Reader’S Regeneration Life [EN]: Chapter 181

181

No response!

We have to get on the ship!

The day Zion was scheduled to set sail had arrived.

Prince Erader, Count Bremen Isik, and many other nobles, not to mention Heman Isik, who had been quite friendly to Zion, couldn’t hide their bewildered and dumbfounded expressions.

“Um, Lord Zion,

what on earth is this…?”

“It’s a symbol of good luck.

I prepared it in the hope that you will complete the voyage without any misfortune. It would be great if you could hang it on the ends of the spars of each ship.”

“This is… that, that thing you mentioned?”

“That’s right.

It’s the ‘method for certain victory’.”

The method for certain victory he presented.

He spoke as if it were something grand, but in the end, the “method for certain victory” that Zion spoke of was just tying colorful cloths to the very ends of the sails.

“I’ve already sent them to not only Sardena Port but also other ports.

If you set sail with these, the pirates will burst like exploding barrels.”

“Lord Zion, even so, this is…”

Heman, who was sailing with Zion, groaned, finally sighed, and accepted it.

To be honest, he had really expected something amazing when he heard it was a method for certain victory.

But he was also disappointed that what was presented was just a piece of cloth like this.

However, when he thought about it again, there was nothing to lose.

‘Sailors are quite fond of things like this in the first place.’

Where else is as volatile and dangerous as the sea?

Even Heman himself, who had been facing the sea breeze since birth, was accustomed to the fishy and salty smell, and was more familiar with sailing a ship than riding a horse, still feared and revered the sea.

The sea that had been raging with storms until just before, roaring as if it would swallow any ship.

But the sea is also a place that allows sunlight as if nothing had happened and becomes calmer than a lake.

Therefore, sailors have always revered the deep blue sea, which is both their livelihood and their battlefield.

More than those who believe in the teachings of light treat the celestial race.

So they are even more sensitive to things that bring good luck on the sea.

They want everything from a safe voyage to catching a plentiful amount of fish, making a lot of profit in trade, and being protected from pirates.

“It wasn’t on the sea, but I modeled it after the handkerchief I had with me during the war with Nudia and when I went to the north.

Please consider it as a symbol of good luck.”

Moreover, the person who benefited from this was none other than ‘Zion Clausen’.

Although he hasn’t made any remarkable achievements since coming to the south, his name is still a towering war hero, the kingdom’s sacred figure.

It was the symbol of good luck that the man himself mentioned.

At this point, there was no reason why sailors, who were enthusiastic to the point of being obsessed with ‘luck’, wouldn’t fall for it.

“Maybe the other ships’ crew members too…”

“Lord Zion Clausen.

I was secretly expecting something, but you called such a piece of cloth a method for certain victory in front of us nobles?

I’m a little disappointed.”

As Prince Erader suddenly cut in, Heman couldn’t help but frown.

There was already someone in front of him who had benefited from that symbol of good luck, and to use that as an excuse to find fault was, knowingly or unknowingly, also criticizing the sailors in the south who relied on such things.

Of course, Prince Erader, who had never paid attention to such details of the south, only saw this opportunity as a good chance to dampen Zion Clausen’s spirits before the departure.

“I thought you were a war hero, so you would have been thinking about some amazing strategy.”

“I apologize if I didn’t meet Your Highness’s expectations.

But isn’t this the best weapon?

A symbol that allows you to share the luck that the kingdom’s sacred figure, the war hero, enjoyed.

I am confident that it will be a great help to the sailors who have to fight not only pirates but also the wind and waves at sea.”

Zion answered with a subtle smile.

Of course, the inner meaning was something like, ‘How could a mediocre guy like you understand the phoenix’s intentions.’

‘He receives support from the southern part of the kingdom, but he doesn’t even know how the people of the south live.

It’s truly frustrating.’

Zion looked at Heman standing in front of him and the southern nobles standing next to Prince Erader.

As expected, they clearly showed that they did not agree with Prince Erader’s opinion at all.

He was a prince, so he was hiding his unpleasant feelings, but if he were a noble who could argue back, he might have already frowned and said harsh words.

They were nobles and lived with the sea at the same time, so they knew how important a ‘place to rely on’ is to give them a little bit of faith and stability on the rough waves.

Zion was giving that with his name.

Who would refuse to share the luck that the kingdom’s war hero enjoyed?

If there was nothing to lose by receiving it, anyone would welcome it.

“…If everyone can’t enjoy the luck that everyone can nod to even with that, Lord Zion Clausen, I think you’ll be in quite a bit of trouble.”

Why don’t you just say that my downfall is your hope?

If you had said that, I would have applauded and said, ‘Wow!

The prince is so narrow-minded!’

Zion tried hard to calm his bubbling insides.

‘Keep talking, keep running your happy circuits.

Eventually, it will be you, not me, who will be frowning and looking miserable.

Oh, you ignorant masses.’

Zion cursed Prince Erader to his heart’s content and put a gentle smile on his face.

Then, he began to show off his divine skill of subtly criticizing Prince Erader.

“Originally, the victory or defeat in war is always like the success or failure of everyday life.

If I do my best and still lose, then it’s inevitable and we have to accept it as ‘the way of things’, right?”

“…Cough.”

Zion was coolly criticizing Prince Erader, who was acting hysterically and complaining that there was no one to trust after losing once.

Prince Erader seemed to have roughly understood Zion’s intentions, but if he got angry here, it would be admitting that he was an inferior human being who couldn’t even follow the way of things, so he couldn’t do that and just groaned.

“And it’s not just a strange act with a piece of cloth.

I’m doing this because I judged that it would definitely help boost morale, which has been down.

Isn’t that right, Lord Heman?”

The big hand of the south that supports Prince Erader, the Isik County [a region ruled by Count Isik].

Zion was directly asking Heman Isik, the heir to that family.

It was a sound that said, ‘You’ve seen everything with your own eyes, so it’s time to make a choice.’

Prince Erader of the dark future, or Zion Clausen of the bright future.

“…I will tell all the ships in the port that are departing in the morning to hang this symbol.”

Heman hesitated for a moment, made up his mind, and answered.

Naturally, Prince Erader’s expression was terribly distorted, and conversely, a bright smile appeared on Zion’s face.

“…”

Prince Erader glanced at Count Bremen Isik, who was standing next to him.

It seemed to be a silent question asking why his son was like that when he was like this.

However, Count Bremen couldn’t say anything in this situation.

What could be more foolish than forcing people to treat each other?

It’s inevitable to show favor to someone you want to get closer to.

In addition, Prince Erader himself had reduced his score, so frankly, even showing this reaction was quite unpleasant to the count.

“Let’s go, Lord Zion.”

Whether he knew the inner thoughts of Prince Erader and Count Bremen or not.

Heman looked at Zion with a very friendly gaze and urged him, saying that it was almost time to set sail.

Zion nodded, turned to leave, and then turned his head back slightly as if he felt someone looking at him.

Zion, realizing that Prince Erader was staring at him with strange eyes, decided to do something that would irritate him even more than teasing him.

‘I hope something bad happens to the other person, but if the other person still shows respect, there’s nothing more self-deprecating and infuriating than that.’

He smiled as if to say not to worry and nodded slightly.

Then, as expected, Prince Erader frowned even more and immediately turned his head away!

The biggest reason was that Zion’s smile made him feel like he was the only bad person in this trash.

Zion barely managed to hold back the laughter that was about to burst out at Prince Erader’s reaction.

He’s already dying of stomach pain like that, how is he going to handle it later?

Zion was really curious.

‘And you know what.

Actually, as you said, this is not a symbol of good luck.’

Of course, it’s just a piece of cloth that has nothing to do with luck.

It’s just a colorful flag that makes it more visible.

There was no such thing as a handkerchief that looked similar to this in the war with Nudia, and of course, I never took it with me when I went to the north.

The only reason Zion hopes to hang this colorful flag on the ship, especially in the most visible place.

‘There’s nothing sadder than being killed by friendly fire.’

Unlike the original world with all sorts of high-tech devices, the Griffin riders in this world had to rely entirely on their eyesight.

In order to properly inform them of the target, it was necessary to inform them with some kind of sign which enemy to attack and which ally not to attack.

“Then, Prince Erader.

I’ll be back.

Please take care of Sardena Port.”

Perhaps he remembered the Sardena Port raid that had happened before.

Prince Erader showed a slightly uneasy look, nodded at Zion’s greeting, and gave him a perfunctory blessing for good luck.

After boarding the ship and completing all the preparations for departure, Heman grabbed the helm and opened his mouth, looking at Zion.

“Lord Zion.

Shall we go straight to the open sea?”

“No.

There’s a place I need to stop by first.

I’ll have to change ships there.”

“…Excuse me?”

What on earth was this absurd sound?

Abandoning a perfectly good ship and suddenly having to transfer to another ship?

There was nothing wrong with the ship, and there was a captain and crew who were perfectly fine.

“Lord Heman.”

“Yes, yes, Lord Zion.”

“The reason why you trust me more than Prince Erader must be because there’s a good reason.

Then, won’t you trust me just one more time?

If you follow my instructions, Heman will be able to achieve such great achievements that he will even earn the nickname Zion Clausen of the South.”

“…I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

Zion smiled and shrugged his shoulders once.

“Do you really think that I would confidently say that I’m going to the sea full of pirates just believing in the symbol of good luck?

Me, who is called a war hero, the kingdom’s sacred figure?”

“That means…!”

“I’ll show you.

To you, Lord Heman, and to the sailors here, and to the people who are watching our departure from the port with suspicious eyes.

How and how great a victory this Zion Clausen will bring.”

If you know what kind of person I am, follow me without saying a word.

Then I will give you victory and glory!

With a confident expression, a confident voice, and strong gestures.

Zion persuaded Heman with all his heart and soul.

And Heman, who had even called himself a follower of Zion, couldn’t help but be persuaded.

“Ah, I understand.

Lord Zion.

Then, where should I set the direction?”

“There’s a medium-sized port not far from Sardena.

There’s a ship I’ve prepared separately, so after transferring, you’ll have to receive new training.

That goes for the crew and the captain, Lord Heman.”

“…I have no idea why you’re even saying that you’re going to retrain the already skilled sailors, no matter what you’re thinking of doing.”

“You’ll probably know when you get there.”

And Heman finally realized why Zion had said that after arriving at the port.

The reason was that he encountered a huge ship of a type that even he, who prided himself on having spent a lot of time at sea, had never seen before.

“…Lord Zion?

W-What on earth is this ship?”

He didn’t know the details, but it was definitely not a sailboat that the navy usually used.

Heman was so sure of that, the ship that Zion presented was not normal.

“It’s the real method for certain victory.”

“It’s obvious that the ship is not a warship made for military purposes.

It looks like a large trading ship, but why on earth would you use such a ship… and why are the sides of the ship bulging out?”

“Are you that curious?”

“Isn’t it obvious?

If it sticks out to the side like that, it will be much more affected by the wind, and even though it’s already huge and slow, it will be a hindrance.

And the appearance is not very pleasant either.”

Sailors pay a lot of attention to the appearance of the ship.

In the sea, the ship they are riding is their pride and style, so it’s only natural.

In that regard, the appearance of the long protrusions on the sides and the spars in the front on the right and the spars in the back on the left were so concerning that even the navigation was worrisome.

“Lord Zion.

It’s very dangerous if the spar positions are different like that.

It’s okay normally, but when you need to speed up or make a sudden turn to chase, it could capsize.”

“Don’t worry, Lord Heman.

That ship is not for chasing at all anyway.”

“…Excuse me?

No, Lord Zion.

Didn’t you just say that ship was the method for certain victory to catch pirates?

If it’s not for chasing pirates, then what on earth…”

Kyak!

Heman and the crew almost simultaneously looked around at the sudden sharp cry.

It was a strange cry that they had never heard before, and soon they all realized that the source of the sound was not land or sea, but right above the sky.

“Lord Heman.

Have you ever thought about this?

Imagine something secretly following the enemy ship to find its location and find its base, or launching a fatal attack to make it inoperable.”

“L, Lord Zion.

T, That’s a monster…”

Zion smirked and said.

That monster will be the signal for their victory.

The reason why he specifically mentioned the griffins as a signal was that the ultimate goal was elsewhere.

‘It’ll be hard to inflict devastating damage.

It would be nice if there were 50 griffins, but only five are prepared for now.

With that small number, I can’t search the entire wide sea.

But it’s enough to give the pirates a misunderstanding.

The illusion that they can no longer live comfortably by just plundering, the illusion that they should gather together at once and inflict devastating damage on the kingdom.’

If the number of griffins increases, they will no longer be able to pirate, so it may be better to attack and occupy the kingdom’s territory, that is, the port, before that happens.

So instead of scattering and looking for their own way to survive like before, let’s gather and attack the kingdom.

Zion earnestly hoped that the pirates would reach that conclusion.