Chapter 6

The sailing lunch that Luo Zhengdao enjoyed was a standard nobleman's set meal. The appetizer was a steamed fish of a species he couldn't identify. The chef had sprinkled a large amount of red powdered spices over the steamed fish, which tasted somewhat like a mix of basil and cinnamon. The main course was a whole roasted chicken, or rather, a bird that resembled a chicken. The cooking method also involved a generous use of spices. Two slices of dried and dehydrated sausages were arranged in a flower pattern, and a crystal bottle of red fruit wine with a tempting color was placed on the table. There were two dishes of green vegetables, which seemed to be a mix of some kind of vegetable and bean sprouts, and a pot of steaming hot milk soup, which at least smelled good, though Luo Zhengdao couldn't describe its exact flavor. Finally, a plate of baked bread was served, each piece only the size of a fist, with rising steam indicating they were soft and delicious.

Although Luo Zhengdao was not familiar with the dining scene in the new world, he was a hardcore fan of the Age of Exploration and knew that life during the Age of Sail was vastly different from the post-industrial modern society. Applying modern standards haphazardly could lead to serious problems.

Indeed, the dishes before Luo Zhengdao, if placed in the old world with abundant material supplies, would not be considered a grand feast. An average citizen with decent economic conditions could afford them, provided they were willing to be overcharged by those half-Chinese, half-Western restaurants. However, in a medieval setting without refrigeration technology or widespread magic, it was likely that no one else on the entire ship, except for Luo Zhengdao, the noble captain who was more of a figurehead, could enjoy such a luxurious meal.

Luo Zhengdao looked at the abundant dishes thoughtfully and said to the crew, "Has Miss Vina eaten lunch yet?"

The leading sailor, perhaps not expecting this question from the captain, was taken aback for a moment. He bowed and replied, "Lord Dubov has been busy measuring the course and probably hasn't eaten yet!"

"Very well, send someone to invite her to join me for lunch."

"Yes, my lord, I will inform her immediately."

Every seemingly isolated group is a microcosm of the larger society. It is said that the Buddha's divine eye could see the three thousand worlds in a grain of sand. Even on this dilapidated ship, one could glimpse some social customs of the new world.

Except for the half-elf governess Vina, everyone treated Luo Zhengdao, who bore the title of count, with utmost respect and humility. This was similar to their earlier behavior during the battle, where they had suffered heavy casualties, yet no one had complained to him, the captain. From this, it was clear that the social hierarchy in the new world was extremely rigid, and the relationship between nobles and commoners was not one of equals. The sailors spoke to Luo Zhengdao with great caution, their eyes only daring to look at his shoe tips. The concept of equal communication might be utterly incomprehensible to them.

Luo Zhengdao felt something was amiss, but he couldn't pinpoint the issue. Pirates, being a loosely organized group, were not a one-man show. In essence, pirates were a band of robbers united for plunder and wealth, and the captain's orders could not be unconditionally obeyed. Were his subordinates being too respectful and obedient?

He recalled the classic scene from the "Pirates of the Caribbean" series where the effeminate Captain Jack Sparrow was mutinied and marooned on a deserted island by his crew. The rough sailors often rebelled, which seemed to be a more accurate portrayal of pirate life. In contrast, the current military-like, strictly hierarchical system on the ship felt extremely out of place to Luo Zhengdao.

Before Luo Zhengdao could fully ponder the social relations in the new world, Vina Dubov, with a radiant smile, pushed the door open and walked in. Upon seeing Luo Zhengdao, she smiled and said, "Will, as a noble, you must always maintain your dignity. You can't always be so lazy!"

Though she said this, the half-elf beauty didn't hesitate to pull a chair over and sit down gracefully across from Luo Zhengdao, exuding the air of a perfect lady. From her actions, it was clear that this lunch, which Luo Zhengdao found unremarkable, was quite tempting to her.

"Clang, clang, clang, clang..."

A brilliant golden dawn gradually appeared in the east, where the sun was rising. The ship's bell on the Super Brave was pulled by a watchman, ringing out in a rhythmic pattern. The clear, pleasant sound pierced through the morning mist over Selan Island, followed by the loud command of the one-eyed boatswain, Ful Choban: "Lower the sails, prepare to drop anchor!"

Standing on the command platform at the stern, Luo Zhengdao scanned the quiet port city through a monocular, and with a smile, he said to Vina Dubov, "Hmm, it's quite a bustling port!"

Indeed, it was. To see such a crowd on the streets so early in the morning, Selan Island truly lived up to its reputation as one of the most famous spice trade ports in the Starry Sea. Compared to Tahuna Island, another island port city, the difference was stark, like the chasm between a wealthy prince and a struggling commoner.

"Of course, Ambon Port is one of the main spice production areas in the Starry Sea. If not for the fall of the Light Empire, which drastically reduced trade between the outer seas and the mainland, the market would be ten times more prosperous than it is now!"

After a lively chat with Luo Zhengdao, when the Super Brave docked at the pier, Vina, who knew the ropes, leaned out of the ship's side and looked toward the shipyard on the right side of the dock. She then said to Luo Zhengdao, "Let's go to the shipyard to inquire about repairs. If there are any suitable second-hand ships, should we consider buying one?"

Luo Zhengdao, a newcomer who had suddenly been transported to this world, had yet to grasp the concept of money in the new world. But the穿越 process had already taught him why the ancients said that wealth is an external possession. With the blink of an eye, money, houses, and cars could all become someone else's. Thinking this way, what was there to be reluctant about? Luo Zhengdao gritted his teeth and muttered, "Don't worry, I'm not a miser. Dying with a pile of gold isn't a glorious way to go."

The shipyard on Selan Island was just a few minutes' walk from the dock. Luo Zhengdao and Vina chatted as they walked, quickly arriving at this large shipyard, which was one of the most renowned in the entire Starry Sea.

Ambon was a trade port, not a military port or a supply port for ship materials. Most of its customers were ship owners, so the shipyard's repair business far outweighed its shipbuilding business. It was clear that the owner of the Ambon shipyard was quite skilled at haggling with merchants.

"Ah, welcome, distinguished guests! Our shipyard is a century-old establishment, using the finest sea-dried hardwood and marine wood. If you have any special requests, such as copper or iron plating, anti-rot and fireproof paint, we can do it, though the price will be a bit higher... The sail material is top-grade magic-patterned cloth from Xiangjiang Port on the mainland, though it's a bit expensive, the quality is impeccable. Do you need weapons to defend against pirates and goblins? We can help you contact the gun factories of the Yogyakarta Kingdom, ensuring good prices and quality... If you want weapons made by the Elven and Fairy Armories, we can arrange that for a higher price."

The shipyard owner, a plump, balding, middle-aged man, seemed to embody the saying that a smart head doesn't grow hair. He spoke fluently, launching a marketing assault on Luo Zhengdao, who bore the title of noble, with a torrent of words.

The Light Empire had once ruled the mainland for a thousand years, and the pampered nobles had accumulated vast wealth in their fiefs. Even though the Light Empire was overthrown by the Goblin Second Empire, and the nobles had to flee, who didn't know the simple truth that even a sinking ship has a bottom, and even a broken bottom has a patch, and even a patch has a few nails? Luo Zhengdao, a fallen Count, was seen by savvy merchants as a golden goose, a wealthy and naive client, much like a coal boss in the old world.

Self-awareness is a virtue! When it came to the performance of ships in the new world, Luo Zhengdao, a transplant from the old world, was a complete outsider. Even as a sailing enthusiast, he knew that sailing ships in the sea and those in the ether were fundamentally different. Luo Zhengdao adopted a passive defensive strategy, listening quietly behind Vina, paying attention to her negotiations while formulating his own plans. His role was simply to prepare to pay the bill once a price was agreed upon.

After several rounds of intense haggling, Vina Dubov frowned and stomped her foot in frustration. She leaned in and whispered to Luo Zhengdao, "Will, the price of a custom-built ship is too high for us to afford!"

Luo Zhengdao looked at the bald man standing ten meters away, his eyes gleaming with the promise of wealth. He suggested, "How about we buy a second-hand ship instead?"

Vina lowered her head, carefully considering their financial capabilities. After a moment, she nodded reluctantly. She then approached the shipyard owner with a radiant smile and said, "My lord, does your shipyard have any Elven warships for sale?"

The shipyard owner's smile froze, and he quickly forced a smile to cover his surprise. He waved his hand and said, "Ha ha ha, you must be joking. How could a place like ours have Elven warships?"

Vina Dubov, a former adventurer, was a shrewd and experienced woman. If not, Luo Zhengdao's adoptive father wouldn't have hired her as his son's governess. Seeing through the owner's insincerity, she smiled charmingly and stepped closer to him, whispering in his ear, "Really? I heard that the Elven Royal Fleet is re-equipping, and many ships that haven't reached their service life are being decommissioned because they don't meet the new fleet standards. Such bargains are not uncommon, aren't they?"