Surviving The Fourth Calamity

After signing the contract with Prince Horace... although the prince appeared somewhat uneasy facing Lansendel's Holy Emblem, he decisively pressed the Royal Seal... 'Snow Cloud Peak' then invited Prince Holmes aboard his Magic Ship.

However, 'Snow Cloud Peak' initially only requested the prince to send a noble to guide the Undead Tribe's fleet... after all, they needed to enter Eastern Bay.

The gigantic fleet of the Undead Tribe is a terrifying threat to many coastal cities. They came to Anmur to earn money and gather some intelligence, without intending to intimidate anyone.

Having a noble who can communicate with nearby cities will save them a lot of trouble.

As a result, the Yinbutu Crown Prince unhesitatingly put himself in this intermediary position.

The young nobles and domestic ministers behind him were somewhat anxious, but Holmes had a clear understanding; he directly instructed the young nobles to follow him... Most of these people were heirs of the Great Nobility; even if preparations for relocating the Royal Capital were necessary, they didn't need to do anything, just like him, appearing in public is merely symbolic.

They would be better off gaining insights behind the Teraxil Elves.

But the ministers managing internal affairs must return to work, and faced with their worries, Prince Holmes could only comfort them gently.

The royal nobles of Yinbutu have no intention of usurping the throne; they only hope for a pragmatic king to emerge.

After all, families able to establish a kingdom in the Starfall Ocean somehow have connections with Giant Dragons or Dragon Liches... just like Yinbutu, the Lich Towers on their lands, and the Silver Dragon residing in the Gray Forest all have some relation to the Royal Family.

If the Yinbutu Royal Family brings about their own destruction, no one cares; even if the nation perishes, those indifferent powerful individuals would merely watch coldly.

But if anyone dares act against them... as long as these Dragon Liches and Giant Dragons can fight, they will certainly strike.

Thus, although past kings of Yinbutu often lived extravagantly and were easily swayed by emotions, the people of Yinbutu could only wait for time to take them away.

It was with all the Great Nobility bearing witness that the Queen forced the King to confirm Prince Holmes' status... no one stood up for the King, proving how firm the prince's status was... the nobles aren't foolish; regardless of the Queen's small faults, she brought hope to Yinbutu.

Therefore, the ministers were completely unwilling to see Prince Holmes take risks, until the prince praised the dawn, and they suddenly realized... Lansendel's contract also bound the Undead Tribe, unless the prince voluntarily tore it up, the Elves wouldn't make a move on him lightly.

The prince's personality is still steady; how could he be foolish enough to offend Lansendel! He wasn't like his father.

The ministers quickly floated back to the harbor on a calm three-masted ship... relocating the Royal Capital is no trivial matter; moving is torment for every noble.

As for the commoners, even if they aren't told, in pursuit of wealth, they'll eventually go... as for their residences, that is no concern of the Royal Family.

Leaving them empty land outside the Inner City is already quite generous. The group of Otherworld Elves from Agleya agreed to help them build only the Royal Palace and the Inner City for the noble ministers.

Although the royal nobles of Yinbutu don't think the Undead Tribe can quickly destroy their enemies and build New Royal City, they at least need to confirm how much territory they can occupy in New Royal City.

Prince Holmes wanted to follow the Undead Tribe to avoid participating in those lucrative fighting divide-the-spoils conferences... after all, no one dares encroach on the Royal Family's share, but the nobles' contests don't require the king to arbitrate.

So those boring meetings where one can only sit on the throne and watch aimlessly should be left to his father!

Prince Holmes looked out at the sea and sighed... his father, prone to melancholy, had better regain some confidence soon. Otherwise, if that little mistress keeps feeding him, Holmes fears that after a few days of absence, his father will become a round ball... what if he explodes?

The Yinbutu Royal Family is shameful enough without crafting an infamous death method.

Seated in the top-level observation deck, Prince Holmes surveyed his surroundings and suddenly exhaled with relief... even though they appeared very wealthy, these Elves still preferred a simple and fresh style.

As long as it wasn't magnificent and lavish... he always thought that the rumors about the Yinbutu Royal Family having Giant Dragon bloodline weren't baseless; most of his family couldn't live without gold and silver jewelry.

If they hear others possess more wealth, they become restless.

Holmes truly fears that his impulsive father might choose to renege on the debt upon learning of the Undead Tribe's wealth... if his father inherited any characteristics of a Dragon, apart from greed, shamelessness would be another.

Not even Lansendel's radiance could prevent him from losing his mind, but Holmes, who is more like his mother, still doesn't want to die, especially for such a stupid reason.

But his father was very naive... Even knowing how valuable the Undead Tribe's battleships were, he wouldn't think they had money to burn just from hearing from these Great Nobility offspring that there wasn't a single gold or gemstone in the cabins.

Only with splendor and opulence could someone be considered wealthy in his eyes.

Prince Holmes cheerfully raised his glass... The food and drinks provided by the Undead Tribe were served in the simplest white ceramic tableware, rather than the gold dishes and jade cups popular among the Toril Nobles, which put him at ease once more.

Even when tasting wines he'd never tried before and enjoying fruits that were rarely available, Holmes smiled happily... After all, the King of his family never understood what fine dining was nor appreciated understated luxury.

After all, he could savor a fisherman's sandwich with relish!

Holmes initially found it hard to believe that his father could be so foolish as to eat that stuff bite by bite, and he sincerely hoped that at least the sandwich tasted decent... Unfortunately, one bite was enough for him to be overwhelmed by the strange flavor and spit it out.

If it were commoners who seldom had oily food, they might find the taste acceptable... though it was completely relying on that peculiar spicy taste to suppress the dreadful greasy flavor.

But for members of the Royal Family, who were used to delicacies, that taste was simply explosive.

Never before had Holmes so clearly recognized that his father was an idiot... A normal person would not treat that thing as a regular snack just because a little lover sincerely wished him long life.

The Detection Ring inherited by the Yinbutu Royal Family, capable of sensing human emotions, was used by his father to judge if a lover was truly sincere, which Prince Holmes could never accept... Didn't noblewomen give up their reputations to become the King's mistress for power and wealth?

When they discovered the King had a new favorite, it was only natural to start thinking about their future... Without status, wouldn't they demand more money?

So later when the King found a fisherwoman who had never experienced the luxury of high society, all the Royal Family members knew what was going on... The King desired a love without reservation.

This newly appointed mistress was indeed devoted to the King. She understood clearly that once the King was gone, all the enjoyment she had would vanish instantly... Without noble status as protection, everything she gained would eventually be taken back.

So she truly offered what she knew as the best gifts to the King... and then Prince Holmes saw just how foolish his deeply moved father could be.

For the ten thousandth time glad he resembled his mother, Prince Holmes finally pulled himself together and began to inquire about the situation in Kalinsan from the Undead officers accompanying them.

Anmur and Kalinsan were both perennial trading partners of the countries around the Starfall Ocean, and Holmes wanted to know whether the trade route to Kalinsan would face issues... A disruption of one or two years wasn't much, but if it lasted long, relying solely on Anmur would be a disaster for all the countries in the Starfall Ocean.

That was a country very friendly with Sel, known for doing despicable things in a similar manner: once they could monopolize trade, prices would inevitably rise, tripling or quadrupling was normal.

Even though they had a Dragon Lich behind Yinbutu, these Liches leaning emotionally towards the Dragon Race would only act when Yinbutu faced destruction... Perhaps the Silver Dragon from the Gray Forest, once the magical pet of Yinbutu's first King, would move before them!

Sometimes, a country that can only defend will surely face more probing.

Only those countries that can retaliate immediately when things happen earn respect.

And only countries as aggressive as Sel can earn awe.

In Yinbutu's current situation, Holmes could only gather more information about external matters, so as to implement targeted precautions early to avoid some troubles.

Fortunately, the Lord of Agleya City had opened a new route. Although it still required climbing over several mountains occupied by Giant Dragons before entering the formal river route to Luskan along the Mirar River, at least when the trade route was completely blocked near the Steam Lake, there was still a lifeline.

Although the Silver Dragon usually paid no mind to their Yinbutu, if it was only borrowing his name, he would never care... If offered shares in the commercial fleet, even if he liked to sleep in all the time, he would be willing to help them across the Giant Dragon Mountain Range at least once.

However, as long as the Teraxil Elves remained in Yinbutu, nothing major was likely to happen. Even the Sel Necromancer, who always wanted to be the overlord of the Starfall Ocean, would probably quiet down for a while.

These Elves are almost unbeatable in battles below the highest level.

And if legendary or even demigod beings were dispatched... That Lord of Agleya, whom nobody dared to provoke, was still in Toril!

Prince Holmes listened calmly as the Undead spoke of Kalinsan, completely unbothered by these elves occasionally cursing the customs and traditions of Kalinsan... Normal Ferun Nobles would all think they were a bunch of weirdos.

Compared to living in Kalinsan, people of the Starfall Ocean would rather live in Sel, especially the women, who would even prefer becoming skeletons.