The Iron Ship Island of the Great Voyage

"Sorry, I got up a little late tonight, so there was a delay." Matthew apologized.

It was the first time he was late for an appointment with someone.If it wasn't for the tossing all night last night, and Susannah couldn't get up, he wouldn't delay for so long and do such a rude thing.

"Come and introduce to everyone."

Matthew formally introduced Raymond to the people behind him, and said loudly: "This is Nicholas, a [polymath] who is proficient in antiquities research and ancient writing."

Raymond smiled noncommittally at everyone. The title of "polymath" also allowed him to build his new identity in an instant.

"Nicholas Zhao Si, Baron of 'Natia Southern Collar', greetings to all of you."

After saying this, except for Matthew and his sister Ilya, they looked indifferent, and the eyes of the rest of them were more or less contemptuous.

"Natia Southern Territory" belongs to a small territory in a remote corner of Tianlan. It has been caught in the flames of war all year round, and the lord changes frequently.The titles there are worthless, and most of them are small nobles who are self-proclaimed by some local lords.People from these small places are synonymous with "hillies" in the eyes of Wangdu people.

some introduction,

Raymond also met Matthew's hot fiancee Suzanne, and the arrogant young man Cook who seemed to be in love with Elijah.

At this moment,

Matthew looked at Raymond alone and was a little puzzled.

He looked around to see that no one was waiting, and asked again: "Brother Nicholas, are you alone? Didn't you bring your followers and retainers?"

Early this morning, he also deliberately asked the head of the "Wind Wolf Mercenary Group" to verify the situation of the "Black Snake Mercenary Group", and got a shocking and accurate news.Together with the leader of the Black Snake, that Sequence 7 master and several backbones of the regiment, they were killed in a dark alley yesterday afternoon.

The traces on the corpse were easy to identify, and the five members of the black snake were all killed with a single blow.Everyone speculated that the perpetrator was a master of swordsmanship, and must be a high-level transcendent higher than Sequence 7.

Raymond only had Sequence Eight, so he was obviously excluded.

Matthew had previously guessed that one of Raymond's retainers was a swordsman who killed the Black Snake, and he had some expectations.But now seeing that he came here alone, he couldn't help but feel a little disappointed.For things like adventure, the nobles usually bring powerful followers to ensure safety. If they don't bring...then they probably don't.

Probably... I think too much.

How could there be a small place like "Natia Southern Collar" who can kill the elite mercenaries of Sequence 7 with a single sword.

Moreover, he looked at Raymond's slightly shabby outfit, and naturally he didn't look like a wealthy nobleman who could support high-ranking followers.

Probably... This Nicholas brother is just a poor nobleman who is dedicated to academic research.

Chapter 162 The bad habit of wanting to draw a knife at the slightest disagreement

The brown bear has a large war ferry that goes to and from the Nigel Volcanic Islands, and the displacement is almost equivalent to the giant ocean liner in the previous life.This kind of large sea ship can not only resist huge wind and waves, but more importantly, it has powerful firepower to repel the attack of large sea beasts.The safety factor is much higher than that of a small boat.

Raymond followed Matthew and his party onto the boat, and the mercenaries followed behind carrying tent ropes and other expedition equipment.

It was about a three-day voyage from here to the Nicole Volcanic Islands, and they would spend these days on board.

This is Ilya's first time sailing to sea, and also her first real adventure.After she got on the ferry, she jumped up and down excitedly as if she had let herself go.

Matthew was also helpless towards this younger sister. He smiled at Raymond and said, "Brother Nicholas, I made you laugh. My younger sister has never traveled far. If there is any offense in the future, you have to be more tolerant."

"Well. It's nice to be lively."

Raymond didn't pay attention either, instead he glanced at Suzanne who was inseparable beside Fatty from the corner of his eye.I don't know why, this woman has become more and more hostile to me since I met him.

"Brother, the method you told me last night is really amazing!"

At this time, Matthew said excitedly: "I took the treasure map back last night and set it on fire, then poured sunflower juice on it, and another map actually appeared..."

Speaking of this, his fat body stuck up, and said mysteriously: "An ancient ruin that has never been excavated is marked on the map. This time, we made a fortune!"

This guy doesn't seem to be interested in martial arts and magic. When talking about the ruins, the first thing that comes to mind is money, which is obviously different from the purpose of other extraordinary people's expeditions.

Raymond was a little puzzled, and asked with a smile, "You seem to be short of money?"

Logically speaking, since this guy is the heir of the "Thunderbird Chamber of Commerce", he should not be short of money.Even if it is an expedition to hunt for treasure, he does not need to come by himself.

"My family is not short of money... but I am short of it!"

Matthew explained, and said with a bit of distress: "No, is the 'three-year family assessment' coming to an end soon? If I don't earn enough money this time, it will be ugly if I lose. Maybe even the owner The identity of the heir to the family will be stripped away..."

After listening for a while, Raymond understood the reason.

It turns out that the Baylor family that controls the "Thunderbird Chamber of Commerce" is a huge group. Although Matthew, a fat man, is the sole heir of the main family, it does not mean that other side clans are willing to hand over the helm of the business to him. constantly.Therefore, there is a three-year assessment.

All heirs of the right age in the Baylor family will participate. They cannot seek resource support from the main family, and can only rely on their own business methods to earn profits.Moreover, every account in the entire assessment process requires detailed entry and exit records, which will eventually become the result of judging the outcome.

If Matthew, the first heir of Baylor's main family, does not have the absolute advantage of money to get the first place, then other clan elders may question whether he is capable of inheriting the entire big family.

"There is another guy in the family branch, Kitz Baylor, who has earned hundreds of millions of profits in more than two years, and I am now less than [-] million. It is less than half a year before the end of the assessment , I want to win him by normal means, it is almost impossible. That's why I thought of the treasure map at home, and came here to try my luck..."

Lei Meng was puzzled: "Cultural relics are also considered profits? Isn't that easy to fake?"

The assessment rules seem to be very strict, but when you think about it, there are many places where you can cheat.

"Of course not...but it can be used as working capital!"

Speaking of this, Matthew pointed to the old man who accompanied him, and said with a pursed mouth: "The one over there is the examiner of the family. He will record all my sources of funds. Naturally, he will also supervise the entire treasure digging process. Prevent me from lying..."

After a pause, he continued: "As long as I really dig up the treasure and sell it for several billions, then I can use the money to buy some bulk goods and resell them. It will be very easy to make hundreds of millions of profits. "

"So this is ah."

Raymond was also stunned.After thinking for a while, he said again: "That is to say, even if a large batch of cheap potions are sold to you now, it still can't be counted as your performance assessment?"

"That's right! Unless I really dug up the treasure, and then I have enough money to eat the goods, the profit from reselling them is considered performance evaluation."

The fat man said, frowned again, and muttered: "Potion is indeed a huge profit industry, but you don't have to think about it... Now Tianlan's high-quality bulk potions are all from the 'Tianlan Potion Masters Union', which has distribution rights. They are all under the tight control of first-class chambers of commerce like the Giant Whale Chamber of Commerce, and there is no way for them to leak out."

When Lei Meng heard this, he didn't know what he thought of, and a strange look appeared in his eyes.

At this moment,

Matthew changed the subject again and said, "Brother, have you read today's newspaper?"

Raymond pretended not to know, "Not yet, what's the matter?"

Matthew's small eyes lit up when he heard it, and his face was full of gossip, "Let me tell you, something big happened to the brown bear leader last night! It was at the Red Dragon Tavern we went to last night." Back alley!"

Speaking of this, he paused, and asked excitedly: "By the way, Brother Nicholas, when did you leave? Didn't notice any special movement?"

"Not long after you left, I left. I also found that there was no movement..."

Raymond shrugged, probably guessing what this guy was going to say.

"Oh, that's such a pity. You didn't hear the movement, and you probably missed a good chance to see a superb swordsman..."