Pillar of Yita

Daytime battles didn’t stir much within the Seven Seas Travel Group.

It seems our Captain is too good at causing trouble, everyone is already used to it.

Compared to involving the conspiracies of the Dragon Witch or the Dragon Worship Sect, fighting in a tavern seems indeed trivial.

Only Atira seemed a little worried.

Inside the inn where everyone was staying—

Under an orange light, the Elf Miss carefully turned Fang Hong’s face to the side. Her emerald eyes reflected the light, carrying a hint of careful radiance within them.

This made Fang Hong a bit embarrassed, feeling like a big child, he blushed and said: ”...Actually I’m fine, Miss Atira...”

Hilveld held a bunch of sparkling grapes, looking at this amusing scene: ”Lord Captain always has good luck, but he’s a bit too fond of causing trouble.”

Atira turned and said, ”Hilveld, you should manage him.”

But Hilveld replied with a smile, ”I can’t manage him.”

Kalatu sat on the sofa nearby, facing the Sorcerer-Ghoul with his legs crossed. He tossed several parchments onto the short table and said:

”It seems there’s no mistake, those people weren’t lying.

Colin Ishurian’s major guilds stepped up their orders, even Tansnier’s shipyards are doing the same. The dry docks are packed with schedules, fully staffed.

With this, there aren’t many shipbuilders willing to head south with us. Even offering double or triple the pay doesn’t change that.”

These facts, Fang Hong had already learned from Hilveld.

”What if we offer more?” he asked.

”It’s not a matter of money,” Kalatu placed his hand on the stack of papers, ”but rather the locals don’t trust us.

With a stable livelihood, few are willing to take risks; and thus, even if we recruit workers, they’re either opportunists or desperados.

These aren’t the kinds you need.”

Tianlan added, ”Brother Ade really doesn’t see money as money.”

After the daytime incident, she reconciled with Luo Yu—temporarily, at least until meeting Affia again.

She calculated carefully:

”Suppose building the Seven Seas Traveler requires recruiting dozens of workers over three to four months, even paying triple the rate is rather challenging for us.”

Fang Hong was surprised: ”Are we that poor?”

Atira finally released his hand, nodding to him.

Fang Hong looked at the others, everyone showed thoughtful expressions, except for the Papalarian whose eyes were rolling around. Noticing this, Fang Hong asked suspiciously: ”Parker, what are you thinking?”

Parker was startled, he jumped up from the sofa.

The Little Fatty waved his hands repeatedly, surprised: ”What!? Don’t accuse me, Papalarians are innocent, not thinking of anything—”

But the Big Cat went over, grabbed the guy’s leg and flipped him upside down, and with a shake, a fiery gemstone rolled out from the Papalarian, falling to the ground.

The room fell silent at once.

Everyone was dumbfounded looking at the ruby on the ground.

Fang Hong found the gemstone familiar, and upon closer inspection, isn’t it just the Heart of Flame from the Sand Lodge? He widened his eyes and roared in anger: ”Parker—!”

The Big Cat let the Papalarian fall back onto the sofa.

And hearing that roar, the latter shrank his neck in fear, hiding behind the sofa and screamed: ”Don’t misunderstand, it’s an imitation!”

”No wonder you disappeared mid-battle!” Fang Hong yelled angrily: ”While we were fighting, you ran off to steal!”

Parker felt extremely wronged, poking his head out from behind the sofa to retort: ”If you don’t mention it, no one will know; they would only think it was that Alchemist who stole it.”

”Didn’t you just say it’s a fake?”

”Uh...”

The Big Cat chuckled, picked up the gemstone, and said to the latter: ”You really thought well.”

Ai Xiaoxiao also couldn’t help but smile.

She explained: ”Parker, you can’t sell this thing, it’ll be recognized as soon as you try.”

”There’s always the black market.”

”You’re still thinking about the black market, have you planned it all along!?”

”No, no, I just said it casually... This thing, actually I stumbled upon... um, found it by chance. Yes, that’s it, I’m just keeping it temporarily.”

Ai Xiaoxiao giggled: ”As far as I know, even behind the Colin Ishurian black market are nobles backing it up. Istania is even more closed-off, maybe that Grand Princess is the biggest shareholder in the black market there.”

Parker looked dumbfounded upon hearing this.

Fang Hong took the gemstone from the Big Cat, feeling a bit troubled.

But Atira seemed very calm.

”Nothing much,” the Elf Miss simply replied: ”Just return it to its owner.”

Fang Hong nodded, looks like they must meet with that Grand Princess.

Early the next morning, the middle-aged craftsman sent someone to tell them that the Artisan Association was already arranged, ready to welcome them at any time.

The enthusiasm displayed by the other party surprised Fang Hong, it even seemed somewhat almost overly eager. So he asked Hilveld if this is the usual hospitality of the Desert People?

Hilveld smiled and replied: ”What does Lord Captain think?”

Fang Hong thought for a moment, preparing himself mentally for the meeting ahead. It seems this meeting with the Grand Princess might not be just a simple thank-you.