Chapter 263: City of a Thousand Sails

There has never been a city with so many travelers.

Even the Mingxing Cheng of the Rhine Kingdom, known as the center of the Fairytale World, is far from being as good as the Golden Port at this time. Looking around, groups of three or five people wearing strange clothes and no entries on their heads are shuttling through the crowd with vigilant and novel expressions.

Of course, this is mainly due to the bulletin boards in front of the Storm Square and major taverns, as well as that huge sea ship docked in the inner port, the Royal Warship of the Lisi Kingdom—the Golden King!

Xie Yaoyao's group was shocked by the prosperous port in front of them as soon as they arrived at Golden Port. Different from the industrial sense of large ports in the real world, Golden Port has a more ancient historical accumulation, presenting a picture full of trade, plunder, spices, and slaves in front of you all at once.

Every traveler who comes to Golden Port feels the adventure gene in their body stirring.

"Clang!"

The crude oak beer mug hit the equally thick oak tabletop heavily. In the Xiulian Jiuguan, Vivian was very satisfied with this state. Although Nie Yingying stipulated that she could only drink three cups of foam beer, she had secretly drunk to the fifth cup. Just by telling a story of 'Vivian vs. Cyclops', she completely integrated into the adventurers in the tavern.

In front of the tavern bar, Nie Yingying was taking Duanmu Xing to inquire about the intelligence of Golden Port.

"So, you must board that huge sailing warship in the port to go to the legendary Treasure Island?"

The name of the Storm Sea is cast with the wrecks of countless ships. A relatively safe shipping route means endless benefits, and the Lisi Kingdom controls three such routes, which is also the origin of the name 'Golden Port' of the Lisi Kingdom.

"Hahaha, all travelers are trying to find ways to board the ship, but the ticket for the Golden King is not easy to get! Besides, no matter how big that ship is, how many people can it hold." Like the 'Shadow Duke' in Mingxing Cheng, the bartender of the Xiulian Jiuguan is also a traveler. "So, some people have thought of other ways!"

Looking at the bartender's winking appearance, Nie Yingying understood that she needed to pay some price to know this 'way'.

"Can't we find another ship to follow that big ship?" Duanmu Xing's cute voice always sounds very well-behaved. "Since it's the prince of the Lisi Kingdom leading the team to sea, the fleet should be as large as possible!"

The air was quiet for a second before it was broken by the bartender's awkward laughter.

"Haha, the little girl is very smart! On the boundless sea, a fleet will always have a much higher survival rate than a single ship. But, little girl, do you know why most of the ships on the sea sail alone, and rarely form a fleet?"

"Eh?"

Duanmu Xing's little face blushed slightly, and her small body subconsciously hid behind Nie Yingying.

"I... don't know!"

"Hehe! Cost, probability, and speed!" The bartender naturally wouldn't make things difficult for such a cute girl. He chuckled and continued to explain: "First, let's talk about cost. You know, the value of a ship is higher than a manor, not to mention equipping various crew members and materials for a long voyage. These are all large expenses. Let's talk about probability. Two beautiful ladies, assuming you have three ships, would you form a fleet to sail or sail separately?"

Neither Nie Yingying nor Duanmu Xing had such experience, and they were all confused when they heard this.

The bartender smiled and didn't expect the two delicate ladies to know the answer to this question.

"Going to sea once, the probability of earning enough benefits to spend for a lifetime is quite large, and the probability of dying at sea as soon as you go out is also large!"

"When both risk and return are large enough, separate investment is the correct way, especially if your capital is likely borrowed. Only when you still have a continuous stream of benefits can your creditor not force you to a dead end."

Nie Yingying immediately understood what the bartender meant.

Only a real gambler would bet all their wealth on one gamble, and then lose everything!

"Finally, there is speed. On the sea, the size, firepower, and speed of ships are very different. Coordinating a fleet is not something an ordinary captain can do. Not to mention when encountering storms, pirates, sea monsters, etc., the companions in the fleet might be the reason for your destruction—after all, it doesn't matter if you can't swim faster than a shark, as long as you can swim faster than your companions, and it's even better if your companions are injured."

The bartender's matter-of-fact tone sounded light and breezy, but it still made Duanmu Xing, who had already experienced some things, feel uncomfortable. The laws on the sea seemed to be more cruel than in the jungle!

But Nie Yingying didn't care about these. Her current strength and mentality could completely ignore these.

"So, can you help us find other ships that can keep up with the 'Golden King'!"

The bartender wasted so much breath, naturally, he couldn't ask for nothing.

In fact, this is one of the important reasons why he pulled strings to come here to be a bartender. A well-informed broker makes money much easier than fighting outside.

"Of course, I can guarantee that although this is the 'City of a Thousand Sails, Golden Wave Tip', there are not many ships that can keep up with the 'Golden King', and even fewer are willing to follow to sea."

Nie Yingying nodded, she recognized the bartender's reasoning.

"Then, the last question! Where is the destination of the 'Golden King'?"

"Eh?!"

The bartender was a bit confused!

After saying so much, aren't you the kind of travelers who heard the recruitment of the Lisi Kingdom and came to find 'Treasure Island', but whose strength didn't meet the requirements to board the ship?

"Treasure... Treasure Island! Otherwise, where else?"

"Where is Treasure Island? What's on the island?"

"Eh?!" The bartender felt like he was going crazy. "You don't know anything, why are you joining in the fun?"

"Following such a big ship to sea feels safer." Nie Yingying repeated expressionlessly again. "Where is Treasure Island? What's on the island?"

"I... don't know where it is! It is said... it is said that there is a 'Fountain of Youth' on the island, as well as countless gold and silver!"

The bartender answered the question blankly, his brain still a bit confused.

Nie Yingying was thinking in her heart whether this 'Fountain of Youth' had anything to do with the 'Source of Spirit Song'. After thinking about it, she felt that the relationship was not big. Mainly, the two things looked different in efficacy just from the names.

But it's better to ask some things clearly.

"Don't know where it is, then how does the 'Golden King' find that 'Treasure Island'? Aren't you afraid of dying at sea?" ===== CHAPTER 264 =====