Chapter 80

After narrowly escaping the perilous encounter with the floating dragon, the Yangwei sailed into the harbor of a deserted island, lowering its sails. On the sandy beach shaded by coconut groves, beyond the dunes formed by the waves, a bustling scene unfolded.

In the makeshift sheds hastily set up, the sound of sawing wood was incessant. Meanwhile, on the warship moored at the shore, the hammers and nails created a lively symphony of clanging and tapping, truly a bustling scene.

For pirates, repairing warships was a daily routine. Whether damaged in battle or hit by natural disasters like storms, dealing with the aftermath was a mandatory skill for sailors in the age of sail. Even merchant sailors had to master this survival skill. If a pirate claimed he couldn't do carpentry, it would be as laughable as saying he couldn't tie knots.

Before the industrial era, the maintenance and repair of wooden ships were not considered specialized skills. Even if the Yangwei had a broken mast, which was relatively serious damage, under the command of a few dedicated carpenters, the pirates could manage to repair the ship to a functional state. Copper strips and iron plates, forged to the right size in the furnace, were being used to splice and secure the broken mast. As long as there wasn't a violent storm, this repair method would generally suffice. For a permanent fix, the ship would need to be taken to a dry dock to replace the broken foremast entirely.

"Captain, the lookout has spotted three unidentified warships approaching us."

The boatswain, Zola Hegel, brought a piece of bad news to Luo Zhengdao, who, not yet affected by the curse of the荒神, was momentarily stunned. He then gazed deeply into the sea and said:

"Sound the alarm, prepare for battle."

"Clang, clang, clang..."

Soon, the three unidentified warships formed a dispersed formation about a mile away. The largest of the three continued to approach the island's coastal waters, while the other two lowered their sails and waited in the outer sea, seemingly indicating no hostile intent. In a pirate's life, where dangers and intrigues are commonplace, no one would easily trust a simple show of goodwill. After consulting with a few senior crew members, Luo Zhengdao decided to greet the visitors in a combat-ready posture. Any moment of carelessness could be a prelude to death.

"Hey, do you need any help?"

The visitor had just climbed up the Yangwei's deck from a small boat, and upon meeting, he issued a warm and enthusiastic greeting. At least, his demeanor appeared friendly.

Luo Zhengdao, who had been hardened by the blood and storms of the new world, looked at the visitor calmly. The visitor, a bear-like figure in bright armor, did not seem threatening. Luo Zhengdao pondered for a moment and cautiously replied:

"May I ask who you are? Have we met before?"

Hearing this, the unexpected visitor laughed heartily, as if surprised that he wasn't recognized. He said:

"Hello, I am Godfrey Needham, the current Baron of Ningqi. Please see, this is my coat of arms."

To gain trust, the burly man, claiming to be Godfrey Needham, extended his left hand, showing Luo Zhengdao the intricate and finely crafted coat of arms ring on his middle finger. He then activated the ring's verification function, and the mithril ring, adorned with fine gold threads, emitted a faint, hazy glow.

In the strictly hierarchical Light Empire, the verification of noble status was subject to extremely stringent conditions, especially for items like coat of arms rings, which were used to identify the nobility. Only those of specific bloodlines could activate the embedded magical verification function. This anti-counterfeiting measure was a powerful deterrent against non-bloodline individuals claiming noble titles. Even illegitimate children with family bloodlines had a chance to pass, but for an outsider to impersonate a noble was pure nonsense.

The technology for creating such coat of arms rings and the bloodline verification magic was highly confidential, known only to a few top craftsmen and royal alchemists. Nobles had to obtain approval from the emperor and verification from the Royal Heraldry Office to have them made. Each ring had a unique serial number and archival records. After the fall of the Light Empire, this complex and expensive craft became a lost art.

Today, not only is the technology for making coat of arms rings too advanced to be replicated, but even those familiar with the principles find it extremely difficult to create a convincing imitation. Moreover, the cost of such a specialized item is exorbitant.

Upon learning that Godfrey Needham was a fellow human exiled noble, Luo Zhengdao relaxed slightly and nodded. He then began to reassess the imposing figure of Godfrey Needham, who looked more like a professional wrestler than a noble.

After a moment of mutual scrutiny, Luo Zhengdao finally smiled and said:

"Hello, I am Will Needham, the current Earl of Fulu."

To reciprocate and avoid being overshadowed, Luo Zhengdao activated his own coat of arms ring, proving his noble lineage.

Seeing the unmistakable, unforgeable glow of the coat of arms, the tall and muscular Godfrey laughed heartily and walked forward, patting Luo Zhengdao on the shoulder, seemingly oblivious to the pain it caused. He greeted Luo Zhengdao warmly, as if meeting an old friend:

"Ha ha ha, I've heard of you. We met once before, but it wasn't a good time to talk."

Luo Zhengdao frowned and asked:

"We've met? When was that?"

Godfrey Needham revealed a row of perfectly white teeth and smiled broadly, saying:

"Oh, it was when Najef ambushed you. I happened to be passing by. I hadn't even acted when that guy ran away."

Luo Zhengdao recalled his past experiences and vaguely remembered the incident. He nodded and thanked Godfrey:

"Thank you, Sir Godfrey, for your help. So, you know Najef?"

At this, Godfrey Needham's expression initially showed surprise, but then he laughed like a child, gasping for breath as he said:

"Did you think I lived on a deserted island all the time? Najef is a notorious scoundrel among the exiled nobles!"

Luo Zhengdao was somewhat surprised. Weren't the exiled nobles supposed to be extinct? Feeling increasingly confused, he asked:

"I don't understand. Why would Najef be my enemy?"

Discussing this serious topic, the initially carefree Godfrey finally stopped laughing and sneered:

"Why? Hmph, why else? Najef is obsessed with becoming emperor. All surviving nobles of the Light Empire are potential competitors. If he eliminates us all, he can claim the throne. Do you understand now?"

Good grief! What kind of logic is this? Luo Zhengdao was flabbergasted. After a long pause, he asked incredulously:

"But the Gnome Empire rules the entire mainland. If we exiled nobles are all dead, Najef can't become emperor either! Would the gnomes return the mainland to him? What kind of emperor would he be without territory and people?"

Godfrey Needham clearly had no positive opinion of Najef's intelligence and snorted:

"Hmph, who knows what that lunatic is thinking? You know, those mages always deal with negative energy, devils, and demons. Many, including myself, believe Najef is already insane. How else could he be so deranged?"

While Luo Zhengdao didn't think Najef was necessarily that insane, he had no interest in defending his enemy. He shook his head and said:

"So, Sir Godfrey, what brings you here?"

Godfrey's eyes blazed with fiery passion as he raised his fist and said:

"Reviving the Light Empire requires a strong leader, and I am the best candidate. I will restore the glory of the Light Empire, and I hope you, Earl, will support me."

Luo Zhengdao was taken aback by this unreasonable request and was speechless at Godfrey's overconfidence. He thought for a moment and replied tactfully:

"I am very sorry, Sir Godfrey, but I only want to do my part. Reviving the Light Empire is a lofty goal that cannot be achieved in the short term. It's too early to discuss this now."

When words don't match, even a few can be too many. Luo Zhengdao's cold and negative attitude clearly angered Godfrey Needham. He glared and demanded:

"So, Earl, you won't support me?"

This abrupt question immediately made the previously cordial atmosphere tense. Pirates don't like others bossing them around on their territory, and the resistance fighters from Qiongzhou regarded Luo Zhengdao as a spiritual leader. Disrespecting him was a challenge to everyone. The air seemed to be filled with gunpowder.

Seeing this, Luo Zhengdao quickly intervened to prevent a confrontation between his companions and Godfrey. He hid his displeasure behind a polite smile and said calmly:

"Yes, Sir Godfrey. I believe it's unnecessary to make a hasty decision now, and even in the foreseeable future, it's hard to say when the right time to discuss this will come. The Gnome Second Empire is too powerful for us to confront directly. A group of weak exiles fantasizing about defeating a strong enemy and then dividing the spoils is absurd. Please allow me to express my views, Sir Godfrey. Don't you think this is very ridiculous?"