The atmosphere in the study was slightly awkward.
Shui Ningrou felt shy when she saw her best friend enter, but Lin Chen's large hand was so firm that she couldn't break free at all.
Li Wan glanced at the people in the study and her heart trembled. Although she had never met Bibi Dong and Huo Feng, she could roughly guess the identities of the three women because Bibi Dong and Huo Feng had very distinct personalities!
Huo Feng and Shui Ningrou held similar official positions and served together in the Vast Sea Province. Both were beautiful and had bold and straightforward personalities. Li Wan immediately recognized her figure.
As for Bibi Dong, even without wearing that gilded dragon robe, she still exudes a unique nobility!
Li Wan thought to herself: I really didn't expect that the Empress and the Emperor would come in person. I wonder what important event in the Vast Sea Province has attracted these two.
Shui Ningrou blushed and asked, " Wan'er, is something the matter?"
"Hmm..." Li Wan finally realized what was happening and quickly lowered her head, saying, "Reporting to the Governor, Wang Can, the city lord of Boning City, has been caught red-handed. He's definitely up to something!"
Shui Ningrou nodded. "Yes, since there's a problem, let's investigate it thoroughly. Once we confirm the information about the North Sea Raiders, we'll immediately request the navy to wipe them out!"
"Yes!"
A short while later, after Li Wan left, Lin Chen asked curiously, " Rou'er, what about North Sea Raiders? Are there still bandits along the coast who dare to rob our city?"
Bibi Dong, standing to the side, said softly, "I've also seen the records of the North Sea Raiders. This matter is very complicated. We don't know their hiding place, nor do we know if they have any inside agents, so it will be difficult to eliminate them in a short time."
Shui Ningrou then briefly recounted the recent crimes committed by the North Sea Raiders, and continued, "This Wang Can is definitely suspicious. If I can find out the location of the North Sea Raiders from him, then this matter will be much easier to resolve."
Bibi Dong said softly, "Things in the sea are complicated. If you need help, just say so. Once we pinpoint the location of these bandits, I'll have the navy wipe them out."
Shui Ningrou smiled slightly, "Yes, Dong'er ~"
"No need for thanks. If you're being too polite with me, your husband might take advantage of you," Bibi Dong teased.
Lin Chen's face flushed. His thoughts exposed, he said seriously, " Dong'er, what nonsense are you spouting? Do you think your husband is that kind of person?"
Bibi Dong, Huo Feng, and the alluring Zi JI all answered in unison, "Yes!"
"..."
A mansion in Vast Sea City
Four figures sat cross-legged in the main hall; they were none other than Tang Chen, Tang San, and the others.
Tang Chen asked expressionlessly, "Third brother, how did things go?"
The Clear Sky Sect elder replied, "Ancestor, the map is easy to handle, but we can only buy ordinary maps, which will only be of limited help to us. The giant ship is easy to arrange; as long as we have the gold coins, the deal can be made immediately."
Tang Chen frowned. "Third brother, do you have any gold coins on you?"
The Clear Sky Sect elder was slightly taken aback. "Ancestor, it's not that I'm making excuses, but I do have some gold coins on me, only a few dozen. Let alone buying a giant ship, I can't even afford a deck."
Although Titled Douluo can fly, they can't fly forever! Besides, the deep sea is fraught with danger, and once their Soul Power is exhausted, their best fate is to be split into eight pieces.
The elders of the Clear Sky Sect must have considerable wealth, but they don't have Sumeru Ring, so they can't carry it with them at all.
Tang Chen asked again, "What about you, Xiao San?"
Tang San's expression froze for a moment, then he took out seven Gold Soul Coin from his savings belt. "Grandpa, I don't usually save up many gold coins, this is all I have."
Tang Chen's lips twitched violently. He never thought that a Peerless Douluo would be stumped by money. He had been trapped in the Slaughter City for decades and didn't have a single copper coin, let alone gold coins!
"Third brother, which merchant guild does the giant ship you agreed on belong to?"
"I've already discussed it with the leader of the Coastal Chamber of Commerce. As long as the gold coins arrive, we can start operating the business."
Tang Chen hesitated for a moment, then said, " Xiao San, come with me."
"Good."
Half an hour later, the Coastal Chamber of Commerce
In a luxurious room, the portly Shopkeeper Qian smiled at Tang Chen and his companion, "Gentlemen, you're here to trade the Long March, right?"
Tang Chen nodded. "Yes, our sect's steward has already spoken with you."
Shopkeeper Qian was overjoyed. Sipping his tea, he said, "Gentlemen, the Long March is one of the three giant ships our chamber of commerce built this year. Two of them have already been bought by the government; this is the last one!"
"If you're just running a small business, an ordinary ship will suffice, but if you want to venture deeper into the region, a giant ship would be much more cost-effective."
Tang Chen: "What do you mean?"
Shopkeeper Qian spoke confidently, "Our giant ship is constructed from special materials, a combination of ten-thousand-year-old sandalwood and special metals. Even a seventy- or eighty-thousand-year-old Soul Beast can't harm it, and it can even withstand a few attacks from Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast!"
Tang Chen's eyes lit up. "Okay, I'll take it!"
Shopkeeper Qian's eyes lit up, and he quickly said, "Alright, the original price of our giant ship is 100,000, but since you're so generous, I'll sell it to you for 88,000!"
Tang Chen coughed awkwardly twice. " Shopkeeper Qian, we don't have any money."
"Pfft..." Shopkeeper Qian looked at him with a smile, then sprayed the tea he had just tasted all over his face, and said with slight anger, "No, are you guys playing me?"
Tang Chen quickly said, "No, Shopkeeper Qian, please let us explain. Can we compensate you in another way?"
Shopkeeper Qian's eyes lit up again. "Do you intend to barter?"
Having been a shopkeeper for over a decade, he immediately recognized that the other party was no ordinary person. Furthermore, very few people could afford such a large ship; those with money didn't need it, and those who did couldn't afford it. Having finally found a buyer, how could he possibly let it go?
Tang Chen shook his head. "How about this, you rent the giant ship to us, and I'll owe you a favor, and I'll do you a favor for free in the future."
Shopkeeper Qian's face instantly darkened. "Are you trying to play tricks on me?! Who the hell do you think you are? You think you can just walk away with a few words and a favor? Is your relative a governor or something?"
As soon as he finished speaking, Tang Chen's face also turned ugly. As Peerless Douluo, when had he ever been insulted like this? If he wasn't worried about revealing his identity and attracting the attention of Lin Chen and Bibi Dong from the Spirit Hall Empire, he would have really wanted to reveal his identity and teach the other party a lesson!
Shopkeeper Qian stood up irritably. "Get the hell out of here! When I was pulling these tricks, you were still wearing open-crotch pants! If you dare delay our business again, I'll hand you over to the authorities!"
"Say that again, you son of a bitch!" Tang San said coldly, his face grim.
Shopkeeper Qian scoffed, "Oh, so you think you can just rob me outright when your tricks fail? Do you know how many Soul Douluo Elders the Coastal Chamber of Commerce has? Do you know what relationship our Coastal Chamber of Commerce has with the Vast Sea Navy?"
"Roll!"
Tang San couldn't resist the urge to make a move, but Tang Chen stopped him, because he had heard that this place had some connection with the Spirit Hall Empire's government, and if his identity was exposed, it would easily cause problems.
Just then, a waiter at the Soul Ancestor level rushed over. "Manager, sir... sir..."
Shopkeeper Qian was in a very bad mood. "Screw you, let's talk this out! How have I taught you all this time?"
Waiter: "The... the Governor-General is here."
Shopkeeper Qian's expression froze for a moment, and he subconsciously asked, "What governor?"
"It's... it's the governor of our Vast Sea Province. Her family from her hometown has come, along with a couple. They both seem quite distinguished. They want to speak with you."
Shopkeeper Qian flew straight up the stairs. "Ganni's mother, if you have something to say, why don't you come out and greet her?"
In the VIP room, Tang Chen and Tang San exchanged a glance, their expressions both grim and grave, and simultaneously fled through the window.