Chapter 364 Do you understand the value of [Hereditary Earl]?
It is not uncommon to engrave magic patterns and arrays on steel cruise ships on long voyages .
After all, the ocean in this world is a dangerous area. It’s easier near the coast, but once you pass a certain stage, what you encounter suddenly rises to several levels.
Therefore, in the continent of Kovare, having a captain who can lead a ship on a long voyage, or even a stable and safe shipping route, represents unimaginable wealth.
"So if I want to go out to sea within five days, is there any good way?"
As he spoke, Mo Cheng placed a golden griffin on the bar. He knew that bartenders often worked as intelligence dealers, and they always knew things that he didn't know.
"There is a method, and this information is not worth that much. It can be regarded as a gift from before."
The bartender looked at the shining gold coins on the bar, but had no intention of taking them. Instead, he pushed them back.
Some money can be taken, and a slight premium is not a big deal. But some money cannot be taken, especially when it cannot solve the other party's needs, or even when the information provided is not accurate. That money will only become a dagger stabbing into the chest.
The bartender only intended to use some common intelligence to boost the pub's alcohol sales and act as a middleman, but he did not intend to get involved in anything too troublesome.
"That steel cruise ship will depart in five days, heading to the port of the Kingdom of Bezeko and then returning. The tickets are very expensive, the cheapest one is about three thousand gold griffins, and it only accepts people of status."
Three thousand gold griffins were indeed very expensive. The boat tickets for Mo Cheng and his group alone cost twelve thousand gold griffins, and that was the cheapest ticket.
"Okay, I'll think about it."
Although he said he was considering it, Mo Cheng basically had no intention of taking a ship that might sink at any time, even if it was probably safe for the first voyage because in [Foreign Land], the background description said that it sank during a certain voyage.
This shows that it was most likely not the unlucky one that sank on its first voyage.
It’s just that Mo Cheng believed that the ship would not sink on its first voyage, but he didn’t trust his luck.
After leaving the tavern, Mo Cheng took Lilia to several other taverns in the ports to ask.
But the answers we got were all without exception that the ships that could leave had already left yesterday or even this morning, and those that had not left yet were planning to go out to sea ten days later.
It was not until the evening when Mo Cheng took Lilia to meet Isabella and Theresa that the information he received was exactly the same as that given by the bartender.
Of all the ships in the entire port, the fastest one to depart is the Steel Cruise Ship, which will depart in five days.
"It takes about ten days for a normal ship to reach Napa Harbor in the best weather and conditions. For the steel cruise ship, it only takes about five days."
"A banquet is being held in the city lord's mansion these days, and all the guests are big businessmen and nobles. In fact, the city lord owns shares in the cruise ship's manufacturing plant. Inviting businessmen and nobles is probably to get them to invest."
After learning that there would be no ship travel in the near future, Isabella specifically asked about the speed of the steel cruise ship and collected some relevant information before returning.
"So, if I want to get on the ship, I have to go to a party tonight."
Mo Cheng rubbed his temple. He didn't like the banquet environment very much and he was even more aware of what kind of troubles he would encounter if he attended the banquet.
Personally, he really didn't want to deal with the nobles.
"Captain, if you want to leave within ten days, this is your only option," Theresa advised. "We would like to help you buy a ticket, but if you don't show up, it will be seen as a provocation by the other party."
Nobles are very concerned about their reputation, and they have a very complicated set of rules for all kinds of things. If Mo Cheng really didn't even show up and sent Isabella or Theresa to negotiate with the city lord, this behavior would be seen as aggressive in the eyes of others.
Troublesome and unavoidable.
Scratching his hair in distress, Mo Cheng made a choice, "Isabella, go to the city lord and give him a visiting card later, and we will follow the etiquette."
Isabella nodded. "No problem. Oh, and there are other preparations. Due to time constraints, we can't prepare in advance, so we can only use the next level ones instead."
"Instead? What are you talking about?"
"Attending a noble banquet requires a lot of pomp and circumstance." Isabella held up her fingers and counted them one by one. "Luxury carriage, luxurious noble clothing, these must be in line with your status."
"How do you know this?"
Compared to what Isabella said, Mo Cheng was more curious about how she knew all this.
"I learned this when I left Fairhaven. Followers need to maintain the identity and dignity of the people they follow in every situation."
In the continent of Khorvaire, there is a direct relationship of loyalty between followers and those being followed, and both sides have inevitable responsibilities and powers towards each other.
After Isabella decided to follow Mo Cheng, she became Mo Cheng's vassal. If he had a territory in the future, he would even need to divide it among Isabella if she made contributions.
Even if Isabella and Theresa broke the law or were attacked by other nobles, Mo Cheng must protect the half-elf sisters, because this is the basis for his line to form a community of interests.
To use the historical knowledge that Mo Cheng has learned, the vassal of my vassal is not my vassal. In politics and power, he only needs to be responsible to the queen, and Isabella and Theresa only need to be responsible to him. There is no phenomenon that Isabella and Theresa need to be responsible to Queen Caroline.
" As for the noble clothing, I remember the royal family gave it to me, but it was placed in Fairhaven."
Mo Cheng vaguely remembered that set of clothes was very cumbersome to put on. Although the material was good, it was inconvenient to put on and take off. In addition, all the decorations such as the scepter were placed in Albert's House by him and he did not bring them here at all.
In fact, he never considered wearing that outfit at all.
After thinking about it, Mo Cheng nodded and said, "Let's go buy some clothes first, but will it work? Those nobles have very sharp eyes, and they will be able to see what I buy in the store, right?"
"Theresa and I do have an elven-style dress, which should be enough for us as maids and guards."
Nobles would never go to a banquet alone. Basically, they would bring maids and guards with them. The more particular ones would even bring female companions.
"That's no problem. Lilia, put on your mage robes, and you guys put on skirts."
"Captain, what about you?"
"Me?" Mo Cheng smiled. "I am a hereditary earl and a rising star in Fairhaven's political circle. So many people in Fairhaven invited me to banquets but I didn't go. Now if I go to a banquet, is there anyone who would require me to dress appropriately?"
If Mo Cheng's title was lower, he might have to find a way to get clothes and a carriage. But he is a hereditary earl, if someone dares to laugh at him...
According to the value of a hereditary earldom, anyone who dares to laugh at him must at least be a hereditary marquis.
