Watching the Fire from Across the Sea
Sea Wolf is quite valuable.
Although Soren only found about seven or eight thousand Gold Daler, the various goods and jewelry were worth twenty to thirty thousand Gold Daler. This doesn't even include the Black Market profits from the Shipwreck Bay. If someone were to take over this, the final profit could probably reach over fifty thousand Gold Daler. Don't underestimate this wealth; Soren risked his life many times to earn Gold Daler. The wealth polarization in this world is even more severe than in his previous life; the higher up you are, the more wealth you possess.
During the Ming Dynasty, the national tax revenue was roughly three to five million taels of silver per year, while France at a similar time only collected 800,000 Gold Coin per year.
The tax revenue of principalities around the world is roughly the same. Perhaps some kingdoms can reach millions of Gold Daler, but only wealthy kingdoms like Arendelle. During the Ming Dynasty, it was easy to collect a year's worth of national tax by killing a few wealthy merchants and powerful figures. In England and France, there were many nobles who were richer than the King. The distribution of wealth in this world is not fair at all, and there is hardly any fairness to speak of. The money Soren earned from killing two groups of pirates was equivalent to almost a city's annual tax revenue.
This money will be very useful!
Although most of them are goods, there are ways to get rid of them.
If Soren hadn't accumulated so much wealth by eliminating pirates, he wouldn't have been able to so easily send out a ship's worth of supplies.
This is a very necessary investment!
The Drow, being intelligent, naturally knew what Soren wanted. However, given his current strength, Soren wisely refrained from speaking up. If they disagreed, it could easily create distance. It was better to first build rapport and then subdue them all at once once he had established his own power base. The value of these Drow was astonishing, not only in their combat prowess but, more importantly, in their ability to serve as a source of faith and to construct the framework of a Church and temple.
Because there must be a priest among them, the Dark Maiden; they couldn't have lasted this long without the priest's leadership!
Of course, their value is not limited to this.
Changing faith is a difficult matter. Even if they cannot serve as Vivian's source of faith in her future battles against the Demon Lord of Fear and the Vampire God Child, they can still help Vivian expand her faith and complete the Church's framework. Furthermore, these individuals might even become the foundation for Soren's ascension to godhood. The Time of Troubles is a grand game, and only Deity are qualified to make moves on the board. Whatever Soren plans to do in the future, securing the status of Deity first is absolutely the right thing to do.
The Time of Troubles was the most chaotic period, but it was by no means the end of the chaos!
After this Time of Troubles ended, although the mortal realm regained some peace, the struggle between the Deity became even more pronounced. If he and Vivian defeated the Vampire God Child and the Demon Lord of Fear, then they would have to face the Gods of the Upper Planes and the Archfiend of the Lower Planes. A newly ascended Deity would be the easiest enemy for them to handle. Without a foundation from faith and the Church, Vivian would become a lamb in the eyes of all the Archfiend in the future.
Soren was Half-Elf. These Drow also had human ancestry to adapt to life on the surface.
If he remembered correctly, the first Deity to fall during the Time of Troubles were the God of Half-Elves and the God of Rogues. This meant that two Domain would be suspended in the future: the Half-Elf and the Rogue Domain. Although these were only the domains of weaker Portfolio, they could help Soren advance further, allowing him to fight the Demon Lord of Fear as Deity in the future. Undoubtedly, this would be much easier than fighting him as a mortal. The Vampire God Child had already achieved godhood; they had to accelerate their pace to catch up.
These drow are all Half-Elf.
Soren was willing to give up his Hit Points for Vivian, and even considered transforming into Shadow Lich. If Vivian couldn't become a god to fight the Demon Lord of Fear, then he would become a god to fight them!
After all, Vivian wasn't Vampire; she had already been branded with the mark of the Demon Lord of Fear.
The Vampire God Child was unintentionally a very clever fellow. He actually knew to use the Vampire Domain to first become Deity. This undoubtedly gave Soren some inspiration. Since the Vampire God Child could become a god with the inconspicuous Vampire domain, it was not impossible for him to use his Half-Elf bloodline as a springboard to master the God of Half-Elves office in the future.
With his Portfolio, Soren will at least reach the Avatar Form in the future!
With the blessing of his Avatar Form, Soren would have no fear in facing any Avatar of Deity.
This is a long road.
Soren only gained a vague direction after seeing these Half-Drow. The Vampire God Child gave him the greatest inspiration, because if he used the Half-Drow as a springboard to become a god after reaching a certain level of power, then he could seize the Portfolio of the God of Half-Elves after the start of the Time of Troubles. In this way, the Half-Elf of the entire world could serve as a reserve base for him to develop followers, and there would be no too intense friction or conflict with other Ancient Deity.
This is a very weak Portfolio.
However, it was a very important stepping stone for Soren, because his ultimate goal was certainly not this.
Because he possesses Slaughter Divinity!
The path to becoming a deity is extremely difficult.
But if Soren intends to take this path, he must plan ahead, otherwise he won't have enough time.
One thing to be thankful for.
It seems that from the beginning until now, all the Legendary Degree about him have been related to Slaughter, whether it's the rumors of the Throat Cutter or other legendary events. The Vampire God Child has not fallen. As New Deity, as long as he doesn't fall, his power is increasing day by day, and his Divine Power is growing stronger every day. Soren has already set a precedent, and we can't let the other side widen the gap between us further.
The day passed quickly.
The pirates prepared a cargo ship and loaded it with supplies from the island. After a night's rest, the Drow had recovered considerably. Before sending them away, Soren handed them a letter, saying, "Give this letter to your tribe's Boss; perhaps she can understand how to choose for the future!"
"I look forward to your reply."
The leading Half-Drow bowed humbly, then took the letter and carefully placed it close to his body, saying, "We are very grateful for your help, and we are willing to help you whenever you need it."
Soren nodded slightly and said, "Go. Your people must have been waiting for you for a long time."
The three Half-Drow bowed again before boarding the cargo ship. They were undoubtedly lucky to have encountered Soren in their most desperate moment, not only saving their lives but also bringing back a ship full of goods. But that was all. If they couldn't prove their worth or offer equivalent benefits, they would no longer be able to gain this lord's help. As Drow from the Underdark, they knew very well that all their sacrifices were for a reward.
Soren watched the departing cargo ship, then turned to Adele and said in a deep voice, "Sending someone to take over the Black Market Trade in Shipwreck Bay an option. We can cede some profits to the local powers, but the Slave Trade must be kept in our hands."
Slave Trade?
Adele looked slightly puzzled, but she was gradually getting used to Soren's orders and didn't ask any further questions before preparing to arrange the manpower.
A number of pirates in Shipwreck Bay have been wiped out, and Soren needs to cultivate a new group of pirates who can serve him.
Since the Vampire God Child can use his Vampire domain to inflict fear, Soren can naturally try to use his Half-Elf domain to inflict Slaughter. In every respect, Soren actually has the advantage, because whether he becomes a god or not, not many people will have the energy to travel thousands of miles overseas to hunt him down.
This is the key reason why he has always focused on Overseas Islands!
As Soren gained more and more leverage, his vision became clearer. Controlling the pirates was equivalent to controlling the sea lanes. To deal with him, one had to get past the sea first!
...(To be continued~^~)