The Demon King is unfathomable

Chapter 294 This is Prince Colin’s territory
Janna continent, Stairway to the Sun mountains.

As the last drop of rain fell from the sky, the turbid sky finally cleared up, and the strong wind that had been howling for seven days finally stopped blowing.

The setting sun shines on the top of the Stairway to the Sun Mountains, and large tracts of dry and cracked rocks reflect golden-red light, as if nothing had happened.

But everyone in the Wind Howl Tribe knew that those crazy days and nights could not be meaningless.

Uyana, the prophet of the Tide Clan, stood on the edge of the rock wall with her eyes closed, her nostrils moving slightly as she took a deep breath.

"I smell the wider sea," she whispered.

The cloak behind her swayed gently in the wind, and her eyelids inlaid with sea-blue scales slowly opened, gazing at the end of the north.

"If you smell it, leave now." Urga muttered impatiently, taking a bite of a piece of dried rat meat. "We don't have much food here. We can't feed your entire tribe."

Wuyana was not angry. Instead, she smiled gently and nodded slightly at him.

"Thank you for your protection for the past seven days. If we can survive this catastrophe safely, the Tide Tribe will always remember the kindness of the Wind Howl Tribe."

She was about to leave with her people when Urga suddenly stopped her.

"Well..." He twisted his neck and swallowed a piece of unchewed dried meat. "I discussed the matter of fishing together with the elders... I think it sounds good."

He had a stern face and tried to speak in a natural tone.

"Anyway, our dry food is almost gone, so this is a good time to replenish it."

Wuyana's smile deepened, her eyes showing a little cunning and calmness.

"Great."

It is not easy to eliminate the gap of thousands of years, but this is always a good start.

In the past, they each endured similar yet different sufferings in their respective homes, torturing each other in the same desperate situation.

And now they have a shared history.

This is much more reliable than any contract.

Just as she was about to say something, a sound of wind suddenly passed over her head.

A Wind Howl sentry wearing light armor and with his wings still folded quickly landed and knelt heavily between the two men, shouting hoarsely:

"Lord Windshould! North of Thunder Bluff... we found a ship and a group of unidentified humans!"

"...Thunder Bluff?" Urga's expression suddenly changed, but he was shocked by another shocking fact in this sentence. He repeated with a stammer, "Ship?"

That's on the mountain!
The nearest place to the sea is at least three hundred miles away.

Not only Urga, but Uyana Cuilin also had a look of surprise on her face, looking at the sentry with a strange expression.

"You were talking about—a ship?"

"Yes, I saw it with my own eyes." The Wind Howler sentry lowered his head and replied, "After the storm, the sea turned into clouds, and the clouds turned into the sea. A ship suddenly came out of the fog and hit the mountain ridge together with the huge waves that disappeared over the mountain top, as if it was swept up by some force..."

He tried to describe the magnificent scene, but it still seemed too pale in the face of the mighty power bestowed by the gods.

Urga and Uyana looked at each other, both of them showing a hint of shock and confusion.

Wuyana frowned slightly and lowered her voice a bit:

"I suggest not to contact them for the time being... We know nothing about the outside world, let alone whether those people are friends or enemies."

Although the murals from a thousand years ago are incomplete, there is one thing that all the Lizardmen remember - that is, they once suffered extremely severe suffering on the ancient continent.

As for how they got through life and how their suffering came about, their ancestors did not tell them.

Now they can only rely on the wisdom of the Demon King.

Urga looked at the mountains in the distance with a gloomy face, and after a moment, nodded.

"Yes."

He turned to the Wind Howler sentinel, and his tone changed from his usual casual tone to a slightly oppressive tone:
"You, leave immediately and go to Assam City to report this matter directly to the Demon King!"

"Yes!"

The sentry did not dare to delay for a moment, flapped his wings and flew towards the plain in the south that was still shrouded in the afterglow.

Uyana stared at the direction where the sentry left and suddenly spoke.

"I remembered a distant legend."

"What?" Urga looked at her.

"The history of the Tide Clan began with a divine ship that descended from the sky..." Uyana murmured, "I wonder where fate will take us this time."

……

The sea breeze howled, making the branches and leaves in the forest rustle.

This is the seventh day that the Traveler has been stranded, and Kaedson still has no idea where he is.

Their ship lay like a corpse on the top of the mountain, nailed to a place no one should be in. Surrounding them was an endless unfamiliar forest, with no stars to guide them and no maps to guide them, as if the earth itself was silently rejecting them.

There was little food left on the boat, and tree bark stew and dried fish soaked in salt water became routine accompaniments.

The gunpowder was almost used up. No matter how beautiful the musket was, it could not scare away wild beasts, nor could it kill hunger.

What's worse - no one knows they are still alive.

They also didn't know what was happening outside.

And what was the tsunami seven days ago?

Kadsen sat on the broken railing at the stern, looking at the strangely quiet forest in the distance. This is not the sea, and even the wind is unwilling to stay here. He wanted to write something for the logbook, but the ink had already been blurred by the bubbles.

He knew in his heart that the Empire would not come to rescue them.

"Maybe we will die here..."

The sailor who was sitting on a wooden block chopping firewood muttered dejectedly and chopped down the axe hard, as if he wanted to vent his despair on the firewood.

"This godforsaken place is not even on the Empire's nautical chart. No ship would pass by here..."

If it were before, Kaidsen would definitely scold the subordinate who said such discouraging words, or even hang that guy up and whip him a few times, but now he didn't even have the strength to refute.

Just then, the sound of hurried footsteps interrupted his thoughts.

"Captain! Captain!" A sailor on guard rushed into the makeshift camp excitedly, shouting like crazy, "There are people! They are imperial soldiers! I saw their uniforms!"

Kaidesen stood up suddenly, as if he was struck by lightning.

Imperial soldiers?!
"What did you say?!"

Not only Kedesen, all the listless sailors raised their heads, with a glimmer of hope in their deathly gray pupils.

The sailor on guard suppressed his excitement and described in detail what he saw.

"They are soldiers from the Empire! They are coming towards us from the other side of the mountain road! A whole team of them, carrying muskets!"

He swallowed and continued excitedly.

"We are not stranded on a deserted island... There is no doubt about it! This is an imperial colony!"

"Saint Sith..." First Mate Ewen knelt on the ground exhausted, kissed the deck and prayed.

He had never liked guys who did nothing but collect taxes so much.

He has to clear their names!
They did some things too!

Without thinking too much, Kadesen jumped off the railing and ran up the rock slope outside the camp as fast as a monkey rushing into the woods, looking towards the forest passage.

Immediately afterwards——

He saw the hope he had been looking forward to for a long time!

In the morning mist that had not yet dissipated, a group of neat figures were passing through the lush woods and walking along the rugged mountain path towards their location.

They were dressed in the familiar gray-white imperial army robes with faded emblems embroidered on their chests and carried long-barreled muskets on their backs. Their marching formation was extremely standard and as neat as a military parade in the Holy City. Every step was as clean as if cut by a knife, and one could not even feel their breathing.

This was very uncommon in the colonies.

The more remote the colony, the closer the empire's soldiers are to gangsters. Some are simply exiled prisoners who were given guns... and these guys are as disciplined as regular troops.

But Kaidesen didn't have time to think too much at the moment, there was only joy in his heart.

Before he could let his excitement settle into alertness, his eyes were attracted by the person in the lead.

The man walked at the front of the team, wearing a crimson noble dress, a cloak lined with a silver-edged moon pattern, a feathered hat on his head, a silver-headed scepter in his hand, and a shining sword at his waist.

There was an arrogance on his face, and his steps were confident and ostentatious, like the owner of a manor - but his eyes, like an eagle standing on the shoulder of a pirate, were sharp and cunning, without any of the decency and composure of the Old World aristocracy.

Kaidsen knew this kind of person.

Most of them were nobles from the Old World. Because their good lives were too boring and they had no place to vent the extraordinary powers bestowed by Saint Sith, they came to the colonies to suffer. As a result, they were piled up in debt, lost their territories and were too ashamed to go back. They could only hang out with sailors and prostitutes in taverns all day... There were such guys in almost every port of the Empire in the New World.

This guy is that type too.

However, his luck was obviously much better, probably because he found a great country nobleman in the New World to support him.

Regardless of whether the latter was nostalgic for the upper-class life in the Holy City, or life in the New World was too boring and he simply needed a clown to amuse himself... after all, the big man gave him a valuable piece of clothing and a silver scepter that symbolized his baron status, allowing him to maintain his previous dignity.

In order to leave a good impression on the other party, Kaidesen quickly tidied his appearance and immediately introduced himself when the man came up.

"Dear noble sir... I am Kaidsen, and I am affiliated with the Golden Seagull Chamber of Commerce of the Os Empire. We are the property of Count Castil of the Empire..."

"Stop it!"

Teach took off his hat, glanced at him unfriendly, then looked at the nearby forest and the broken ship stranded halfway up the mountain.

"what 's wrong?"

Kaidesen's expression froze, and he whispered guiltily.

"We didn't know this was your territory... Please bear with us."

According to the imperial fiefdom law, all property in the territory belongs to the lord himself and no one can infringe upon it.

The colonies continue the laws of the empire, although they are not as strict as those enforced by the empire, but these people have guns in their hands, and this nobleman is obviously a transcendent...even if he is not a very strong one.

"Excuse me?" Teach raised his eyebrows and said arrogantly, "Captain Kedesen, I am Teach Cosia, appointed by His Royal Highness Prince Roxel Colin to manage Deadwood Port and govern the mountains, forests and river bays here."

"This is the territory of Deadwood Harbor."

"And these trees are all my private property!" Kaidesen was stunned and speechless for a long time.

Although he knew that this guy was looking for trouble and was obviously taking advantage of the situation, he still suppressed his anger and swallowed the anger that was about to be swallowed.

After all, being stranded on a deserted island never to see the sun is obviously more terrifying than being robbed.

At least there is order here.

He lowered his head humbly and spoke nervously.

"I'm sorry, Your Excellency the Baron. We...were not aware that this forest belonged to you, the respected one. We encountered a tsunami, and we had to use the resources of your territory for survival. We are willing to compensate you for your losses..."

Looking at Captain Kedesen's humble appearance, Teach indulged in his aristocratic addiction.

He didn't know this guy.

But after so many years in the empire's colonies, he knew too well these guys who would take advantage of others.

They are all the same kind of people -

After making some money, I don’t even know my last name anymore.

Oh, and they don’t even have a last name.

Feeling the piercing gaze from behind, Teach coughed softly and continued his speech in a pretentious and generous manner.

"Well, since we're in a storm, there's nothing we can do. Since you're so polite and it really wasn't intentional, I'll exempt you from responsibility..."

Kaedson finally breathed a sigh of relief. Although he knew that this guy was by no means a proper noble, he was at least reasonable, unlike those completely unreasonable pirates.

He respectfully performed the courtesy of a commoner to a noble and whispered "thank you" with a hint of genuine gratitude in his tone.

Tikki looked at him and continued.

"So tell me, Captain Keldsen. How did you get to the top of the mountain?"

As he spoke, Teach turned his gaze towards the steamship lying halfway up the mountain not far away, with a hint of surprise in his eyes.

"It's a long story..."

Kaedson sighed and followed Teach's gaze towards the wreckage of his own ship, the Traveler. Without hiding anything, he told them everything that had happened to him and his group.

According to their original plan, they were going to go to Port Saldo to support the reconstruction there and look for business opportunities, but they did not expect to suddenly encounter the same natural disaster as before -

"That was not an ordinary storm... The sea and the sky turned upside down. Our ship was like sand stuck in the eye of an hourglass, flowing from one whirlpool to another..." Describing the scene at that time, Kaidsen still had lingering fears and said in a low voice, "I have been traveling in the Vast Ocean for more than ten years, and this is the first time I have seen such terrible weather. We thought we were dead, but fortunately we saw a beam of light at the critical moment..."

As he spoke, his face was full of piety.

"Saint Sith above... Saint Sith must have blessed us."

Saint Sis...

Teach chuckled in his heart, but his expression did not change. He continued to listen with a frown, as if he could empathize with the suffering he had endured.

“It’s so scary.”

"Yes, it's scary... I promise everything I said is true."

Kaidsen swallowed and continued.

"After that, something even more incredible happened to our ship. I clearly remember that we broke through the waves and came to another sea area, but when we climbed up from the deck, we found that our ship was stranded here."

Looking at Baron Teach's astonished expression, he added another sentence.

"It's like something threw us here..."

Teach was silent for a long time, made the sign of the cross on his chest reverently, and said with emotion.

"Perhaps Saint Sith heard your prayers."

"That's what I think..."

Kaidesen swallowed his saliva in fear.

And just at this moment, he suddenly remembered something, looked at Teach, and his tone turned tentative.

"Speaking of which, where exactly is this... land? I have never seen it, not to mention that I can't see any mark about it on the Empire's nautical charts."

Tikki wasn't surprised by his question and said it directly.

"Sea chart? Of course it's not on your sea chart. This is a brand new territory that the respected Prince Colin opened up for the empire with his own money... The misers in the New World refused to give us a penny, so we can only rely on ourselves to do it slowly. We have only recently achieved some results. Up to now, there is only one offshore fishing port, Deadwood Port, on the entire continent. There is not even a decent deep-water port. We hope you can plan the route here."

The nautical charts for most civilian ships in the Empire come from the Adventurers' Guild and the Merchants' Guild, two "cross-border organizations" established and supported by the Church. However, since sailing can take months or even a year, the spread of information cannot keep up with the speed of change, so there is no so-called standard map.

Lumir didn't understand these twists and turns, but Teach, as a noble from the empire, knew these rules very well.

Kaidesen really had no doubts about this statement, and instead felt a little embarrassed.

"This... I'm just a captain, and I can't influence the decision of the Chamber of Commerce. But I can convey your wishes to Gerard Castiel, and he might be able to help you mediate, if I can go back from here..."

"Let's talk about this later." Tiqi glanced at the boat behind Kaedsen and said jokingly, "It may be difficult for you to go back."

Kaidsen said with a wry smile.

"Yes... We beg you to lend a hand. If there is a teleportation array——"

"Forget it." Teach shook his head. "There is a strong subspace turbulence in this area. The channel that can be opened is very small. It's okay to send some letters, but larger packages have to be unpacked and sent in batches, not to mention people... Otherwise, our development here would not be so slow."

Kaidesen's face changed slightly when he heard this.

There are two types of subspace turbulence. One is the active interference of Hell or Chaos, which is common on the front lines of the New World. The other is a natural phenomenon, which is more common in sparsely populated areas.

If given a choice, he just hopes it won't be the former.

However, judging by the calm reaction of the Imperial Baron, it seems unlikely that the corruption of Hell has spread here.

“By the way, did you...see that storm?” Kadsen continued to ask.

"Are you talking about the one you encountered? That's not the case..." Teach answered casually, speaking naturally, "But there has been a strong wind here these days, and it has been raining and the tide has been high. For safety reasons, I asked the residents of Deadwood Port to evacuate to the nearby mountains... Not far from here."

At this point, he even swore.

"It's a mess."

Kaidsen said with a wry smile.

"So do we. This shipwreck...has cost me a lot."

"Haha, I can see that. To be honest, it's a miracle that you're still alive."

Teach cast a playful glance at the steamboat drooping halfway up the mountain.

Kaidesen could only shrug his shoulders helplessly in response to his teasing, and used his eyes to indicate that he could laugh if he wanted.

Teach didn't continue to tease him. He turned his gaze away from the broken ship and looked at Kaedson and continued.

"Let's talk business. We won't leave you alone in your trouble, but the situation we're facing is also very difficult. We can't support you for nothing."

Kaidesen said immediately after hearing this.

"Don't worry about that. We can exchange work for food."

"That's great." Tiqi laughed, patted Kaedson on the shoulder, and continued, "If you are willing to help us rebuild our home, we can give you food, fresh water... and even pay you with gold."

There were very few supplies left on the ship, the rum had been filled with seawater, and the sailors were so hungry that they began drinking rainwater and gnawing on tree bark...even Kedesen's own stomach was empty at the moment.

When he heard that the other party was willing to provide food, he agreed immediately without hesitation for a second.

"make a deal!"

There is no teleportation array and no stable route... We don’t know when the next ship will approach here.

Since he couldn't leave here in a short time, a job with free food and accommodation was a godsend for him, and he would not refuse it without knowing what was good for him. Even if he was mining in a mine, it was definitely better than being a savage in the deserted mountains.

not to mention.

That apocalyptic tsunami has most likely affected all the ports in the New World.

Nowadays, every colony is busy with its own business and no one would bother to find a few merchant ships that have "lost" at sea.

The most important thing now is to survive.

"I'm glad you made the right choice. We'll take you to Deadwood Harbor, and then I'll tell you what to do."

Tikki nodded in satisfaction and held out his hand.

Kaidsen didn't hesitate and shook his hand.

"I want to have a good meal before I start working... To be honest, I don't even have the energy to talk to you right now."

Teach smiled and said:

"Don't worry! Deadwood Port welcomes all hardworking people... no matter if you are poor or rich, no matter if you leave or stay, as long as you are willing to contribute to us, we will definitely not let you go hungry."

Changing the subject, he casually glanced towards the edge of the rain forest in the south and added another sentence.

"However, out of kindness, I still have to remind you——"

"We haven't completely conquered this land. You'd better not go too deep into the rain forest in the south."

Kaidesen suddenly became nervous.

"Is there anything there?"

"There are groups of lizardmen. They are real savages who eat raw meat and drink blood. After they capture you, they will dig out your heart and offer it to their dragon god."

Looking at Kaidesen who was frightened and pale, Teach laughed and patted him on the shoulder again.

"But don't worry, Deadwood Harbor is safe... The respected Prince Colin has reached an agreement with those lizardmen, and we will not interfere with each other. Of course, don't provoke them. We will not break the agreement we have reached with great difficulty and waste our bullets and lives for a few fools who don't listen to our advice."

"I will remember your advice." Captain Kedesen swallowed his saliva and said, "We will only operate near Deadwood Port..."

Tikki smiled and nodded.

"Just remember, the weather was bad these days, so they didn't find you, so you are really lucky...

Having said this, he turned around and waved to the soldiers under his command, signaling them to turn around.

"...Come with me, this is not a place to stay for long."

"We'll talk about the future after we get to the camp."

(End of this chapter)