Chapter 73

Hearing the news, the elderly海尔·波普, who had long served as the commissar of the privateer fleet, was undoubtedly a mature and kind uncle-like figure. It was precisely because of the integrity of this old commissar that the pirates, who were always ready to suspect others of the worst, unanimously elected Uncle海尔 to take charge of the commissariat, a position most prone to financial irregularities.

At this moment, the commissar with his gray beard and bronze complexion looked up at the three magical artifacts and said, "Zola, it will be difficult to liquidate these treasures, won't it?"

Hearing this, the boatswain, stroking his newly shaved chin, replied thoughtfully, "Well, it's not too hard, but to get a good price, we need to find the right buyer."

海尔·波普 laughed and turned to look at Luo Zhengdao, saying, "Captain, please buy them! We'll set the price at the base rate of 5,000 gold coins, deduct the fixed 30% share and your dividend, and you'll only need to pay 3,500 gold coins."

Hearing the commissar's proposal, Luo Zhengdao did not feign modesty. He could use these magical artifacts, and he was not short of money. He nodded and agreed, "Alright, I'll buy them!"

With that, Luo Zhengdao put the other two artifacts into his spatial bag and hung it on the other side of his waist, where it wouldn't overlap with other spatial equipment. Then, he called the fleet's senior officers to the deck of the Yangwei, rang the bell to gather the sailors, and announced the new distribution plan for the spoils of war. Hearing the long-awaited good news, the pirates, who had suffered heavy casualties during the treasure hunt in the underground cavern, erupted in thunderous cheers. Every pirate present beamed with joy, and in private, they all calculated how much gold they would receive.

Zola·Hegel also grinned, showing a mouthful of white teeth, and shouted, "Everyone line up and get your money from Uncle海尔! Follow the order, don't push, or you'll get a whipping!"

Dealing with the distribution of money was not something Luo Zhengdao needed to handle personally. He handed over the gold to the commissar to distribute according to the rules and took the opportunity to visit Vina Dubov, who was recuperating in the ward.

Luo Zhengdao always felt guilty about Vina, the half-elf beauty, taking a bullet for him. Her act of bravery was so heavy that he didn't know how to repay her. To show his utmost sincerity, he arranged for Vina to be placed in a spacious ward next to the captain's cabin, which was a special favor. The room had excellent ventilation, and one could hardly feel they were in a stuffy cabin. The slightly salty mana breeze from the porthole invigorated the spirit.

"Vina, how are you feeling today?"

Leaning on several stacked feather pillows, Vina Dubov's lips still had a pale hue, a lingering effect of the blood loss from a few days ago. Fortunately, her spirits were good, and she smiled, saying, "Thank you, much better, but the wound is a bit itchy."

Hearing this, Luo Zhengdao smiled and joked, "Hehe, that means you're recovering well, the wound is almost healed!"

In terms of racial constitution, elves, classified as middle-lifes, were definitely superior to short-lifes like humans. Just as it was unimaginable for a human to be stronger than a dragon, half-elves combined the rapid growth and development of humans with the slow aging of elves. Regardless of gender, half-elves had a slender and elegant appearance, which did not affect their excellent physical condition. Humans' ability to recover from injuries was far inferior to that of elves, and half-elves' recovery abilities were closer to those of elves.

Long-lifes like dragons, in legend, could live almost indefinitely as long as they didn't die from accidents. Ancient dragons were also the largest known creatures, and it was said that as long as these ageless beings lived, they would continue to grow. Who knew how big they would get before reaching their physiological limits.

After a few pleasantries, Vina Dubov glanced at the door and lowered her voice, saying, "By the way, Will, what's the deal with Yasha?"

Mentioning this, Luo Zhengdao's smile became strange, and he said, "Oh, we fished her out of the sea a few days ago. It's inconvenient to have a woman on board, but we can't throw her back into the sea, can we?"

Vina Dubov did not doubt Luo Zhengdao's explanation. She just felt that Yasha's mysterious background was suspicious. To strike first to prevent trouble was not something Vina Dubov, who was not a ruthless leader, would do. Even the more cold-hearted Will Needham and the current Luo Zhengdao would not do such a thing. Or rather, no normal person would. The logic they followed was that as long as you don't harm me, I won't harm you. The ability to harm others shamelessly and feel no remorse was a trait of successful people.

After a moment of deep thought, Vina Dubov, rubbing a petal with her fingertips, said, "I've met Yasha. Yes, the feeling is very strange."

Luo Zhengdao was taken aback. Apart from the day she was fished out, he had little contact with this mysterious woman. As a captain, what interaction could he have with a laundry woman? Even when he needed laundry, it was the duty of the orderly to take the dirty clothes to the laundry room, not for Luo Zhengdao to handle such trivial matters himself.

Recalling the woman's face, which had no distinctive features, Luo Zhengdao slowly said, "Oh, you find it strange. What exactly is strange about her?"

Vina's intuition was always sharp, honed through countless brushes with death during her adventures. She suddenly looked up and met Luo Zhengdao's gaze, saying, "It's a strange feeling, like bugs crawling on the back of my hand. That's why I find it particularly strange; few people leave me with such a bad impression."

Hearing this, Luo Zhengdao was convinced that Vina was not just guessing, but without solid evidence, he couldn't bring himself to end someone's life. He smiled bitterly and spread his hands, saying, "Don't worry, I'll handle it. Maybe you've been in bed too long. When we dock, I'll send someone to carry you ashore for a walk, so you don't get too cooped up in the room."

Personality determines destiny, and background determines perspective. Luo Zhengdao's success in the new world was largely due to the education he received in the old world, a precious gift from his past.

Initially, Luo Zhengdao had enrolled in a popular international trade program, but unfortunately, that year coincided with the subprime mortgage crisis, and the trade industry began to decline rapidly. With the so-called "Great Recession" looming, the prospects for international trade graduates were bleak. Luo Zhengdao reluctantly applied to change his major to classical Western political science, a less popular field, in his sophomore year. His father was not a general, and he had no connections to help Luo Zhengdao enter politics. After graduation, Luo Zhengdao did not have the opportunity to join a research institution and live off writing articles, but this did not mean that his four years of university were wasted. This knowledge was one of the important assets that allowed him to survive in the perilous new world.

Pondering as he strolled back to the captain's cabin, Luo Zhengdao sat at his desk, feigning deep thought. To be honest, he was not a genius, and he had to spend more time thinking to avoid fatal mistakes.

So far, the privateer fleet's environment was relatively good, and he did not need to worry too much about fundraising. The volunteers recruited in Qiongzhou could help address the disorganized nature of the pirate gang. How to reform the fleet depended on Luo Zhengdao's ability to balance the interests of various parties.

After much thought, Luo Zhengdao decided to take action. He sat at his desk and wrote quickly, emulating the protagonist of "Robinson Crusoe," listing the strategic goals of the goblins and himself as creditors and debtors to identify the main points of conflict. Distinguishing between the primary and secondary contradictions was crucial for understanding the current situation.

Who are our enemies, and who are our friends? This is not a simple question.

Undoubtedly, the primary goals of the Second Goblin Empire were: territorial expansion, control of strategic locations, the establishment of an empire, and the maintenance of regional hegemony. As they occupied the main continent, the goblins' aggressiveness was gradually waning. In simple terms, the Second Goblin Empire was overfed and had to digest its conquests before pursuing further territorial expansion. However, their intent to strengthen their rule was clear, especially in their relentless pursuit of human exiled nobles who posed a potential threat.

Currently, the Second Goblin Empire must ensure control over the entire main continent, suppress various opposition forces, and compete with the Elven Federation and the Yaling Empire for control of the trade routes and maritime routes, aiming to establish a stable regional hegemony.

Luo Zhengdao's primary strategic goals were: national liberation and unification, protection of his people, the establishment of a government and claim to the throne, and the maintenance of the future new nation's survival.

The history of the old world summarized the maxim that interests determine everything: "There are no eternal enemies or eternal friends, only eternal interests." Although this political maxim is distasteful, it accurately describes the laws of the objective world. The real world does not change according to the subjective wishes of individuals or organizations. Regardless of whether Luo Zhengdao had ambitions to rule, or whether he still harbored delusions of being a chosen one, which he had largely outgrown since high school, the current situation was indeed challenging.