novelraw Chapter 223: Captain, First Mate, and Second Mate (Two-in-One)
Chapter 223: Captain, First Mate, and Second Mate (Two-in-One)
"Very happy to meet you."
Fisher smilingly shook hands with this First Mate who left quite a decent impression. Merely upon this touch, he immediately felt the hands of the obese female before his eyes were covered with various calluses of different sizes. But before Fisher could continue observing, the Pakhz before his eyes had already quickly withdrawn her hand.
Alajina wearing entirely white clothing currently stood beside the mast. Letting her expressionlessly cast a glance at Pakhz, Pakhz then comprehensively understanding put on the short hat she draped in her pocket. After smiling at Fisher, waving her hand she loudly shouted at the crew members still watching the play behind her,
"Still watching, still watching a hammer? Work finished? Quickly go, move, move! In case we're discovered by Naris' military ships we'll suffer, quickly! Set sail!"
"Set sail!"
"Set sail!"
Following Pakhz's opening of mouth, the crew members in the distance consecutively scattered, passing her words sequentially into the cabin below like a relay.
Following the crew members beginning to act, the entire Iceberg Queen Ship seemed to be awakened. A fierce stream of steam suddenly leaped out from atop the head of the hull, emitting a crisp sound akin to a steam boiler opening its sluice.
"Woo!"
A massive amount of ice fog just produced outside owing to Alajina's Relic Ice Prince also completely dispersed at this moment. The roaring steam intertwined and dissolved with it. The engine at the bottom of the ship first made the entire ship tremble up, and then produced a decent force dragging the entire ship sailing forward.It was still Jasmine's first time witnessing with her own eyes how a steamship was started. Exceptionally curiously she looked at the smoke emerging atop her head, just intending to get closer to take a sniff, as a result instantly stimulated by that pungent smell she shrank back coughing twice.
"Cough cough!"
That foolish appearance made both Alajina and Fisher cast sideways glances. But Alajina nonetheless kept her gaze fixed upon the non-human organs on her body, obviously it was also her first time seeing a true oceanic Demi-human,
"After sailing there will be some smell upon the deck, let us go to the captain's cabin to converse, leaving here to Pakhz and them..."
Alajina's captain's cabin was exactly above the deck, overall exceedingly spacious. On normal days Alajina planned routes and commanded the entire ship here.
Behind the captain's cabin there were still several rooms, obviously used for residing.
"Waaah! Quickly look, Diandian! So long so big smoke ah!"
"I feel there are many of Diandian Number One's kind here, they are below..."
"Wulalala."
"Quiet down a bit, you three!"
Just on the way to the captain's cabin, the lively Karma and the other two hurriedly jumped down from Old Jack's body, constantly curiously sizing up the surroundings upon the stairs before the door of the captain's cabin.
Having grown up in a basement since childhood how had they ever seen this kind of grand formation. Diandian even more so directly stood upon the railing feeling the constantly brushing past sea wind sweeping across her own face.
This nonetheless gave the Old Jack behind quite a fright. Residing upon this ship were entirely the most unreasonable female pirates of the Sardin Woman's Country. It was heard they were exceptionally unfriendly towards little pint-sized females of other nations, let alone these three tiny squirrel girls.
He reached out a hand giving each person a knuckle rap on the head, hitting them until they hugged their heads dizzy and disoriented in place. Before they even opened their mouths to speak, a dry and dull mocking sound suddenly transmitted from behind,
"Haha... haha foolish eggs."
This sound nevertheless angered these three beaten squirrel girls quite heavily. Deeming to let the person mocking them taste some sweetness.
As a result when they turned their heads, they nonetheless saw a colorful large-sized parrot squatting above the iron railings tilting its head looking at them, while looking it still "cluck cluck" mockingly,
"Foolish eggs... foolish eggs..."
"Stinky bird! Stinky bird!"
"Squeak squeak!"
Karma and them not willing to show weakness made grimaces back, even the little rats atop their heads also cursed together with them. The situation of these three people many rats and one parrot cursing at each other was exceptionally interesting. The most crucial point was that parrot under the circumstance of spurting three was unexpectedly still able to not fall into a disadvantage, the cursing sounds from its mouth both ugly to hear and fast, truly making people doubt whether raising this thing was used to substitute cursing people.
"Fweet!"
Right when the parrot spread its wings still wanting to further expand the war front, a distant and crisp whistle sound nonetheless transmitted from the uppermost of the mast. That parrot after hearing this whistle sound the action of cursing people came to an abrupt end, cursing and swearing it jumped onto the railing flying towards above.
Karma and them chasing to victory pursued onto the railing, yet saw currently sitting atop the uppermost of the mast of the Iceberg Queen Ship was a female wearing thick robes. That female had a head of short white hair, from the teeth downwards, entirely sheltered by that robe thereby unable to discern specific expressions. Only that right at this moment, her gaze was also sizing up the guests upon the ship below.
The cursing and swearing parrot retreated onto that girl's arm stopping, while preening its own feathers still calling out,
"Foolish eggs... foolish eggs..."
Old Jack below for fear of provoking some person upon the ship, hurriedly embraced the three bratty kids back into his embrace anew. But Alajina nonetheless nonchalantly walked to the doorway of the captain's cabin, simultaneously introducing for the others,
"That is my Second Mate Aoxi, she's an Azurebird-person Demi-human with decent eyesight..."
"Azurebird-person?"
Fisher had seen many Demi-human Races, this kind was also no exception.
Still remember when Fisher was at the Ning Circus Cultivating Association in the Southern Continent, within the tent imprisoning Raphaela and them there was exactly a dying Azurebird-person.
This kind of Demi-human was a widely distributed species in the Northern Border, however also possessed branches in the Southern Continent. The external appearances of the two differed vastly, only that according to classification both belonged to the same kind. This terminology was still proposed by Old Jack's son Little Jack, Fisher had read his paper and deeply agreed.
The Azurebird-person above possessed overall hair color white revealing green, body size was also somewhat larger than the variety of the Southern Continent, obviously the kind of the Northern Border.
"Mhm, within the Northern Border there are many Demi-human Races living in our nation, the situation of humans employing them for work is commonly seen. Before I defected from the Sardin Woman's Country, Aoxi formerly was my guard."
Demi-human Races serving as guards?
Actually as early as when in Naris, Fisher held somewhat of an understanding towards this kind of situation within the Northern Border. In the Northern Border humans and Demi-humans alike for generations hold faith in a god named "Frost Phoenix". This god encourages using cooperation between species groups to dispel coldness, advocating complementary relationships amongst living beings.
Therefore, within regions possessing the Frost Phoenix faith, Demi-humans can openly and aboveboard work and live together with humans there. But even if it's like this, they generally wouldn't intermarry amongst each other.
Moreover this situation actually also delineates places. Within some vassal states of the Sardin Woman's Country the citizens don't believe in the Frost Phoenix, therefore correspondingly their attitudes towards Demi-humans have no difference from the Western Continent.
"This is exactly my captain's cabin, please enter."
Having introduced her Second Mate for everyone present, Alajina gently pushed open the door of her own captain's cabin. Having just pushed open the door, everyone conversely felt a gust of bone-piercing cold wind assaulting from within the room. Looking fixedly, only to see at the end of the room there unexpectedly astonishingly stood a massive block of ice.
While continuing to meticulously observe you would discover, sealed right in the middle of that ice block was a rapier flashing with a faint light, exactly Alajina's Relic 【Ice Prince】.
The bone-piercing chilliness made the active squirrel girls instantly quiet down, honestly pasting onto Old Jack's body shivering. And Isabel's body also somewhat shrank, they had only just soaked in water, now entering this cold environment anew made them feel exceptionally uncomfortable. Fortunately at this time the Jasmine beside reached out her hand tightly gripping Isabel's ice-cold hand.
Seeing Fisher currently sizing up that block of giant ice within the room, Alajina ushering everyone to be seated and then reached out awakening the magic within the room. Following the Crest becoming bright, the surrounding temperature also gradually escalated until returning to normal. She also simultaneously opened her mouth explaining for Fisher,
"My Relic lacks the method to directly utilize its main body, it will endlessly produce bone-piercing cold ice, therefore when ordinarily using it, I would all through the tattoo it bestows summon its phantom as a substitution... Although relatively troublesome, however this also allows my ship to not worry about the problem of fresh water upon the sea."
Alajina while speaking, acquired several cups from the shelf beside, and then used a chisel to chisel down several ice blocks upon that solid ice. By this time Fisher finally discovered on the back of her neck half-concealed beneath the clothing revealed a black tattoo possessing complex vein patterns. That tattoo inlaid upon her skin, the cold temperature emitting from within even caused the skin surrounding it to slightly turn pale green.
No wonder previously watching Alajina use the Relic she took it out from an unknown place, turns out she basically didn't carry the true Relic on her body but rather through some method utilized a weakened Relic phantom.
However this also illustrated that the stature of Ice Prince as a Relic was extremely high. Even if its phantom in Alajina's hands its might was still magnificent.
Yet upon the shelf beside the solid ice, Fisher unexpectedly still saw a complete set of armor of the Sardin Woman's Country. The overall lines of that armor contorted continuously, the shape exceptionally bizarre yet rich with a kind of noble aesthetic. The overall color was composed of pale green and blue, making that armor more like a piece of artwork rather than a defensive gear.
The fact was indeed so, this kind of armor generally only the nobles of the Sardin Woman's Country possessed. At the beginning of the armor's forging, craftsmen would carve out the shape of several phoenix feathers at the protruding places on the chest of the armor, using this to symbolize the identity of the armor's owner. And the quantity of feathers definitely must strictly accord with grade classifications.
The Sardin Queen, precisely the nominal Co-Ruler of the Woman's Country's armor altogether would have five feathers, this is the highest grade; whereas her royal daughters and the ennobled kings are one grade, possessing four feathers upon them; while further below, the generation of daughters of ennobled kings as well as other high-grade nobles' armors have three feathers upon them.
Upon Alajina's armor precisely possessed three shining phoenix feathers, this symbolized her identity of formerly being an ennobled royal daughter.
Simultaneously, because the women of the Sardin Woman's Country mostly grew tall and slender, therefore the armors accompanying them would be made exceptionally slender. The overall vein patterns twisting repeatedly, giving people a kind of tough and durable feeling yet having distinct feminine characteristics.
Looking from afar, the overall shape of that armor was exquisite and elegant, undeniably a rare treasure found by chance but not sought.
Speaking of this it must be emphasized that, although the customs of the Sardin Woman's Country implement male inferiority, this yet doesn't illustrate their feminine style is consistent with males of other nations, this set of armor is exactly the most potent proof.
"Fisher, that precious sword is the weapon of the Phoenix Race the former King of the Northern Border! After the Queen of the Phoenix Race unified the Northern Border she once personally arrived at the Holy Realm, pleading the esteemed Holy Progenies to forge weapons for her and her descendants. The Holy Progenies agreed, extracting a single feather each from the bodies of her and her descendants as materials, forging four unique and unmatched weapons. One mother sword, three child swords, this is exactly one of the three child swords..."
Right when Fisher and Alajina poured water, Eimhart who unknown when awakened from the drowning state still hadn't had the time to open his mouth to complain, his gaze was attracted by that Relic placed at the corner, secretly climbing beside Fisher's ear, using a voice only the two of them could hear speaking like so,
"That woman is a human, of course can't wield the main body of that Relic, because this weapon at the outset wasn't designed for humans, but forged for the phoenixes."
"Phoenix Race... when was this matter?"
"How would I know, this is what I saw from the books collected by that bad Demon Baimon, the specific time wasn't written upon it either. When this fellow Baimon records things she completely lacks method and order, or to say Demons are all of this pissing nature. You don't know how tiring reading her books is, just discriminating her handwriting alone is deadly troublesome. Did you forget, because of this matter I indeed engaged in a massive brawl with her once ah!"
Having finished listening, Fisher cast an exceedingly disdainful glance at the Eimhart beside him. What do you mean engaging in a massive brawl with someone, weren't you instantaneously subdued by her and then fiercely humiliated a round?
However Fisher also didn't expose Eimhart's shortcomings, because at this time Alajina had already returned to the table bringing the water loaded with ice blocks.
Fisher's gaze casted over, yet saw the ice blocks within the cup she gripped after distancing from the Ice Prince at the corner of the room then rapidly melted. Waiting until walking before their eyes, the ice within that cup merely remained a few scattered fragments, whilst the cup was already filled with ice-cold fresh water.
"Please use."
"Many thanks."
Alajina placing down the water cup didn't sit upon the master seat further away, but directly sat beside Fisher.
Just now when outside she had been continuously looking at Fisher, therefore neglected the people accompanying him. Up to this time waiting for her to truly meticulously skim past Fisher's figure sweeping a glance at the people beside him, her complexion imperceptibly became somewhat bizarre...
An old man of Naris bringing Ratman Races, a Naris woman with a dispirited demeanor plus an oceanic Demi-human. No matter how you looked this combination seemed somewhat weird, this made her hold somewhat of curiosity towards the situation of Saint-Nazareth. However she also didn't ask much, consistently maintaining the most polite distance with Fisher,
"Has Fisher decided where to go after leaving Naris?"
"Not yet, although afterwards I myself have some matters to do, but prior to that, I must first arrange my companions properly."
"Like this..."
Hearing this sentence Alajina's pupils slightly brightened a degree. And then seeing her gently reach out her hand, unrolling the nautical chart placed upon the table.
Fisher cast a glance, discovering this was a third edition nautical chart of the Sardin Woman's Country, mhm, the kind with the Sardin Woman's Country in the middle of the map. Simultaneously, Alajina stretched her hand downward along the Northern Ocean, all the way arriving at the location of the shipping lane they were currently at in the Southern Ocean, and then finally spoke,
"Last month we took on a bit of a private order at the 【Pirate Port】 there. Currently having accomplished the order preparing to return voyage. Next we will journey starting from the Southern Ocean traversing northeastward returning to the Pirate Port. If you don't mind then first travel together with us, upon arriving at the Pirate Port, then make the next decisions."
Her fair, slender fingers traveled upward traversing along the Southern Ocean, until drawing out the borderline of the Southern Ocean and the entire map, arriving at the unknown regions beyond the Eastern Ocean outside the east of Kadu before stopping.
Here it must be introduced that, the vast region east of Kadu on the Western Continent still distributes many small countries left behind from the Central Empire period. This also caused the entire Western Continent taking Kadu as the dividing line, the numerous countries towards the west are prospering developing and pioneering, while towards the east is continuous unending intermittent chaotic battles.
During the ancient period when Naris expanding east fought to Kadu's Holy Church, Godlin I turned back, and ignored the lands further away; several hundred years ago when Schwari developed to the extreme occupying Saint-Nazareth they also once coveted the lands over there, ultimately still just like Godlin I abandoned it.
The reason lies in, the situation over there was indeed somewhat terrible. As early as the initial period of the establishment of the Central Empire that place consistently maintained the situation of politics and religion being undivided. Moreover towards the Mother Goddess Church held fanatical faith, although speaking like this, the content they respectively believed still possessed a bit of difference. The only similarity was, all nations acknowledged the status of Kadu's Holy Church, and then nobody mutually submitted to anyone's secular authority.
And once outsiders meddled in their problems, they would uniformly face externally. This repeatedly occurring every two or three days confused even the thick-eyebrowed big-eyed Schwari. Added with the frontlines from Schwari towards the east of Kadu being too long, in the end they could also only abandon it.
Such chaotic situation simultaneously represents the sea exploration of the many small countries within is far inferior to Naris and Schwari. The neighboring Eastern Ocean over there exactly happens to be the vastest expanse among the Four Great Oceans. The countless islands big and small spread out like stars within were each claimed by private forces, Naris, the Northern Border and Schwari also glaring like a tiger towards this piece of land...
This situation more complex than upon the east coast of the Western Continent molded the paradise of pirates and adventurers. And the 【Pirate Port】 Alajina pointed at was precisely at a certain location within the Eastern Ocean.
"Inside the Eastern Ocean?"
"Mhm... the 【Black Chieftain】 Ariddo called one of the 'Four Great Pirates' by Western Continent people as early as a few years ago arrived at the Eastern Ocean. He named himself the 'Black Explorer', attempting to seek the legendary 【Stormsea】 there. Thus he stinted not spending massive energy uniting numerous pirates in the rear establishing a colossal base, denominated the Pirate Port..."
"News there is very well-informed, there are people from everywhere, even Demi-humans are also many. Moreover the hands of various countries' authorities temporarily also still cannot extend there. If temporarily unclear where to go you can first settle down there..."
Having finished listening, Fisher conversely harbored somewhat of inclination.
Presently the largest goal placed before him was definitely Erwind. But Fisher couldn't possibly directly go find Erwind for a single combat right now, he still hadn't made good preparations. Especially now having learned the brand new enhancement method upon the Demi-Human Completion Handbook, he also needed to search for more Demi-humans to research to see the efficacy.
While the other problem was how to arrange Old Jack and Isabel properly, especially Isabel.
Fisher believed, it wouldn't be long before Elizabeth handled the domestic affairs properly, she would definitely issue a bounty upon himself and Isabel. And himself if going to find Erwind by that time it was absolutely impossible to bring her along, this undoubtedly was joking with Fisher his own and her lives.
Fisher's preliminary plan was to arrange them within the Northern Border. Because integrating the situation to look, only the Northern Border was a place able to choose.
Schwari currently re-established good relations with Naris. Under the circumstance of the two nations being in a honeymoon period, sending them there was extremely unsafe; Kadu is good alright, safety is also truly safe, but the problem is it's an inland country, to send them in it's either through Schwari or through the numerous small fighting countries of the Western Continent surrounding it; and the Southern Continent is even more out of the question, the quantity of good people over there is pitifully few, the laws of any nation don't apply, whether you can survive entirely resigns to the decree of Heaven.
Thinking back and forth, unexpectedly only the presently temporarily safe Northern Border was suitable.
But Alajina currently was exactly a wanted criminal heavily bountied by the Sardin Woman's Country of the Northern Border. Requiring the Iceberg Queen Ship to send them arriving at the Northern Border wasn't quite possible, therefore heading to the Pirate Port searching for people to escort them there wasn't a bad method.
Thinking up to this point, Fisher could only nod his head, agreeing to Alajina's proposal,
"Then, during this period of time I will trouble Captain Alajina."
Hearing Fisher agree, Alajina's earlobes became slightly red, a kind of sweet and silky joyful feeling instantly surging onto her heart. That sweetness also concomitantly gently lifted up the cold corners of her mouth.
From the Southern Ocean to Pirate Bay, could have a full one to two months' voyage. During this period of time Fisher is all with herself upon the ship, to herself undoubtedly is an excellent opportunity...
She maintained this kind of plain yet beautiful smile. Just looking towards Fisher wanting to speak anew suddenly discovered behind his back, that oceanic Demi-human little girl was currently hugging a cup staring straight at herself,
Stare...
That pair of pupils pitch-black like ink instantaneously interrupted Alajina's following words, pressing the pause button for the conversation. And the keen Fisher at this time already realized something wasn't quite right. He turned his head casting a glance at Jasmine, but Jasmine had nonetheless already turned her head back,
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing... since it is so, then I will go call Pakhz to arrange rooms for everyone."
Alajina just finished speaking walking to the side of the door. Pushing open the door, that obese First Mate Pakhz had nevertheless already stood aside the door, still playing with an exquisite harmonica in hand. Waiting until the door opened only then did she hurriedly stuff the harmonica back into her pocket, looking at the captain walking out quite ambiguously pouting her lips,
"Captain, you guys finished chatting, I arrange rooms?"
"Mhm."
"Orders received... everyone, please head this way."
Pakhz's figure although obese, her mind was nevertheless slippery. After responding, she led Fisher's group heading towards the rear of the captain's cabin. There were quite a few rooms there, but three among them already had people, exactly corresponding to the Captain, First Mate, and Second Mate. While other crew members resided within the cabin below the deck.
She respectively pointed out a room for the males and females. Old Jack, the three squirrel girls and Fisher residing in one room, Jasmine and Isabel then residing in another room. And the room Fisher and them resided in was exactly beside Alajina's room.
"Everyone first tidy up your own rooms. We haven't used these two rooms for a very long time, might have some sundries."
"Troubling you, First Mate Pakhz."
After Fisher opened his mouth, Pakhz quite approvingly spun the harmonica gripped in her hands a circle, and then looking at Fisher said,
"I thought you would like other Naris people addressing me as lady... Not bad not bad, First Mate is exactly my position. You guys tidy up first, I still have work to do. If there are any problems shouting for 【Steel Knife】 is enough, it will go notify us."
Steel Knife?
"It's that stinky parrot!"
Before Fisher's group even raised their heads, the three in Old Jack's embrace already extended fingers pointing towards the colorful parrot resting upon the room, so Steel Knife was its name.
Steel Knife once again tilted its head looking towards the squirrel girls in Old Jack's embrace. Spreading its wings it continued saying,
"Foolish eggs... foolish eggs foolish eggs."
"It only knows this one sentence!"
"So annoying to death, I want to call Diandian Number One to bite your butt!"
While Pakhz merely smiled, walking down along the corridor heading towards the deck below. When reaching the end, she anew suddenly remembered something like turning her head saying,
"Right everyone, dinner is precisely at six-thirty upon the ship, at that time remember to come down to eat."
Having finished speaking, she then swaying the harmonica upon her hand left the corridor of the captain's cabin. Fisher then opened the room door, revealing the passably tidy room inside.
The room was very spacious but only had a single bed, however beside there were many beddings able to use. But he didn't first go in to tidy up, conversely turning his head looking towards the Jasmine staring blankly at her own room beside.
Her elegant hair and pupils were covered in pitch black. Fisher knew this was the effect of her curse, also knew ever since Muxi's matter within her heart consistently buried an extremely large amount of exceedingly many thoughts. But being understanding and considerate she wasn't willing to hold back Fisher owing to her own inner heart, therefore consistently hadn't manifested it.
Fisher sized her up for a bit, feeling it was necessary to chat with her,
"Jasmine..."
"Wuu!"
But Jasmine seemed to be currently considering something within that little noggin of hers. Waiting until Fisher opened his mouth, she was almost scared jumping up. And then she turned her head back her gaze somewhat evasive, even not daring to look at Fisher, speaking also stuttering, an appearance of having a guilty conscience,
"Th-that, the room... the room is a bit messy, I will first go tidy up the room..."
Having finished speaking, she then flusteredly hurriedly pulled Isabel entering their room, incidentally also closing the door.
This sneaky and suspicious appearance caused Fisher to raise his eyebrows. He always felt Jasmine seemed to possess some matters hiding from himself. But he didn't press too tightly, directly going over to press inquiries. Rather preparing to leave some buffer space for Jasmine, searching for another good opportunity to then converse with her.