--- CHAPTER 4: How to Secure a Fleet (and Get a Back Rub) ---
Lady Priscilla takes the rum I offer, her eyes sparkling with mischief, and plops down onto the sofa I indicated. She crosses her thick, trouser-clad legs without a hint of noble delicacy, every bit the seasoned sea captain. Her clothes are still the same as those for sailing on the sea, practical but failing spectacularly at concealing her phenomenal figure. The jacket and shirt are strained to their absolute limits, restraining a bosom that seems to have its own gravitational pull. She wears a coat with a fox fur collar on the outside, and her plump legs are covered with tight trousers that showcase every powerful curve. She wears thick, sturdy boots on her feet. She is a walking contradiction: the raw charm of a lady and a lady, mixed with the capable and refreshing style of a strong woman who could probably snap a man in half. *This beautiful rich woman doesn't know how many nobles wanted to lick her toes, even if it was her foot washing water, but unfortunately no one succeeded, and they were all turned away. It was a testament to her charm, displaying the beauty of a plump mature woman vividly. And now, with the merger of memories, this mysterious perversion is making me see her in a whole new light—lustful thoughts surging suddenly, like a debuff I can't shake.*
She takes a healthy swig of the rum directly from the tankard. "So," she says, her voice a low purr. "What is it, little prince?"
I lean in, dropping the "pious prince" act for the "ambitious nephew" routine. "My father has allowed me to act with Uther and the others," I say, my voice serious. "Those orcs are very powerful, auntie. But they are also... interesting. It is rumored that they come from another world, a world unknown to us. That means they carry weapons and treasures unknown to us."
I let that sink in. She is a merchant to her core. *With these fresh Earth memories, the lore is hitting me all at once—sudden insights into the plot, strategic edges. But this mysterious change... perversion amp, eyeing her curves more intensely.*
"I will chop off their heads," I continue, "and present their treasures to my dear aunt."
I say it with a straight face, but internally, I am desperate. I am very poor and need money. I can't build a power base, I can't woo elves, I can't do anything without my own cash flow. If I can master the way to make money by myself, it would be a sure win for me, and I could develop my own strength and become an important pillar of my subordinate army! *Merger making ambitions sharper, but lust creeping in—mysterious, sudden.*
"And," I add, lowering my voice conspiratorially, "I also need your financial support. Aunt, guess what revelation I got from the holy light just now?"
Speaking of treasures, the lady lord, who is a businesswoman, is no longer sleepy. Her eyes sharpen, the playful fog of the rum clearing instantly. She drinks the rest of her glass happily. "My little prince is thoughtful," she says, her tone shifting to business. "War is not a joke. You have to pay more attention to your own safety. As for the treasure, it's nothing. Your safe life is the greatest treasure for me. Just tell me what you want and I will do it for you!"
I don't know how many nobles want to get a share of her business. It's a year's income for them. It can be seen how much profit the trade makes! But maritime trade is very risky and not everyone can get involved. Lady Priscilla, who has only 1 child of her own, really treats me as her own son. This nephew is very sweet and polite, and very close to her. If I wasn't the only son, she might have thought about adopting me. *With memories merged, I see the layers—strategic ally, but this perversion... mysterious lust making me want more than adoption.*
"I want two frigates for me to command," I say, getting straight to the point. "Equipped with enough artillery."
I know very well how lethal thermal weapons are in battles between mortals. The fleet of Kul Tiras relies on artillery and crossbows to deal with various sea beasts. Personal magic and martial arts are not of much use on the sea, unless they are heroic. *Earth knowledge sudden—lore insights helping plan, but urges amp, eye her figure perverted mysterious.*
Priscilla doesn't even blink. "No problem," she says with a dismissive wave of her hand. "I will dispatch five frigates to you for command. But you have to return them after the war is over!"
Five. She just gave me five. My heart hammered against my ribs. The lady said it with a smile, her plump figure and mature, knowing smile making my heart beat faster for an entirely different reason. *Merger perversion—arousal spike sudden, mysterious change.*
"Thank you, auntie," I manage to say, my voice a little thicker than I intended. "Come to my room tonight. I will tell you some secrets then."
I stood up abruptly. Way too abruptly.
"I-I have to see someone. I'll see you tonight!" I say, and then I practically run away in a panic. If I didn't run, my erection would be seen. Smooth, Arthas. Real smooth.
Behind me, I hear her laugh, a deep, heroic laugh that follows me out of the hall. "Haha, what an interesting little guy." Of course, she saw my erection. At nineteen, I wasn't exactly subtle. It looked quite big. At the same time, she was a little proud. She was still very attractive! *Merger making everything tinged with lust—mysterious, sudden perversion.*
Later that night, I am back in my private rooms. I take a feather pen and write some notes on a piece of white paper. South Sea Shore, Hinterland, Red Dragon, Dwarf, Troll, etc., these are all key nodes in the Second Orc War. My timeline is already messed up, with me being nineteen instead of ten, but the major beats are probably still in play. Since I am familiar with the plot now that the memories have merged suddenly, I must get enough benefits before the plot deviates from the development. If you want to get benefits from the plot, it will inevitably lead to a deviation in the direction of the plot. This is destined, so how to get a lot of benefits is the key. *Earth lore flooding in all at once—sudden insights, strategic gold. But this mysterious change... perversion making me think of conquests in more ways than one.*
I feel a surge of restless energy. Halfway through writing, I pick up a long sword and a shield and start practicing in the private courtyard attached to my room. I am killing time and also improving my proficiency in skills.
Paladins have three talents: Retribution specialization is for output, Holy specialization is for nurse assistance, and the remaining protection specialization is for tank meat shield. I chose the protection specialization because I was afraid of death. Plain and simple. If I died once, I would have nothing, so I chose the protection specialization. When the tank is extreme, it can make the opponent feel sick. If he can't kill him, he will be exhausted.
My new System UI lit up, showing my starter kit.
> Devotion: Create a five-square-meter holy light ground. When you stand on the dedicated ground, you will recover 1% of your life per second and reduce the damage you receive by 5%. Enemies standing on the dedicated ground will suffer 10% additional damage. (Not advanced) > Avenger's Shield: Use holy light to copy your shield and throw it out. It can bounce three times when hitting the enemy, causing 150% attack damage. (Not advanced) > Hammer of Judgment: Throw out a holy light hammer to hit a single target, causing 200% attack damage and generating a little holy energy. (Not advanced)> Parry: When equipped with a shield, you can block enemy attacks and withstand 60% of the damage of the attack. (Not advanced)> Shield of Justice: Consume three points of holy energy to slam enemies within three meters in front, causing 150% attack damage. (Not advanced) > Holy Order of Glory: Consume holy energy to heal you or your allies, the value is equivalent to 20% of your maximum life. (Not advanced)
There are only six skills at the beginning, which can be said to have treatment, protection and output. I didn't know what other paladins were like, but at least my paladin was similar to the one in the game. It wasn't extremely damaging, but it was definitely very tanky. Looking at the skills on the panel that required levels to unlock, I had a little expectation for the future.
After practicing for an hour, I discovered the difference between reality and the game. The skills in the game have a cooldown time, but in reality there is no such thing. As long as the physical strength can keep up, you can use them unlimitedly. The holy light energy has a certain effect on physical recovery, so after sweating for an hour, I was actually full of energy.
I went back to my room and had a maid draw a bath. After returning to the room and taking a bath with the help of the maid, I dismissed her and soaked in the steaming water, squinting my eyes and thinking about how to get the most benefit in this war.
Suddenly, two small hands reached out from behind, touching my chest muscles and kneading my shoulders.
My eyes snapped open. The technique was very skillful and powerful, not the soft, hesitant feeling of the maid. Definitely not the maid. These hands knew exactly what they were doing.
I turned my head and looked back. My heart nearly stopped. It turned out to be my aunt, Lady Ashvane!
"Aunt!" I yelped, suddenly very aware that I was naked in a bathtub.
"Naughty boy, what's so surprising, it's not like I haven't seen it before," she slurred, her pretty face extremely rosy. There was a strong smell of alcohol when she spoke. I don't know how many bottles of wine she drank!
While speaking, her jade hands were still kneading my shoulders, completing the maid's work!
Oh, this is... this is not standard royal protocol. Not that I'm complaining... *Merger memories—perversion mysterious, touch electric sudden lust amp. Hook: night secrets promise indulgence?*
--- END OF CHAPTER 4 ---