Chapter 98

"Though I don't know if it's the first time, it's certainly extremely rare!" Lei Meng concluded at this moment.

Afterwards, the fishfolk in the sea indeed did nothing harmful to the ship, following it all the way to the shore of Huoshandao.

At this moment, the fishfolk began to surface one by one, with Waga as their leader.

"Gervas, I've come, human!"

"Waga, are these your people?"

"Yes, my... father... Toka!"

Waga pointed to a fishfolk beside him and introduced him to Gervas.

This fishfolk appeared noticeably older than Waga, and more importantly, far stronger.

In addition, he wore many shells and fishbones as ornaments.

Yet, aside from Waga, Gervas naturally could not understand the other fishfolk's speech.

Toka kept gesturing toward the fishfolk carrying leather sacks, babbling loudly.

Fortunately, Waga translated.

"Gervas, my father... thanks you... for saving his... and Waga's life..."

Then the fishfolk came ashore one by one, placing their leather sacks on the sand.

Gervas stepped closer and saw the sacks, made of fishskin, were filled with seafood.

Shrimp as long as an elbow, clams and conchs as large as washbasins—by their appearance, likely luminous pearls and magical conchs.

But most were ordinary fish and oysters, along with several beautiful coral reefs.

"Waga, tell your father I'm delighted to receive your gift!"

"Wuwa wuwa!"

With Waga's translation, Toka burst into another round of excited babbling.

Finally, Waga bowed slightly to Gervas.

"Gervas, my father... is preparing to leave. We shall meet again!"

"Wait, Waga, I have gifts for you too!"

Gervas stopped the departing group and ordered his men to fetch several jugs of beer and a crate of black bread from the hold.

These were all stored supplies, so the ship carried plenty.

After receiving the supplies, Chief Toka curiously opened one of the leather wine jugs.

Gervas had worried they had never seen beer before.

Just as he was about to speak, Toka sniffed the jug's mouth, then his eyes suddenly brightened, and he swiftly brought it to his lips.

Glug glug glug!

After gulping down several swallows, the fishfolk Toka stared at Gervas in disbelief.

"Wine... wine..."

Toka gestured wildly and shouted excitedly.

Gervas froze—he didn't understand their language, but he knew exactly what they meant.

Could fishfolk also brew wine?

"Gervas, my father is deeply grateful—he says this is an extremely precious wine, enjoyed only by the great northern clans, because only there, by the shores with many large wooden ships, can such wine occasionally be found!"

Many large wooden ships by the shore?

Gervas was puzzled.

Old Jack suddenly remembered something. "My lord, I recall—the great nobles, though they possess Sea God Stones, hold a monthly sacrifice to the Sea God."

"They don't just throw food into the sea—they also pour entire barrels of wine, praying the Sea God protects their ships."

Good heavens! Gervas exclaimed inwardly.

These sacrifices never reached the Sea God—they were seized by these fishfolk.

And this wine had become a form of hard currency in the sea?!

Gervas's mind turned rapidly.

"Chief Toka, if you like wine, come to Stormhold in the future—I'll trade with you."

After translation, Toka's face lit up with delight, nodding vigorously. "Wuwa wuwa!"

Thus, because of a few jugs of beer, Gervas arranged his first trade with the sea folk.

The time was set for one week later, at the shore of Stormhold.

After the fishfolk left, Gervas led his men up the volcano and trained continuously amid the elemental magic tides.

After nearly half a month of elemental tide cleansing, the soldiers' physical strength had greatly improved.

Though the soldiers didn't yet understand what this meant, they simply felt carrying heavy stones and other burdens had become easier.

But Lei Meng told Gervas that if this continued, he would soon have elite soldiers rivaling the Royal Infantry Legion.

Remember, those were true elites, forged over years of rigorous training and ample food.

Yet Gervas needed only to let his soldiers experience the elemental tide each day.

Of course, the effect of the elemental tide would slow as the soldiers' strength increased.

For instance, for Gervas and Lei Meng, the effect required long-term exposure—they were already transcendent beings.

After the elemental tide ended, Gervas returned to Maicheng with his men.

Because he had issued a danger alert, the townsfolk had not worked this afternoon, and the soldiers had already gathered in the town square.

After confirming the town's defenses were adequate, Gervas first returned to the castle with the seafood.

"Greetings, Lord Gervas! Oh, so many beautiful shells!"

Gervas brought the seafood to the kitchen; Xiao Xueli, upon seeing him, rushed forward excitedly.

After greeting him, she was immediately captivated by the seafood.

Especially the beautiful luminous pearl clams and various-sized magical conchs.

"Xueli! What should you do before your lord?"

Luo Si turned at the voice, saw it was Gervas, and immediately stepped forward.

Her graceful steps exuded maturity and weight.

Already ripe as a peach, she had grown even more luscious after these days of nourishment—no, after helping Gervas train.

Xueli immediately suppressed her smile, lowering her head. "I must remain quiet and not disturb or offend my lord! I'm sorry, my lord, Xueli knows she's wrong!"

Since beginning to help Gervas train, Luo Si had not become arrogant.

On the contrary, she grew even more disciplined, and her demands on Xueli became stricter.

Clearly, Luo Si was a woman who understood boundaries.

She had not lost herself through intimacy.

The more she behaved this way, the more Gervas respected her.

"It's fine—there are no outsiders here. Xueli, which seafood do you like? Would you like me to give you one?"

"Really, my lord?" Xueli's eyes scanned the basket, finally settling on the smallest magical conch.

Luo Si opened her mouth to speak, but Gervas stopped her.

"See? Xueli only wants a small conch!"

Gervas picked up the magical conch.

Though this magical conch was worth at least five gold coins.

But given Xueli's sweet obedience, Gervas was willing to give it.

He could tell Xueli chose the small conch not because its pattern was prettier than the large ones.

But because its size suggested lower value.

In beauty, the larger magical conchs were far more splendid.

"Thank you, my lord! Xueli thanks your grace!" Xueli happily accepted the small conch.

"Xueli, after you eat the small conch, send the shell to the blacksmith's shop—ask Lu Kasi to make you a whistle. It might attract birds to dance for you!"

"Really? Thank you, my lord!" Xueli was even happier.

Then Gervas turned to Luo Si and spoke of business.

That was to prepare large quantities of garlic paste—he planned to roast oysters with garlic today.

Though Gervas, since his reincarnation, had no pretensions of insisting on Han cuisine.

But when the chance arose to savor the flavors of his past life's homeland, he would never let it slip away!