novelraw Chapter 284: The Saint and the Witch of Books
Chapter 284: The Saint and the Witch of Books
"Are you certain this isn't false information?"
Chen Qi placed his hand on the intelligence merchant's shoulder.
Why are you getting so close to me? The intense scent of blood made the mustached manager shudder:
"Of course! I swear on our Haibao Company's century-old reputation!"
Chen Qi asked:
"How much?"
The mustached manager revealed his golden tooth:
"Five thousand Shell Coins, guest. This isn't particularly valuable information."
Five thousand? These unscrupulous merchants surprisingly didn't try to rip me off... Chen Qi thought for a moment. In a high-consumption place like Haibao Number One, five thousand Shell Coins was actually quite a reasonable price.
Chen Qi promptly took out five thousand Shell Coins and handed them over.Immediately, the mustached manager passed him an intelligence note.
Chen Qi unfolded the note, urgently scanning through it as his frown deepened.
One day ago, at Haibao Number One, a second-tier Transcendent from the Hunter Association unexpectedly discovered flowers growing on a pharmacist's arm while purchasing medicine.
Consequently, this second-tier Transcendent immediately reported the matter to bounty hunters at Haibao Number One, triggering a hunter pursuit that forced the Flower Witch to use hallucinogenic potions.
Simply put, the Flower Witch's identity had been exposed, making her the target of bounty hunters!
This is bad. The Flower Witch is surrounded.
Chen Qi shook his head. Both he and Fen currently had bounties of fifty million Shell Coins each - an enormous sum for most bounty hunters.
Moreover, although both he and Fen possessed considerable strength, facing encirclement by third-tier Transcendent hunters remained a significant problem.
Fundamentally, this was the pain of lacking allies. In these vast seas, Fen's true allies were essentially only Chen Qi, the Blood Blade Pirates, and the Ice Demon Pirates.
Yet the war between the Blood Blade Pirates and Blackfin Crew continued, and the Ice Demon Pirates' favorability wasn't high enough yet.
Chen Qi shook his head again, looking at the final line of the intelligence.
According to Haibao Number One's information, the Flower Witch was highly likely still at the edge of the Dragonflower Archipelago.
Consequently, this second-tier Transcendent immediately reported the matter to bounty hunters at Haibao Number One, triggering a hunter pursuit that forced the Flower Witch to use hallucinogenic potions.
The mustached manager asked:
"Guest, are you also tempted by the Flower Witch's fifty million bounty?"
"Yes."
Chen Qi replied dismissively.
Seeing this, the mustached manager immediately said:
"Guest, by the way, the doctors you requested have arrived. Would you like to see if any catch your interest?"
Chen Qi turned his head to discover that this sales-savvy mustached manager had already arranged for two doctors.
One was a muscular doctor, and the other was a female doctor who licked her blade.
The muscular doctor flexed his pectorals:
"Guest, I understand men's muscles very well~ Just lie on the bed, and I can cure any illness~"
The other female doctor, dressed like a mummy with bandages, flicked her snake-like tongue:
"Guest, I'm very knowledgeable about blood surgery~ Lie on my bed, and I'll make sure your treatment is thoroughly comfortable~"
Two second-tier doctors? What kind of rotten fish and stale shrimp are these? Are you even actual doctors?... Chen Qi said coldly and ruthlessly:
"Not needed."
Immediately, Chen Qi turned and left the place.
The mustached manager said anxiously:
"Guest, don't leave! Sign up for surgery now and we'll include our establishment's Bunny Girl carrot-pulling service for free—"
What kind of strange service is that? Melanie muttered quietly.
Chen Qi ignored the mustached manager's calls and temptations.
Surgery was a highly profitable industry. In Beiguo, a major surgery for Transcendents cost at least five hundred thousand Shell Coins.
For his current condition, it might require at least one million Shell Coins.
Moreover, if these doctors chose to take advantage of him while he was bedridden, he could easily be exploited.
Of course, most crucially, there weren't any reliable doctors on this ship.
As expected, for this kind of surgery, I really need to find someone I know... Chen Qi thought. Although Fen wasn't a professional doctor but rather an alchemist.
But unsurprisingly, Fen's surgical skills were also quite good.
Next, Chen Qi and the White Tower Hunters separated to take different actions.
Chen Qi returned to his ship at Haibao Number One, took a bath, then purchased some potions, new hunter attire, went to the dock to buy some ship repair tools, plus provisions.
Finally, Chen Qi counted his remaining Shell Coins - only five million left.
Five million Shell Coins might seem like a lot, but in the Witch Sea where gold could be found everywhere, these Shell Coins appeared quite insufficient.
After shopping, Chen Qi reunited with the White Tower Hunters on the ghost ship.
By now, the White Tower Hunters had purchased supplies for long journeys and even rented a steam boat.
Melanie also has good things to sell... Chen Qi thought.
Chen Qi spent another hundred thousand Shell Coins to buy four 'Concealment Cards' for hiding ships from Melanie, plus four hundred thousand for two communication cards difficult to detect by radar and spiritual energy.
Both types of cards were Melanie's specialties.
After some chatter, the White Tower Hunters boarded their rented steam vessel.
They had obtained the deep blue fire, completed their most important mission, and now it was time to bid farewell.
Aelor from the White Tower Hunters still needed to prepare for exams, and the others didn't have much fighting spirit left.
The mechanic Little Mary stood on the deck, blushing as she said:
"Mr. Black Hunter, we'll be leaving now. Thank you for taking care of us."
Melanie took a deep breath and said boldly:
"Little brother, see you next time we cooperate. If you need any help, you can always come to us."
Aelor waved:
"Mr. Black Hunter, goodbye! May your journey be smooth!"
Although the Black Hunter's state when activating Ember's Touch was quite brutal, the White Tower Hunters had to admit that cooperating with the Black Hunter was actually quite comfortable.
Why do they seem somewhat reluctant to leave?... Chen Qi suddenly remembered something and said:
"Oh, right, Melanie, could you help me with something?"
"What is it? Whatever we can do!"
Chen Qi coughed twice:
"If possible, could you inform the Book Elder about the appearance of the Witch in the Witch Sea?"
"The Book Elder!"
Melanie was visibly shocked.
The Book Elder was the chief of their Book Tower ship, an undisputed Saint. For third-tiers like them who were just starting out, merely reporting this matter would be difficult, let alone actually meeting the Book Elder.
Chen Qi took a deep breath. His goal was to draw a special person into the Witch Sea's situation.
Although Flower Witch Fen might appear isolated and vulnerable, she actually had several hidden allies.
First was Fen's family in the Goldenfinch Kingdom, the Canary family - an extremely powerful family known as the Kingdom's Right Hand in the Goldenfinch Kingdom.
In this family's eyes, not even the Ice Witch, but even demigods weren't necessarily undefeatable.
However, in the eyes of the Canary family elders, Fen was merely a child suffering from Blood Blossom Disease with bleak prospects.
This was a family that prioritized benefits, and all their assistance was based on interests.
Beyond that, there was the identity of being a Witch. Witches helped each other.
Chen Qi remembered that on the Book Tower, there was a disciple of the original Book Witch who could be considered half a Witch herself, though she stayed in the library all day, never stepping outside.
After version 3.0 of the Witch Sea, the Calamity of Overturned Seas began, this successor of the 'Book Witch' became Fen's important ally, successfully helping Fen evade pursuit from the Blood Hunter.
Most crucially, she possessed the power of a Saint.
The assistance of a Saint could completely reverse their and Fen's situation.
Right now, he and Fen could be considered enemies of the entire world!
Therefore, Chen Qi wanted to try whether he could draw out this reclusive Book Witch who avoided sunlight from her dark library ahead of schedule.
Chen Qi returned to his ship at Haibao Number One, took a bath, then purchased some potions, new hunter attire, went to the dock to buy some ship repair tools, plus provisions.
If this matter reached the Book Elder's ears, and through him reached this reclusive Book Witch, it might be possible.
Melanie thought for a moment. Obtaining the 'deep blue fire' materials was an important mission for the Book Tower. Perhaps they really could meet the Book Elder.
Although she didn't fully understand the Black Hunter's intention... she still nodded:
"Well, if we can meet the Book Elder."
Chen Qi said with a smile:
"Then goodbye, White Tower Hunters."
"Wah wah wah (Goodbye! Goodbye!)"
The water spirits cleaning the ship also waved tearfully with their rags, bidding farewell to the White Tower Hunters.
The small boat carrying the White Tower Hunters sailed toward the distance.
Melanie suddenly remembered something, turning back to say:
"Goodbye, looking forward to our next cooperation, Black Hunter. I hope when we meet again, you haven't become a prisoner of the navy~"
Impossible... Chen Qi thought confidently, gazing into the distance.
The White Tower Hunters waved their hands, their figures gradually fading into the distance until they finally disappeared beyond the horizon.