Work Prophet
Chapter 120 - 36 Ocean Flame and Sea King Spear

Chapter 120: Chapter 36 Ocean Flame and Sea King Spear

The shipwright watched as the line of playing cards on the table grew longer and longer, and he couldn’t help but hold his breath.

He picked up the next card from his deck, flipped it over to reveal a four of spades, then he looked at the long train of cards on the table and sighed in disappointment when he didn’t spot another four.

Reluctantly, he placed his card at the end of the sequence.

A glimmer of joy flashed in the little maid’s eyes. "It’s my turn!"

She too picked up a card, a club seven, the only seven on the table.

Fitzwilliam immediately became excited again. As soon as the little maid put down the seven, he prepared to draw another card.

By now there were eleven cards on the table, and the probability of not getting a duplicate on his next draw was very small, so it boiled down to how many cards he could capture.

However, just before the shipwright could dominate, Clara glanced at the alarm clock on the table, suddenly grabbed the deck of poker cards, and put them back into the card box.

At the same time, she called out, "No more playing, no more playing, Prophet is about to return! Remember not to tell him that I played cards with you."

The shipwright looked bemused as he watched Clara gather up his cards, hesitated, then earnestly sought guidance.

"Didn’t you say before that believers of the Double Rest Sect should recognize and understand the importance of rest and amusement, so playing cards is also a form of practice?"

"That’s for others, but as for me... I’ve already used up my leave for this week," Clara stuck out her tongue and expressed regretfully, "If I’m caught, I’m definitely going to be scolded, so you must not betray me."

"Uh... okay, sure."

After about fifteen minutes passed on the alarm clock, the sound of horse hooves finally came from outside the door.

The little maid hurriedly opened the door and went out to greet them with enthusiasm.

Fitzwilliam quickly set down his cup as well, following Clara out the door.

The night was in full swing outside, the stars in the sky blinking.

A dark figure dismounted from a horse, handing the reins over to the little maid, then looked at Fitzwilliam and before the shipwright could speak, asked, "Did you play cards with her?"

"No, how could that be, impossible!" Clara was initially startled, followed by a quick triple denial.

"Then what were you two doing up in the middle of the night instead of sleeping?" Li Yu retorted.

"......"

The little maid was left speechless; the shipwright gave her a sympathetic look.

"I’ll give you two months’ time: three thousand commonly used characters to learn to read and write proficiently," Li Yu declared, not allowing Clara any more chances to argue her case.

"Three thousand commonly used characters? In just two months?" the little maid cried out in despair, "That’s too difficult! And don’t I have two days off each week? It’s written into the rules, aren’t you as the Prophet openly breaking them?!"

"Of course, the rules must be followed. Two months and three thousand characters might be difficult for others, but with your memory, as long as you put your heart into it, it can be done without compromising your rest," Li Yu said calmly.

Having finished speaking, he no longer paid attention to Clara, who looked like she had lost her soul, and turned to address Fitzwilliam, "You are Fitzwilliam? How is your sister doing now?"

"As you had predicted before, she has now fully recovered," the shipwright said respectfully, "My sister’s survival is all thanks to your and Lord Saturday’s mercy, so I also wish to join the Double Rest Sect!

"Hmm, but I am from the Weiting Family, and my family was involved in a rebellion before, and now we are all criminals in the Empire, I wonder if I can join?"

"Of course, regardless of status, gender, or race, the doors of the Double Rest Sect are open to all, and I will preach here every Friday afternoon, explain the teachings of the Double Rest Sect, and hold corresponding activities. You can come and participate then."

Seeing a hint of doubt flash in Fitzwilliam’s eyes, Li Yu added.

"The Double Rest Sect follows a new calendar, which considers seven days as a week, from Monday to Sunday. I will have Mary inform you of the specifics later."

"Good, okay."

"I heard from Ireya that you were a shipwright before and even built warships?" Li Yu paused, then continued asking.

Fitzwilliam gave a bitter smile, "Yes, before I was captured, I was helping my family build the largest warship of the Empire, the Sea King, but unfortunately it was never completed, and after coming to the Western Territory, far from the ocean, my craft became useless."

Li Yu listened without expressing any opinion, "What kind of weapons are usually on the warships you build?"

Invigorated by a discussion of his profession, Fitzwilliam spoke with enthusiasm, "The warships of the Weiting Family are usually equipped with rams at the bow, below the waterline, covered in bronze. A ship could inflict tremendous damage by ramming its ram into the flank of an enemy vessel.

"If it breaks the keel, it could directly sink the enemy ship. Besides, if we have sufficiently elite warriors on board, we would also equip it with Woodpecker Bridges.

"Hmm, it’s about attaching a bird beak-like spike at the front of the bridge, which, if it pierces the enemy ship, allows our soldiers to rush over and attack along the bridge.

"However, the Woodpecker Bridge has its drawbacks; it’s too heavy and affects the ship’s stability. If there’s a big wave, it’s easy to capsize.

"Besides that, the Weiting Family also places some catapults on board, but the simple rocks have limited power; therefore, the Weiting Family invented Ocean Flame."

"Ocean Flame?"

"Yes, it’s a terrifying flame that can still burn on the surface of the sea, nearly impossible to extinguish once hit, and it can burn for a very long time. It is one of the family’s two major weapons that rule the seas."

At this point, there was a trace of regret on Fitzwilliam’s face, "Unfortunately, the recipe for Ocean Flame has always been controlled only by a few core members of the family, and now those people are dead, and the Ocean Flame has been completely lost."

Li Yu estimated that the Ocean Flame the shipwright was talking about was probably similar to something like Greek Fire. The Romans had indeed once dominated the world with such a substance.

The main components were likely petroleum and sulfur, and so on; he might try to make it if given a chance in the future.

Li Yu then asked, "What about the other weapon?"

"The Sea King Spear! It’s a kind of giant crossbow, which I can make," Fitzwilliam said, "The Sea King Spear equipped on the Sea King could easily penetrate small warships that dare to approach!"

"Oh, can you make it now?" Li Yu showed interest upon hearing this.

"I can, as long as you provide me with enough manpower and materials," Fitzwilliam replied straightforwardly.

"Later, I will discuss this with Ireya. You don’t have to work the fields anymore, just stay here and build the Sea King Spears for me. Start with making three, I have a use for them," Li Yu responded.