"Young Master Hu, my sincere apologies. I never expected those lowly slaves' troublemaking to disturb you. Everything has been settled, though, and the Flying Boat's condition won't be affected. Please don't worry."
Soon afterward, Li Chen had Hu Xi summon the steward. Neither servile nor overbearing, the steward offered reassurance as he would to any ordinary guest, but showed no intention of explaining further.
Li Chen understood his concerns and said, "I never meddle in other people's affairs. I'm merely curious. Why did those Slave Workers cause trouble?"
The steward hesitated, then said, "A Slave Worker used illness as an excuse to shirk his duties today. The overseer couldn't stand it and whipped him to teach him a lesson, but unexpectedly beat him to death. We originally put relatives and acquaintances together to make them easier to manage. We never expected them to seize the chance to cause trouble."
Li Chen's gaze shifted slightly, then he smiled and said, "I see. How many Slave Workers are aboard this vessel? Where did they come from, who do they belong to, and what are their usual duties?"
The steward felt somewhat helpless. This Young Master Hu was far too curious.
But a Great Monster held status equal to a Core Formation cultivator. Given Hu Ze's public identity and standing, he was certainly not someone these personnel working along the route could afford to offend. The steward could only answer, "There are over a hundred Slave Workers. Some are Puppeteer Apprentices captured from the Other Continent or other star regions, while others are artisans we've tried training ourselves. They all fall under the Great Sage Palace's authority and usually perform manual labor, manufacturing, and various kinds of craftwork. Those assigned here are, naturally, vessel and carriage craftsmen, responsible for maintaining the Flying Boat