Chapter 62

After a thorough and soul-touching physical punishment, these people who had been crying out for their parents readily confessed all their secrets. People thought these guys were dead for sure, but to their surprise, Luo Zhengdao, who held a large amount of evidence, released them all without even touching a single hair on their heads. The stark contrast was truly jaw-dropping. This move was so unexpected that the half-elf Vina looked at Luo Zhengdao in disbelief, unable to believe her eyes. Wasn't he the one who hated these people the most?

Unable to suppress her curiosity, Vina Dubov tentatively asked:

"Will, is this really okay?"

Upon hearing this, Luo Zhengdao maintained his usual calm and indifferent demeanor, seemingly unconcerned, and said:

"Of course. The goblins won't trust these people anymore. They will also suspect that these people might have secretly joined us. Well, just wait and see the fun!"

This explanation clearly lacked a logical basis and was hard to believe. Vina Dubov, with a puzzled look on her face, shook her head and said:

"Goblin shamans can see into the heart. How could they not tell if these people are lying?"

Upon hearing this, the faint smile on Luo Zhengdao's face instantly turned into a hearty laugh. He laughed so hard that he bent over and said:

"Have you ever heard of a master wasting time trying to figure out what their dog is thinking? Wouldn't it be easier to just kill them all?"

The beautiful half-elf was stunned for a moment, then sighed and said:

"Will, who taught you to be so good at manipulating people? I never taught you these schemes!"

Luo Zhengdao, long accustomed to attributing anything he couldn't explain to amnesia, put on a serious face and lied with a straight face:

"Uh, I can't remember. Maybe I learned it before!"

Using the excuse that he had undergone a mysterious magical ritual that damaged his soul, whenever he encountered something he couldn't explain, Luo Zhengdao would simply blame it on amnesia, leaving others with nothing to say. After all, he had forgotten all the details, so why would you keep pressing him? It's like you're asking for trouble, right?

"You guys, move faster and load all the loot onto the ship. Hood, you lazy thief, do I have to whip you to make you move faster?"

Zola Hegel, known for his brutal and unyielding style, was a model of strictness in the pirate fleet. He was a tyrant with a black face, black hands, and an even blacker heart. The pirates, under his loud scolding, carried the boxes onto the gangplank and onto the ship. As the loot was gradually loaded onto the pirate ship, the list of supplies compiled by the quartermaster, Hail, was handed to Luo Zhengdao.

Skimming through the list, Luo Zhengdao was amazed at the high returns. He couldn't help but recall the saying, "Murder and arson make a golden belt, while building bridges and repairing roads leave no corpses." It seemed that no business in the world could make money as quickly as outright robbery! Initially, he was worried whether this operation would earn enough to cover the dividends. After all, Zola and his crew hadn't had a proper income for a while, and these guys' eyes would turn green at the sight of valuable things. In hindsight, this worry was purely a result of Luo Zhengdao's inexperience. The loot from Huayang was so rich that not only would it easily cover the dividends, but they would also be grateful if the goblins, enraged by the overloading, didn't catch up and tear them apart.

Putting down the list, Luo Zhengdao said to Zola Hegel, who was supervising the loading of the loot:

"Once the loot is loaded, set sail immediately. Leave the bulky items that are hard to carry for the locals; we don't need them."

The loot, like a stream of ants, was continuously loaded onto the ship. Most of it was valuable and easy to carry, such as gold, silver, and silk. The pirates, knowing that these items would count towards their share, generously forced the locals to take the less valuable and bulky items, such as furniture, coarse cloth, and grain, using a mix of threats and inducements.

After two successful raids in Qiongzhou and Huayang, the pirates' pockets swelled like balloons. These newly rich pirates had no intention of lingering in the dangerous waters of the Starry Sea and only wanted to find a safe place to enjoy their newfound wealth.

Soon, the Yangwei and Chaoyong ships set sail for the open sea. The next steps were to sell the loot, find a safe port to disembark, and experience the thrill of being a nouveau riche. According to Luo Zhengdao's previously formulated expansion plan 2.0, he would need to visit the Yaling Empire to resolve the issue of new warships. He was increasingly intolerant of the many problems caused by inferior warships. Since the privateer fleet could not match the goblin fleet in numbers, they at least needed to gain a quality advantage. This was Luo Zhengdao's basic understanding of his disadvantageous situation.

Standing on the deck, Luo Zhengdao enjoyed the refreshing feeling of the Mana Wind. Suddenly, he recalled the curse of the Wasteland God and the relentless pursuit and attacks, which made him feel a headache again. This kind of miserable life, even for a穿越者 (穿越者 means "穿越者" in Chinese, which can be translated as "time traveler" or "穿越者" in English), could only be met with a sigh: life is truly hard!

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The strong Mana Wind blew the command flag at the top of the Yangwei's mast, making a "rustling" sound. The flag's design was unique, featuring the black background and golden crow crest of the Fulu family, which had been used for nearly a thousand years since the era of the Light Emperor. Now, Luo Zhengdao had to use it as a pirate flag.

Leading the way down the gangplank, the boatswain Zola Hegel, unable to hide his excitement, rubbed his hands and paced back and forth, saying:

"Ha, this is the Pirate Market, our true paradise. Only pirates who understand the rules can find it. Captain, we arrived at a good time. It's peak trading time, so it's easy to sell the goods, although the prices will be a bit lower."

Upon hearing this, Luo Zhengdao nodded. Before he could say anything, a fat merchant, who had been lurking nearby, ran over. He embraced Zola Hegel with a broad smile and greeted him warmly:

"Oh, my old friend, look who's here! Old blade Zola, it's been a long time, my brother. How have you been?"

Zola Hegel, who usually had a stern face, showed no signs of thawing at this enthusiastic greeting. Instead, he pushed the overly familiar fat man away and said coldly:

"This is my new captain, Will Needham."

The fat merchant, with his small mustache, smiled so much that his eyes were almost invisible. He turned to bow to Luo Zhengdao and said:

"Oh! I've heard that my old friend has a new ship. It's a pleasure to meet Captain. Have you heard the recent rumors? The goblins are hunting a human noble who has become a pirate. Ha ha ha, it's really hilarious, isn't it? A pirate noble!"

Luo Zhengdao listened to the man's words without showing any emotion, then gave a vague smile and said slowly:

"It's an honor to meet a new friend. You seem to have heard my story, so allow me to introduce myself. I am the current Fulu Earl, Will Needham. You can just call me Will."

Upon hearing this, the fat merchant broke out in a cold sweat and hurriedly apologized to Luo Zhengdao:

"Uh, my lord, I didn't mean to belittle you, it's just... just..."

The Light Dynasty, established by humans, had existed for a thousand years in the new world. The foreign culture introduced by the time traveler had a profound and lasting positive impact on this world. It was very difficult to ignore the existence of this massive entity, even in the present day, when the Light Dynasty had long since vanished. The Light Dynasty still commanded respect and awe.

People like Luo Zhengdao, who were born into the noble families of the Light Dynasty, were more likely to be envied and resented rather than despised. This was similar to how, in the old world, people who cursed the rich and powerful online were not all righteous and just, but many were envious and jealous. This is a common human flaw, and it's not worth over-criticizing.

Smiling slightly, Luo Zhengdao gestured to stop the fat merchant from continuing and said with a commanding tone:

"Alright, let's get to business. I have a batch of goods to sell. Zola mentioned that the Pirate Market is a good place to sell. Since you are his friend, I believe you would be willing to help us with this transaction, right?"

In both the new and old worlds, people have a great love for precious metals and beautiful, rare gems. However, while gold and silver and expensive jewels are indeed valuable, the actual content of most precious metal products, including gold coins, is difficult to determine due to differences in casting time, location, and purity standards. These currencies, whose origins are unknown, would be difficult to use directly in the market. As a general equivalent, it is troublesome to determine their value, which is not easily agreed upon by both buyers and sellers.

If an alchemist were hired to authenticate a batch of mixed gold coins, the cost of verification would likely be more than the value of a small transaction. This is why the effort spent on verifying the purity of gold coins is a headache for both parties, and they find it inconvenient.

The price of gems is often inflated due to aesthetic demand and the pursuit of luxury. When used purely for alchemy and enchantment, gems are considered disposable. Therefore, it is also difficult to agree on a price that is considered fair by both parties.

PS: "Most Wanted" has been out for a month now, with over 200,000 words. It is about to leave the new book list. I would like to thank the more than 900 readers who have added this book to their collection. Thank you for your support.