Chapter 583 - 74: The Visitor
"Honorable Mr. Chen, please allow me to address you this way.
I have long heard of your great reputation, and today I am fortunate to meet you. As the rumors say, you are indeed the true king and monarch of this sea..."
...
In the office on the second floor of the cement factory, a native girl fluent in Indigenous, Spanish, and Chinese stood by, diligently translating Kilian’s words.
Chen Zhou sat on an ergonomic chair, observing the old fellow dressed in a purple luxurious robe bowing low, adopting a subordinate posture, feeling an indescribable emotion—
He didn’t feel proud, nor did he feel the so-called pleasure of being above others, just a bit sickened.
Perhaps it was power, or maybe something else that crushed this sea overlord’s dignity, making him bow and speak such hypocritical words.
Kilian’s display of compliance was not like the genuine sincerity of the rescued islanders; he merely sought benefits, thus uttering these high-sounding words.
Of course, considering that the island had quietly "devoured" Kilian’s sailors and three armed merchant ships of Monidez, this old fellow, knowing full well the dangers, still came here; one must admit he indeed showed a lot of courage.
Seeing that this person, dwelling deep in the ocean and wielding supreme authority, patiently listened to the translation, Kilian continued.
"Mr. Chen, I know the natives here are your people and this land belongs to you.
It was just that I had never encountered your steel fleet before, nor knew of your existence, thus rashly collaborating with the island’s tribes and encroaching on your territory.
The gold and silver buried within your territory rightfully belong to you.
I have come this time to express my apology to you; for this, I have brought many precious treasures and goods, hoping to gain your forgiveness..."
After the translation was complete, Chen Zhou nodded, pondered for a moment, and told Kilian that he was willing to accept his apology but would not hand over the prisoners.
"The cost of an apology is one thing, ransom is another,"
Chen Zhou thought to himself.
Waving his hand, he asked Kilian if he could send someone to unload the treasures and goods from the ship first.
Kilian hastily agreed—
Now he was on someone else’s turf, not even certain of his own life, so naturally, he had no objections. Moreover, he had come with sincerity, hoping that if this deal could be made, he would rise to the top, stepping over Monidez.
...
Seeing this cunning old fox behaving so obediently and compliantly, Chen Zhou did not hesitate, directly instructing Saturday to find a Spanish prisoner with a good command of Chinese to act as a translator, take a team of guards to the ship to unload the goods, conduct an inventory, and bring back the goods list as quickly as possible.
"Sincerity is not just about words; it is demonstrated through actions."
Even though Chen Zhou did not have extensive social experience, he had been through the social whirlpool of the 21st century a few times.
21st-century human interactions are far more complex than 17th-century business dealings. He could see at a glance that Kilian needed something from him.
As for what this guy sought, it was actually quite obvious—
Whether advanced weapons, ships that could sail without depending on sails, or all the rare goods Kilian had seen along the way, these were what he sought.
In the 17th century, gold and silver were not considered rare.
It is said that the gold plundered by Spaniards from the Inca Empire was equivalent to the total gold in the world at that time. Because they imported so much gold, Spain even experienced severe inflation, evidencing the vast amount of gold.
But better firearms, cannons, and navigation technology were something that could not be bought for any amount of money during this era.
"What trade in the world is the most profitable?
Is it drugs?
No! The Americans have long given the answer: it’s arms."
The arms trade is incredibly lucrative—turning metals and raw materials imported from other countries into weapons can be sold for hundreds, thousands, or even tens of thousands of times the purchase price, and one can also manipulate world affairs through this; this is the truly profiteering trade.
Clearly, Kilian was a person with a very sharp business sense. He came here precisely to gain something from this island that could yield him countless profits.
...
Saturday had already left with his team, leaving only Chen Zhou, the translator, and four guards responsible for his protection in the office.
Kilian said no more, and the atmosphere became somewhat serious.
Chen Zhou smiled, gesturing for Kilian to sit on the rattan chair, then instructed the translator to prepare two cups of milk tea and bring some fruit.
The original produce on the island was not abundant, but after the challenge began, many plant seeds were sent, compensating for the island’s lack of produce.
The milk tea served to Kilian was iced—
This ice wasn’t made with saltpeter, but frozen in the fridge, cut into small cubes placed at the bottom of the cup, full of chill.
Besides the ice, fresh fruit juice was added to the milk tea, giving it a sweet and refreshing taste during the dry season, offering a unique flavor.
As for the fruit on the plate, there are many varieties, including the island’s native oranges, lemons, and grapes, as well as the Autumn White Almonds planted by Chen Zhou, watermelons, and bananas from the 1666 anniversary gift.
The anniversary gift also brought a durian tree suitable for tropical environments, which had been planted in the orchard. Possibly because it wasn’t mature enough, it didn’t bear fruit this year.
...
Kilian sat in the rattan chair, facing this entirely unfamiliar environment, and the tall, robust, mysterious Chen Zhou, appearing especially uneasy.