71: During the dinner

"Good! Miss Elise, that was wonderful!" Carl was the first to jump up, clapping his hands vigorously, his face flushed from the alcohol. He let out a loud hiccup, then turned to Ocean Jack, who was still immersed in the lingering notes of the song, with a hint of defiant provocation: "Hey, Ocean Jack! Look at that silly look on your face. You weren't bewitched by the singing, were you? Or are you just unconvinced that I can dance?"

Provoked by him, Ocean Jack snapped back to reality, his bull-like eyes widening: "Pah! You call that dancing? That's called a muscle spasm in your butt! If you've got the guts, go back up there and wiggle for everyone to see!"

"Wiggle it is!" Emboldened by the alcohol, Carl didn't shy away. He staggered over to Linn and gave a slightly crooked salute. "My Lord! I propose something! Tonight is so happy, just drinking and eating meat isn't enough to fully enjoy it. Why don't we each perform a program to liven things up for everyone? Let's show everyone that we in the Star Sea Territory are not only heroes on the battlefield but also talented in private!"

Looking at his subordinates who had cast aside their usual seriousness and completely relaxed, a warm current surged in Linn's heart. They had followed him away from their homeland and experienced bloody battles; when had they ever had such a relaxed and comfortable moment? He laughed loudly and clapped his hands hard: "Good idea! Carl, your proposal hits home with me! Let's do it!"

He swept his gaze across the crowd and raised his voice: "Everyone can come up and perform! It doesn't matter what it is—singing, dancing, telling jokes, or even imitating animal calls! Let's just have fun! And—" he intentionally drew out his tone, looking at the curious eyes of the crowd, "I'm putting up 100 gold coins! As a reward for the most popular performance tonight! Everyone will judge it together!"

"Wow! 100 gold coins!"

"Long live the Baron!"

"Haha, for the gold coins, I'll give it my all!" Under the heavy reward, the atmosphere was instantly ignited. Cheers, whistles, and applause erupted one after another. For these officers and representatives of the Freemen, the gold coins were a not-insignificant fortune.

"I'll go first! I'll set an example for everyone!" Carl drank the remaining wine in his cup, slammed the cup onto the ground, and strode to the open space in the center of the bonfire. Under the influence of alcohol, he completely let go. Ignoring any technique, he began to shake his waist, hips, and buttocks wildly to the rhythm in his heart, his arms flailing about. His movements were exaggerated and comical; rather than a dance, it was more of an impromptu display of physical movement filled with primitive vitality.

"Hahaha! Hogan, look! What kind of thing is Carl dancing? I was actually fooled by him just now, thinking he was hiding his true talent!" Ocean Jack laughed until he leaned forward and backward, clutching his stomach and gasping for air, almost sliding off the wooden stump he was sitting on.

Hogan couldn't help but laugh, shaking his head while smiling: "This... this is truly a dance style that hurts the enemy by a thousand and damages oneself by eight hundred!"

Even the High Priestess Sea Song, who had always maintained a cold and aloof posture, couldn't help but slightly raise the corners of her lips when she saw Carl's chaotic yet joyful dance. She traced a breathtakingly faint smile, as if a glacier were melting, causing those who occasionally caught a glimpse to feel their hearts skip a beat.

Carl, however, was completely unaware, fully immersed in his own world, continuing to exert himself in his "spasms," his face brimming with simple happiness.

Linn clinked his cup vigorously with Payson, who was beside him, and joined the crowd in hearty laughter.

"I say, Linn," Payson leaned over, lowering his voice with a laugh, his tone filled with undisguised admiration, "Your subordinates are truly... full of talent! Every one of them is a character!"

Linn took a sip of wine, his eyes shining with pride: "Payson, don't look at how they are now. Once they are on the battlefield, every single one of them is a tough character to whom I can entrust my back."

His gaze turned to Batu and Augus, who were sitting slightly on the periphery. Although the two Orc leaders were laughing, they seemed a bit reserved and hadn't fully integrated into this uninhibited atmosphere. Linn had a thought and called out loudly: "Batu! Augus! Just watching our people perform won't do. Don't your Orc tribes have any signature skills? Come up and outdo this guy Carl! Let him know what a real dance is!"

Named by their Lord, Batu and Augus were stunned at first, then the primitive passion belonging to the tribe in their bones was ignited. The two looked at each other and saw the Battle Intent in each other's eyes. Batu stood up abruptly, his hulking frame casting a huge shadow in the firelight, his voice like a booming bell: "My Lord! Everyone! Since the Lord has given the order, Augus and I will make a fool of ourselves! Let everyone witness the war dance we Orcs use to sacrifice to our ancestors and boost our morale!"

At this moment, Clay, quick-witted and fast-handed, grabbed Carl, who was still wiggling in the center of the field with unfulfilled enthusiasm, and dragged him back, laughing and scolding: "Alright, alright, Carl, come down quickly. Your little moves can't compare to the professionals!"

Carl wasn't annoyed, chuckling as he wiped his sweat: "Hehe, it's just to liven things up, just for fun!"

The field was cleared, and Batu and Augus arrived at the very center of the bonfire. Standing opposite each other, they took a deep breath, and then, a low, powerful roar erupted from the depths of their throats, like the roar of an ancient beast, carrying a unique beat. Their movements were full of power—stomping, waving arms, beating chests—every move coordinated with that primitive rhythm, their heavy, powerful footsteps causing the ground to tremble slightly. Their dance was full of wild beauty and powerful infectiousness, as if bringing everyone back to the scene of a primitive tribe sacrificing around a bonfire or mobilizing before a battle. That surging sense of power and high-spirited Battle Intent made all the viewers feel their blood pumping.

"Good! Good!!" Cheers rose one after another, and even the human soldiers were stirred, clapping their hands vigorously.

Payson watched intently, patting Linn's shoulder hard, exclaiming sincerely: "My god! Linn, this Aura! This cohesion! The Orcs are indeed a famous fighting race on the continent! You have gained their sincere submission, which is practically like getting an elite regular army for nothing! This deal was worth it!"

Linn was equally stirred. He watched Batu and Augus galloping and leaping in the field, inwardly rejoicing that he had not chosen to exterminate them back then, but instead had given them a way to survive. Given time, once the Orc tribe truly developed and integrated into the Star Sea Territory, they would surely become a powerful trump card in his hand.

The war dance, filled with power and wildness, ended. Batu and Augus had light sweat on their foreheads and bowed to the surroundings, winning applause and cheers countless times more enthusiastic than Carl's.

Linn walked up with a smile and patted Batu's solid arm hard: "Well danced! Full of power and Aura! This is a real dance!" He turned to tease Carl, who was still panting on the side: "Carl, see that? It looks like your 100 gold coins are in jeopardy!"

Carl waved his hand indifferently, his face full of admiration: "Hehe! My Lord, I was just playing around. I can't compare with Battalion Commander Batu and Deputy Battalion Commander Augus. I admit defeat, I am completely convinced!"

"Who's next?" Linn looked around, watching everyone encouragingly.

"I'll go! I'll go!" A slightly eager voice sounded, and Butler Morton was seen raising his hand high, with an eager expression on his face.

Linn looked with some surprise at the old butler, who was always known for being rigorous and steady, and laughed: "Old Mo? You have this hidden talent? How come I never knew? Come, come, come, the stage is yours!"

Morton first carefully straightened his robe, which was slightly wrinkled from sitting for a long time, cleared his throat, then walked to the center of the field with standard steps. Facing everyone, he slightly puffed out his chest, raised his voice, and began his performance in an exaggerated, cadence-filled tone:

"Oh! Great god of dawn! Please lower your gaze that observes all things, and look at this piece of newborn land!"

He waved his arm, pointing to the surrounding bonfire and the crowd, full of emotion: "Who is it that leads the giant ship of Shattered Star Island, cutting through the waves and sailing steadily? Who is it that leads the loyal warriors, defeating all fierce enemies and guarding the peace? And who is it that not only possesses unparalleled wisdom and courage but also possesses the... the most beautiful face in the world?"

His voice reached a climax here, his arm pointing abruptly at Linn, who was sitting in the main seat, and he shouted with all his strength: "It is you! It is you! It is you—our great and glorious Baron of Star Sea, Lord Linn!"

"Stop, stop, stop! Cut it out!" Linn felt his scalp tingle as he listened. He quickly stood up, laughing and crying, interrupting Morton's sycophantic poem that was like a rushing river: "Old Mo! You... your flattery is too blatant! It's too much! I've got goosebumps!"

"Pfft—" Aivi, who was sitting next to Linn, and Elise, who had just returned to her seat, were the first to be unable to hold back, laughing out loud. Aivi laughed so hard she bent over, her long blue hair shaking, and the scales on her brow shining in the firelight.

Ocean Jack pounded his chest and stamped his feet on the side, looking heartbroken: "Oh! I say, Grand Steward! This is not right! Flattering the Lord is my exclusive job! How did you steal the lead again? And you said it so... so literarily! I don't accept this!"

Hearing this, the crowd burst into another round of deafening laughter, and the atmosphere reached its peak.

With the opening by Carl, the Orcs, and Morton, the subsequent scene became even more out of control and joyful. Whether they were good at it or not, everyone was infected by the atmosphere and came forward to "perform." Some people shouted a few folk songs from their hometowns at the top of their lungs, some told a few racy jokes that made everyone laugh wildly, and even Great Master Henry, who was always serious and spent his days spinning around the anvil, was egged on by the crowd. Carrying his iconic forging hammer, he clumsily wiggled a few times in the field, a scene full of contrast and humor, with great comedic effect.