Chapter 282: The Dream of Five Three-Masted Sailing Ships!

With Karos dealt with, it meant this band of pirates could no longer cause trouble.

Indeed, that was the case.

Although the three pirate ships together carried over a hundred pirates, each ship only had thirty to fifty.

Letting the knights, accompanied by Storm Guards, mop them up one by one required almost no casualties.

Half an hour later, the three ships became Gervas's spoils.

Without lingering on Sugarcane Island, he burned all the pirate corpses to ash as fertilizer, then set course home with his fleet.

"My lord, our Storm Hold now truly has its own fleet!"

On the Storm, Mi Gen and the other knights stared at their massive fleet, faces filled with pride.

Adding the three newly captured ships, Storm Hold now had six vessels.

Though four of them were merchant ships, only two were dedicated warships.

But the problem is our lord is merely a viscount.

For any other viscount's family, even owning one merchant ship would be considered extraordinary wealth.

"No! Mi Gen, this isn't a fleet yet—only a convoy!"

Yet upon hearing Mi Gen's words, the usually humble lord shook his head outright.

"This… my lord, we already have two warships in our Storm Fleet—if this doesn't count as a fleet, then what would?" Mi Gen and the knights were baffled.

Does our lord set his standards too high?

In their eyes, possessing these few ships was already enough to dominate the near seas.

As long as they avoided true noble fleets, even ordinary pirates could be confronted directly.

"A true fleet? It would need at least five three-masted sailing ships. These two single-masted warships? Merely landing craft."

Good heavens! The knights were stunned.

Of course, what Gervas really meant was ironclads.

After all, he was a transmigrator; in his past life, he'd seen the Type 055 destroyer.

So, even if he couldn't demand advanced battleships, at least steam engines should be expected, right?

But then he realized this world likely had no concept of ironclads.

Would he have to explain how an iron ship could even float?

So he settled on three-masted sailing ships instead.

Yet Gervas naturally didn't know that even these three-masted ships would leave his subordinates speechless.

"My lord, three-masted sailing ships? Those are true behemoths—back then, even the Hernade family only had three!" Old Jack cautiously reminded him.

"Really?"

The Hernade family's navy is weak indeed!

"What the Hernades can't do doesn't mean I, Gervas, can't. Besides, one must have dreams, don't you agree?"

All his subordinates nodded in agreement.

Though they didn't truly believe their lord could achieve this goal, his abilities far surpassed those of most nobles.

So, their Storm Fleet would surely grow stronger in the future.

…

"This… Lord Gervas, won't this be too much?"

"It's what you deserve. I, Gervas, never shortchange anyone who's helped me… hmm, including the merfolk!"

"Then we're deeply grateful, Lord Gervas!"

"Thank you, Lord Gervas!"

Toca and the chieftains of the other five tribes bowed in thanks to Gervas.

Earlier, upon the fleet's triumphant return, Gervas had immediately ordered the warehouse to distribute thirty-five gold coins' worth of beer as rewards.

The Buwa tribe received ten gold coins' worth; the other five tribes each received five gold coins' worth.

Though beer was highly overpriced, it was genuinely popular among the merfolk.

Thus, after receiving the gifts, the merfolk beamed with joy, happier than if they'd won the battle themselves.

"Lord Gervas, then we're off!"

The next moment, the merfolk shouldered baskets large and small and dove into the sea.

Gervas watched until all the merfolk had vanished, then returned to his subordinates.

"Thomas, note this: next time, pitch a few carriages to these merfolk—price them at one gold coin each."

"Uh… my lord, won't that be too cheap?" Thomas was stunned.

On land, carriages cost over one gold coin each—this violates our trade norms with the sea folk.

"Not cheap at all—a carriage without horses only costs two or three silver coins to make, right?"

Good heavens! Thomas exclaimed in shock.

He nearly popped his eyes out.

A wooden carriage on land sold for just five silver coins.

Because the horses pulling it were the real value.

Yet his lord was selling a horseless carriage for one gold coin…

He'd been too timid to realize his lord meant the carriage alone.

"What's the problem?"

"No problem at all, my lord!"

Gervas nodded in satisfaction.

Though this was indeed a bit shady, Storm Hold was still in its early stages.

Once wealth was no longer scarce, he'd lead his merfolk brothers toward a truly happy life.

…

"We salute you, my lord!"

"You all did well today!"

Back at the castle, Gervas summoned Mi Ke and the others to the reception hall.

Gervas's gaze swept over Mi Ke and the rest.

He had watched their performance today closely.

They fought bravely—especially Mi Ke.

Though his strength was superior, his injuries were no light matter—he truly risked his life.

"Thank you, my lord, for your praise!" The men, sensing something, immediately knelt and bowed in gratitude.

"Though you're returnees from the wastelands, under normal circumstances, you'd never be entrusted with any real responsibility!"

"But given your efforts, I now offer you an opportunity: become my Guard Knights."

"But think carefully—becoming a Guard Knight brings honor, but also mortal danger!"

"You must strictly follow knightly codes, carve paths through thorns for me, and never again flee back to the Chaos Wastes!"

"So—do you still wish to become my Guard Knights?"

"Lord Gervas, we accept! We swear by the gods we will never betray you, Lord Gervas!"

"Yes, Lord Gervas! We fear no danger—grant us this chance to serve you! We swear by the gods we will serve you for life!"

Clearly, there was no surprise—the men would never pass up this chance.

Clang!

"Then I, Gervas Gail, Lord of Storm Hold, hereby formally appoint you as my Guard Knights…"

…

Clip-clop! Clip-clop!

"Zhui Yue!"

"Who's there?"

That night, in the castle's back garden, Zhui Yue, as usual, meditated under the moonlight.

Though it usually slept in the stable, Gervas had never forbidden it from entering the garden.

And since no one else was around at night, its glowing unicorn horn absorbing lunar essence remained unseen.

As it meditated, it suddenly heard someone… hmm, it seemed a companion was calling it.

Instantly, Zhui Yue grew excited—was it a beautiful unicorn little sister?

Since it could remember, it had never seen another of its kind.

If it could meet another beautiful unicorn little sister, that would be wonderful.

At least it wouldn't have to watch Gervas and his cook laugh together all day.

As if others… no, as if other beasts couldn't hear them.

"Little unicorn sister, is that you? If so, come out! I, Brother Zhui Yue, will protect you!"

Good heavens! Gervas exclaimed in shock.

Little unicorn sister?

And Brother Zhui Yue?

When did Zhui Yue become so flamboyant?