming no one was around, he carefully took out the 'deposit' given to him personally by Lord Roland.
In the afterglow of the sunset, the crystal-clear light flowed across the surface of the square crystal.
This Deep Sea Treasure is known as the 'Mermaid's Tears.'
Lord Roland told him that the merfolk are a legendary creature that is half-human, half-fish.
Whenever a sky-darkening storm calamity arises at sea, the merfolk sing their lamentations in the land of the end, and their tears shoot out of the sea like meteors, transforming into various shapes of magic power sources.
Charles believed this without a doubt.
Holding the 'tear' in the palm of his hand, feeling the almost imperceptible magic power fluctuations, Charles' eyes grew increasingly entranced.
Whether the Radiant Gold Coins of the Alliance or the Black Soron of the Empire, the value of currency fluctuates in the hands of politicians, but treasures from the sea are always precious...
It's just a pity he couldn't obtain that Deep Sea Treasure capable of making a wondrous invigorating drink...
Charles licked his lips.
However, Lord Roland told him that a new batch of treasures would soon be sent to Seagull Town! Among them, there might be similar treasures for him to choose from!
At that moment, Charles nearly fainted from excitement.
This is a colossal deal!
Of course, he asked about the origins of these treasures, but the response was a mere silent smile.
Charles wasn't foolish enough to dig deeper.
He gradually realized that the lord entrenched here was not a good person. Don't be fooled by his youthful appearance and clear smile; that guy is obviously a ruthless character who won't leave anything behind!
Roland is by no means a low-minded, foolish Lion Heart noble. The original lord of Seagull Town has probably been dealt with by his own hands...
In the current situation, the friction between the Alliance and the Empire is becoming more intense, and on the bloodstained chessboard of the Lion Heart Kingdom, more and more ambitious individuals are beginning to make their appearances.
What role will Roland play on this chessboard?
Is he the spokesperson of the Chaos Pirates? Or the eyes placed at the forefront by an ancient family?
Collaborating with such a dangerous person is undoubtedly like seeking skin from a tiger.
But so what?
Charles gently wiped the Mermaid's Tears, his thoughts becoming clearer.
In the face of Deep Sea Treasures, everything is worth it. The benefits contained within are enough to make him take risks!
A merchant only cares about the weight of the chips on the scales. He never minds selling his soul to the devil.
The setting sun faded, the night deepened.
The weather was getting colder, yet the people who toiled hard all day had a rare good night's sleep.
Morning.
The gray-haired lord sat at his desk, fiddling with the pile of glittering coins before him.
Lin Lan was in a great mood.
This time, he really made a fortune!
By casually dropping a few trash dungeon props, he maxed out the goodwill of the White Sail Fleet. Next, Charles would undoubtedly dedicate himself to creating development opportunities for Seagull Town.
Lin Lan took a few deep breaths and quickly calmed himself, continuing to ponder.
While Charles's fleet will bring wealth to the town, it is not enough.
Far from enough.
The moment he decided to eradicate the Blood Plague Curse, he had already positioned himself against the Lion Heart Royal Court. The problem is, his strength is just too weak.
Frankly, at this moment, Lin Lan is just a weakling with a combat power of 5, completely unqualified to wrestle with the surrounding monstrous figures.
The attendants who followed the original master are completely useless. Any knight order from the Royal Court could easily make them cry to their parents.
Fortunately, Seagull Town is remote, and information transmission is slow. Even if the nearby nobles learn that he is eradicating the Blood Plague, it would take thirty to forty days for this news to reach the Royal Court.
Moreover, they are currently busy with internal conflicts, so it's likely they won't notice the small actions of the Seagull Town lord.
He must seize the opportunity...
Lin Lan's eyes flickered.
Seagull Town is located further south, so trade fleets like the White Sail Fleet wanting to do business must pass through his territory.
In the past, the resources here were scarce, and the people were poor, so no one wanted to waste time stopping in Seagull Town, but now...
Lin Lan glanced at the system interface.
[Dungeon Card Cooldown: 1 hour]
——I've activated it.
Lin Lan rubbed his hands together, planning to thoroughly clear and explore uncharted areas this time.
At this moment, someone gently knocked on the study's wooden door.
"Lord, both of the children have woken up."
The old butler stood outside the door, respectfully saying: "They both want to see you."
Lin Lan raised an eyebrow.
The lord's manor wasn't actually very large. Lin Lan left the study and quickly arrived at the room the butler prepared for Lisa and Wendy.
He opened the door.
"Lord! You're here!"
The little girl rushed over first, raising her small face to show Lin Lan the bread in her hand: "My sister and I are having a delicious breakfast!"
Little Lisa's cheeks puffed out like a hamster desperate for food.
"Eat slowly," Lin Lan smiled, rubbing her hair before turning his gaze to the frail young girl sitting on the bed.
Compared to the previous day, Wendy's cheeks were no longer so pale. She was smiling gently at him, sunlight casting a golden sheen over her smooth waterfall-like long hair from the window.
"How should I repay you, Lord?"
The girl's soft tone was very light.
"First, tell me how you came to be infected with the Blood Plague."
Lin Lan sat beside the girl, his expression somewhat serious.
Wendy was taken aback, her gaze fixing intently on the boy's face as she earnestly replied, "It was the moment I learned the truth from my father's notes."
"The truth?" Lin Lan was a bit surprised.
"It's a very terrifying truth, Lord."
The girl pursed her lips, a hint of unshakeable fear in her eyes:
"The Lion Heart Kingdom is sinking towards the Abyss."