Chapter 214: Chapter 152: How Could It Be a Rookie’s Turn?

Joe finally signed his name on the contract.

The old captain also left his scribbled scrawl on the paper, then bit his finger and pressed a red fingerprint.

"You really intend to just take half of what we harvest along the route?"

The old captain looked up, still somewhat dazed, as if he couldn’t believe such good fortune could have landed in his lap.

With the accumulation of route resources, he and Joe could afford the life-saving Deep Sea Treasures, making the promotion to Silver Level Navigator an inevitable reality.

Although Silver Navigators might seem unimpressive, for ordinary people at the Bronze Level, this is the ladder to change their fate!

This means the old captain no longer has to spend his days fearing every storm.

Death is always the main theme of the boundless sea.

The Gray Realm is full of celestial calamities and sea monsters, and there are Chaos Pirates in the routes, so Bronze Navigators can only rely on their experience and luck to survive.

Once ordinary people use the treasures to advance to Silver Level, securing their survival, as long as they work diligently, curb their greed, and aren’t blinded by unrealistic ambition, they can accumulate wealth, recruit more people, open a small guild or shipyard, and comfortably spend the rest of their lives.

"The prerequisite for mutual benefit is that you must comply with the terms of the contract and share all information on the Justice Route with the Ark."

Old Dean solemnly put away the contract.

He said seriously, "And once a new island is discovered, Ark Kingdom will have absolute control in development."

This portly old merchant had slimmed down considerably, with less kindness on his face and more sharpness in his eyes.

"Of course! Of course! We know the rules!"

The old captain nodded hurriedly, "It’s you who took the risk to explore the rules in the Gray Realm, opening up the entrance to the route."

In fact, the conditions offered by the Ark Leader were already generous enough.

If in other countries, navigators usually could only follow in the footsteps of the regular army, doing menial tasks and acting as cannon fodder, getting meager returns while being constantly monitored.

Even so, many Bronze Navigators would fight tooth and nail to get such an opportunity.

After all, it’s the only way for ordinary people to accumulate route resources.

"Aren’t you worried we’ll conceal something for profit?"

Joe stared into Old Dean’s eyes, trying to find the source of trust there.

In the era they lived in, it was common for navigators to find a new continent, take advantage of it to claim territory and crown themselves king, as first there were deep-sea routes, then island lands, and finally national powers.

"That’s why we are cautious and patient in choosing partners."

Old Dean smiled.

From the Ark News’s release opposing the Alliance to the Alliance Legion bombarding Ark’s Lulin Port and Camelot Port, these facts had already deterred the majority of weak-willed navigators.

After two rounds of selection, navigators like Joe and Francis, who were willing to stay, must stand with the Ark on the same path.

Linlan would not hesitate to trust these people.

Ark Kingdom’s current biggest issue is having too few allies.

The Fortress Main Island of the Alliance is unreliable, and those poverty-stricken officers opening up the seas on the front lines can barely take care of themselves.

The Empire’s Dukes are temporarily untrustworthy, so Linlan naturally turned his attention to the vast number of navigators overlooked and underestimated by the major nations.

They are as light as feathers and fragile as wild grass, yet tough. Every year countless people quietly sink into the sea, and every year even more leave land full of passion.

Having decided to fight to the end against the calamity, Linlan planned to show those White Oak merchants and politicians what true unity and ideals are!

As a Transmigrator, the last thing Linlan lacks is a long-term vision.

"Since you are the first batch of navigators willing to stand with the Ark, we have offered the highest level of benefits."

Old Dean continued narrating, "When Ark Kingdom sets up shipyards, the contracts left for other navigators won’t have the fifty-fifty sharing condition."

Seeing the excited look in the old captain’s eyes, he lightly tapped the table.

Old Dean’s tone grew severe, reminding him, "Of course, the main purpose of this contract is still to safeguard the interests of Ark Kingdom. We will certainly not be lenient with those who breach due to greed!"

"Don’t worry a bit, Mr. Dean, I, Red Nose, have never been one to break promises!"

The old captain immediately pounded his chest with assurance, "I’m sticking with the generous and great Ark Leader from now on!"

Joe did not offer any flattery.

In his view, bland praise is pointless; better to use the time to quickly get to work on something practical.

However, deep down, Joe breathed a sigh of relief.

Indeed, he hadn’t misjudged, King Linlan is a leader worth navigators’ following.

"Mr. Dean, what are the rules for that new route?"

Joe asked solemnly.

Old Dean took out the sailing summary that Linlan had prepared and handed it over.

Joe received the paper with both hands, lowered his head, and grew increasingly astonished the more he read.

Twisted heroic sea monsters, sickly folk sea waves, and Justice Songstress reduced to tools... Heaven knows how Lord Linlan managed to escape from that haunted place.

As for the most important navigational rule—

To gain the help of the Sea Waves, navigators must tear open the evil wrapped in flowers.