Iberia: My Maritime Trade Fleet! It's All Gone! / Master Huang, Held Up as a Cautionary Example

To put it in a single sentence, adapted from a famous quote by Master Huang:

Iberia was too young at this time to know that every gift bestowed by fate had a price tag attached to it.

However, if the Iberia leadership has any sense in the future and knows to seek help from Utopia and give up their own country's rights, Master Huang will not kick them while they're down.

But if he wants to get something for nothing, he won't show any mercy.

You brought this upon yourself, so why should I clean up your mess?

Thank you for your information. I am aware of the Aegir's plans. If things unfold as you predict, I will grant you some of my administrative privileges as a reward.

"I think your plans go beyond this."

Huang Cao wasn't immediately happy, because he quickly realized that the other party meant he wanted to be a hands-off manager.

Isamara, whose little scheme had been exposed, did not feel embarrassed, or rather, that was her original intention.

Our community needs more strength to grow, and you are an excellent candidate. After connecting with your mindset, I know clearly that you are not using Sea Creatures as a tool.

"You've just found a powerful ally in me and want to bet on both sides, the ocean on one side and the land on the other."

Huang Cao had long ago opened a part of his heart to the sea, because he knew that keeping his true thoughts to Sea Creatures would only increase the risks in the future.

Besides, he had nothing to keep secret from Sea Creatures.

Of course, this is not about sharing Remembrance, but about sharing a common emotion, similar to Sarkaz's empathy.

However, this emotion was somewhat subtle, because Isamara saw a hint of lust amidst Master Huang's myriad emotions.

Indeed, this young man! Only Ai Sea Creatures could arouse such desire!

Huang Cao: Luckily, we didn't share Remembrance, otherwise I would have exposed the doujinshi I read about Sea Creatures before.

Of course, more often than not, Huang Cao Zhenwu regarded this group as his friend, rather than as a subordinate or any other tool that could be used.

This alone is enough for Isamara to feel at ease handing Sea Creatures over to the other party.

Perhaps this is what simplicity is; Huang Cao also really enjoys dealing with creatures that think this way.

Say whatever you want, but you also need my compatriots to help you Trailblaze the oceans, don't you? In a sense, we have a mutually beneficial relationship, except that I benefit more.

Isamara was not particularly intelligent among the Firstborn members of the Sea Creatures; her duty was to fight, that is, to fight for pleasure.

Fortunately, there are other compatriots who are sharing the work of the Swarm with Him.

But in the future, these Firstborn will be beheaded one after another, and in the end, all the pressure will fall on Him.

No wonder Isamara was able to take over Skadi's body; their personalities do indeed have something in common.

"Alright, for now this deal is reasonable, but in order for you to work better for me, I need you to take these three hundred Seed."

Huang Cao agreed without much thought. He couldn't let such a good tool slip by, even though it didn't seem like a bad deal now.

However, considering Sea Creatures's current inadequate physical condition, it might be difficult for them to directly confront Sargol. Furthermore, there are likely to be more challenging tasks for them to complete in the future.

The current fighting power of the Sea Creatures is no match for that of the Sargol that will be destroyed by Agor decades later.

Aside from a few varieties that have some fighting power, the rest are really not much different from dried fish; they'd only be good food for the enemy.

Huang Cao: Receive the blessing of Power of Abundance!

Let the Aegir answer!

Chapter 312 Iberia: My Maritime Caravan! All Gone!

[I can feel an incredibly surging vitality within these Seed, possessing extraordinary nutritional value. Is this also a gift to our people?]

"These aren't for eating, although the correct way to use them is indeed to eat them..."

Huang Cao explained, "These Seed have all been programmed by me. The Sea Creatures that swallow the Seed will gain a portion of my power and evolve in a regular manner according to the pattern I set, but this evolution cannot be synchronized to your entire race."

"The Sea Creatures that consume the Seed will gain a stronger physique and a more intelligent mind, and their combat power will also skyrocket, at least one of them will be able to overpower several Deep Sea Hunter."

"It can also grant invisibility and all sorts of other strange and wonderful effects."

Sea Creatures rarely attacks Deep Sea Hunter unless provoked, because the latter are humanoid versions of Sea Creatures, and by blood they are considered kin to their own the Swarm.

However, they are not entirely incapable of doing so; at least when threatened, the dried fish are willing to eliminate any destabilizing elements within the population.

This is why Deep Sea Hunter suffered heavy losses in the storyline.

However, all of this is predicated on someone giving instructions.

But by sheer coincidence, the Huang Cao became the future leader of this species.

Since you've become the commander, it's only right that you, Master Huang, provide some resources.

Sargol controls the vast majority of the ocean's resources.

It's not easy to Trailblaze on the ground, but the nutrients provided by Master Huang can make up for that.

Isamara is always thinking about her people; at least their food problem can be solved in the future.

"Select three hundred Sea Creatures with average physiques, the kind that would be considered the core fighting force of your race."

As per your request, these selected compatriots will board your deck in half an hour.

Before long, three hundred slightly plump dried fish were placed on the deck of Master Huang's giant ship.

The Huang Cao personally fed them Abundance Seed, and after they had all swallowed them...

With a snap of his fingers, the former sent hundreds of Sea Creatures bursting forth with dazzling light.

The bodies of the Sea Creatures were further strengthened, and even their appearances were greatly changed.

Its original blue and white body has been transformed into a streamlined shape with yellow as the main color and blue and white as the secondary colors.

Its heart also has a part that looks like it's wrapped in tree branches, which is constantly supplying them with energy.

[Powerful, is this your strength?]

"I'm going to send them all into Sargol's city to help me gather all the information about this civilization. One Hratya alone is not enough to satisfy my appetite."

"However, this unit will not actively participate in the battle to protect the Firstborn. Isamara, could you please give me full command authority over this unit?"

They're all in your hands now, but I need them just as much to protect my fellow countrymen.

Protect my fellow citizens, not me.

Isamara had already foreseen her fate, which is why she could answer without any doubt.

"Yes, they are also responsible for stopping Sargol's sweeping plans against the Sea Creatures under normal circumstances."

The matter was settled.

With a thought, Huang Cao transmitted its idea to their minds.

Upon receiving the order, Sea Creatures swiftly entered the sea, unleashing unparalleled swimming speed as he raced towards the city of Sargol.

Half of them serve as observation cameras, and the other half are dedicated to the defense of the Sea Creatures people.

It is easy to imagine that Sargol will go through a very difficult time in the coming period.

Friend, while you are indeed trustworthy, aside from what I promised you, the Aegir who have treated us cruelly must pay the price. I hope you will not interfere too much in our feud with them.

"I understand that, of course. I respect your race's right to speak internally. I will never stop you from doing whatever you want. All I want are the lives of those few people."

[Goradya, Skadi and her parents, Laurentina]

After Ling repeated the names of the people the other party wanted to protect, Isamara realized that most of them seemed to have female names.

I will heed your words about life. It's a pleasure working with you, my friend.

Isamara a brief "friend," Isamara fell completely silent.

The Huang Cao looked up at the blue sky, then glanced around at the boundless ocean.

"Let's keep working and try to get all the offshore platforms built within half a month."

Thanks to the addition of Sea Creatures and his team, the project's progress has been greatly accelerated.

These little samarium creatures have a unique communication frequency that can make the entire ocean calm, so no major storms were encountered during the construction process.

However, at the same time, due to Master Huang's interference, Iberia has been having a very difficult time these days.

Swelling for half a month

The Iberia emperor glared angrily at the report his subordinates passed to him.

"You mean the ships laden with gold and jewels were capsized by the waves halfway there, and then the Aegir robbed them? There's a limit to jokes."

"Absolutely true, Your Majesty! We even recorded the entire process!"

An official who had not escaped with great luck produced a huge camera and began playing the recording.

n was only seen in the eyes of the Iberian King.

Just as the ship was about to be capsized by the violent waves, three or four strong soldiers dressed in Sargol -style clothing suddenly appeared in front of the camera.

U-Cool is a group of soldiers wielding enormous, exaggeratedly large swords, smashing them against the deck of a giant ship right in front of the cameras, while simultaneously looting all the cargo on board at incredible speed.

The entire process of the crime lasted no more than ten minutes.

Even if the Iberian King didn't believe it, the undeniable facts were right in front of him, and he couldn't refute them.

Although these people were unusually muscular, they were undoubtedly Aegir.

"Why did the Aegir rob our merchant ships and send the crews here unharmed?"

Is this just a warning to us?

The Iberian King returned to his bedchamber and stared intently at the Fool's Ship model placed on his bedside table.

The Fool's Ship has completed numerous transport missions, earning the royal family a considerable fortune.

Iberia has a vast coastline, but Catastrophe also frequently strike the country.

Many towns are far apart, and traveling by land could easily be blocked by Catastrophe, while traversing mountains and rivers is also quite inconvenient.

However, traveling by sea can greatly reduce transportation costs, and there are no Catastrophe to hinder it.

Because Catastrophe at sea are extremely rare, or even nonexistent.

As for strong winds and waves, that's not a problem at all. The materials science in the Terra is unparalleled, and there are very few large waves on the sea that can destroy an entire giant cargo ship.

Unless it's really ridiculously large or there's something strange in the sea causing trouble.

For example, in the past two weeks, Iberia's maritime transport routes have been completely cut off, and countless riches have been looted by the "Aegir".

Both the king and the country's big merchants suffered heavy losses in these few days.

Aside from labor costs, not a single copper coin was recovered.

Meanwhile, insurance companies in Iberia are also arguing their case, as most of the ships are insured.

Capitalists: When we invested money, you said you could make a profit, but now that we're losing money, you say you can't make a profit?

Insurance company: Who told you to lose so much? Hundreds of ships, not a single one came back. We're bankrupt on the spot.

Insurance company: Moreover, the contract clearly states that it only covers losses caused by storms and pirates, but I don't think the Aegir are pirates.

Capitalists: If the Aegir are doing this, aren't they pirates?

Insurance company: I don't think so. I reserve the right of final interpretation!

Capitalists jokingly say they're paying out insurance.

It's better to hope that the Aegir will apologize to the Sea Creatures than to expect the company, which is in cahoots with them, to compensate the maritime fleet for its losses.

This caused chaos and unrest throughout Iberia.

However, soon, even the attention of Iberia and Master Huang was drawn to another major piece of news.

A month after Master Huang arrived at sea, news suddenly arrived from the distant horizon:

The current de facto emperor of Ursus passed away suddenly yesterday.

Chapter 313 Master Huang, Used as a Precedent

"I don't know what feelings I should express to the emperor at this moment, whether I should feel sad or happy for him?"

At the funeral, the black snake, dressed in white, had very mixed feelings; it felt out of place among the people around it.

I think you should feel lucky for this emperor. Although he wasn't very old, and could even be considered to have died young, at least he doesn't have to deal with the mess in Ursus.

At this moment, the voice of Master Huang suddenly came from the golden leaf next to the black snake's ear.

Because he got along well with Black Snake, Huang Cao gave him a special device that could communicate wirelessly.