This 'Crimson Yellow Longitude and Latitude Navigational Chart' meticulously recorded the coordinates of tens of thousands of worlds, including many alien civilizations, ancient ruins, temporary supply points, and a large number of mineral and special resource points.
It's no exaggeration to say that possessing this "Navigational Chart" is equivalent to owning a gold mine!
No wonder family head Fernando could rise from a common itinerant merchant family to a frontier overlord in just a few decades!
The resource points and ancient ruins recorded on this Navigational Chart alone were enough for a family to enjoy extreme luxury for over a thousand years!
And this "Crimson Yellow Longitude and Latitude Navigational Chart" was painstakingly explored by the successive family Heads of the Emrys family over tens of thousands of years, risking their lives again and again in the uncharted black Domain without the guidance of a Star Beacon!
Now, this Navigational Chart, lost for nearly twenty years, has finally returned to the Emrys family, into his hands!
Clutching the crystal ball, which seemed to contain countless twinkling stars, Merlin felt his heart pounding wildly, and the mission passed down for tens of thousands of years, along with immense pressure, settled on his shoulders!
"Lord Merlin, besides this star map, I also found something you might be interested in."
Saying this, Lillian took out another data pad, lightly swiping her index finger across it to bring up its contents.
It recorded the numerous times the Fernando family dispatched fleets to explore an unknown coordinate along the 'Crimson Yellow Longitude and Latitude Navigational Chart' since the disappearance of the Emrys fleet.
In just twenty years, the Fernando family almost annually either sent a small number of personnel to explore with other merchant fleets or explored independently.
Yet without exception, all fleets that ventured to that coordinate eventually got lost in the black Domain!
The black Domain is an unknown territory!
Once you sail out of Roaming Port, it means that human fleets will completely lose the guidance of the Star Beacon, navigating aimlessly in the Warp, and even with a Navigational Chart, it's very easy to get lost.
But—this high probability of getting lost is clearly not normal!
One must know that those who dare to venture into the black Domain are either experienced itinerant merchants or exploration fleets of the Mechanicus; apart from pirates who court death, these people are not God damn!
One or two might get lost in the depths of the black Domain due to greed, but so many people getting lost is not normal!
Furthermore, the Mechanicus exploration fleets often carry a large number of battleships, cruisers, and frigates, with firepower far superior to itinerant merchants; if even they get lost in the depths of the black Domain, one can imagine how dangerous it is!
From this record, the Fernando family had successively joined five Mechanicus exploration fleets, but after entering this route, they all eventually got lost in the depths, with no news whatsoever!
"On this point, Lloyd didn't lie to me—"
Merlin frowned, it seemed that the mysterious coordinate ultimately pointed to by this 'Crimson Yellow Longitude and Latitude Navigational Chart' was even more dangerous than he had imagined!
"You don't seem scared at all?"
Lillian noticed the unconscious curve of his lips, a hint of curiosity in her voice.
"Why should I be scared?"
Merlin smoothly put the 'Navigational Chart' into his personal space, turning to look at the puzzled Lillian.
"As an itinerant merchant, piloting a battleship, roaming the most dangerous places in the universe, exploring unknown territories for humanity, searching for lost ancient ruins—isn't that a very romantic thing?"
Danger, where is there no danger?
Compared to danger, he really liked this feeling; perhaps it was the blood of adventure flowing in his veins since birth!
This danger, on the contrary, could be a strong stimulant to ignite the courage in his heart!
Just thinking about the vast, unknown territories of humanity waiting for him to explore, Merlin couldn't control his excited feelings!
Looking at Merlin, whose eyes seemed to sparkle with stars, Lillian was actually a little captivated.
Itinerant merchants are humanity's last spirit of enterprise—she had heard this phrase many times in her youth, but only at this moment did Lillian finally understand the profound meaning it contained!
True itinerant merchants never fear danger; they are humanity's last courage, symbolizing humanity's daring spirit to venture into the unknown!
Unlike the corrupt and rigid Imperium, as long as there is one itinerant merchant, the human race will still have hope!
"May the Star Beacon of the God-Emperor illuminate your coming home route, and may your Gothic fleet advance without hindrance."
Lillian bowed respectfully with noble etiquette.
"I will wait here for you to return, Lord Merlin."
"You—aren't you coming with us?"
Merlin was a little surprised, but he was thinking more about what would happen to the Eternal Forge?
"Are you sure you want to take me?" Lillian smiled sweetly, looking at him mischievously.
"If you take me, how do you plan to explain it to her?"
"Cough, cough—"
Hearing this, Merlin's face immediately turned crimson with embarrassment.
"Alright, I won't tease you anymore." Seeing his awkward expression, Lillian suppressed a laugh and then said.
"I have already revoked the Eternal Forge's authentication. I will teach you the control methods one by one, so you can use it even without me."
Hearing that she had revoked the authentication, Merlin couldn't help but be greatly surprised.
"Aren't you afraid—"
"Afraid of what?"
Lillian smiled slightly.
"Without the Eternal Forge, will you abandon me?"
Merlin's expression was serious as he looked at her intently.
"I rarely make promises, but once I do, I will never break them. Even if you don't have the Eternal Forge, I will protect you."
"I believe you, and precisely because I believe you, I am not afraid that you will abandon me." Lillian tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, gazing at him affectionately.
"Actually, I've thought it through carefully. Compared to sailing with you, my greatest value is to stay in Roaming Port."
"Why do you say that?"
Merlin asked curiously.
"Being with you is certainly my wish."
Lillian said softly.
"But, if I stay by your side, my only value will be just a key that can activate a divine artifact. If I stay in Roaming Port, I can naturally take over the Fernando family's hidden assets."
With that, she paused for a few seconds, slowly walking up to Merlin. Her emerald green eyes held a pool of water.
"I don't want to be a key; I want to be your most solid backing!"
"When you return from the black Domain, I will rebuild Roaming Port and make the new Fernando family an indispensable and important force for you!"
"Do you need help?"
Merlin asked. After all, she had given so much; he couldn't be so shameless, could he?
"No need, lord Merlin." Lillian smiled gently and said.
"Although Lloyd is dead, he left many contingencies. With these people, give me a year, and I can restore the Fernando family's dominance in the Calixis Sector!"
God damn, truly Lloyd's granddaughter!
Just this fierce and resilient character was enough to make Merlin look at her with new respect. The future Roaming Port might just welcome an 'Empress'!