Chapter 201: The Coast

Chapter 201: The Coast

For opportunities, some people need to fight for them, while others are forced into them. Paul left the City of Wisdom with several followers. As Ge Yin’s youngest disciple, this was his first time carrying out a mission independently. Before setting out, his teacher repeatedly emphasized the importance of this task, but in his view, it seemed overly anxious.

He was not one of those bookworms. He had been to sea, seen storms, and heard the creaking sounds of the ship’s hull. When the sea was calm, those sounds only made one drowsy. But when the weather suddenly changed, those noises became frightening and unsettling. After experiencing it a few times, he learned—do your best and leave the rest to fate.

Although the City of Wisdom did not place much importance on overseas expansion, its thousand-year foundation was no joke. Timber was felled, transported, and stored according to plan every year, even if many saw it as a waste. So, as long as labor was secured, the speed of shipbuilding could be guaranteed.

For this journey, Paul needed to pass through the Cedar Kingdom, which bordered the City of Wisdom, and then recruit or capture laborers from the two coastal nations—South Cape and Lianhai.

The coastal base of the City of Wisdom was hidden at the southernmost tip of the Continent, situated between these two nations. Therefore, man power could only be sourced locally from these two countries.

The Cedar Kingdom was a major grain-producing nation, far from the effects of war and focused on farming. It was friendly to neighboring countries. In Paul’s eyes, this was at least a proper nation with a good heritage.

His impression of the two nations, South Cape and Lianhai, was much worse. These two countries paid no attention to their coastal fishing villages. Occasionally, some rural nobles would go there to show off their power, seize a few stinky fish and bad shrimp, then turn around and offer them to the so-called King. He had wondered more than once whether these two nations deliberately presented a shabby appearance to reduce outside attention.

Other nations had united to fight externally against the threat of the Demon Clan for nearly a thousand years. These two shabby nations had also been tearing at each other for nearly a thousand years. Luckily, they knew their place, only tangling with each other and never daring to provoke other powers.

Generations of coastal fishermen lived off the sea but could only manage a few small fish and shrimp with wooden rafts near the shore. Such people, if not urgently needed for labor, would never have been considered by Paul.

Paul understood that his teacher entrusted this matter to him because he was young, energetic, and likely to have fewer reservations in his actions. Thinking of this, he smiled wryly to himself—he was also the best scapegoat.

Currently, all his authority was given by his teacher; he had not yet built his own stable influence. In the future, his teacher would also have fewer reservations when dealing with him. The sea was unpredictable; accidents could happen at any time, and such large-scale migration was bound to have oversights.

Paul sighed. Being young did not mean he was stupid. He was just in a situation beyond his control, forced to endure and play dumb when he had no choice.

…

When Paul reluctantly left the City of Wisdom, Rio was also thrown out of Twinwing City. Unlike Paul’s dejection, he felt somewhat excited and pleased.

While kneeling on the ground, he heard the voice of his mistress questioning him from above. In his nervousness, he stammered out his idea, “I am willing to persuade Yong’an City to surrender.”

Both expected and unexpected, the mistress rejected this proposal and ordered the insect to throw him out. He relaxed his whole body and let himself be carried out of the city. Then, in full view of everyone, he was flung into the air and slammed heavily onto the ground. The insect’s wings rubbed together, making a sound like cackling laughter. But he paid no mind to it. Only after kowtowing did he turn and leave.

The mistress still remembered him, which was the most delightful thing. The order to sweep the area was not given to him alone. As more people were gathered, disputes and conflicts began to accumulate. The reason these conflicts hadn’t erupted was that everyone understood the serious consequences.

In the competition of survival of the fittest, he had not completely won yet. Perhaps this was a competition he could never truly win, as long as he lived and as long as these surrendered soldiers lived. But he could strive for a higher position and hold onto it.

The competition not only came from the surrendered soldiers but also from the slaves kneeling outside the city. Although these people seemed to have no connection with him and were unlikely to form any ties, they still gave him a more urgent feeling.

He mingled among these slaves, gathering information about the city. At the same time, he also spotted some figures from the surrendered soldiers.

…

Kehan noticed the person kneeling at the city gate. He had never liked these four-armed creatures; he preferred his own two faces.

When he smiled, the rear face could at least express genuine emotion, saving him from too much discomfort. Thinking of this, he instinctively touched his face. That slap had taught him a lot; at least the missing teeth on this side would always remind him.

When that young man ordered everyone to kneel, his upward-facing face showed piety, but the face toward the ground was gnashing its teeth. The young man ordered him to lift his head. The gnashing face instantly turned fawning as it rose, while the rear face began to twist and contort. A loud slap cured this old habit; now his expressions were much more synchronized.

This was a person skilled at opportunism. Having sat in the City Lord’s position for many years, he had seen all kinds of people. That undisguised ambition made him somewhat amused. Disguise! Without disguise, how could you seize opportunities?

Kehan thought he would see a beheading today, but he was disappointed. He only saw an irrelevant spectacle of a human tossed in the air—was that even punishment? If it were him, such a person would never see tomorrow’s sun.

Disguise was necessary, even if everyone knew your hypocrisy. Especially when facing superiors, it was a symbol of Reverence and submission. Being undisguised was the greatest provocation to a superior.

Or perhaps, the Deity had its own set of Rules. If so, did he need to change as well?

Watching that person inquire everywhere, before long, he had pretty much sold himself out. Rio, a Cannibal.

Kehan smiled. This was just a warrior who understood nothing. Many things didn’t require personal effort; one should fully utilize their authority and manpower to form their own network and informants.

Kehan had already figured out the origins of these nearly thousand people. They were just a negligible bunch, posing no threat to him.

He used to fear Death, but now he had a different thought. He already knew that Death was not the end; perhaps it was a completely new beginning. Then, if he served the Deity loyally, might he receive a better reward after death?

With this thought, he changed a lot, becoming even more devout than his daughter. Because the Divine Kingdom might not have room for too many people.