Contrary to the conservative style of clothing, the woman's words and actions are more like a vulgar mercenary.
She walked to the front of the chair, and first gave the interviewers a nondescript good-day salute. Then, she sat down on the seat, leaned her upper body forward, and faced the king directly: "I guess I can skip the self-introduction step.
Already?"
Friar Joe was the first to speak: "Barbarossa's daughter, a heretic from the Abbasid Empire, a pirate who haunts the golden sea, any one of them will send you to the stake!"
This level of threat could not shake Aisha's will at all. She said quarrelsomely: "What about the Muxi Kingdom? Atheists, North Island pirates, and demonic aliens. If we really want to sentence all these people to death, I'm afraid
Even if we cut down the entire forest in Yuexi Plain, we won’t be able to gather that much wood.”
Todd looked at the strange eyes and suddenly asked: "You could have used a pseudonym to apply for this exam, why did you use your real name?"
"There is a proverb in the south that the closer a sinner is to the devil, the more conspicuous his soul will be." Aisha made the shape of a scale with her hands: "Dear King Muxi, if I were just an ordinary woman, you would
Can I be allowed to become an official of the kingdom?"
Todd thought to himself, what's wrong with this? Age and gender have never been used as criteria for judging ability.
Just when he was about to say this, he saw Emerson and Joe beside him, facing Ayesha's question, they shook their heads slightly in unison.
Todd also instantly realized that this is the Middle Ages, and the values of the previous life have no place here.
"Youth represents recklessness and ignorance, and women represent weakness and submission. Everyone is like this, and no one can transcend it." Aisha raised her right hand, pressed it on her heart, and said slowly: "And the name of Barbarossa,
But it allows me to attract the king's attention, have the opportunity to enter this room, and get a chance to show myself."
Todd rubbed his temples: "Miss Hayreddin..."
The woman frowned: "King of Muxi, you can call me Aisha."
Seeing the confusion on Todd's face, Ayesha added: "Just because I used my father's name doesn't mean I like that name."
Todd nodded and said: "Okay, Ayesha, let's talk about the exam. I have read your test paper. You have excellent arithmetic skills and detailed market data. The only thing that I don't understand is that on the expansion of Muxi Seaport
, your answer is to create reefs and narrow the entrance to the sea, can you explain it?"
The midday sun shone through the wooden window edges and shone on Aisha's face, showing two completely different colors in her aqua blue and amber pupils.
"We did that to protect the port."
Looking at the interviewers, Aisha explained: "The population of Muxi City exceeds 30,000. A large part of the kingdom's daily supplies, including food, cloth, and spices, rely on sea transportation. But there are two big problems.
, 1. The coastline of Muxi City exceeds three kilometers
, difficult to defend; second, the kingdom's navy is almost non-existent and unable to defend itself against the enemy. In this case, if I were the commander of the enemy fleet, I would only need to cut off Muxi City's maritime supply line, and then use kerosene bombs to attack coastal buildings
, we can achieve the strategic purpose of besieging the city."
Emerson's face showed a serious expression for the first time.
This 22-year-old female pirate actually has the same views as him on the strategic significance of sea lanes.
Aisha continued: "No one paid attention to this area of Muxi Harbor in the past. Because there were few ships sailing here, there were no suitable supply points. But now, the situation has changed."
"The idiots in the North Island who don't know how to make money in a low-key manner have obtained the seafood preservation technology from Muxi City, so that the rotten fish and smelly shrimps that were originally worthless were sold at sky-high prices in the south. The nobles in the palace and
The group of wealthy merchants in the market have been jealous for a long time, and they have already placed a high reward among the pirates for the capture of a North Island cargo ship."
Todd frowned, thinking about what to do if the North Island trade route was attacked.
Emerson said to Ayesha: "You are not taking this exam for the purpose of being a kingdom official, are you?"
The latter nodded and said: "Yes, official positions are just dispensable to me."
Emerson stroked his mustache and said: "Your purpose is to get funding from the Muxi Kingdom so that you can recruit sailors and build a fleet."
Aisha glanced at the unattractive old man and said nothing, which was equivalent to acquiescing to Emerson's statement.
"Why should we believe a pirate's words?" Friar Joe didn't seem to have a good impression of the woman.
"Your Majesty, your knights have robbed many lords of the Silver Ring Kingdom, and also occupied the North Stone Silver Mine, not to mention tuberose, colored glaze, etc., those high-priced trade goods sold to the south, it is no exaggeration to say that,
You may be the richest king in the northern diocese." Aisha took a fancy to you.
Go like a veteran negotiator: "Now all you have to do is drop a copper coin from your fingers to fund a promising ally. If successful, you will gain a loyal and humble ally."
Friend, if you fail, you will only lose some property."
Looking at Emerson who was expressionless, Joe who was suspicious, and Todd who had not expressed any stance from beginning to end, Ayesha lowered her head slightly and said respectfully: "Of course, anyone can do such a thing as talking.
Succeeding is the best proof of ability. I will soon ambush a group of pirates who plan to rob the North Island caravan, and their blood and heads will prove to you that the investment in me will definitely be worth the money!"
Todd looked at the woman with strange eyes and gently closed the roster in his hand: "Ayesha, if you can prove your worth to me, I can also assure you that I am by no means a stingy person."
———————————————
In the north of Muxi City, Liliel Textile Factory.
Mary was sitting in the studio at the back of the factory. Next to her lay a newly completed oil painting, and concept sketches of many accessories, clothing, shoes and bags scattered on the ground.
Cathy walked into the studio, placed a cup of brewed herbal tea on the work table, looked at the woman's thin figure, and persuaded in a low voice: "Master, you haven't slept for 22 hours, please take a rest."
After finishing the sketch of a newly completed fringed dress, Mary, with two dark circles under her eyes, turned to Cathy, shook her head and said: "Inspiration is like spring rain and dew, if you don't grasp it
When the time comes, it will quietly disappear into the air and never be traced again.”
Cathy secretly glanced at the oil painting behind Mary and whispered: "Master Terrence and Lord Elijah, they are here."
Mary didn't look back and continued waving the paintbrush in her hand: "Invite them in."
Terrence, who escaped from Tyro Capital, has basically recovered his health after recuperating in Muxi City for a period of time. His persistence in academics and his desire for truth have made the old man's spirit feel better day by day.
Today, he brought his best disciple, Elijah, to visit Mary, just for one thing.
Entering the door of the studio, Terrence didn't notice Mary's presence at all. He walked straight to the oil painting and whispered the name under the painting.
Sleeping Venus, Susanna in the Bath, Danae...
Elijah walked to the teacher's side and asked in a low voice: "From your perspective..."
"A perfect masterpiece!" Terrence turned to Mary and asked, "I heard that these are His Majesty's collection?"
Mary put down the brush in her hand, took a sip of herbal tea, then spit the tea back into the cup, put the cup down with a look of disgust, and said to Master Terrence: "Yes, but His Majesty does not want them to be made public.
.”
Terrence opened his eyes wide: "Why?! Look at these paintings! They not only have elements of the Renaissance, but are also full of ideas of artistic innovation. Isn't it more meaningful for more people to see them than to hide them here?
?!"
Mary shook her head and said, "Your Majesty said that these paintings do not belong to this world."
Terrence looked at the design sketches all over the room, and his tone became more angry: "But I saw that some people got shortcuts to inspiration from these paintings, but refused to share them with others!"
Mary's face darkened, she pursed her lips and remained silent.
Upon seeing this, Elijah quickly acted as a mediator: "Miss Mary, ever since Master Terrence proposed the concept of literary copying, most of the paintings and sculptures in Muxi City have stayed in the Taylor period.
The imitation stage. These paintings, compositions, colors, and lines all point out a new path for the progress of art."
Terrence turned and walked towards the door of the studio and said to the people in the room: "Since that incident, I have become a skeptic. But if your Majesty can prove that he really comes from that world, I will be happy to become a skeptic."
Devout believer, re-brand your faith in my soul!"...