novelraw Chapter 393: The Canary Princess, Ysa
Chapter 393: The Canary Princess, Ysa
Fen murmured softly:
"Why would the Canary family come?"
Chen Qi picked up the travel newspaper from the conference table and examined it carefully.
The travel newspaper provided detailed descriptions of large merchant ships from other countries.
After the B-tier dimensional rift's arrival, a continuous stream of rare supernatural resources had been flowing into Moonstone City.
Attracted by these supernatural resources, the White Tower Federation, Goldenfinch Kingdom, and Winter Kingdom had all dispatched specialized large merchant ships.
These merchant ships were the nation's blades, among which there were forbidden items beyond imagination.
Chen Qi's eyes lit up.
According to the travel newspaper, three world-renowned traveling merchant caravans were currently gathered in Moonstone City!
The Book House Travel Group from the White Tower Federation was selling high-level magic wands and spellbooks that only the White Tower could produce, along with numerous powerful single-use scrolls.The Bitter Crow Caravan from Winter Kingdom specialized in selling endurance items capable of resisting apocalyptic conditions, such as cold-resistant clothing, freeze-proof garments, impact-resistant suits, and poison-immunity outfits.
But the most famous was the travel newspaper's headline feature:
The Canary Caravan from Goldenfinch Kingdom!
The caravan they sent here was the chief merchant fleet under both the Canary family and the king's command, led by Third Princess Yisha, who possessed both Canary family bloodline and royal lineage!
A princess arriving at a coastal city would be headline-worthy major news, if not for the numerous major events recently occurring in the Witch Sea.
It could be said that Goldenfinch Kingdom had invested heavily in Moonstone City to demonstrate their sincerity!
Chen Qi looked at the newspaper.
The newspaper detailed the types of goods sold by the Canary family.
Besides various dream-inducing succubus dance flower dew that sent people into dreamlands, explosive potions that greatly boosted energy, dog transformation medicines that made people grow dog ears and tails, and red candles that enhanced senses...
The items sold by Goldenfinch Kingdom were as fantastically bizarre as ever! Chen Qi continued reading.
In addition to these highly popular entertainment items, the Canary Caravan also sold rare pet beast eggs and numerous pet-related items.
Pet enhancement medicines, pet skill learning cards, pet perfumes...
Chen Qi's eyes sparkled.
His Dragon-Furnace Body precisely lacked an auxiliary pet skill learning card.
If he could obtain this skill card, his Coastal Apex Predator might learn the Dragon-Furnace Body!
With a disaster-level Blackship Sea Dragon, his combat power on the sea would achieve qualitative improvement.
However, high-level pet skill learning cards were extremely expensive even within Goldenfinch Kingdom's homeland.
To purchase one, corresponding VIP qualifications were also required.
Meanwhile, according to the travel report, tomorrow was the international commerce fair on the commercial street.
Chen Qi glanced at Madame Oli.
A VIP qualification wasn't difficult to obtain, since standing beside him was none other than Moonstone City Council President Madame Oli!
"......"
Madame Oli felt this intense gaze and looked toward the Ice Witch and Black Hunter.
If future Moonstone City truly suffered the Blackfin Crew's devastation as described in the fate projections.
If the Whale Father's true goal was sacrificing everyone across the seas to summon the Marginal Black Whale!
Then she and the council couldn't remain fixated on immediate benefits.
Whatever family or personal grudges, whatever A-rank rift resources - none mattered when facing a sea-overturning crisis.
For the greater good, they must set aside immediate interests and cooperate with the Black Hunter and Ice Witch.
Madame Oli raised her head, looking somewhat aged, and said in a pleading tone:
"Black Hunter, I will arrange for my secretary to create special identities tailored for you, to facilitate your operations in Moonstone City.
Meanwhile, I will convene an emergency meeting today to discuss these matters and provide a response as quickly as possible."
"Special identities?"
A flicker of confusion passed through Chen Qi's eyes.
Madame Oli clenched her fist:
"If people learned that the great pirate Black Hunter and legendary Ice Witch have arrived in Moonstone City, the entire city, including the council, would fall into unprecedented panic.
The citizens need some preparation to welcome you."
Are we that terrifying... Chen Qi broke out in a cold sweat.
At this moment, Madame Oli straightened her hair and dress, then bowed to the Ice Witch:
"Witch-sama, thank you for your prophecy. I shall take my leave now to prepare my council speech.
I swear by my grandfather's name that I will not neglect this matter."
The absolute power displayed by the Whale Father in the fate projections, Moonstone City's tragic state, and her husband White Seagull's unknown fate all weighed heavily on Madame Oli's mind.
After speaking, she sighed deeply and left alone.
The White Pigeon Press president also patted Pelu's shoulder and said in a weathered voice:
"Ice Witch-sama, may today's events be published in tomorrow's White Pigeon Times?"
The Ice Witch said coldly:
"You may, provided you don't reveal excessive information about us."
The White Pigeon Press president bowed:
"As you command. The night grows late, this old man and little blonde shall take our leave."
Pelu's golden hair stood up:
"But I haven't finished interviewing Qi and the Ice Witch!"
She still had so many questions for the Ice Witch and Black Hunter!
Like whether the Ice Witch feared cold? Why didn't the Ice Witch need bathroom breaks despite drinking so much black tea? Where did the Black Hunter's water spirits come from? What was the relationship between the Black Hunter and the Flower Witch?
Keep interviewing and you'll lose your life... The White Pigeon Press president sighed and hurriedly pulled Pelu away from the conference room.
"I need to visit Moonstone City's Steam Hand Workshop..."
Burry, who had been trembling and silent throughout, also stood to bid farewell.
Finally, only the Nether Sea Ghost Ship's captain, vice-captain, honorary captain Ice Witch, Little Crow, and six water spirits remained in the vast conference hall.
The Ice Witch looked at Fen and Chen Qi, saying:
"Qi, Fen, during these three days, I recommend you visit Moonstone City's commercial street. There should be numerous methods there to enhance your strength."
Then she turned her cold, sharp gaze toward the sorrowful Little Crow.
In the fate projections, this Doctor Crow would return to the Blackfin Crew due to the Black Whale Poison's torment, becoming a mad pirate general!
Remember, Little Crow had already received the Ice Witch's flogging and confessed her sins to the Ice Witch!
Yet despite this, her mental state remained unstable.
The Ice Witch moved her hand slightly.
Seeing the witch raise her hand, Little Crow flinched reflexively and raised her own hand:
"I confess! Witch-sama, please don't... spank my bottom!"
The Ice Witch sighed helplessly:
"Although we cannot cure the Black Whale blood within you, there are many ways to delay its effects.
Little Crow, come to my room tonight for a comprehensive physical examination."
Physical examination... Little Crow looked at the Ice Witch and suddenly blushed:
"Witch-sama, wouldn't that be... somewhat improper..."
For some reason, she felt the Ice Witch's examination would be unusual.
"A normal examination."
The Ice Witch patted Little Crow's head:
"And from now on, you may address me as teacher."
Then she took Little Crow's hand and headed toward the entrance.
At the doorway, the Ice Witch said finally:
"Little Black Hair, protect Fen well, especially when facing the Canary family..."
The enormous room now stood empty, leaving only Chen Qi and Fen.
Just the two of us? Chen Qi blinked in surprise.
The Ice Witch and Little Crow had their own matters, while he and Fen had free rein.
But what did she mean by protecting Fen from the Canary family...
Thank you, teacher! A happy little yellow flower sprouted from Fen's head as she moved closer to Chen Qi, rubbing her fingers together:
"Qi, where are you planning to go tomorrow?"
Chen Qi said straightforwardly:
"The Canary Caravan. I need to purchase materials to strengthen my Coastal Apex Predator.
Also, Fen, there should be materials there to enhance your floral aspect skills too."
Fen needed floral aspect vine flogging skills, while Chen Qi needed to cultivate his Coastal Apex Predator - clearly, the Canary Caravan was their primary target.
"Canary..."
Fen's expression immediately turned somewhat unpleasant.
Chen Qi asked:
"What's wrong?"
Fen frowned:
"Before I left the family, my uncle and aunt disagreed. In their view, as someone suffering from Blood Blossom Disease, I should strictly follow the family's will."
"Besides, my intuition tells me the current Canary family might not be very friendly toward me.
And with sister Yisha here... she dislikes seeing people under the family's command disobey her will."
Chen Qi blinked in surprise and asked:
"Sister?"
He vaguely remembered that Fen should be an only child.
Fen thought for a moment:
"The Canary family values bloodline over age. We typically address powerful peers as older brother or sister, and Yisha, who inherited the royal bloodline, is one of the strongest big sisters."
Fen frowned, seemingly recalling unpleasant memories.
In the Canary family, address was determined by strength and bloodline.
The strong were called big sister, big brother, while the weak were called younger brother, younger sister.
And Fen, who had been sick since childhood, was the youngest among the younger sisters!
"I see..."
Chen Qi rested his chin on his hand, various thoughts about the Canary family surfacing in his mind.
Compared to the wildly extravagant and naturally arrogant Canary family, Fen was truly an outlier.
Fen's relationship with her family wasn't friendly.
It seemed tomorrow would require significant disguise work to conceal Fen's identity.
...
Noon, Moonstone City, coastal ship street.
On Moonstone City's other side, to adapt to the dimensional tide era, a new commercial street had been developed along the sea.
Unlike Moonstone City's main port, this area mostly hosted specialized commercial giant ships.
These massive merchant vessels were connected by exquisite wooden planks, forming a large ship-centered street.
Other ports had become more solemn due to the Great Sea Coffin's power leakage increasing sea beast attacks.
But this ship street had become even more prosperous after the Great Sea Coffin's power leakage.
The A-rank rift's limitless resources, mountains of gold, attracted merchants from around the world.
Today, both the number of merchant ships and customers on the ship street had reached unprecedented heights.
Among the numerous vessels, the most bustling was the Golden Thread merchant ship at the street's center.
The Golden Thread ship was enormous, with four decks totaling the area of a large football field.
Its main structure was crafted from precious magical metals, the hull covered in a thin golden sheen, with numerous colorful gemstones that seemed kissed by dawn's first light, shimmering with dazzling brilliance.
Both sides of the ship were carved with intricate Canary patterns, with numerous Canaries, lucky butterflies, and other pet beasts circling the entire giant vessel.
At the ship's center, a young woman in a golden silk dress sat upon the captain's jeweled throne.
Her hair styled in an updo with flower braids, a supernatural ring with blood-colored flowers, a Canary family ceremonial dress, and an supremely arrogant expression.
Her appearance alone confirmed her noble status - a royal powerhouse, Third Princess Yisha.
Yisha gently flipped through the newspaper in her hands.
"A-rank rift Great Sea Coffin conquered by Black Hunter and Witch..."
Captain Yisha of the Golden Thread ship snorted lightly:
"It seems this shabby Witch Sea full of ants has some slightly stronger rats after all."
After speaking, she crossed her legs and asked:
"Nancy, have you found any A-rank rift clues?"
The person before her was none other than Nancy, one of the Twin Pillars of the Imperial Capital.
Nancy looked up at Yisha and said timidly:
"No, but according to our Disaster Messenger's reports, there's a 25% probability of A-rank rifts with floral or heart aspects within the Witch Sea."
Yisha lowered her sapphire-like eyes:
"So until now, apart from the already conquered Great Sea Coffin, you haven't found a single A-rank rift."
Sweat beaded increasingly on Nancy's face:
"Yes, yes... now the Rift Sea has both the Black Hunter and Ice Witch, for safety's sake..."
"Trash!"
Yisha glared at Nancy, giving no opportunity for explanation:
"If you fear such things, then you should never approach A-rank rifts at all."
Then she spread the newspaper open, her gaze involuntarily falling on 'Black Hunter and Witch'.
A Canary family genius who survived Blood Blossom Disease actually mingling with monsters... Yisha pressed further:
"What about Fen? Didn't you see her before?
You should know big brother is currently conquering a new rift and needs relatives who previously suffered from mutation sickness."
Nancy stammered:
"I saw her before, but... I'm too weak, I didn't dare, didn't dare..."
Nancy mumbled incoherently.
If Fen was the youngest among younger sisters, then Nancy wasn't even worthy of being called a younger sister.
Yisha twirled the gemstone flower in her hand and turned away disappointedly:
"Dregs, Nancy. You'll only ever be a younger sister in this lifetime."
Nancy bit her tongue and nodded unwillingly.
Yisha, the family's hope, completely lacked a family heir's demeanor, instead resembling an arrogant, domineering pirate.
Terrible personality, supremely haughty, utterly lacking family elegance!
But there was no choice - Yisha was a genius among geniuses among her peers, with royal bloodline besides, not someone a bottom-tier family member like her could oppose.
Even though Yisha was only sixteen, five years younger than her!
Nancy continued:
"Yisha sister, according to our council informants, a major crisis might occur in the Witch Sea soon. Should we hire hunters to strengthen security..."
Yisha said coldly:
"Unnecessary. For a small, broken city's destruction crisis, to us it's nothing but a harmless breeze."
"Our purpose here isn't just for A-rank rifts, but also ocean-system pet beasts.
Our current priority is collecting sea beasts to expand the family's pet repository."
After speaking, Yisha gently swung her long legs and asked:
"Nancy, answer me - who is the strongest beast tamer in the Witch Sea?"