The Demon King is unfathomable

Chapter 300 These “natives”…are unfathomable!
Derek didn't have to wait long.

About an hour later, Kadsen came back as expected, but this time he was not alone. He was accompanied by a middle-aged man who was dressed in a rather exaggerated manner.

He was wearing a dark red dress, holding a silver scepter in his hand, and a peacock feather was inserted in the brim of his velvet hat, as if he had just slipped out of the Duke's cocktail party.

Derek couldn't help but look a little weird.

It wasn't because of his overly ostentatious attire, but because there was an aura about him that made him feel familiar.

Weird.

This should be the first time they met.

Just as Derek was thinking, Teach walked up to him, with a standard aristocratic smile on his face, and raised his chin slightly and said.

"Welcome, Captain Derek. I have heard about your situation from my servants. I sympathize with your situation, but please do not worry. Since you have landed at my Deadwood Harbor, you are guests of the Cossia family."

He spoke in a mellow and slow voice, as if he was deliberately trying to give each word a hint of authority and rhetoric.

Kaidesen coughed lightly and reminded in a low voice.

"That's Baron Titch Cosia."

Derek immediately gave a standard naval salute and spoke solemnly.

"Thank you for your hospitality, Your Excellency the Baron."

Tiqi nodded slightly and continued:
"Regarding your request for supplies, rest, and ship repairs, I have also heard from Kaidesen. Please ask your logistics officer to give me a list of supplies that need to be purchased. My servants will prepare everything you need."

"Although our supplies are also very tight, I will still do my best to help you. I also hope you won't be picky. Deadwood Harbor just experienced a storm, and the situation here is as you can see, very bad."

"I admire your generosity. On behalf of General Hamelton of Fort St. Il, I express my highest respect to you." Derek nodded respectfully to express his gratitude.

Although it is the obligation of the colonial lords to provide logistical support for the imperial army, there is a prerequisite for this - that is, it does not affect the interests of the nobles themselves.

The situation in Deadwood Harbor was indeed not optimistic, which he had seen from the telescope when he was on the deck.

If he hadn't really had no other choice, he wouldn't have come here to try his luck.

"You're welcome. Please give my regards to General Hamelton."

Pleased with the naval officer's response, Teach nodded approvingly, but soon changed the subject and his tone became slightly more serious.

"However, for safety reasons, I must remind you that during your stay in Deadwood Harbor, it is best not to go deep into the forest area on the south side of the port."

"What's the problem there?" Derek asked subconsciously.

"It's no problem, but it can avoid unnecessary trouble," Teach shrugged and continued, "According to the treaty signed between Prince Roxell Colin and the United Kingdom of Gutaf, the forest outside Deadwood Harbor and the Stairway of the Sun Mountains are a neutral buffer zone. We have agreed with them not to invade each other, so any cross-border behavior may lead to diplomatic disputes."

The United Kingdom of Gutaf?
what is that?
Derek frowned slightly, confusion written all over his face.

He had never heard of this strange name, but just when he was about to ask, he held back the words.

after all--

He had also never heard of "Prince Roxel Colin".

He was not a learned scholar, nor a merchant who traveled all year round. He was just a naval captain serving in Fort St. Il.

He knew the location of every supply port in the empire and the nearby waterways, but his knowledge of the territories outside the garrison was very limited.

but--

He could bring the intelligence about the kingdom back to Fort St. Il and hand it over to General Hamelton stationed there for judgment.

"I understand." Derek nodded cautiously and politely. "Thank you for your reminder. I will restrict my men to operate only within the boundaries of Deadwood Harbor."

After a few pleasantries, Baron Teach adjusted the brim of his hat and left calmly but arrogantly.

Derek was already accustomed to the arrogance of the nobles and did not feel any dissatisfaction. He turned around and ordered his men to leave two sailors on guard on the shore, and then took the other two brothers and rowed the sampan back to the "Grace" anchored near the coast.

As soon as he returned to the ship, he called the quartermaster and ordered a complete inventory of material losses and requirements.

Within an hour, a handwritten list was ready, with neat handwriting and clear content.

When he rowed back ashore with the list, Kedesun was already waiting for him on the beach.

Not long after the list was handed over, Kedesen called a few sailors to work, scanned the list at a glance, and waved his hand.

"If I can get it...you guys, bring the cart and come with me."

The group of people, carrying simple wheelbarrows, walked along the gravel path towards the fortress on the hill.

That place was the only place that could be called a "building" in Deadwood Harbor. Derek was thinking about how to get the baron to invite him to his house for a night, when Captain Kedesen and his group had already returned with a cart full of supplies.

Baron Teach was not among the crowd.

Derek felt a little disappointed, but soon the abundant supplies made him relax his brows and look happy.

Bags of grain were neatly stacked, and the boxes were also stuffed with dried fruits, vegetables, planks of wood, nails, and even a few sacks of salted fish.

A total of about twelve tons of supplies.

Enough to support them to return home!
"A total of 270 silver coins." Kaedson spread his hands and said calmly, "This is Baron Teach's offer. The items were all dragged out of his castle."

Derek took a quick look and although the price was high, it was not outrageous.

Considering that this place was far away from the main trade routes of the empire, transportation was difficult, and it was not his own money that was being spent anyway, he simply nodded and asked the quartermaster to hand over the purse.

The transaction was successfully completed.

"When will the ship repair technicians arrive?" Derek asked again after counting the items.

"It's almost there." Kaedson said as he counted the silver coins. "Baron Titch said he has sent an envoy to the United Kingdom of Gutaf to call for help. It should be here soon."

"……what?"

Derek was stunned.

"You mean, let... the locals come to repair the ship?"

Kaedson shrugged, with an expression that said, "I'm just a messenger." "Yes, the Baron said that 'someone understands' on their side."

Apparently—

This citizen of the empire also felt it was unreliable.

Derek's mouth twitched and his eyebrows almost twisted into knots.

If this happened in St. Ilburg, if anyone said "let the native lizard people repair the steamboat", they would be laughed at.

But just when his face was full of "Are you serious?", a deep and hoarse voice sounded from behind him.

"Who's the captain?"

When Derek turned around, he saw two tall lizardmen, one tall and one short, standing on the beach.

One of them was carrying a package, the other was carrying a toolbox, and they looked quite professional, except that their tails were swinging back and forth behind them, and their scales were glowing an ominous dark green luster.

"I heard you had a ship with boiler trouble."

"Hurry up!"

Derek was stunned.

Are the Lizardmen Really Coming?!
He is completely unable to do anything about it.

Perhaps because they saw that he didn't respond, the two lizardmen began to mutter incomprehensible sentences, and occasionally raised their heads to pray.

"Is this NPC stupid?"

"Wow! Where's the bastard planner? Did you see it? If you did, fix the bug!"

Derek didn't understand what they were saying, so he could only look to Kedesen for help, but the latter was also confused.

Fortunately, at this time, Baron Teach's servant stepped forward and coughed.

"Dear Captain Derek...the ship repair technicians have arrived, let's get on board quickly." Lumire looked at Derek and urged.

"it is good……"

Derek nodded subconsciously and mechanically waved his hand to signal his men to put the sampan that had just been dragged ashore back into the sea.

Twelve tons of supplies would have to be transported back and forth several times, so they decided to let the ship repairman get on board first, and then come back to get these things.

Two lizardmen jumped onto the sampan, swinging their tails around, making the small sampan look like it was hit by a huge wave, which made the two sailors who were in charge of rowing nervous.

Derek also had a sullen look on his face.

He always felt that these two reptiles were taking a boat for the first time. They kept chattering along the way as if no one was around, especially when they saw the Empire's warships, they shouted excitedly.

"Fuck!"

“What a retro model!”

"Is this the Empire's battleship?"

"I feel like I can't withstand a shot from the magic crystal cannon..."

"Not necessarily. Maybe there are priests or mages on board. Maybe they can create a magic shield?"

"Then use torpedoes! They've definitely never seen one!"

Derek coughed and said to the baron's attendant who called himself Lumire.

"What are they talking about?"

Lumiel was silent for a while and then spoke.

"They're saying... the Empire's warships are so big."

Derek: “……?”

It's gone?
The lizardmen were still chattering, but Lumir had no intention of translating, and just maintained his persona as the baron's servant.

Seeing that the other party didn't intend to say more to him, Derek finally gave up asking...it wasn't an important matter anyway.

The sampan drew close to the side of the ship.

A rope ladder was thrown down from the deck. Just as Derek grabbed the ladder and prepared to climb up, the two lizards squatted down and made a big jump, jumping directly onto the deck.

The two sailors sitting on the sampan nearly fell into the water. They managed to stabilize the capsized boat with great difficulty and cursed at the deck.

"Oh shit--"

"What a bunch of rude beasts!"

Lumire, who was holding the rope ladder, was also a little embarrassed, but he was obviously familiar with the self-willed temper of these "players", so he was not surprised and just gave an awkward smile.

Derek had a gloomy face, but seeing that no damage was caused and that the other party was there to help him, he didn't say anything more.

"Okay... don't bother with the natives. Drive the boat back to shore and bring the stuff back."

"Yes!" The sailor saluted and rowed the boat back to the shore.

Derek and Lumire climbed up the rope ladder to the deck, only to see the two lizardmen looking around with great interest, full of curiosity about everything here... They didn't look like they could repair a ship at all.

Derek was already regretting it.

If he hadn't wanted to offend the baron, he would have had these two impolite and rude guys thrown off his deck.

Is this what it looks like to be able to repair a ship?

However, with the idea that he had to give it a try, he suppressed his distrust and dissatisfaction, looked at Lumir beside him and said.

"When do we start?"

"Right now...arrange for someone to take them there."

After saying that, Lumir stopped talking and said something to the two lizardmen in a strange tone.

That's probably the language of the indigenous people.

Derek didn't say much. He called the ship's technician and asked him to take the two natives who seemed to have abnormal brains to the boiler room.

When the ship's technician heard Derek's instructions, he immediately looked at him as if he were a sea monster.

"Are you sure? Let these... guys? Go to a place like that?"

Derek said with a straight face.

"Yes, they are experts hired by Baron Teach...at least let them try." "Okay, I won't be responsible if anything goes wrong." Seeing that Derek had no intention of compromising, the ship's technician finally gave up.

With a skeptical mood, he took the two chattering lizardmen into the boiler room.

This is the core military restricted area of ​​the "Grace". Even the officers on the ship are not allowed to enter or leave at will, and the entry and exit of these professionals are also subject to strict discipline - each entry and exit requires registration of name and time on the form.

But now, he actually had to bring in two shoeless lizardmen with wagging tails, and had to let them check it out.

Even if it was the captain's order, even if it was a special measure for a special period...isn't this too casual? !
His heart was beating fast as he walked.

But what he didn't expect was that the two lizardmen actually started to "do business" as soon as they entered the door? !
They changed from their previous nervousness on the deck and suddenly had an air of professionalism - just like soldiers seeing a gun.

I saw one of them stretched out its fingernails, gently knocked on the boiler shell, and put its ear close to it to listen carefully to the sound.

The other one quickly flipped up the pipe connection, and his claws swiftly slid between the valve and the gap between the steel pipe, muttering to himself and exclaiming "wow" and "wow, this is even possible" from time to time.

At first the ship's engineers thought they were amazed at the technological prowess of the empire, but they soon figured out something else from their tone and demeanor.

"Damn, this design is too impersonal..."

"It's not as good as the old antique from the 1950s in my factory."

"It's the pressure relief valve that's at fault. Hey, look at what I said," the taller lizard man pointed at the location of the pressure relief valve with his claws and said proudly, "Scale! Case solved."

Another shorter lizardman circled the boiler halfway, muttering something.

"I'm afraid there are more than that. There are at least a dozen problems, big and small... Do they not maintain the machine at all? I see that the rubber stopper has hardened."

"Don't make things complicated. Just fix it and make sure their boat can move. If it breaks down next time, come to us to fix it. Hehe."

The ship's technician didn't understand what they were saying and could only look to Lumir, the baron's servant who had come with them, for help.

Lumir hesitated for a moment, then spoke out some of the parts he could understand.

For example, a valve is blocked.

For example, the plug is aging, etc.

The ship's technician looked at him in disbelief, then looked at the two shoeless natives, whose open mouths seemed big enough to fit a large bolt.

These lizardmen...actually found the cause of the disease! ?
What made him even more embarrassed was that according to Lumière, the problem with the steam engine was not caused by the storm at all.

It has been there for a long time.

And it has existed for at least three months!

Lumir gave the astonished ship's technician a strange look.

"Although I don't know much about steam engines...but don't you usually notice these problems?"

The ship's technician shook his head mechanically.

"Problems? Aren't those... normal?"

Lumiel fell silent for a moment.

Maybe it was because he stayed at sea for too short a time and did not encounter these problems, so he didn't know what the standard of so-called normal is.

Just being able to move is fine?

Looking at the two lizardmen pointing and criticizing their precious baby, the ship's technician now felt that something was wrong everywhere he looked, and he swallowed and said.

"Can it be fixed?"

Lumier smiled faintly when he heard this.

"It's not a big problem."

That was what the Demon King said himself.

He could doubt the reliability of those "players", but he never had to doubt their skills.

Lumir didn't know what two brushes meant, but seeing the shocked expression on the face of this "professional", he understood it to some extent.

The two lizardmen cooperated seamlessly with their movements quickly and steadily. Within a few minutes, they had disassembled the pressure relief pipe, rinsed it clean, and rewrapped it with a layer of temporary sealant mixed with linen and resin.

"Done!" The taller lizardman clapped his hands as if accomplished, then proudly stepped back two steps to admire the task.

"Dude, you're amazing! Where can you get a job?"

"Hehe...I won't mention the name of the community. The privacy of the owners must be protected."

"puff……"

They were chatting excitedly while working, which made the technicians next to them stunned.

Although I couldn’t understand a word they said, judging from their operating efficiency and eye contact… these “natives” seemed to really know their stuff.

Not only that, they also "widened" the air inlet of the boiler combustion chamber, adjusted the slightly offset flame nozzle, cleaned the carbon deposits, and even welded the joints between two iron plates, solving seven or eight minor problems on the steam engine in one go.

The boiler was re-ignited.

Old steam engine runs like new!
The hissing sound of the steam became clear and steady, and the pressure gauge needle that had been drooping limply returned to normal... as if the machine soul was extremely happy!
The expression on the ship's technician's face was beyond description.

This……

Is this really a lizard man?
Is he really not a high-level mechanic in the Empire wearing lizard skin? !

He even had a strange illusion in his mind—

It was as if I was the savage who knew nothing.

And these two "natives" with big tails are the real experts...

……

Repair work completed.

The door of the boiler room was pushed open with a creaky sound.

The ship's technician walked out with a strange look on his face, and his steps were much heavier than when he went in.

Derek had been waiting at the corridor. When he saw him come out, he immediately stepped forward and asked anxiously, "How is it? Is it fixed?"

He heard the sound of the boiler running, and felt that it was different than before, but he couldn't tell whether it was worse or better.

The technician was silent for a moment, as if he was organizing his words, but in the end he just sighed.

"It can move now. Feel it for yourself."

Derek's heart skipped a beat and his face suddenly darkened.

He immediately turned around and gave the order.

"set sail!"

The whistle soon sounded.

The sailors quickly took their positions, the steam boiler started to run with a humming sound, and the heavy sound of steam gradually turned into a light roar.

The propeller pushes the water to create ripples as neat as a comb, and the whole ship moves forward steadily as if it had been reborn.

Derek stood on the bridge, feeling the smooth vibration coming from under his feet, and could hardly believe his senses.

He felt that his Grace... was actually in better condition than before the storm?!

"What...what's going on?"

He widened his eyes and looked at the ship's technician who had just walked up from the boiler room.

The latter smiled bitterly.

"Sir, I really want to share my shock with you, but I can't say a word. I can only tell you that the engine's efficiency has increased by 30%... at least 30%."

"They found the problem with our engine and pointed it out to me, but I had no idea what the problem was. You know, I graduated from the Royal Naval School's Mechanical Repair Department and served in the Navy for several years, so my experience and knowledge are definitely proven... But in front of them, I felt like a rookie."

Derek fell into a long silence after hearing this.

Although he graduated from the Royal Naval Academy, he was not an engineer and could not understand the principles behind it.

But as a soldier, he knew what a 30% improvement in engine efficiency meant, and he knew even more what "this can be achieved just by tinkering" meant.

The technological gap between the two sides is probably at an extremely terrifying level. No wonder Prince Colin would sign a non-aggression treaty with the local "natives"... If they really couldn't chew this piece of fat, when would the nobles of the empire ever compromise with the natives?

In comparison...they are more like natives.

"It's incredible..." The first mate walked to Derek's side, looked at the Deadwood Harbor in the distance with a complicated expression, and squeezed out a sentence from his throat with difficulty, "They don't look like a maritime civilization. They don't have docks, docks, let alone fleets... How did they understand steam power better than us?"

"I don't know... but this may explain why the empire's territory has never been expanded here, so that we don't know that there is a prince here."

Derek's brows furrowed more and more, and a thought gradually emerged in his mind -

The situation here must be reported to General Hamelton in Fort St. Il immediately!

If necessary, the Empire should provide appropriate assistance to Prince Colin and help the local lords develop this colonial territory!

of course.

This was just his opinion as a mid-level officer, and he could not influence the empire's decision. However, he believed that this was the choice that best served the empire's interests.

They must not allow an uncontrolled hidden danger to suddenly appear in the vast ocean!

We can’t let Hell get here first!

Thinking of this, he turned around calmly and walked towards Lumire who was standing on the deck not far away.

"Thank you for your help!"

He spoke very politely with a sincere smile on his face, carefully hiding his previous shock.

"Now that the equipment has been repaired, I will send you and the two guests from the Kingdom of Gutaf back!"

Lumir nodded slightly, looking normal.

The two lizardmen were still wagging their tails and gesticulating excitedly at the bow, but after Lumir whispered to them, they both jumped back onto the sampan obediently.

"Thank you for your efforts... The Demon King is very satisfied. Now I will take you back to the shore. You will receive the mission reward after you get ashore."

The boat docked again.

Derek came back in person and directed his men to move the supplies. After several trips back and forth, the twelve tons of cargo were quickly moved.

Kedesun came over with a bottle of rum that he had treasured for many years and invited Derek to have a drink, but the latter politely declined.

"Thank you for your generosity, but I have official business to attend to... I have to go back."

Kaidsen was stunned for a moment.

"Didn't you say you would stay for a few days?"

Derek smiled sheepishly.

"I do want to...but the sailors are so impatient and want to go back as soon as possible."

Kaidsen understood that smile immediately, and for a moment he was also a little moved. He had been holding it in for a long time, so that even the lizards thought he was handsome.

Besides, Baron Teach did not restrict their stay or departure.

He believed that if he took the initiative to propose it, this imperial officer would not watch him and his men stranded in a foreign country, and would at least allow them to sleep on the floor in the cargo hold until they reached the nearest port.

But in the end, he still didn't say it.

He no longer had nothing in this port.

He had the pearls he exchanged from the Tide Tribe, and the 27 silver coins that Teach gave him - this salary was almost as much as his monthly income!

It is foreseeable that the empire's ships will approach here more frequently in the future, and as the future governor of Deadwood Port, he will be able to earn more!
And if he leaves here, he will just be a captain and have nothing!
"I wish you a safe journey!" Kadson opened the bottle cap and took a sip, then handed the bottle to the captain of the Grace in front of him.

The Traveler chose its own harbor, where they would stay.

"Take care of yourself too!"

Derek gladly accepted the gift, nodded in greeting, and returned to the sampan, directing his sailors to row away from this simple and mysterious seaport.

Before nightfall, the Grace raised its canvas, started its steam engine, and slowly sailed away from the storm-battered coastline.

As if he didn't want to stay any longer...

(End of this chapter)