Chapter 192: Birthday Banquet

The Tailun Continent was surrounded by ocean, and each of the major empires had a long coastline. Transporting goods by sea was cheaper, more convenient, and faster than by land, and they did not have to worry about the winding mountain roads or the many checkpoints and territories one would have to traverse.

Many countries also had large rivers within their borders. After discovering a safe route, they would be able to send their goods to the larger cities by sea. Thus, it was imperative that a large merchant association ship their goods by water, for it could save them time and labor.

There were also many islands scattered across the ocean outside of the Tailun Continent, each harboring unknown precious resources. Basically, every large merchant association would have their own fleet of ships, and would bring back rare resources from abroad every year, earning them great profit.

To a large merchant association, even though there was an unparalleled advantage in shipping their goods by sea, there were also a few limitations. Other than the harassment from the members of the Sea Tribe that lived underwater, they were troubled by the unpredictable ocean and its terrifying tempests.

In the boundless ocean, losing one’s direction could prove fatal. As there was a limit to the food and potable water they could bring along, a fleet that had lost their way had one foot in the grave. Every year, each merchant association would lose much of their capital and crew to the ocean.

But if they had this Heart of the Ocean that could display nautical routes in real time, if they had this Holy Weapon of the Siattu Sea Tribe, the crew on the ships would no longer have to worry about being lost at sea. To a merchant association of considerable scale, this was basically a treasure only possible in dreams.

“Six million, five hundred thousand.”

“Seven million.”

“Seven million, two hundred thousand.”

“Eight million.”

The rich merchants in the hall were locked in a bidding war after understanding the value of the Heart of the Ocean. The price had soared from the opening bid of three million to eight million.

Yang Ling had been tempted by the energy emanating from the Heart of the Ocean, sensing its similarity to the Wizard Power. He thought about joining in on the action with the money he had safely stored in his Space Ring. But the rich merchants driving the price up all around him led him to drop that idea.

Even though the Magical Beast Territory had a wealth of resources thanks to its proximity to Terras Forest, it was far from the human populated cities like Montson and Bavaria. Between them was the Wilderness of Siberia that spanned thousands of miles, and transportation was difficult and inconvenient. He had to rely on the ocean if he wanted to develop the Magical Beast Territory.

With the River Pythonmen that were familiar with the water, and the Galapagos Tortoisemen, and with the experienced Ashnamov who had both brains and brawn, Yang Ling was confident that he could set up a naval force of a decent scale. But establishing a safe sea passage was not an easy task. If he could obtain the Heart of the Ocean, the problem would be lessened greatly, but…

There is nothing in the world too difficult for one who sets his mind to it!

Yang Ling realized that not being able to buy the item using his money did not mean that he had no way around the situation. He fell silent, watching the people in the crowd.

After a fierce competition, an elder in Chinese robes won the Heart of the Ocean with a bid of ten million Purple Crystal Coins. As soon as the bid closed, he was whisked away by armed guards. It was clear that the experienced old fox knew very well what might happen if he was caught with such a coveted item.

After committing the appearance of the elder in Chinese robes to memory, Yang Ling wanted to quietly leave and follow him, to find out where he lived. But Yang Ling had just stood up when he felt an ice cold energy sweep past him. He cautiously pretended to stretch to ease his fatigue, and then caught Yuna and Orlando’s attention to leave with him.

Soon, he realized that the feeling of danger came from a black robed man at the upper left corner of the auction house.

The man was wearing a straw hat and a pair of black boots. Even though he was sitting, not moving an inch, Yang Ling could feel an unprecedented sense of danger emanating from him. It felt as if he had encountered a venomous snake that had raised its head, ready to strike.

Who is that?

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Feeling the sinister feeling sweeping across him, Yang Ling put up his guard and calmed himself, trying to suppress the ripples of Wizard Power radiating from his body. He could feel that the man was not friendly, and that his abilities were deep beyond comprehension, at least at the level of a Heaven-ranked Assassin. In fact, he could be even more powerful than the Heaven-ranked Assassin that had tried to kill him back then in the forest.

The situation was getting more unstable!

After exiting the auction house and seeing that the elder in Chinese robes had disappeared, Yang Ling led Yuna and Orlando back to the inn.

It was almost the day of the emperor’s birthday banquet. With more people pouring into Montson, and given how precious the Heart of the Ocean was, Yang Ling believed that it would attract the attention of many people. Rather than take the risk to find out about the elder in Chinese robes, he might as well observe from the sidelines and act after the chaos had passed.

After training for a day, Yang Ling headed to the palace to attend the Emperor’s banquet. After showing his invitation, he was led to an opulent hall by a servant.

Even though there was still some time before the start of the banquet, the hall was already packed with people. There were palace maids in flowy dresses, fluttering like butterflies as they served wine. There were rich merchants and great nobles with pot bellies preceding them. There were slender young ladies and reserved rich older ladies dressed in gowns of various colors.

After taking a seat in a quiet corner, Yang Ling took a sip of his Raphael Red Wine. The wine was part of a collection for the palace, and was sweet but not cloying, refreshing but not intense. Tasting it carefully, Yang Ling got a unique flavor profile. It lived up to its reputation.

Just as Yang Ling was tasting the unique red wine alone, a lavishly dressed teenage girl walked quickly toward him, several other teenage girls in heavy makeup and bright gowns trailing behind her.

“Oh, hello Brother Yuri! Why are you here?”

“Miss Lia! Hello. I am waiting for someone!” Yang Ling quickly recognized the Spellcaster Lia.

Lia had never heard of someone waiting for someone else at a palace event. Perhaps he had come with someone important to witness the fanfare. He could have connections with very influential families.

Then someone else spoke. “Hehe, there are weird things happening every year, but there seem to be more this year. It looks like now even a beggar can enter the palace!” A young man, his head wrapped in bandages, was making his way to Yang Ling and Lia. Yang Ling recognized Robert instantly. Yang Ling assumed that the bandages meant that he suffered greatly after the two falls from his horse.

Looking at the arrogant Robert and his bandaged head, then remembering how he looked when he fell from the back of his horse the other day, Yang Ling smiled and said, “That’s right, even a person fighting to eat feces can enter the palace, this is just ridiculous!”

Robert fumed in anger when he heard Yang Ling say this, clenching his teeth. Lia broke into laughter. After she explained the situation to the other young ladies, they laughed as well, open mouthed and hearty.

Yang Ling did not wish to invite trouble, but he couldn’t help teasing Robert, who was a natural clown. It was a special day for the Emperor, and no one would start a fight in the palace, no matter how arrogant they were.

Indeed, looking at the great nobles around, looking at the guards of the palace not far away, Robert had no choice but to suppress his urge to chop Yang Ling in two. Even if he had the gall of a bear, he would not dare take action on this day.

Even though Yang Ling was dressed in ordinary clothes and sitting in a quiet corner with the palace maids, Robert did not know Yang Ling’s true identity. Even though he was a little arrogant, he did know to look at who the person’s master was before taking action.

While Triangle Face Robert was caught between a rock and a hard place, not daring to take action but unwilling to back down, a commotion began to spread. A team of armed guards appeared, and soon after, the Emperor slowly walked out under the protection of the guards.

Seeing his father shoot a look toward him from far away, Robert walked away grumbling, his team of cronies following closely behind him. After laughing for a moment, Lia and the rest of the girls left quickly, making their way closer to the emperor.

The emperor of Kaliya was short and potbellied. Other than his clothes, embroidered with the Holy Flame and the jade crown, he did not look any different from a plump merchant at a distance.

For some reason, looking at his bloated figure, Yang Ling suddenly recalled the mistress Diana who had intentionally tried to seduce him. He remembered her slender waist, and her alluring movements…

After saying a few words, the Emperor sat on the throne. A fair woman, her wrinkles faintly visible, sat beside him. She had defined features, and her crown was laced with rows upon rows of shiny pearls. Hearing how others addressed her, Yang Ling guessed that she was the Empress of the Kaliya duchy.

With a minister facilitating the event, the guests started congratulating the Emperor one by one. The first to do so were foreign envoys, such as those from the Rossi and Banto Empires. The influential families like the Nicholas and Banner families were next in line, and finally were the guests from powerful merchant associations, Association of Magic and the Troops Association.