Chapter 89

In the narrow space between the barrels in the hold, a flat and compact layer of sand, only a yard wide, suddenly began to wriggle violently, as if something alive was trying to burrow out from beneath.

As the disturbance in the sand intensified, a female figure slowly rose from within. The mysterious woman, Yasha, who had been absent for many days, smiled at Luo Zhengdao and said softly:

"Don’t be so smug. Do you really think you can catch me like this?"

While they were talking, Yasha’s body began to shake and disintegrate in a bizarre manner. First, her facial features shifted, and then her body seemed to melt like wax when heated. In the blink of an eye, she transformed into a large cluster of black beetles. These small creatures scurried toward the drainage holes of the warship’s cabin and quickly disappeared.

Seeing this, the pirates all wore expressions of terror. Even in a world of magic and swords, encountering such a situation was not something ordinary people would have the chance to witness. The pirates were brave men of the sea, unafraid of bloody battles, but this kind of near-sorcery was too unpredictable. Luo Zhengdao, on the other hand, remained much calmer. As a穿越者 (穿越者 means "time traveler" or "one who has crossed over"), he had seen more of the world than the average sailor. If it came to mysterious and unpredictable phenomena, Yasha’s transformation into insects probably couldn’t match the variety of tricks a magic card master could pull off.

After calming himself, Luo Zhengdao stroked his chin and pondered another matter: "Hmm, is this a clone technique? Or an illusion? Or perhaps, these insects are actually your true form, Yasha!"

The search operation failed to capture Yasha, the spy who had infiltrated the Yangwei and caused extensive damage, but at least it prevented her from continuing her sabotage. Luo Zhengdao then had to figure out how to deal with the perplexing and headache-inducing illusory world outside. When he returned to the deck, news of his awakening had already spread throughout the ship. Many of the on-duty sailors gathered around to catch a glimpse of the captain, as if they were visiting a rare animal. Those of lower rank were content just to see Luo Zhengdao through the crowd, while only a few higher-ranking crew members had the privilege to greet the Earl in person.

"Earl, it’s wonderful to see you recovered."

The two mage advisors on board beamed with joy and expressed their loyalty to Luo Zhengdao. If they had the opportunity to advance further in their careers, they wouldn’t waste their limited energy and time dealing with nobles. Since they had made this choice in life, they often had to put on a certain demeanor in public, even if they didn’t need to do so in private. After all, etiquette was something done for the benefit of others.

Seeing this, Luo Zhengdao smiled and chatted with the two advisors for a while before he became serious and asked:

"Have you made any further progress in analyzing the illusion while I was ill?"

"Yes, please take a look."

Upon hearing this, Luo Zhengdao took the parchment with a mix of surprise and curiosity. After reading it, he exclaimed:

"What, it’s that simple?"

"Yes, Earl. We initially overcomplicated the matter. The illusion is created through optical imaging, which can deceive our visual senses. By using a directional marker to set a general direction and maintaining a straight course, we can navigate out of the illusion’s coverage area."

"…Virtual images… optical imaging… damn, isn’t this like a movie?"

Luo Zhengdao finally understood the analysis report provided by the two mage advisors. He realized that for the past few days, the entire ship had been living in fear and sleepless nights, only to find out they had been treated to a free 3D movie. He found this conclusion both amusing and exasperating. Even if the gods couldn’t directly intervene in the material world, their methods were truly beyond comprehension!

After some contemplation, Luo Zhengdao regained his usual composed demeanor and smiled.

"Very well, now that we know the cause, let’s head to the Yaling Empire as soon as possible! We’ve wasted too much time on this journey, and I don’t want to delay any further."

"Of course, as you wish."

...

The pirate warship Yangwei set sail again across the Seven Seas toward the Sea of Storms. Like the previous voyage, this journey was fraught with twists and turns, encountering all sorts of unpredictable dangers. Fortunately, after navigating through the perilous Dark Sea, the rest of the journey became smooth and uneventful, as if all the bad luck had been used up in the first half of the voyage. The Yangwei only experienced the famous stormy waves of the Sea of Storms, and the ship’s log recorded no other significant events.

After a long journey of over four and a half months, Luo Zhengdao and his party finally set foot on the territory of the Yaling Empire.

Since the soul of his predecessor, Will Needham, had already dissipated in the magic card master inheritance ceremony, Luo Zhengdao did not inherit his memories. He had no concept of what the Human Bright Dynasty looked like in its prime, as he had been on the run since he arrived in the new world.

The metropolis of Zelan, belonging to the Yaling Empire, was far from the noise of war and brutal slaughter. It was the closest example to an old-world city that Luo Zhengdao had seen since his arrival in the new world. The streets and alleys were lined with various workshops, bars, theaters, and public baths, making the city appear crowded and bustling.

Despite some shortcomings in urban planning, the clean and orderly appearance of Zelan left a deep impression on the pirates, who were like country bumpkins. The white stone streets, regularly washed with clear water, were exceptionally clean. The street lamps, trash bins, and other municipal facilities were well-maintained, and wooden benches were placed at intervals for passersby to rest. The pedestrians on the streets of Zelan walked with relaxed expressions and leisurely steps, their conversations and mannerisms reflecting a comfortable and unhurried pace of life. This was a stark contrast to the refugees Luo Zhengdao had seen in other parts of the new world, who were always on edge and would jump at the sound of a pin dropping.

Although Luo Zhengdao’s understanding of the Yaling Empire was limited, even from these superficial observations, he could sense the thriving and prosperous atmosphere of the empire. This was not a facade created for show.

Accompanied by officials from the Zelan authorities, Luo Zhengdao and his party arrived at the Zelan Governor’s Residence. Upon meeting, the officials from the Governor’s Office warmly greeted Luo Zhengdao:

"It is a great honor to welcome you, Earl, to our country. The Governor has prepared a banquet for you. There is still some time before the banquet begins. Would you like to freshen up and change your clothes?"

Nobles were required to wear formal attire for formal banquets, and Luo Zhengdao had been briefly instructed by a half-elf beauty during the journey. He bowed gracefully and replied:

"Very well, I will attend the Governor’s banquet on time. I will take my leave for now."

The official, who exuded a scholarly demeanor, returned the bow and said:

"I hope you enjoy your stay in our country as you would in your homeland. See you tonight."

With that, another official came forward to lead Luo Zhengdao and his party to a temporary hotel. It was still a few hours before sunset, and leaving guests to wait was not proper hospitality.

According to the administrative divisions of the Yaling Empire, excluding overseas colonies and special administrative regions, the mainland was divided into twelve major districts, each centered around a large city. The highest administrative and military official in each district was the Governor, whose actual status was second only to the Prime Minister and the various cabinet ministers. If social status were the criterion, not all of these Governors had noble titles, but their positions were no less prestigious than those of any hereditary nobles.

The Governor of Zelan had arranged a welcome banquet specifically for Luo Zhengdao, a human refugee noble, demonstrating the Yaling Empire’s great enthusiasm for recruiting him, to the point of extending him unprecedented hospitality.

Fur Shao Bang, the one-eyed pirate who accompanied Luo Zhengdao, was indifferent to the Yaling officials’ attitude. As soon as they entered the hotel room, he closed the door and said:

"Earl, you need to bring a female companion to the banquet. Is there any problem with Madame Dubov?"

Luo Zhengdao had long anticipated that the Yaling Empire would be determined to compete with the goblins. He was not worried about their willingness to cooperate and smiled confidently:

"Hehehe, relax. Teacher Vina is already preparing her attire and jewelry. There won’t be any issues."

Fur Shao Bang, with his one good eye, scanned the room and said cautiously:

"That’s good. Please be cautious about your safety. The goblins’ bounty is very tempting to those crazy bounty hunters. Those bastards will do anything for money."

Luo Zhengdao waved his hand dismissively:

"Don’t worry. The Yaling Empire is very concerned about my safety. Just look outside the window if you don’t believe me."

Hearing this, Fur Shao Bang hesitantly pulled back the curtain and looked outside. Sure enough, the elegant courtyard, with its lush green grass and rows of flowers, was now filled with armored Yaling soldiers, as numerous as wildflowers on a vast plain. Elite cavalry, riding pure-colored warhorses, patrolled the streets around the hotel, and even light artillery could be seen in hidden positions. The security was so tight that it would be nearly impossible for an assassin to get through, unless they were a demigod. Even a legendary hero might hesitate to challenge such a formidable force, as it would be a direct confrontation with the state machinery of the Yaling Empire, a level of confidence not possessed by ordinary people.

Given this, Fur Shao Bang’s concerns about Luo Zhengdao’s safety seemed exaggerated. In Luo Zhengdao’s view, the Yaling Empire would not let a valuable asset go to waste. Even if they might turn on him one day, the bridge had not even been built yet, let alone torn down.