Capítulo 15: Chapter 14 Transactions (Please follow for updates!)
The Fischer family soon recruited five more guards, all of whom, unlike the novice guards selected and trained from the servants, were experienced old soldiers, retired mercenaries, and skilled sailors brought by Lucius.
Their combat abilities were clearly stronger, but the expenses for food, clothing, housing, and wages were also greater, such that the current finances of the Fischer family could only support the many guards and servants for a few months.
The Fischer family desperately needed more money, whether it was to buy Extraordinary materials, maintain the family's fixed expenses, or to figure out a way to purchase Mysterious rare artifacts.
Irene naturally did not forget the important oracle; the mission of the Fischer family was to find Mysterious rare artifacts for the great Lord of the Lost.
However, Mysterious rare artifacts were exceptionally valuable, costing even more than Extraordinary materials.
According to information obtained from sea merchant John, even the lowest level "Collectible class" artifacts were priced the same as Class 2 Extraordinary Materials.
The price of Class 0 Extraordinary Materials was around one Gold Coin, while Class 1 Extraordinary Materials fluctuated between five to ten Gold Coins, and Class 2 Extraordinary Materials and Collectible class Mysterious rare artifacts required at least thirty Gold Coins to have a chance of acquisition.
Thirty Gold Coins were equivalent to a whopping twelve thousand copper nals, a sum that many ordinary people in Nasir Town could likely never earn in a lifetime.
The wealthy sick in Nasir Town had already been thoroughly exploited, and the chance for Irene to heal others and earn money from the wealthy had become more difficult.
As for the money from the poor.
The poor also get sick but truly have no money.
Irene often treated the town's poor for free. At first, Lucius had some objections, but later he understood that accumulating goodwill from the common people was also a resource, only insisting that she must accept the most basic treatment fees to avoid resentment from the wealthy.
Simply put, the Fischer family urgently needed a way to further obtain funds.
Today, a distinguished guest arrived—the heir to the knight clan living in South City, the Taylor family.
The Taylor family's heir was named Robert, who appeared very scholarly, distinctly different from his uncles and aunts who revered the knightly spirit.
The Taylor family inherited the bloodline of the Firework Giant Lizard, with a total of three Extraordinary Exponents at the first level of power of Bloodline, including Robert's father, uncle, and grandfather.
While Robert was not yet an Extraordinary Exponent himself, his family was gathering funds in hopes of concocting another Magic Potion to awaken the bloodline and make him the fourth Extraordinary Exponent.
He had left the Cyart Kingdom several years ago to study abroad in the Lorne Empire, the central part of the Ouden Continent.
The Lorne Empire, often referred to as "The Empire" by many, is one of the most powerful nations on the Ouden Continent, against which the Cyart Kingdom and the other three countries of the eastern continental region could not stand to compete.
The East Coast area is only a part of the Cyart Kingdom, and the port town of Nasir in the East Coast is not even one of the most notable towns there.
When Robert Taylor arrived at the Fischer family, he was received by Irene and Lucius; Irene was the only publicly known Extraordinary Exponent in the Fischer family, while Lucius acted as the regent of the household.
Robert, wearing gold-rimmed glasses and sporting a small mustache, dressed in elegant light purple attire, sat down and smiled, saying,
"I didn't expect that a few years after I left Nasir Town, a new Extraordinary Exponent would appear here."
Lucius displayed a trustworthy smile and said, "It's nothing more than the gods' blessing and good fortune for the Fischer family to have an Extraordinary Exponent among them."
Robert instructed his servant to bring in a gift, then continued speaking,
"I have recently returned from studying in the Lorne Empire, and I can feel that the developments there are starkly different from here, particularly in the last few years, something called a 'steam engine' has played a significant role."
Irene, sitting beside him, couldn't help but ask, "The steam engine you mentioned, is that a Mysterious rare artifact?"
Robert was startled for a moment, then laughed and answered, "That steam engine is not a Mysterious rare artifact. In fact, so far the steam engine has not shown any Extraordinary traits, although many believe it to be a marvel of its own."
"The power of a steam engine is comparable to a horse's; it can easily and automatically drive various things without the help of human or Extraordinary power."
"In a few years, I've seen the Lorne Empire progressively use steam engines in mining and textile production, greatly increasing the output of both, and I've come back this time to raise funds to buy a batch of machinery for the Cyart Kingdom."
He said this while pushing up his glasses and naturally remarked, "It's just that the current available funds of the Taylor family are somewhat lacking."
The implication was obvious, and Lucius, with his life experience, knew all too well that those who borrow money are the real bosses; he has never taken to such schemes.
Lucius chuckled, his eyes narrowing as he said, "I believe that the sea merchants, the town chief, the clan elders, and the respected Lord Baron in Nasir Town all have the ability to provide more funds. They would probably be glad to invest in you."
"It's just that the Fischer family has been having quite a difficult time with cash flow recently, and we really can't be of help."
Irene knew nothing about what a steam engine was and immediately fell into a deep silence.
She also felt it was unreliable, more like some sort of scam to get people to invest; perhaps it would be better to find a way to dismiss the matter.
Suddenly, Irene felt an indescribable, great will—an awareness that it originated from the Lord of the Lost, and that He was interested in that man's "steam engine"!
In the past six months, Irene had had few chances to receive divine revelations, yet her faith grew increasingly devout.
Whether rich or poor, after she had healed others time and time again, she constantly reaped their gratitude and amazement. That warm force always managed to display the greatness and benevolence of the Lord of the Lost.
Oh great Lord of the Lost, Your will is the destiny of the Fischer family, and I, your faithful servant, have heard Your thoughts!
Disappointment that was hard to conceal spread across Robert's face, but then he suddenly heard Irene say:
"We are willing to invest ten gold coins."
Robert was initially stunned, then ecstatic with disbelief, and asked, "Really? Miss Irene, I didn't mishear you, did I?"
"Of course it's true," Irene said, nodding her head calmly and sincerely.
Lucius, on the other hand, almost fell off his chair, barely steadying himself before he couldn't help but turn to look at Irene in shock.
He saw the extreme piety in Irene's expression and instantly understood what was happening.
A divine oracle from the Lord of the Lost?
It seemed that the "steam engine" was not such a simple scam after all.
Lucius fell into deep thought. He had witnessed the breath of the black light that ends all things and had been contemplating what exactly the Lord of the Lost was ever since he gained his power.
As the time since his contact with the black light grew longer, it seemed like the effects of some extraordinary force were gradually fading, and the awe in the depths of Lucius's heart was slowly unable to suppress his arrogant nature anymore.
In his decade-long mercenary career, he had seen mysterious beings lurking in some villages, claiming themselves as gods by relying on a sliver of extraordinary power, deluding those ignorant folk.
Perhaps, the Lord of the Lost was similar to those beings revered by the jungle natives of the Blood Cult, a very powerful mysterious existence.
Whatever it was, it was, above all, a tremendous opportunity for the Fischer family.
He took a deep breath; it didn't matter what it was, as long as he could use this powerful force to achieve his goals!
Lucius narrowed his eyes and then laughed again, speaking loudly, "Mr. Robert, we actually have one small request."
Robert quickly nodded and eagerly asked, "What is the request? I can help with anything within my power!"
Lucius continued, "The Fischer family would like to purchase some alchemical tools and alchemical weapons, but we currently lack the channels."
He felt it was necessary to make full preparations for the possible revenge of the natives.
Robert answered with a smile, promising, "No problem, I can solve that any time. In fact, I have a friend in the Sun Church who sells alchemical products."
A few days later, the Fischer family obtained a batch of alchemical products from Robert.
They included ten blood potions for healing injuries, costing ten silver coins, and five small alchemical explosives, costing twenty silver coins.
There was also a flintlock that had been modified with alchemy to increase its accuracy, along with ten high-powered special alchemical bullets; ordinary bullets could also be used, totaling one gold coin for the alchemical flintlock and the special bullets.
However, months went by and the assault by the jungle natives that the Fischers had prepared for never occurred. They later learned that the natives of the East Coast had broken out into a large-scale internal conflict, which would not end for a long time.
Capítulo 16: Chapter 15 Blood for Blood
Over a year had passed in the blink of an eye.
Winter came again, as frost in the early morning whitened the earth, and snowflakes fell flurriedly from the high skies.
Nasir was a strange place, where although the weather was fairly mild, it snowed every year, yet there paradoxically existed a subtropical jungle, for which there was still no reasonable explanation.
Two years had passed since the Fischer family moved into the town, and they had since firmly established themselves in Nasir, with many wealthy individuals owing favors to Irene.
Although many acquaintances found Irene's transformation from a fisherman's daughter to an Extraordinary Exponent strange, the healing extraordinary power she possessed had real, astonishing efficacy.
Power fundamentally determined status, not the other way around, and the townspeople of Nasir City tacitly stopped mentioning Irene's original background, referring to her only as a skilled healing spellcaster.
At sixteen, Irene had grown quite a bit taller and her features had matured, delicately structured and complemented by flawless, pale skin, her long black hair that reached her waist fascinated many men.
Wealthy men in the town began to pursue her one after another, but without exception, they were all decisively rejected, as Irene had already decided to dedicate her body and soul to the great Lord of the Lost.
She considered herself a priest of the Lord of the Lost, and even though there was no systematic reference to the teachings or regulations for how to worship the Lord of the Lost, it was common for most clergy members of the Five Great True Gods Churches on the continent to remain unmarried.
Irene's cousin, Byrne, at seventeen, had reluctantly begun wearing the same style of gold-rimmed glasses as Robert, due to his bad habit of staying up late to read.
Byrne and Robert had an extremely good relationship, with Byrne often seeking out Robert to inquire about his experiences in the empire, always expressing amazement and excitement during their exchanges, showing none of the usual nervousness he had around strangers.
Beyond the affairs of the empire, what interested him most were the Five Great True Gods Churches and the gods themselves, as well as the northern Seven Stars Alliance, the only entity on the Ouden Continent that could confront the empire.
More than a year ago, Byrne, after studying the historical event "The Crimson Tide", suggested stockpiling medicines, firmly asserting that the crimson tides would cause mass poisoning among the residents of the East Coast.
Therefore, the Fischer family initially set aside five gold coins to try Byron's idea out, but ended up biting the bullet and accruing debt to stockpile a batch of medicine to alleviate the toxicity.
Indeed, fishermen began to suffer poisonings in succession, and the Fischer family was on the verge of making a fortune.
However, an astonishing scene unfolded when the Tempest Bishop arrived at the East Coast firsthand, lifting waves upon waves before the crowd, proclaiming the name of the storm, and unleashing a tremendous force to disperse the crimson fish tide!
That was an Extraordinary Exponent nearing "Monarch" of Level 3, who changed the natural phenomenon with his own power!
The slapped-faced Byrne suffered from insomnia for several nights in a row, finally realizing that "past knowledge" might not hold true as time progressed.
While the people of the East Coast were cheering and expressing gratitude to the Tempest Church, the Fischer family was on the brink of bankruptcy. Fortunately, it wasn't long before Robert's Taylor family made a fortune in the business of trading a new invention called the "steam engine"!
Not only did the Fischer family instantly clear all their external debts, but they were also left with a surplus of about thirty-five gold coins in wealth.
Lucius moved among the various clans, knight families, and wealthy individuals of Nasir Town, making a wide range of friends, though he had never had the opportunity to meet the Lord Baron who seldom came to town.
That Baron of the Hovern family was a relative of one of the most powerful people on the East Coast, the East Coast Governor and nephew of Earl Hovern, and there were even rumors that he was the illegitimate son of the East Coast Governor.
Thus, although Nasir Town was his territory, Baron Hovern usually stayed in the only city on the East Coast, Fein, only returning once or twice a year, and always with an expression of distaste.
Tonight, the Fischer family was holding another family meeting.
Warmth emanated from the fireplace as the core members of the family gathered in the hall, and on the table was food prepared for sacrifice,
Chris, now two years old, was extremely adorable with his silver hair and big, bright eyes shining like two twinkling stars, as he was brought into the hall by a servant.
"You may leave now."
Irene nodded calmly, and the servant immediately bowed and left.
Seeing the servant who took care of him leave, little Chris turned and looked back unwillingly for a while, then indifferently sat down to play with his fingers quietly, not saying a word.
Lucius furrowed his brows, muttering as he stroked his chin:
"Byrne, what do you think is wrong with Chris, not speaking at the age of two? Could there be a problem with his ears?"
Over two years, little Chris had grown more and more but had never been heard speaking, and he rarely even babbled.
It was relieving, yet it made all three family members somewhat uneasy.
Byrne adjusted his glasses and shook his head, "I'm not clear about Chris's condition either, this sort of thing needs a professional physician to examine."
Irene crouched beside Chris, silently praying in her heart to the great Lord of the Lost.
Great Lord of the Lost, I hope you can protect Chris and let him grow up well.
Just like I once said, I'm willing to pay any price to let Chris grow up well.
Unlike others, her heart was very calm.
With the Lord's protection, even if her brother really had some congenital disease, it could be cured; there was no need to worry at all.
——
As the darkness of night descended, a group of jungle natives, clad in beast skins and black facial markings, looked solemnly at Nasir Town amidst the snowy landscape outside.
This place should have been their homeland.
A hundred years ago, the Cyart people invaded the land of the East Coast people, killed the bravest warriors, took women and children as slaves, and drove those who had lived here for generations after generations into a jungle full of dangers, and afterward even called the East Coast people so-called savages.
Probably even all the evil and wickedness of the demons in the world combined does not amount to the slightest of the sins of the Cyart people!
All Cyart people deserve to die!
In front of the numerous jungle natives stood a burly middle-aged priest with scars all over his face, whose determination and belief in his eyes inspired genuine respect from others.
He was not just a spellcaster who mastered "Blood Magic," but also a mighty warrior who inherited the "Shadow Shark Tiger" bloodline.
Ordinary Level 1, which is to say "Beginning" level Extraordinary Exponents, were no match for him; only those of the higher "Transmutation" level could firmly suppress him.
"Revenge, is the will of the Lord of Bloody Cult! It is also the longstanding wish of our East Coast people!"
The derogatory term Mighty Bloody Demon had been sternly abolished by the middle-aged priest; now, the East Coast people call that mysterious entity the Lord of Bloody Cult, and only the power of the Lord of Bloody Cult could help them defeat the Cyart people and take back their land and dignity.
He continued to speak:
"Our civil war was instigated by the Cyart people, all the deaths were brought about by the Cyart people's schemes, and now we will make all the deceitful and incapable Cyart people repay everything!"
Whether the civil war was really sparked by the Cyart people was impossible to know for sure, but the middle-aged priest knew that such a statement was the only way to end the infighting.
The middle-aged priest's gaze was extremely solemn; in the more than a year of civil war, the East Coast people had suffered heavy casualties, and now the surviving East Coast people must do something to boost morale.
And once he did this thing, he would greatly enhance his prestige and have a chance to subdue a few priests who did not obey orders, and finally unify all the remaining East Coast people completely.
"Blood for blood!" he roared sincerely.
"Blood for blood!"
The jungle natives shouted angrily in unison, each person's eyes filled with fury and hatred, the oppression of a century practically suffocating every East Coast person.
"Tomorrow night, we shall avenge a priest who died at the hands of Cyart people!"
"Fischer, an obscure Cyart family that by chance produced a seed capable of continuing to breed sin. Among them, someone gained extraordinary power and fortuitously caused the death of a respected old priest."
At this point, the voice of the middle-aged priest instantly grew heavy, and the expressions of the jungle natives also became extremely sorrowful, respecting the old priest's compassionate heart from the depths of their beings.
"I believe many of us have received his beneficence, with children being healed of diseases by the hands of that priest, and the elderly being relieved of pain. Now, it is time for us to claim justice for him through revenge!"
"Blood for blood!"
He spoke solemnly once again, and the numerous East Coast people clad in beast skins immediately responded with hearts filled with anger.
"Blood for blood!"
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