Chapter 572: Ming Shui Chamber of Commerce

Just as Xia Duo's fleet was busy "fishing" for mermen, on the other side of Maihete Lake, aboard the ship that was also lingering here, a person who looked like a steward was reporting the situation to the Mage inside the cabin: "My Lord, a fleet just arrived from the north. There are six ships, and they have already stopped. Could they also be here having accepted a mission?"

"Impossible!" The Mage flatly denied the steward's speculation. "This mission was personally entrusted to our Lord by that big shot at Jilan Tower. Our Chamber of Commerce has been doing it for seven or eight years without a single mistake. How could that person possibly look for anyone else?"

However, no sooner had the words left his mouth than the Mage also felt it was somewhat inappropriate to let that fleet remain there, so he ordered: "I remember there is a small boat on board. Send someone over to ask about their purpose. If it doesn't conflict with us, leave them be. If there is a conflict, send a signal to notify me."

"Yes, my Lord!"

The steward acknowledged the order, took a Magic Scroll from the Mage's hand, and then retreated.

On the deck, a group of skilled hands was working efficiently. One group skillfully scooped mermen from the water, hauled them up, and then quickly scraped the mermen with special long knives before tossing them back into the water.

Another group used a shovel-like tool to scrape up the liquid that had fallen onto the oilcloth and loaded it into wooden barrels.

The steward looked at the third barrel, which was nearly full, and scolded with a straight face, "Hurry it up! Are you all not fed enough?"

After speaking, he didn't even look at the performance of these skilled workers and walked straight into another cabin. He found a person who looked like an officer drinking and tossed the Magic Scroll he had just received from the Mage. "Get to work! The Lord ordered to send someone to ask about the purpose of the northern fleet. If there's a problem, send a signal to the Lord!"

The officer caught the Magic Scroll, said "Understood," and then continued to drink. Just as the steward was about to get angry, a soldier with a bare upper body, revealing a body full of scars, walked in from outside the cabin.

This time, the officer didn't throw the scroll directly but handed it to the soldier personally, instructing: "You heard what Steward Luo Qi just said. You go over there, and remember to come back safely!"

"Yes."

Upon leaving, the soldier also bowed to Steward Luo Qi before retreating.

"Alright, Luo Qi, someone has gone over. Sit down and keep me company for a drink!" The officer reached out to pull Luo Qi in a boorish manner.

However, Luo Qi stepped back and frowned, saying, "You, drinking during a mission is against the rules. The situation over there is still unclear. You better stop drinking. If you really run into the Mage, I'd like to see what you do!"

"Relax, I've run this mission four or five times without a single problem. If something really happens, isn't the Mage still there? Just rest easy! No one dares to touch our Ming Shui Chamber of Commerce!"

As he spoke, the officer reached out to pull Steward Luo Qi again. This time, Luo Qi did not refuse, but after sitting down, he didn't drink; he just grabbed a handful of dried fruit and nibbled on it slowly.

……

On the other side, at Xia Duo's location.

The "Lucky Owen," along with the other five ships, caught seven or eight fish in a short while. Xia Duo had people crush these fish and scatter them on one side of the "Lucky Owen."

As for himself, he used the 【Wind Control】 and 【Water Control】 from his Bloodline Ability to expand his consciousness out from his body, slowly assimilating the surrounding airspace and water area.

Previously, Xia Duo had only assimilated the water area or the airspace separately. This was his first time attempting to assimilate both simultaneously. He had thought it might be somewhat difficult, but to his surprise, there was not the slightest difficulty.

As expected of a Bloodline Ability, everything was natural.

Of course, even without connecting through the airspace, he could still assimilate the water area while standing on the ship, though the assimilation speed without contact with the water would be quite pathetic.

Once the water area was controlled, all situations within that water area would be mapped into Xia Duo's consciousness. Naturally, this would certainly include the arrival of mermen.

If the mermen were truly attracted, they certainly could not hide from Xia Duo.

Just then, Lusi suddenly reported, "My Lord, a small boat is coming from over there!"

Xia Duo nodded and said nothing. In fact, he had noticed it the moment the small boat was lowered from the large ship. There were no other ships here; the target of that small boat could not be more obvious.

"There is only one person on the boat. Keep the guards on alert, continue fishing, and wait until the other party arrives before deciding."

Just one person, and they were rowing the boat themselves. Xia Duo guessed that the other party might be here to inquire about their identity and purpose. With this move, the possibility of them harboring malicious intent or deliberately lying in wait could basically be ruled out.

Not long after, Xia Duo could see the situation on the small boat clearly at a glance. Calling it a small boat, it was almost like a larger washbasin. There was indeed only one person, wearing Leather Armor, and carrying no other weapons besides an oar.

From afar, the man shouted loudly, "Is this the fleet from Daxia Territory? I am from the Ming Shui Chamber of Commerce. My Lord sent me to ask about your situation here. Why have you stopped here? Do you need our help?"

Ming Shui Chamber of Commerce?

Xia Duo had a deep impression of them—he had to, as after the Tower of Time's Magic materials were intercepted by Rodney Territory, the Princess introduced a new supplier to Niya, which was the Ming Shui Chamber of Commerce.

Of course, the implication here was likely compensation for Savile Territory accepting Rodney Territory's expansion in the Green Pearl Forest.

The Ming Shui Chamber of Commerce provided a brand-new fixed supply contract, and because of this, the previous supplier also re-signed a new contract with the Tower of Time, resolving a crisis of Magic material shortages.

With this matter, how could Xia Duo's impression not be deep? It was just that the only intersection between the Ming Shui Chamber of Commerce and the Tower of Time was the supply contract for Magic materials, but the transaction for this quarter should have been completed. What was the Ming Shui Chamber of Commerce doing at Maihete Lake at this time? Xia Duo was somewhat puzzled. He signaled First Mate Lusi to reply, "Tell him we are clearing out merman bandits and do not need help. Ask them what the situation is on their side and if they need help!"

Lusi quickly followed suit, but to Xia Duo's surprise, as soon as the other party heard Lusi's reply, he immediately pulled a Magic Scroll from inside his Leather Armor, quickly activated it, and then threw away the useless Parchment remains.

Xia Duo watched this scene from afar and could not stop it at all. Moreover, the distance was a bit far, and he could not judge what Spell it was, nor could he even see the Magic Aura of the Scroll.

Of course, at this distance, a Spell that he could not see was basically unlikely to be any powerful Spell; at most, it would not exceed the 2nd Circle.

And from the fact that the other party had not left after activating the Scroll, Xia Duo speculated that it should be a Communication Scroll that could contact their large ship, which meant there was a Mage on that large ship.

Sure enough, when Xia Duo looked toward that large ship, a small black dot flew out from it, and within a few minutes, it landed on the small boat with a whistling sound of wind.

The person who arrived was a middle-aged Mage with a bright Magic Aura on his body. In addition to Magic Items, there were even traces of a Protective Spell. Xia Duo knew that this must be the person in charge.

And since he could see the other party, the other party could certainly see him too. The Ming Shui Chamber of Commerce had an extraordinary background, so Xia Duo took the initiative to speak, using 【Ghost Sound】 to transmit his voice clearly yet not harshly:

"I am Xia Duo! May I ask how to address this Mage from the Ming Shui Chamber of Commerce?"

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(End of this chapter)