Faced with Prince Leiden's summons, Schliemann didn't want to go, so he roped in Ampton, who was also unwilling to go.
At that exaggerated banquet that was so luxurious that even if you tasted every bite, you wouldn't be able to taste all the dishes. Schliemann, who was not good at dealing with such occasions, had tried his best.
Fortunately, Ampton followed, and his elegant conversation naturally took over Schliemann's hesitant conversation, as if he was speaking for the captain.
The prince seemed to be very interested in the outside world, and he kept asking questions.
"In the outside world, are there many kingdoms as powerful as yours, the Kingdom of Valance?"
Ampton bowed slightly, his face radiant, as if the powerful kingdom of Valance that the prince said still belonged to him.
"There are many. There are the Oman Empire, the Long En Kingdom, and the Neuse Kingdom on the Moanke Continent Island, and the Beticas Kingdom on the Andares Continent Island. These are all very powerful kingdoms.
Of course, kingdoms on smaller islands such as the Kingdom of Linn, the Kingdom of Pachi, the Kingdom of Dniberg, etc. are also as prosperous and powerful as the Kingdom of Hisoka. "
Prince Leiden nodded. He murmured all the kingdoms of Ampton repeatedly, and then changed the subject.
"Do those countries also believe in the god Hector?"
Ampton noticed the question that the other party really wanted to ask. He bowed slightly and gave his answer respectfully.
"Your Majesty, most of these countries have freedom of belief, and people can choose their own beliefs."
Layton put down the tableware and knitted his eyebrows together.
"It's normal for the people to be ignorant. Is their king also so ignorant?"
Ampton's eyelids twitched as these words poked his lungs.
"Your Highness, please make it clear."
Layton raised his hands, looking incomprehensible.
"If people decide their own beliefs, then when their kings are crowned, which god do they ask to grant them kingship?"
"Your Highness, it's like this. Although people can choose their own beliefs, there is always one religion that is chosen by most people. The kings of those countries often designate the most powerful religion as the state religion.
They do not restrict people from believing in other religions, and other religions will not interfere with the state religion in granting royal power to the king. "
"Then the question arises, can those religious religions and their believers who have not granted the king royal authority ignore the king's orders to them?
Because their gods did not give the king the right to order his followers! "
"No, Your Highness, in the outside world, the influence of royal power is greater than that of divine power...at least on the surface.
If a person is asked to choose between the sword that the king places on his neck and the divine punishment that God may send down, I think that person will obey the king's will without hesitation.
Although he may have been cursing the king and confessing to God in his mind, his actions spoke for themselves. "
"Is royal power greater than divine power..."
Leiden pondered for a while, then suddenly burst into laughter. He raised his glass high and ended the discussion about royal power and divine power. He continued to ask questions as if nothing had happened.
After the banquet, Leiden asked Schliemann and Apton to stay overnight and met with them secretly in the study.
He got straight to the point, and no longer had the dandy aristocratic nonsense at the banquet.
"Mr. Schliemann, Mr. Apton, I hope to use your caravan to establish a communication channel with King Valance."
Schliemann and Ampton looked at each other, and Schliemann spoke first.
"Your Highness, what are you doing?"
"As Mr. Apton said, royal power is greater than divine power."
Schliemann suddenly realized that the divine power of the Kingdom of Hisoka had become so powerful that the royal power needed to find external forces to counter it?
Ampton left another letter stamped with his own emblem, which was an order for his subordinates to deliver letters from the Kingdom of Hisoka to King Valance.
Schliemann also wrote a letter, which was a letter to his grand fleet that did not exist at all. He asked his grand fleet to show sufficient diplomatic respect when encountering the Hisoka Kingdom flying ship. It is enough for His Majesty Leiden.
Two days passed by, and the Crescent's departure day finally arrived.
Coming to see him off were Prince Leiden, Princess Hank, Ram, and Hans. Minster's robe seemed to be welded to his body. He had not changed into anything else since the Battle of Antler City. Clothes, others thought he had converted to the religion of Hector.
The Crescent rose very quickly, and the veteran crew's operations were much smoother than those of the novices, which made the Crescent's flying posture smoother.
Hilpeter stayed at his post faithfully, with everything on the bridge under his panoramic view. He kept giving orders, adjusting the course, facing the wind, and sent the Crescent on the course.
When it comes to sailing, boredom is good news, and nothing happening means no disturbing surprises.
It was boring for three consecutive days. Upton was so bored that he ran to play chess with Schliemann, and Schliemann was so bored that he accepted Apton's invitation even though he knew he was playing chess.
But his patience is insufficient, especially when it comes to playing chess. He is no match for Apton, who has been playing war games since he was a child.
After three games, Schliemann didn't want to play anymore.
Ampton put away the chessboard pieces angrily, stuffed some tobacco into his pipe, and started smoking.
"The supplies on the ship this time are enough for more than two months of sailing. Can we enter the target area?"
Schliemann opened the window, and a strong wind came in, blowing all the tobacco from Ampton's pipe.
The two of them hurriedly shot away the sparks flying everywhere, rolling their eyes and looking at each other.
"Aren't you counting the voyage? What if we don't encounter an empty island that can supply supplies in the middle?"
Ampton exhaled a long breath, his face suddenly filled with resentment.
"It's so boring..."
"Go wipe the deck if you're bored! I'll show you how to get used to it!"
Schliemann could still speak politely in front of other people, but in the captain's cabin, he was not at all used to Apton.
He closed the window, sat back in his seat, lowered his head and continued to fiddle with his charts.
There was a knock on the door, the door opened, and Hilpeter walked in.
"Captain...what, there is something I must report."
"explain."
"There are too many rats on our ship."
Schliemann looked at Hilpeter in disbelief.
"How is this possible? Where is Betty?"
Betty was a cat he bought in Antler Town. He hoped that Betty would eat all the rats on the ship. It seems that she failed to complete her job.
"It did catch mice. It caught four or five, but it didn't catch any more after that. But the food was still less, and it was even less than before."
Schliemann took a sharp breath and hissed.
A bad premonition came out of his mind.
