LRAB Chapter 206 Mysterious Feast
Chapter 206 Mysterious Feast
Chapter 206 Mysterious Feast
First Mate Ajun Singh walked up to him and reminded him in a deep voice:
"grown ups--"
"I understand," Suraj Mishra nodded.
The nightlight tonight has a faint green hue, giving it a strong sense of mystery.
On the pier illuminated by streetlights, a ship departs as night falls.
If it were just an ordinary boat, Suraj wouldn't have cared so much, and Ah Jun wouldn't have reminded him.
It was a four-comb sailing ship, very wide, making it appear short, but in reality, it was longer than almost all three-comb sailing ships.
But Suraj immediately recognized it as a warship:
"That's the Federation's 'Mountain-Swallowing Leopard,' but I heard that the Federation's King Protector didn't order a second batch to be manufactured because it was too cumbersome."
Ah Jun nodded: "And the first batch of ships were all assigned to serve in New Gate City."
"As the starting point for the Federation's development of the new continent, New Gate City's important role is to defend, not to invade. A reliable ship type like the Mountain Leopard is indeed suitable for the maritime escort mission of this outpost city."
Suraj, standing at the bow of the ship, his eyes sharpened, and he spoke slowly in wise language.
"But why is it here at this port? What kind of plan is Newgate City, or rather the Federation, plotting?"
Ah Jun immediately told Suraj, "Sir, look, there are no Federation or Newgate City flags on the ship, and..."
Unless carrying out a surprise attack, a stealth raid, or a flanking maneuver, warships generally do not choose to sneak out of port at night.
Suraj, of course, understood that something was amiss.
However, lacking clues, Suraj dared not make a hasty judgment.
Moreover, "We have a mission, so we cannot cause too much of a commotion, and we certainly cannot make direct contact with Federation ships."
Ah Jun, bring the ship ashore, and then send two people to carefully investigate the origin of that ship.
"But remember, prioritizing not exposing yourselves is crucial. Then send people to resupply supplies, inquire about the recent situation on the northern and southern shipping routes, and focus on gathering intelligence on Shoepad Island."
"Yes, sir."
After receiving the order, Ah Jun bowed to Suraj and then began to carry out Suraj's instructions.
Suraj narrowed his eyes as he watched the "Mountain-Swallowing Leopard" class warship gradually disappear into the distance.
The Federation people are always one step ahead, and Suraj believes that the appearance of this ship here is definitely not a coincidence.
These clever federal peoples are adept at opportunism, but no one can deny that as they continue to absorb other states, their territory expands day by day, making them the undisputed leading power on the Far East continent.
Therefore, Suraj was certain that the Federation must be secretly plotting some new plan regarding the New World.
Swabawa has always lagged behind the Federation, but it cannot remain behind forever, so Suraj must keep this in mind.
As the one who breaks the deadlock in the New World issue, Suraj must bring back tremendous results for his homeland Swabawa and His Holiness.
If that ship truly carries the Federation's new plans, then General Suraj firmly believes that he will encounter that ship sooner or later.
The Wisdom Tree docked, and the sailors on board began to act according to Ah Jun's instructions.
The ship was disguised as an ordinary trading vessel, but in reality, every sailor on board was a highly trained sergeant in Swabawa.
They were not only highly skilled in martial arts, but also proficient in multiple techniques.
After all, without help of this caliber, Suraj might not have been able to accomplish such a difficult mission.
At this moment, Ah Jun walked up to Sula Jie:
"My lord, everything has been arranged according to your instructions."
"Okay," Suraj nodded, "I'm going out for a bit."
"Is the adult going to find a book to read again?"
Suraj nodded: "It's a history book. To understand a city's culture, you have to look to its past. The Federation's protector is undoubtedly more powerful than our sovereign, so Swabawa needs friends—"
"...And the first step in making friends is to understand each other," Ah Jun interrupted Suraje, "Sir, you've mentioned this to me many times. Although it's straightforward, it's definitely a wise saying."
"But, sir, even I understand that one-sided understanding yields little result in making friends. What's important is 'mutual' interaction. However, no matter how much local history you read, without communication, you can't make the other party understand us."
"Of course I want to communicate, but our principle for this trip is to keep a low profile," Suraj said. "Moreover, we must not reveal our intentions and ambitions until His Holiness has enough leverage."
"We need to introduce ourselves to the forces around the world, but not right now. What I'm doing now is preparing for Swabawa's future."
Ah Jun nodded, not arguing further, but simply offering a reminder:
"But, sir, it's far too late tonight, past midnight. The library must have already closed for the night. In fact, there isn't even a library in this city."
"Ignorant people who reject knowledge could never manage a territory to such prosperity. I have heard more than once along the way that Tongue Harbour is a rich port."
"But you must also know that the selfishness of the kingdom's lords is far beyond imagination. They are unwilling to share their precious knowledge with ordinary people, even if they are their own subjects. In the kingdom's ports we have visited, there are almost no libraries open to the people."
"Since you say so, you must also be aware of the lords' greed. For just a glittering gold coin, those lords would be willing to let me stay in their castle library for an entire day."
Upon hearing this, Ah Jun suddenly let out a deep sigh before continuing:
"My lord, I know I can't dissuade you. Since you've decided to try your luck, I must follow. Entering the lord's castle is not absolutely safe. Those knights are fickle, and no one knows what foolish thing they might suddenly do."
"You don't like reading either."
"It has nothing to do with personal preference. As your second-in-command, I must offer timely advice when appropriate. Moreover, I am the most powerful warrior on the ship. No one is more suitable to be your personal bodyguard than me."
"The continent of Ancent is full of heroes, and your martial prowess is certainly not among them. We are now standing on this land."
"Of course I know my place, sir, but doesn't that just show how dangerous the castle is? I should stay by your side even more."
Hearing this, Suraj had no further reason to refuse Ah Jun.
Of course, he could use his position as superior to forcefully order Ah Jun not to come along.
But he won't do that, as it would inevitably alienate them.
This is absolutely of no benefit to their mission.
"Then you can come along."
"Yes, sir."
Suraj stepped onto the boarding board and quickly began to descend.
Walking on the streets of Tongue Harbour, Suraj carefully observed the local customs and culture.
It was Ah Jun who, on the contrary, obtained the answer for Suraj:
"My lord, the library is only in the castle."
Suraj nodded and, with Ah Jun in tow, headed straight for the tall castle ahead.
Upon arriving at the castle, only two torches remained, stuck in the stone walls on either side of the main gate.
The pungent smell of burning asphalt was unbearable for Suraj, who couldn't help but click his tongue in disbelief.
"Tsk—"
Was the owner of this castle some kind of uncivilized primitive? What era is this? Why is there still such an ancient and crude way of lighting?
In the Far East, luminescent agents had long been widely used and had become the primary lighting tool for people in the East.
The guards stopped Suraj and Ah Jun and questioned them about their purpose.
Suraj made his request in the Kingdom's language, and a soldier immediately went into the castle to relay Suraj's words.
In fact, Suraj didn't have much hope either. Ah Jun was right; it was too late now, and the lord here was unlikely to let them into the castle.
A moment later, a soldier brought a report informing him that Suraj could go inside the castle to read books without any time limit.
This surprised Suraj. Could this lord be more benevolent and generous than he had imagined?
Suraj said a few words of thanks, then followed the soldiers into the castle.
They were taken directly to the hiding room, after which the soldiers left, leaving Suraj and Ah Jun to read freely.
The Wisdom Tree wouldn't stay here for long, so Suraj was making the most of every second.
He picked out a large pile of books and began to read them intently in the library.
Ah Jun, on the other hand, remained on high alert, ensuring Sula Jie's safety.
Once he becomes focused, Suraj's perception of time diminishes.
He didn't know how much time had passed when suddenly Ah Jun called out to him:
"captain?"
Suraj snapped out of his thoughts: "What's wrong?"
"Someone is looking for you."
Upon hearing this, Suraj immediately became serious and looked around the room.
Sure enough, a man dressed as a bartender was standing respectfully to the side.
Suraj asked, "Sir, is there anything I can help you with?"
"Ah, the Earl wants to see you. He requests your presence."
Suraj immediately became alert: "The Earl is looking for me?"
He had read books in the castles of many kingdom lords, but had never formally met any of them.
It was unlikely that a lord would be interested in a merchant asking for books, but this was unusual, and a strong sense of unease spread through Suraj's heart.
The man replied, "My lord said he'd like to invite you to dinner—"
Faced with the lord's invitation, Suraj, who was in the other party's castle, had no choice but to take Ah Jun to the banquet. At least Ah Jun was there—Suraj secretly rejoiced that in case of any unexpected events, he would not be at the mercy of others.
Soon, they arrived at the castle's restaurant.
At the long elmwood dining table, a middle-aged man with a square face, dressed in a magnificent white long-sleeved suit, sat at the far end.
The sommelier who had brought Suraj over introduced him to Suraj:
"Gentlemen, this is Lord Gabriel Mason, the lord of Tongue Harbor."
Suraj bowed and greeted him: "Count Gabriel, it is an honor to meet you. I am Aryan, a merchant from the sea, and this is my assistant, Barat."
Gamill smiled slightly and gestured to the two nearest seats:
"Come, sit here."
Suraj walked toward Gamir, but instead of sitting down, he stood beside him and asked:
"I am truly flattered to receive Your Excellency's invitation to this banquet. My lord, I've heard that Tongue Harbor is a major port with countless merchant ships coming and going. Why have you specifically invited me to dine here?"
"Because my men told me that a brown-skinned man had come to the castle,"
Gamilly said,
"And that is precisely why I allowed you to come into my castle to read. And from the moment you stepped into the castle, I had people prepare this midnight snack."
Suraj understood Gamir's unspoken meaning.
One of the most distinctive features of the Swabawa people is their brown skin.
Suraj's identity was suspected by the count before him.
But from the very beginning, he knew his skin color couldn't be hidden, so he had already prepared his lines:
"Sir, I am a citizen of the Federation, but my ancestors had Swabawa blood, which is why I inherited this skin color."
"I have no interest in your family history, whether you're from the Federation or some Swash, it doesn't matter."
Guy Milton paused, then narrowed his eyes.
"But one thing is certain: you are from the Far East."
Huh? Suraj was a little puzzled. Why did he value this?
However, since it didn't directly involve Swabawa, Suraj felt much more at ease.
He asked, "In that case, sir, what exactly do you want to see me about?"
Gamir simply smiled mysteriously and said, "Please have a seat."
Suraj was asked to sit down a second time, as it would be disrespectful to remain standing.
He could only sit down with Ah Jun, and Gamir immediately clapped his hands.
Then, several maids came forward and lifted the lids off all the plates on the table.
In an instant, an incredibly rich aroma filled Suraj's nostrils.
He had never smelled such fragrant food before, and he was amazed.
Gamill then said, "Try it."
Without thinking too much, Suraj ladled a spoonful of mutton soup onto his plate, along with a large piece of leg bone meat.
He first tasted a sip of the soup.
The soup is salty, but it's not just salty.
Beneath the saltiness lies an even more exquisite layer—spiciness?
Suraj couldn't explain it; he didn't even know how to describe the taste.
But the sweetness you taste probably comes from this flavor.
His mouth immediately filled with saliva, and he hurriedly picked up the piece of leg bone meat, put it to his mouth, and started gnawing on it.
God!
Is this mutton? It doesn't have any muttony smell at all, but it still retains the natural sweetness of mutton.
It has that subtle "spicy" flavor again. The lamb doesn't need to be overcooked to bring out all its natural flavors, making this piece of lamb seem to have the taste of a hundred dishes all in one.
Suraj finally understood that Gamir wanted him to eat this dish first; it was definitely the most delicious dish he had ever tasted.
He couldn't help but ask, "What kind of dish is this?"
"Stewed mutton".
"Stewed mutton doesn't have such a unique flavor," Suraj said, of course, he didn't believe it.
"It really is just stewed mutton, but with a tiny bit of something else added."
Gamir raised his right hand and rubbed his thumb and forefinger together.
Suraj immediately understood that the "other thing" Gamir mentioned was the purpose of inviting Suraj to dine here.
"What?"
"black pepper--"