Chapter 20

There is no hatred or love in this world without a cause. The idea that one can obtain powerful forces without paying a price is probably a fairy tale.

The powerful magic cards saved Luo Zhengdao's precarious life from the schemer Najef, and now it was his turn to pay the corresponding price. This was fair, wasn't it?

When the intense curse of the Wasteland Gods finally subsided, Luo Zhengdao mysteriously perceived a message floating in his mind. The immense physical pain he endured came from the ultimate curse of the fallen Wasteland Gods against their archenemies, the Magic Card Masters. This could also be seen as a greeting between opposing camps. The reason Luo Zhengdao was transported to the new world was due to the Magic Card Inheritance Ceremony, and the first unfortunate soul, Will Needham, had already perished. As the second unfortunate soul, Luo Zhengdao still had to pay the price. At first, he didn't expect that using just two magic cards would trigger such a strong backlash from the Wasteland Gods' curse. Luo Zhengdao couldn't help but complain inwardly that the conditions were too harsh!

In the new world, with its long history of civilization, this era still lay between the decline and rise of two great waves of magical civilization, a period that could be considered primitive. Thus, while magical power actually existed, it wasn't as ubiquitous as the technology in the old world.

In the past, the suddenly emerging Magic Card Masters, in pursuit of the ultimate truth of the universe, waged war and destroyed the Wasteland Gods. The fundamental reason for this conflict was a severe disagreement on how to treat the world. Since they couldn't resolve their differences through words, they resorted to violence to make their opponents submit. It was a normal outcome for talks to break down into fighting. Of course, the Wasteland Gods were not easy to bully. The victorious Magic Card Masters were ultimately destroyed by the Wasteland Gods' final curse, which was unleashed in their dying moments. Both sides ended this high-level conflict in the new world with a near mutual annihilation.

The Magic Card Masters and the Wasteland Gods were mortal enemies with deep-seated blood feuds. As a successor to the Magic Card Masters, Luo Zhengdao had to be prepared to bear all the consequences.

There was no doubt that both Will Needham's soul being scattered and Luo Zhengdao's current torment were due to their contact with the legacy of the Magic Card Masters. There was no power in this world that could be obtained without a price.

Even though the majority of the Wasteland Gods' curse was borne by Will Needham, the remaining part that fell on Luo Zhengdao was still terrifying. The weakened curse might grow stronger over time, eventually eradicating Luo Zhengdao both physically and spiritually. This was the true horror of the Wasteland Gods' curse.

It was too late for Luo Zhengdao to give up now. The reason for his transportation to the new world was the power of the magic cards. Unless he could reverse time and causality to return to his pre-transportation state, even if Luo Zhengdao never used the magic cards again, the Wasteland Gods' curse would still cling to him like a bone-deep disease, gradually intensifying until it erased the last Magic Card Master from the new world. This was the ultimate goal of the Wasteland Gods' curse.

The issue of the Magic Card Masters and the Wasteland Gods' curse was too sensitive. Luo Zhengdao didn't want to reveal the details to anyone. Even the half-elf beauty who tutored him wasn't someone he could fully trust. The burden Luo Zhengdao carried was too heavy; a single misstep could lead to an irredeemable tragedy. Secrets as deep as those of his parents and children couldn't be shared, let alone with mere friends and collaborators. At this moment, silence was better than any words. This was Luo Zhengdao's resolve.

The topic of the Wasteland Gods' curse was temporarily brushed aside, and his condition gradually improved with rest. Recently, he had ample cash flow, so he decided to pay the sailors on both ships regularly, allowing them to indulge in the Aru Islands to prevent them from causing trouble out of frustration.

Following the pirates' unwritten rules, no dividends were paid when there were no spoils. Since there was no profit, why divide anything? However, Luo Zhengdao didn't want to be just a successful pirate leader. He preferred to spend his wealth to win the hearts of his men. If they were willing to help him in a critical moment, it would be worth it. With his life constantly threatened by the Wasteland Gods' curse, what use was all his wealth? Was he preparing for a grand funeral?

The saying "paying someone to help them solve problems" might not exist in the new world, but the principle was the same. The pirates naturally understood that they had received significant benefits from Luo Zhengdao. Their relationship was no longer just a simple collaboration but had an additional layer of obligation. No one would want to see the person who paid them die.

The peaceful and tranquil days passed one by one. The casualties and shortages of sailors from the previous battles were gradually alleviated by the recruitment of new members.

Such a peaceful and harmonious life seemed almost too good to be true, like a beautiful soap bubble that could be shattered at any moment. The reality was that Luo Zhengdao knew this peace wouldn't last long. The goblin pursuit fleet, which had been following him like a shadow, would eventually catch up. Luo Zhengdao, a significant target, wouldn't be let go by the Second Goblin Empire. If Luo Zhengdao were in their shoes, he would also fight to the end.

"Hey, there's news. A fishing boat saw a strange fleet passing by in the western sea the night before last."

Bad news always comes true, while good news doesn't. Just as Luo Zhengdao was pondering the meaning of the recent calm, the bad news arrived. His eyelids twitched, and he immediately ordered the firing of a signal cannon to gather the sailors back to the ship. When the flustered boatswain, Zola Hegel, finally dragged the drunken sailors from the arms of the barmaids and lined them up on the deck, Luo Zhengdao said hurriedly:

"Everyone is here. We set sail immediately."

Most of the sailors had spent their money in the port, so they hadn't relaxed too much. They quickly completed the tasks of raising the sails, untying the ropes, and lifting the anchor, transforming the emergency departure order into a well-coordinated effort. Soon, the magic-patterned sails, filled with the Mana Wind, pushed the ship to its maximum speed of fourteen knots. Luo Zhengdao turned to look at the Aru Islands, which shrank into a serene and tranquil landscape in the distance. His heart, which had been pounding, finally calmed down, and he let out a deep breath. Escaping was always so tragic.

Vina Dubov, who was as perceptive as dust, noticed Luo Zhengdao's hidden unease and comforted him:

"The Sea of Floating Light ahead is a dangerous area, a paradise for sea dragons. It's said that giant sea dragons that can swallow warships whole also appear here. If the green skins are smart, they won't come after us."

Vina's melodious voice, like a nightingale's, brought a weary smile to Luo Zhengdao's face, but his expression was as bitter as a pound of bitter melon. He shook his head and said:

"Whether it's a premonition or paranoia, I feel that the green skins won't give up easily. They will come."

No one could guarantee whether Mordo Blackwater would pursue relentlessly, but the harsh reality ahead was foreseeable. Vina Dubov couldn't deceive herself and could only laugh, as if hearing a funny joke.

"Captain, the lookout reports a large patch of seaweed ahead."

Boatswain Zola Hegel ran over to report. Luo Zhengdao pulled out his gilded monocular and looked toward the bow. Soon, he saw a dense patch of seaweed glowing with a pale green fluorescence.

The Sea of Floating Light, located on the outer side of the Great Starry Ocean, was a vast forest of algae, ranging from tiny plankton to nearly kilometer-long giant seaweed, forming a colorful and diverse ecosystem. The scene was truly spectacular, with the dense algae stretching to the horizon, seemingly reaching another world. In comparison, the sixty-meter-long Yaling-class sixth-tier battleship, the Yangwei, was like a tiny ant on a giant redwood, insignificant in the vast sea of algae.

Luo Zhengdao, amazed, turned to Vina for information about the Sea of Floating Light. After some thought, he said:

"Zola, the route ahead is too complex. It's safer to slow down. Arrange for more lookouts and be careful not to get the rudder entangled in the seaweed."

"Understood, Captain. I'll take care of it."

Zola Hegel was a typical pirate of the new world, ruthless and merciless, having killed more people than most ordinary villagers would see in their entire lives. However, he was also an excellent navigator. Despite being illiterate, he was even worse off than the semi-literate Luo Zhengdao. Few knew that this fearsome figure had adopted over a dozen orphans left behind by his dead crewmates, saving them from a tragic fate of starvation and cold on the streets.

Zola Hegel, the complex and multifaceted boatswain, represented the pirates of the new world, a special group that couldn't be easily described in a few words.

In the new world, whether they were merchants engaged in maritime trade or pirates who plundered, these were not professions for the incompetent. Pirates were criminals who enriched themselves by plundering others' property. They were not cowards or lazybones. They dared to challenge the unknown on the Aether Sea, risking their lives for wealth, honor, and status. In a sense, pirates were a complex mix of merchants, adventurers, and bandits. Since the real world was never black and white, the boundary between good and evil was not easily defined.

PS: It took me over a year to write this book, and many plot points have been rearranged. Please be patient and read on. The mysteries at the beginning will be resolved later. Thank you for your support. Please vote!

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