Chapter 387 - 168: Werner’s Cunning Plan
Werner could swear by God that before setting off, he never anticipated encountering such bizarre phenomena.
A remote island, typically uninhabited, had quietly swallowed up more than thirty robust indigenous warriors.
Even if those ignorant and savage guys only knew how to attack with wooden spears and bows and arrows, running around naked all day, they were nonetheless elite survivors of bloody tribal conflicts.
What frightening thing had devoured them?
Was it a beast, or a storm?
Or was it something else.
For instance, humans...
Honestly, before leading these indigenous people ashore, Werner always presumed these unruly guys must have been so elated after devouring people on the island that they forgot about going home.
Or they may not have wanted to take orders from their leader any longer, planning to establish a tribe of their own, especially since they brought a woman with them when they landed.
If they wanted to, they could completely rely on that woman to procreate and thrive on the island.
Moreover, the old priest who led the last batch of indigenous people, that cunning old rascal whose egg hairs had turned white, was much less controllable than the tribe leader and had always been looking for a chance to break free. The chances of him seizing this opportunity to escape were not low.
Sailors at sea are accustomed to betrayal.
In the isolated and helpless vast ocean, anything can happen; ending a voyage with a different captain or first mate is not something uncommon.
Impacted by this, old sailor Werner always felt that these indigenous people were entirely untrustworthy.
If not for discovering the treasure that the Inca Empire had hidden, and the urgent need to transport the gold and silver away to evade greedy Monidez, they would never have crossed paths with these excrement-like inferior ethnic groups.
...
"I always said collaborating with the indigenous was the worst idea.
That fool Kilian just wouldn’t listen!
We should kill everyone on the island, bury the gold and silver anywhere, leave a mark, then transport it all slowly back home; who would know where we got rich?"
Looking at the open door of the wooden hut and the mysterious box made of unknown materials placed in front of him, and thinking of the ignorant indigenous people with sticks celebrating behind him, Werner felt his scalp tingle.
As the Spaniards, who had the most advanced shipbuilding technology during the Age of Discovery, explored the farthest routes, and plundered the most wealth, he considered himself having seen more than half of the world’s wonders.
Even things he hadn’t seen with his own eyes, he had heard from other sailors.
In another vast New Continent, there were pitch-black indigenous people, strong-bodied, best suited for slaves.
There were also spotted beasts taller than two-story houses, giant-horned rhinos, herds of bison, and black and white striped horses...
Having heard all kinds of strange species in the natural world, plus possessing the world’s most advanced knowledge of navigation and shipbuilding.
Even progress in rapid-fire cannons which was still in its infancy, and more refined improved matchlock guns, aristocratic lords with gold and silver inlaid pocket watches...
Werner always believed that there were few things in this world he had never heard of.
But just recently, his understanding was completely overturned.
In this inconspicuous wooden hut, seemingly rather simple and shabby from being battered by wind and rain, there were indeed rare objects he had never seen before.
Whether it was the silver-white, exquisitely fashioned metal buckle with straight lines, or the large umbrella made of some unknown fabric, or the sturdy box made of bizarre materials...
There was no need for much observation; just a quick glance was enough to understand that any item in here far exceeded the craftsmanship standards he understood.
The straight-up and down silver-white metal tube showed no trace of manual forging. It was as thin as tissue paper, and the holes drilled in it were perfectly round. From top to bottom, all holes were in line, with no visible deviation to the naked eye.
"These are not things that should exist in this world; it’s too abnormal!"
If, before departure, Werner still believed the indigenous people had fled of their own accord, then after seeing the fishing box, he no longer thought so.
With a vague sense of foreboding, Werner was convinced that there was something beyond his understanding existing on this island.
More terrifyingly, he knew nothing about the entity that had silently consumed over thirty lives.
He didn’t even know whether the malevolent entity had noticed their actions, or if it was already quietly approaching...
"To hell with Kilian’s mother, I should never have agreed to take on this task.
This is a pile of sticky dog shit, and even larger and smellier than I imagined!"
Werner cursed angrily.
His rationality told him that he should leave here quickly, lead the indigenous people to return to the archipelago in a canoe.
After reporting the situation, they could fully free up a big ship to come explore. They had enough guns and cannons to handle any problems.
Even if they couldn’t free up personnel temporarily, he could at least tell Kilian that this island wasn’t as simple as they thought, that the indigenous people’s claims about demons were true.
They could easily avoid this island, and it wouldn’t cause any loss.
But just before summoning the indigenous people to leave, seeing the boxes inside the hut, his innate greed ultimately took over, clouding his judgment.
"These rare items, even the Queen may not have seen them.
If I brought them back and presented them to the Queen, perhaps I might become a noble lord; at that time, who would still make a living at sea..."