Chapter 4

As the cherry blossoms danced in the wind, Misaki opened the old diary and read the words of promise written there.

The so-called specialization in one's field means that war is not a domain where will or spirit can change reality. The brave and skilled goblin infantry, formidable enough to strike fear into any opponent on land, might not fare as well in water.

After a sudden revival from a millennia-long decline, the Second Goblin Empire swept through the main continent, almost undefeated, defeating the Light Empire, one of the human kingdoms. However, no matter how powerful the goblin army was, how brave and skilled the goblin soldiers were, and how excellent their commanders and generals were, the goblins ultimately had an excellent land force, not a superior navy. This was an undeniable and harsh fact. A group of landlubbers, unfamiliar with water, on warships that constantly rocked with the waves, even if they had the talents of elite warriors, would have their combat effectiveness questioned in a completely unfamiliar combat environment.

Species like the Yalings and elves, originating from the Fairy Realm, are naturally known for their agile and delicate movements, each one a skilled acrobat with excellent balance. Even untrained Yaling civilians can walk on a thin bamboo pole with flexibility comparable to that of human acrobats who have trained for years. This disparity quickly reversed the tide of battle. In the face of Yaling soldiers, who were highly skilled in naval combat, the goblins did not have a significant numerical advantage, nor did they have any individual combat superiority. The outcome of this battle was easily foreseeable.

In just ten minutes, all the goblin soldiers who boarded the Chao Yong's deck were lying down to rest. The Yaling Navy once again demonstrated its dominance over the seven seas, and today, the goblin navy was far from a match for the Yaling Royal Navy.

"Lord Count, allow me to introduce you to Lady Governor Sally Byrne of the Yalings."

In an instant, the battle situation was reversed, and the goblin army surrounding the Chao Yong was annihilated in a crushing manner. The Yaling female governor who now stood before Luo Zhengdao was a striking figure, like a Valkyrie from an old-world Wagner opera descending to earth. The Yalings' facial features were similar to those of elves, both races originating from the Fairy Realm, and even ordinary members had more refined appearances and lifespans several times longer than those of humans. When Luo Zhengdao saw Sally's eyes, which had no clear distinction between the iris and the sclera, he, as an outsider, found it difficult to accept aesthetically, and the sight made him feel uneasy.

Knowing he had to negotiate, Luo Zhengdao hesitated for a moment, then, following Vena Dubov's whispered advice, he bowed politely and said, "Uh, hello, it's an honor to meet you, Lady Governor."

Sally Byrne glanced at Luo Zhengdao with a cold expression and spoke in a condescending tone, "Will Needham, no, should I call you Lord Flus? I'm glad you weren't torn to pieces by those lowly green skins, but I hope this doesn't happen again. Do you know how much effort it took for me to come here?"

Being publicly scolded by an unfamiliar woman of another race, even though he had survived the brutal melee and was grateful to be unharmed, Luo Zhengdao couldn't help but feel a surge of anger. His nails dug into his palms. Luo Zhengdao considered himself a patient person and was grateful for the help, but being scolded like this was unacceptable.

Trying to push these annoying negative emotions out of his mind, Luo Zhengdao had no choice but to continue using the amnesia card. He rubbed his hands awkwardly and said, "Uh, I'm sorry, I hit my head and can't remember many things."

Seeing Luo Zhengdao's submissive tone and weak demeanor, the strong-willed Sally Byrne's disdain only increased. Her porcelain-like, fair face seemed even colder than before. She sniffed and said, "Oh, is that so? Just as the rumors say, human nobles are useless except as national symbols! This is the last free assistance we are providing as part of our agreement with the old count. If you can't prove your value to the empire, don't expect any more help."

With that, the Yaling governor threw something to Luo Zhengdao and then gave a meaningful smile to Vena Dubov, who was standing behind Luo Zhengdao with a pale face. She turned to her subordinates and said, "Alright, our mission is complete. Prepare to return."

Luo Zhengdao watched with a complex expression as the Yaling warship, adorned with intricate carvings, vibrant paintings, and mysterious rune arrays, cast off its anchor. The other Yaling ships also turned and headed back in the direction they came from. Even now, Luo Zhengdao's thoughts were still in a daze, his gaze fixed on the departing Yaling fleet.

The half-elf beauty Vena was not concerned with the Yalings' movements. She and the injured boatswain were rallying the surviving sailors to restore order on the Chao Yong and prepare to set sail as soon as possible. Even though the Yaling fleet had cleanly broken through the goblin blockade, the goblin fleet that had landed on Tahuna Island was nearby and could return at any moment. They couldn't stay here any longer!

After a while, Luo Zhengdao, who had come to his senses, examined the heavy metal plate in his hand. The plate, with its raised letters in bas-relief, was quite substantial, but unfortunately, he couldn't recognize a single letter. He had no choice but to ask the half-elf beauty for help.

"Yaling Empire's Maritime Salvage and Hunting License? What does that mean? Is it some kind of legal permit for robbery?"

Hearing Vena read the text on the plate, Luo Zhengdao, who was familiar with the Age of Exploration, immediately saw through its essence, but he didn't dare to say he understood. This was a different world, and applying old-world experience here could be very risky. Therefore, Luo Zhengdao chose to act like an idiot and persistently asked his tutor for more information.

In Vena's view, her student was in a pitiful state of amnesia, and even asking a question as simple as "What is one plus one?" was within the realm of reason. She patiently explained to Luo Zhengdao, "This is a license granted by the Yaling Empire. We are an auxiliary force of the Yaling Navy, authorized to capture enemy ships, seize cargo, attack ports and colonies, and salvage or search for treasure. With this license, we can resupply and purchase weapons and ammunition at any Yaling port and enjoy quasi-citizen status. The old count started building relationships and trying to reach this agreement with the Yaling Empire. We finally got this license after so long. Will, now we are legally recognized as privateers!"

Hearing this, Luo Zhengdao carefully considered it and said, "Allowing us to capture ships and seize cargo, isn't that just piracy?"

Hearing Luo Zhengdao's straightforward statement, the half-elf beauty laughed heartily. She rolled her eyes at him and said, "Robbery at sea is piracy, but with this license, it's not piracy. Just like how armies can legally kill, burn, and loot in enemy territory, the legal status of those with a license is different from those without."

For some reason, Luo Zhengdao suddenly remembered an old joke from the old world: "A donkey is only a donkey when it has a household registration." But he couldn't laugh now; instead, he felt an urge to cry. What had he done in his past life to be thrown into this place to become a pirate? Well, at least he was a licensed pirate captain now. In a few hours, he had experienced the highs and lows of life, dancing with death and the cold edge of a blade. The past half-day had been more exciting than his entire previous life, but he didn't feel lucky at all. Which angel had played this cruel joke on him?

Pacing back and forth on the deck, Luo Zhengdao came to the side of the ship and, glancing down, immediately stepped back in shock, clutching his chest as his heart raced. His face drained of color as he said, "This below... this below..."

Indeed, what appeared below the ship was no longer a blue sea, nor was it something Luo Zhengdao could identify with his naked eye. How could he describe it? Below the Chao Yong was a deep, dark space, like an abyss. Only where the ship passed could one see ripples of dark golden light, leaving a brilliant trail behind the ship, which then slowly dissipated. This miraculous sight, which might be commonplace to the locals, was filled with inexplicable and unknown dangers for an outsider. Luo Zhengdao's mind went blank.

The mysterious new world was not like the old world, where countless celestial bodies floated in the vast universe. The new world was built on the fundamental particles of aether and mana, forming a flat world harmonized by the four elements. If the structure of the old world could be described as a large pot of boiling porridge, the new world could be compared to a large pizza. Of course, within the realm of human perception, the differences were not significant.

Noticing Luo Zhengdao's signs of extreme tension, the half-elf Vena patted his shoulder from behind and said softly, "Will, are you afraid? Don't be nervous, it's not shameful. The Aether Sea is not always as calm as it looks now. When the mana storms come, the Aether Sea reveals its violent nature, and the waves in the stormy sea can swallow everything. The sight is unforgettable once you've seen it."

Reminding himself that he was a穿越者 (穿越者 means "穿越者" in Chinese, which can be translated as "穿越者" in English, but in this context, it means "a person who has traveled through time or space to a different world"), and that he shouldn't be surprised by anything he saw, Luo Zhengdao took several deep breaths to calm down. He then chose to change the subject and said, "Vena, where are we going next?"

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