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

With Carlos dealt with, it meant this group of pirates could no longer cause trouble.

Indeed, that was the case.

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

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

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

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

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

On the Storm, Mi Gen and the other knights looked at their massive fleet, their 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 other viscount families, even owning a single merchant ship would be considered extraordinary wealth.

"No! Mi Gen, this doesn't qualify as a fleet—it's only a convoy!"

But hearing Mi Gen's words, the usually humble lord shook his head outright this time.

"This… my lord, we already have two warships in the Storm Fleet—if this doesn't count as a fleet, then what would?" the knights couldn't understand.

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 didn't provoke true great-family fleets, even ordinary pirates could be directly confronted.

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

Good heavens! The knights were stunned.

Of course, what Gervas actually meant was ironclad warships.

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

So, even if he couldn't speak of 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 simply switched to three-masted sailing ships instead.

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

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

"Really?"

The Hernade family's navy is weak!

"What the Hernades can't do doesn't mean I, Gervas, can't do it. 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 were truly far beyond most nobles.

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

…

"This… Grand Elder 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, Grand Elder Gervas!"

"Thank you, Grand Elder Gervas!"

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

Earlier, when the fleet returned in triumph, Gervas immediately ordered the warehouse to distribute thirty-five gold coins' worth of beer as rewards.

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

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

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

"Grand Elder Gervas, then we're off!"

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

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

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

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

Land-based carts already cost over one gold coin each; this violates our trade principles with sea folk.

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

Good heavens! Thomas exclaimed in shock.

He nearly popped his eyeballs out.

A wooden cart on land sold for only five silver coins.

Because the horses pulling it were the real value.

Yet his lord was selling carts without horses at one gold coin apiece…

He'd been too ungreedy to realize his lord meant carts without horses.

"What's the problem?"

"No problem at all, my lord!"

Gervas nodded in satisfaction.

Although doing so was indeed a bit shady, Stormhold was still in its early stages.

Once money was no longer an issue in the future, he would lead the merfolk brothers to a truly happy life.

"Greetings, my lord!"

"You few did well today!"

Back at the castle, Gervas summoned Mick and the others to the living room again.

Gervas's gaze swept over Mick and the others one by one.

Gervas had seen their performance today with his own eyes.

They had indeed fought bravely when killing enemies, especially Mick.

Although their strength was suppressed, the problem was that his injuries were not light either; he was truly risking his life.

"Thank you, my lord, for your praise!" The few seemed to sense something and immediately knelt to gratefully return the greeting.

"Although you are refugees who have returned, under normal circumstances, there would be no way we could ever trust you with important positions!"

"But in view of your hard work, I can now give you an opportunity: to become my, Gervas's, Guardian Knights."

"However, you must think clearly. Becoming Guardian Knights brings glory, but also life-threatening danger!"

"You must strictly abide by the Knight's Code, and even more so, cut through thorns and obstacles for me! Let alone fleeing back to the Chaotic Wasteland again!"

"So, do you still wish to become my Guardian Knights now?"

"Lord Gervas, we are willing to become your Guardian Knights! We swear by the gods that we will never betray you, Lord Gervas, for the rest of our lives!"

"That's right, Lord Gervas, we are not afraid of danger. Please give us this opportunity to serve you! We swear by the Lord of the Gods that we will be loyal to you for the rest of our lives!"

Obviously, without any surprise, the few would certainly not miss this opportunity.

Clang!

"Then I, Gervas Gale, Lord of Stormhold, now formally knight you as my Guardian Knights..."

Clomp! Clomp!

"Chase the Moon!"

"Who?"

It was night. In the back garden of Storm Castle, Chase the Moon was cultivating under the moonlight as usual.

Although it usually slept in the stable, Gervas had not restricted it from going to the back garden.

Moreover, there was no one else here at night, so its glowing horn, which emitted light while absorbing the essence of moonlight, would not be discovered by outsiders.

As it cultivated, it suddenly heard someone... hmm, it seemed like a companion was calling it.

Immediately, Chase the Moon became excited. Could it be a beautiful little unicorn sister?

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

If it could let itself see other beautiful little unicorn sisters, that would be wonderful.

It would spare it from watching that guy Gervas and his cook being happy all day long.

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

"Little unicorn sister, is it you? If so, come out! Brother Beast Chase the Moon will protect you!"

Good heavens! Gervas exclaimed, "Good heavens!"

Little unicorn sister?

And Brother Beast Chase the Moon?

Why didn't I know in the past that you, Chase the Moon, were so flamboyant?