Chapter 263 - 263: Resurrection, Gnome Merchant Ship (2)
“Human is one thing, but why are there also Lizardmen!?”
“I’ll only teach a maximum of a dozen! Otherwise, no deal!!!”
Thotmudo’s angry roar echoed throughout the Crown of the Ocean.
Ji Chen felt a wave of disdain in his heart.
Why won’t he teach such a small number of people? This dwarf is truly stingy.
After the final round of bargaining and careful selection, a group of one hundred apprentices began to follow Thotmudo to learn the dwarf’s forging techniques.
Amidst the bustling sounds of the blacksmith’s workshop, two advanced buildings were completed in the Crown of the Ocean.
One was the five-star Elemental Arrow Tower, and the other was the Resurrection Altar.
The Elemental Arrow Tower was located on the cliff to the southeast of the Crown of the Ocean, with a high elevation and excellent visibility.
With a height of dozens of meters, the Elemental Arrow Tower firmly controlled the northern port area, the lord’s castle to the northwest, the beach area to the west, and a large expanse of sea to the southeast.
Once enemies entered its range, they would be subjected to a relentless barrage like a storm. With a range of up to three kilometers, enemies would have no chance to escape.
The Resurrection Altar, although not leveled, was an extremely useful special building. It was constructed not far from the lord’s castle, nestled within the tightest defenses.
Ji Chen stepped onto the altar to inspect its information.
[Resurrection Altar]
[Tier]: Special
[Effect]: Capable of resurrecting units
[Usage Restriction]: [2/2] times per month, each resurrection [1 unit to 5000 units]
[Currently Resurrectable]:
[Naga Berserker *324]
[Dragon Blood Murlocs *385]
[Elemental Sea Pixie *368]
[Murloc Prowler *301]
[Self-Detonating Water Spider *205]
[Resurrection Cost: 10,000 units of wood, 10,000 units of clay, 10,000 units of fiber, 500 units of crystal, 500 units of mithril]
Recently deceased armies of the Crown of the Ocean were prominently displayed, and the numbers were mostly accurate.
It seemed that only slain Self-Detonating Water Spiders could count towards the resurrection quota, while those that self-detonated did not.
In addition, Half-Orc Warriors seemed not to be counted because they weren’t recruited from the camp.
Adding up these resurrectable units, there were approximately 1600 units, far less than the resurrection cap of 5000 units.
But Ji Chen didn’t have time to think too much. He directly consumed one usage, resurrecting these armies.
The altar emitted a brilliant glow, shining even in the daytime, with an extraordinary radiance. The abundant resources stacked on the altar swiftly melted, transforming into luminous figures over time.
Due to the size of the altar, only eight were resurrected in each batch, lined up in four rows, making way for other resurrected units.
First to be resurrected were the Naga Berserkers, these strong and sturdy serpent-tailed warriors remained an indispensable main force of the Crown of the Ocean.
Next were the relatively smaller Dragon Blood Murlocs, possessing dragon might and tridents with firepower rivaling that of crossbows. They were responsible for long-range ground and aerial combat, as well as suppressing weaker enemies.
Following them were the Elemental Sea Pixies. No need to say much about them, they were the spellcasting team, causing mass destruction with each spell.
Then came the Self-Detonating Water Spiders…
Several hours later.
When the last Self-Detonating Water Spider with its distended abdomen walked down from the altar, the light from the altar quietly dissipated.
And on the open ground ahead, the resurrected army had once again filled the space, neither more nor less than before.
The residents watching this scene from the side were already filled with fanaticism.
“Am 1 seeing things? Those soldiers that seemed to have gone to the Mystic Realm with the Lord and died there… they actually came back to life!?” “Good heavens, only gods can resurrect the dead like this!”
“I understand! Even if they die in battle, as long as Lord is present, they can be revived! What incredible power!”
“Hail to Lord!”
Ji Chen acknowledged the cheers from the residents with a suitable response, enhancing their spirits, and then allowed them to go their separate ways to resume their tasks.
Looking back at the armies that were once again replenished, he felt somewhat relieved.
The army was the cornerstone of the Crown of the Ocean’s continuous progress and development. Without an army, even with great wealth, it would be impossible to hold on.
Returning to the Lord’s Castle.
Ji Chen rummaged through his backpack, taking out six miniature exquisitely carved skulls.
Bone Forge.
During this visit to the Skeleton Realm, he had obtained these Bone Forges. There were a total of 5 low-level Bone Forges and 1 intermediate-level Bone Forge. Their value was self-evident.
Just as he was considering when to set sail again and sell these Bone Forges.
A hurried sound of footsteps suddenly came from outside the door.
“Lord, an armored ship from the Stormy Sea has arrived. The beings on board claim to be part of a gnome merchant fleet and are requesting entry for trade with you!”
A gnome fleet?
Ji Chen was somewhat surprised.
Gnomes were not an unknown race. Renowned for their unattractive appearance across various worlds, gnomes were a race skilled in invention and creation and were extremely enthusiastic about commerce.
Greedy, stingy, cunning, meticulous, and enamored with gold.
Whether this personality trait nurtured their business talents or their business talents made them this way was irrelevant.
At this moment, Ji Chen was very interested in this sudden arrival of the gnome merchant fleet.
Since it was a merchant fleet, there should be some good items among them.
He wasn’t afraid that the gnomes would demand exorbitant prices, he was worried that they wouldn’t have anything valuable to offer.
“Guide the ship to the harbor, I will personally meet them!”
“Yes!”
After a slight adjustment of his appearance, Ji Chen, accompanied by his heroes and several units of his army, headed to the harbor.
When dealing with a race like the gnomes, it was necessary to display some degree of force to gain their respect.
Soon, an armored battleship slowly approached the harbor under guidance.
The armored battleship’s dimensions exceeded those of a regular three-masted warship by three times, yet it remained just slightly smaller than the New Moon.
The entire hull was made of metal, and the black shell appeared dominant and imposing under the sunlight. Gears, pipes, and lights were spread throughout, giving off a steampunk style.
At the top of the hull stood three thick chimney-like structures, emitting wisps of white steam from their tops.
But what caught the most attention were the four quadruple gun turrets on the deck, resembling the main guns of a battleship. The barrels were thick enough to fit a person.
Apart from these main cannons, the ship’s sides were adorned with numerous smaller-caliber secondary guns, amounting to around forty to fifty cannons. The arrangement of long and short barrels resembled the spines of a hedgehog.
Whether intentional or not, these barrels were faintly aimed at various important structures and the defending forces within the harbor.
“Woo woo woo—”
The armored battleship gradually came to a halt, the anchors at the bow and stern were simultaneously dropped, securing the battleship on the water’s surface. The previously seamless hull suddenly split open, and a metal staircase extended from the turning gears, connecting to the dock.
Then, several beings standing at only around 1.2 meters tall descended from the staircase.
Sporting a light green hue, elongated noses, wrinkled skin, and clothing adorned with conspicuous jewelry, they seemed to be making every effort to attract attention.
Yes, no mistake, with such an ugly appearance and a nouveau riche temperament, they were definitely gnomes.
At this moment, the leading male gnome lifted his head and, upon seeing Ji Chen, eagerly walked over with a quick pace.
“Oh- my friend, you’re really tall, just like Le Ruwa!”
As they approached, the male gnome performed a somewhat comical bow that seemed quite amusing.
“Allow me to introduce myself. 1 am Ernesto Goldshimmer, the consul of this gnome merchant ship. I’ve come with a thirst for gold!
My dear human friend, 1 might just have some rare items you need here, or perhaps, you have some things I want to purchase.”
Hearing this, Ji Chen was momentarily taken aback. The name and intent were so straightforward. Should he call it candidness or simply diving straight into the money pool?
But this suited his intentions perfectly. He didn’t want to waste precious time on formalities either.
He smiled slightly and returned the gesture with equal simplicity.
“I am Ji Chen, the owner of the New Moon Islands and the Lord of the Crown of the Ocean. I welcome your arrival..”