novelraw Chapter 187: Farewell, Qi
Chapter 187: Farewell, Qi
"Fog Sea?"
Little Crow froze momentarily.
The Fog Sea lay beyond the Rift Sea, bordering the edges of the New Sun World.
That region was perpetually shrouded in thick mist, an environment where ordinary people couldn't survive.
Even Coastal Apex Predators in their adult forms were common sightings there.
Military vessels navigating the Fog Sea faced alarmingly high accident rates.
Carola smiled, though a trace of anger laced her tone:
"Yes, the Fog Sea, my dear. Regarding the Dimensional Tide, our Blackfin Crew must convene a meeting, which requires gathering all our cadres.
You're aware how the navy's three admirals, those hunter groups from inland corporations, that damned Flower Witch, and the Blade Witch have completely disrupted the sea's balance.
We must make these hunter groups, witches, and navy understand who are the prey and who are the true hunters of these waters."Carola spun her pistol deftly.
Before the Dimensional Tide's emergence, the Blackfin Crew had been the undisputed rulers of these seas!
"Mhm, mhm."
Little Crow forced a smile to mask her dejection.
After this meal, she'd have to leave this small houseboat behind.
Good times never lasted.
Might as well savor the food... Suppressing her aversion to spicy flavors, Little Crow quietly ate her final dinner aboard.
Though not to her taste, she found unexpected enjoyment in the meal.
Suddenly, Carola produced a bounty list, sparking a bold idea:
"Little Crow, isn't this the hunting ground of that Black Hunter? What if we pinned the Illusion Beast incident on him?"
"???"
Chen Qi startled—since when had he become so infamous?
Carola's eyes gleamed with inspiration.
The Illusion Beast's impact was too significant; framing the Black Hunter would divert the Beiguo Meteorological Bureau's immediate attention from their crew.
After all, their ships still needed to operate in coastal waters awhile longer.
Moreover, if the Black Hunter discovered "he'd" been involved with the Illusion Beast, his inevitable furious investigation might lead him straight to the Blackfin Crew.
However, Carola's subordinates frowned at this scheme.
She pressed again:
"Little Crow, what's your take?"
Shifting blame onto a maniac like the Black Hunter... Little Crow offered her perfected non-answer:
"I don't know."
"Troublesome. Why does Whale Father care about some tentacle hunter anyway?"
Carola sighed, leaning closer:
"Chef of this meal boat, got any intel on the Black Hunter? Or other news?"
Chen Qi glanced at the fresh newspaper on his table:
"Only that he recently killed the Ghost Captain."
"Slaying ghost ships... stronger than expected..."
Carola pondered this:
"Never mind. If we're recruiting him, framing him might turn us from collaborators into prey. That'd complicate matters."
She sipped wine elegantly:
"Rather than this Black Hunter, we should prioritize capturing those two witches. That damned, cold-blooded monster—the Flower Witch—has been sabotaging our operations in the Rift Sea again.
Who knows her connection to the Black Hunter? Finding him might simplify catching the Flower Witch."
"Witches must die."
Carola swirled her blood-red wine, hunter's killing intent flashing in her eyes.
Flower Witch... Chen Qi grew pensive, wondering about her and Water Spirit No.2's current situation.
Their circumstances seemed dire.
Abruptly, Carola's lips curved in a faint smile.
Having settled the Illusion Beast matter, she turned her attention to Chen Qi:
"Little chef, fine vessel you've got. For this dump called Witch Sea, your skills are passable. Heading to Blackore City in the Rift Sea next?"
Was she considering recruiting him for the Mermaid? Chen Qi didn't hide his destination:
"Not sure how the meal boat business fares in the Rift Sea..."
"Ahem, Big Mom, this chef's Rift Sea-bound and currently strapped for cash."
Little Crow coughed pointedly.
To protect Chen Qi, she'd portrayed him as a talented combat chef earlier!
Without his boat, their Illusion Beast ritual would've taken two extra days.
Even disregarding that incident, Chen Qi had significantly contributed to their intimidation campaign.
Carola flashed an "I understand" smile, pouring Chen Qi a drink:
"Little chef, survival here requires both skill and connections. And looks. I'm feeling generous—you've aided us, and the Blackfin Crew repays its debts."
"Little Crow."
She startled, realizing she'd forgotten to thank Chen Qi.
Without him, she'd have likely perished regardless of the Illusion Beast.
Unsure how to repay him, Little Crow handed Chen Qi a card.
"This is?"
He examined the black card with a seashell motif.
A Rift Sea black market VIP pass. In Beiguo, many dangerous materials couldn't be sold openly.
Even in the chaotic Rift Sea, only those with sufficient status could access the black market.
Such VIP cards required special channels and guarantors to prevent buyers from reporting to authorities.
Without local connections like Chen Qi and the Flower Witch, obtaining one was nearly impossible.
Lacking proper identification in chaotic Blackore City would mark him as easy prey—a lesson Chen Qi had learned repeatedly in Moonstone City.
Moreover, this wasn't an ordinary VIP card, but one requiring elite endorsement.
Can't say his name... Little Crow coughed:
"My personal card. With this, you'll face fewer obstacles in business dealings."
Chen Qi pocketed it:
"My thanks, Doctor Crow."
Carola didn't mind her introverted ship's doctor making friends:
"Young chef, your abilities and age show promise. Were you a third-tier Transcendent, I might invite you aboard. But currently, you couldn't handle the Mermaid's workload."
She emphasized "workload" pointedly.
Are you implying something... Chen Qi suppressed his bewildered expression.
"???"
He couldn't tell if this was praise or insult.
Was he being dismissed as deadweight due to insufficient strength?
Finally, Carola rose:
"Little chef, prepare five more servings. My crew needs replenishment."
She strode to the railing, lighting a cigar.
Chen Qi promptly used all remaining kidney and meat stores, earning fifty thousand Shell Coins.
He set the packaged meals on the table:
"Done."
"Good."
Carola signaled Little Crow to collect them.
Exhaling smoke, she noticed Little Crow's unease:
"On these seas, power grants everything. Join us, and you'll rival even witches. Men and enemies alike become mere playthings.
As mission reward, we'll secure Shadow affinity Release techniques for you.
True freedom comes with legend status."
Carola saw potential in Little Crow, though her time under Captain Blackeye had dulled her pirate ruthlessness.
Perhaps this very quality suited the path of shadows.
"Mhm..."
Little Crow nodded nervously, barely able to think straight before Big Mom.
As Carola led her crew toward the Mermaid, she waved:
"Farewell, little chef. Remember—opposing the Blackfin Crew brings no benefits."
Little Crow waved reluctantly too, but finally whispered:
"Farewell, Qi."
Then she patted her back emphatically.
Take care of your spinal condition... Chen Qi watched from the deck as the Mermaid disappeared into the horizon.
His Sea Beast Disease, though stable now, required eventual treatment.
Salt-laden breezes swept the deck as the sea turned eerily calm, the water spirits asleep.
Chen Qi exhaled, emotions churning—waves, oceans, liberation, Little Crow, the Flower Witch, soul cores, power, calamity, family, solitude...
In this vast tidal movement, there was no time to pause.
Both he and Little Crow could only ride their small boats wherever the currents carried them.
Entering the captain's cabin, Chen Qi adjusted course toward the distant Rift Sea, hope kindling in his chest.
Onward!