Samsara Paradise: Dream Weaver of Connections.

Among the crowds coming and going at the dock, one in three people had a short knife at their waist and a wary look in their eyes, the kind of vigilance that comes from years of licking blood off the knife.

After leaving the dock area, Lin Yi stopped and looked at Su Xiao.

Their eyes met in mid-air, and they instantly understood each other's thoughts.

Su Xiao's goal was to find traces of the Church of the Extinction, a sect that worshipped the god of twilight and hid in the shadows. Since Feld mentioned that they had people in the Kingdom of Fuinding, this clue could not be overlooked.

The safest approach is to start with the lower-level believers and follow the clues to find the church's higher-ups.

Lin Yi's target was the three legendary pirate crews.

These three pirate crews were undoubtedly all incredibly wealthy.

If you just rob one of them, you'll definitely make this battle for supremacy worthwhile.

More importantly, these pirate groups spend most of their time at sea and are far more familiar with this area than anyone else.

If we could pry information about the ancient gods out of them, or find out their connection with the Church of Annihilation, that would be an even greater surprise.

"Let's split up," Su Xiao said.

Lin Yi nodded.

Upon hearing this, Mond immediately stood behind Su Xiao, his movements so swift it was as if he feared being left behind if he hesitated even a moment longer.

His gaze toward Shangyue was filled with undisguised disdain, and his rugged face was etched with the relief of "finally being able to stay away from you."

Shangyue remained expressionless, but her silver eyes narrowed slightly as she coldly glanced at Mond.

The meaning conveyed in his eyes couldn't be clearer: who wants to be with you?

The Feathered Race and the Demon Race have never gotten along.

If it weren't for Lin Yi and Su Xiao keeping them in check, the two would have started fighting long ago.

Parting ways at this moment is a relief for both of them.

Mond followed Su Xiao in another direction with long strides, without looking back, his back view exuding an indescribable ease.

Shangyue withdrew her gaze, walked behind Lin Yi, and slightly folded her black wings.

Lin Yi didn't say much and walked towards the direction of the dock street.

No. 73, Matou Street.

This is the place introduced by dock official White, Old Tom's supply depot.

As you walk through several streets and alleys, the surrounding scenery gradually changes.

The chaotic hustle and bustle of the docks was left behind, replaced by a more orderly but also more vigilant atmosphere.

There were noticeably fewer pedestrians on the street, but everyone's gaze was sharper. He scrutinized the faces of passersby, his eyes filled with assessment and judgment.

There were a few guys leaning against the wall sunbathing. They looked lazy, but their waists were bulging, clearly hiding weapons.

Old Tom's Supply Station was a three-story stone building, larger than the surrounding buildings, with its exterior walls made of gray-white stone, giving it a sturdy appearance.

A huge sign hangs at the entrance, depicting a red-faced man grinning, which stands out prominently in the afternoon sun.

Lin Yi pushed open the door and went inside.

Rather than calling this a supply station, it's more accurate to describe it as a large transit point.

Intelligence, goods, gold, slaves—Old Tom here has a way to get anything you can bring here.

These are the words spoken by dock official White when he introduced the site. Seeing it with my own eyes now, I realize that these words are not an exaggeration at all.

The store has a very large interior space, with a depth of at least 30 meters and a width of 20 meters.

Several large oil lamps hung high on the ceiling, illuminating the entire space as bright as day.

On both sides are densely packed wooden shelves that extend all the way to the innermost counter.

The wooden shelves were piled high with everything from ordinary fresh water and dry rations to exquisite swords and firearms, from bundles of canvas to barrels of gunpowder, from nautical instruments to all sorts of strange and wonderful things.

The most eye-catching thing is the row of iron cages against the wall.

The cage contained people, men and women, young and old, of various skin colors, and dressed in tattered clothes.

They huddled in the corner of the cage, their eyes filled with numbness and despair. Slaves.

The store was very noisy.

Some were haggling over prices, some were arguing about the quality of the goods, and a few drunken pirates were loudly boasting in a corner, spouting nonsense like "last time we killed a thirty-meter-long sea snake in the Broken Reef area."

But the next second, the noisy noise instantly quieted down.

Everyone saw Shangyue's wings.

The pirates fell silent instantly.

People who constantly live on the edge have the keenest sense of danger.

They may not know exactly how strong Shangyue is, but those wings are a symbol of an extraordinary being.

On this vast ocean, everyone knows what being extraordinary means.

That's something that could easily crush them.

The pirates immediately toned down their arrogance. Some lowered their heads and pretended to inspect the goods, some turned and walked deeper into the shop, and a few simply put down what they were carrying and quickly left, hugging the wall.

No one dared to make a sound, no one dared to look directly at Shangyue, for fear that a single wrong glance would bring about their death.

"Oh my, what wind blew you two here?"

A loud voice came from deep within the shop.

Old Tom hurried up from behind the counter to greet her.

He was about fifty years old, obese but agile, his bald head reflecting the light of the oil lamp, and his small eyes revealing shrewdness and cunning.

He wore a dark robe and had a bunch of keys hanging from his waist, which jingled as he walked.

He glanced at the silent pirates, then looked at Shangyue, a warm smile spreading across his face, while gesturing towards the depths of the shop.

"Please come in, please come in. It's too noisy here, this isn't the place to talk."

Lin Yi followed him deeper into the shop.

Passing through the wooden shelves filled with goods, at the very back is a heavy wooden door.

Old Tom pushed open the door and stepped aside to let the two of them in.

Behind the door is a small room, about twenty square meters.

The furnishings were simple: a table, a few chairs, several nautical charts hanging on the wall, and a metal cabinet in the corner.

What's most special is that the sound insulation here is excellent.

As soon as the door closed, the noise outside vanished instantly, leaving only a faint buzzing sound, as if it were coming from a very far place.

"Please sit down, please sit down," Old Tom said solicitously, but he didn't sit down immediately. Instead, he stood by the table, his small eyes quickly scanning Lin Yi and Shang Yue.

As the local tyrant, Lin Yi and his group received the news the moment they arrived at the dock.

His eyes and ears were everywhere on the dock, and no unfamiliar face could escape his notice.

Moreover, Shangyue's wings were so conspicuous that it was hard not to notice them.

No one knows better than Old Tom how terrifying superhumans are.

He could easily be said to have used the reputation of a superhuman to expand and strengthen his own business.

Ten years ago, he was just an ordinary supply station owner, haggling with pirates for every penny.

Later, by chance, he saved an injured superhuman, who owed him a favor and helped him resolve several troubles.

Since then, he has used this connection to gradually rise to his current position.

He also had extraordinary dreams.

Who wouldn't want the power to control life and death? Who wouldn't want to roam freely across this vast ocean like those extraordinary individuals?
Unfortunately, this thing is too far away.

He tried to find out the secrets of the extraordinary, tried to find clues about the mysterious relics, and even spent a lot of money to have someone take him to several legendary ruins.

But in the end, they gained nothing.

The path to extraordinary achievement is not one that ordinary people can tread.

Therefore, he was very clear-headed.

Since you can't get up there yourself, then serve those who have already done so well.

Lin Yi sat down in the chair, while Shang Yue stood beside him without taking a seat.

Old Tom noticed this detail and his assessment deepened.

The fact that a superhuman could stand behind him suggests that this young man's identity is definitely not simple.

Lin Yi took a bag out of his pocket and casually tossed it on the table.

The bag landed on the table with a dull thud.

The bag was loosened, and several gold coins rolled out, gleaming softly under the oil lamp.

Old Tom's eyes were instantly drawn to the gold coins.

He had been working at the docks for decades and had a keen sense for money, even better than a dog.

With just one glance, he could tell that there were about three hundred gold coins on the table.

Three hundred coins, that's already quite a big deal.

An ordinary pirate might earn a tenth of what he earns on a single voyage.

But instead of immediately taking the gold coins, he looked up at Lin Yi, a brighter smile spreading across his face.

“Sir, please feel free to ask if there is anything I, Old Tom, can do for you.”

Lin Yi leaned back in his chair and said in a flat tone, "Just asking about something."

"Please tell me, please tell me." Old Tom nodded repeatedly. "As long as I know it, I will definitely tell you. If I don't know it, I will try to find out for you."

Lin Yi looked at him and slowly said, "The three major pirate groups."

Old Tom's heart skipped a beat.

But his complexion remained unchanged.

Having spent so many years working at the docks, he had long since mastered the skill of concealing his emotions.

Regardless of their inner thoughts, they always wore that enthusiastic smile. The three major pirate crews.

These words were synonymous with taboo on the Viking Sea.

When ordinary people hear these words, their first reaction is fear, to stay away, and to pray that they never encounter them.

Those who dare to inquire are either madmen who are tired of living or strong people with enough confidence.

The young man in front of me was clearly not crazy.

Old Tom's smile grew even brighter, but a hint of seriousness flashed in his small eyes.

"What would you like to know about these three pirate crews?"

“All of them,” Lin Yi said.

Old Tom was silent for a few seconds, then pulled out a chair and sat down.

He didn't speak immediately, but instead reached out and picked up the bag of gold coins from the table, weighed it in his hand, and put it back in its place.

This seemingly casual gesture actually conveys his attitude—he accepted the money and will provide the information.

“The three legendary pirate crews,” Old Tom began, his voice a few decibels lower than before. “Redbeard, Bone Sheep Vanousi, and Black Sea Empress Agati. These three are the true rulers of the Viking Sea. Kingdoms must bow before them, let alone insignificant figures like us.”

He paused, his small eyes looking at Lin Yi, as if observing his reaction.

Lin Yi's face remained expressionless.

Old Tom continued, "If we're comparing the overall fighting strength of pirate crews, the Redbeard Pirates are definitely number one."

"No one knows Redbeard's real name; everyone calls him Redbeard because his beard is fiery red, supposedly the color left after he was burned by flames. His flagship is called the 'Red Dragon,' which is 120 meters long, equipped with 80 cannons, and has a crew of over 3,000. Over the years, he has absorbed more than a dozen small and medium-sized pirate groups, and his influence extends throughout the sunken ship and broken reef areas."

"Redbeard is more traditional. He runs a black market business, selling weapons, engaging in illicit sexual relations, and other shady dealings. His fleet is constantly at sea, selling the kingdom's weapons to pirates and then selling the pirates' loot back to the kingdom, making money from both ends."

Old Tom picked up the glass on the table and took a sip of water.

"Among the three major pirate crews, Redbeard is ranked first, that's a given. But he's not the strongest. Below him is Bone Sheep Vanousi."

When the name was mentioned, Old Tom's tone became noticeably more serious.

"This guy is a complete madman. He's capricious, indiscriminately killing, and has no trusted confidants. He doesn't trust anyone, nor does he need to trust anyone. His strength lies in his own power. In a one-on-one fight, neither Redbeard nor Black Sea Empress Agati would be a match for Vanousi."

"The pirate crew of Bone Sheep Vanousi mainly deals in slave capture," Old Tom continued. "Whether they are sea creatures or humans, once captured by his pirate crew, they are first beaten up and starved for three days. Then they are asked if the victim's family is wealthy. If the victim's family is wealthy, they will go directly to their door, burn, kill, and plunder, and then kill them all. If the victim's family is poor, they will be sold into slavery."

"More than 80% of the slaves in the Viking Sea were obtained through the Bone Sheep Pirates. You can imagine how many enemies they have. But no one dares to touch him because he is too strong. Once, more than a dozen pirate crews joined forces to try to wipe him out, but he single-handedly slaughtered them all. Since then, no one has dared to mess with him."

"He calls himself a sheep, yet he does things more viciously than any pirate. That is Vanousi."

Old Tom shook his head, his tone carrying a complex, indescribable quality.

"If the Black Sea Empress Agati is the Blood Raven of the Sea, then the Bone Sheep is the purest madman. As for Redbeard..."

He paused, his tone rising slightly.

"Redbeard is the only sea tyrant who dares to confront Bone Sheep. And Bone Sheep doesn't really dare to retaliate afterwards. Powerful, ruthless, yet magnanimous, that's Redbeard. His pirate crew has very strict rules and doesn't allow indiscriminate killing of innocent people. He only robs merchant ships and only robs the rich, and he never kills people to cover it up. As long as the goods are handed over, he lets them go."

"Therefore, his reputation among the people was much better than the other two. In some places, he was even regarded as a chivalrous thief, and songs about him were sung about him."

Old Tom looked at Lin Yi as he finished speaking.

"That's roughly the situation of the three legendary pirate crews. Redbeard is the strongest, Bone Sheep is the craziest, and the Black Sea Empress is the richest."

Lin Yi nodded: "Black Sea Empress."

Old Tom understood and continued, "The Black Sea Empress Agati, also known as the Black Sea Queen, is the weakest of the three legendary pirate crews in terms of overall combat strength. It's not that she can't develop, but that she simply doesn't need to."

"She chose the elite route. Therefore, her relationship with the kingdom is better than the other two. Her fleet can freely enter and exit the ports of any kingdom, her goods enjoy the lowest tariffs, and her people are even protected on the kingdom's territory."

As Old Tom spoke, a hint of envy flashed in his small eyes.

"Among the three great pirates, Agati is the richest. Her wealth even surpasses that of some kingdoms. There are even rumors that she has secretly taken control of a certain kingdom. She makes her fortune through legitimate businesses such as maritime transport and the trade of sea monsters. Her merchant fleets are spread across major seas, and the extraordinary materials produced by the sea monster hunting grounds she controls are so valuable that even kingdoms have to buy them from her."

After hearing these words, Lin Yi leaned back in his chair and fell into deep thought.

The situation of the three major pirate groups was clearer than he had expected.

The Redbeard Pirates are the strongest and most powerful pirate crew, but they have a moral compass and the best reputation.

The Bone Sheep Pirates are the strongest individually, the most insane, and utterly wicked, with enemies everywhere.

The Black Sea Empress Pirate Crew is the weakest in combat but the richest, and has the best relationship with the kingdom.

None of these three pirate crews are easy to deal with.

But Lin Yi had already identified his target.

First, dry the bone sheep.

The things this madman did deserve him to die a thousand times over.

More importantly, he had enemies everywhere and was isolated and helpless, making him the easiest of the three to target.

If we can find his flight path and ambush him, the chances of success are very high.

Then add a red beard.

If Redbeard is sensible and hands over his wealth, his life can be spared.

If they don't know what's good for them, then we'll deal with them together with the bone sheep.

As for the Black Sea Empress.

If she's so blind and insists on getting involved, then we'll deal with her together.

If she's smart and stays obediently in her own territory, Lin Yi wouldn't mind letting her off the hook.

After all, the legitimate businesses she runs are beneficial to the world.

Moreover, she's rich, extremely rich, and we might even be able to collaborate in the future.

Lin Yi snapped out of his thoughts, took out another bag from his pocket, and placed it on the table.

This bag is bigger and heavier than the previous one.

The bag made a dull thud when it landed on the table; it was much heavier than the previous three hundred gold coins.

Old Tom's gaze fell on the bag, his pupils contracting slightly.

Lin Yi looked at him and slowly said, "Bone Sheep."

He only said that one word.

But the meaning is already very clear.

Make Old Tom reveal all the information about Bone Sheep.

Route, bases, activity patterns, crew configuration, everything.

Old Tom was silent for a few seconds.

He reached out, but instead of taking the bag of gold coins, he pushed it back in front of Lin Yi.

Lin Yi looked at him without saying a word.

Old Tom looked up, a hint of seriousness flashing in his small eyes.

"Sir, you intend to deal with the Bone Sheep?"

He didn't wait for Lin Yi's reply and continued talking to himself.

"That guy may be crazy, but he's not stupid. His fleet is unpredictable at sea, never staying in one place for more than three days. His routes are irregular; he might be in the east today and in the west tomorrow. Finding him is harder than finding a needle in a haystack."

"Moreover, his trusted confidants, although he says he doesn't trust anyone, are all old men who have been with him for decades, loyal to him, and extremely powerful. Even if we find him, killing him won't be an easy task."

Lin Yi listened to these words without any change in expression.

Old Tom watched his reaction, remained silent for a few seconds, and then sighed.

"Fine, since you want to hear it, I'll tell you."

He picked up the bag of gold coins again and put it in his pocket.

"The Bone Sheep's fleet operates year-round at the boundary between the Shipwreck Sea and the Dark Sea. That area is riddled with reefs and shrouded in perpetual fog; ordinary ships would be committing suicide if they went in. But his fleet has been in that area for decades and can navigate it with their eyes closed."

“He had a habit. Every year, in the first month after the rainy season ended, he would take his fleet to an island deep in the dark sea. That island was called ‘Bone Island,’ where he had built a base to imprison and transport slaves. During that month, his fleet would stay on the island for repairs and resupply.”

Old Tom paused for a moment after saying this.

"If you want to find him, this is your only chance. It takes about two days to sail from Siren Harbor to Bone Island. That's just enough time."

Lin Yi nodded.

"Route map".

Old Tom took a small booklet out of his pocket, flipped to a certain page, and pushed it in front of Lin Yi.

It was a hand-drawn nautical chart, marking the details of the shipwreck area and the dark sea.

The red lines outline the routes commonly used by the Bone Sheep fleet, the green circles mark the reef areas, and the black crosses mark the location of Bone Island.

Lin Yi glanced at it and put the nautical chart into his pocket.

He stood up, ready to leave.

Old Tom suddenly spoke up.

"gentlemen."

Lin Yi stopped and turned to look at him.

Old Tom hesitated for a moment, then said, "Bone Sheep is not someone to be trifled with. He may be crazy, but he's ruthless. Over the years, no one who's tried to kill him has succeeded. If you really go... take care."

Lin Yi nodded, pushed open the door, and walked out of the room.

Inside the room, old Tom sat in a chair, staring at the wooden door that had been closed again, and remained silent for a long time.

He reached out and touched the heavy bag of gold coins in his arms, and then recalled Lin Yi's calm eyes from earlier, and a strange feeling suddenly rose in his heart.

That young man was so calm.

His calm demeanor made it seem as if he wasn't inquiring about a legendary pirate crew, but rather planning an ordinary hunt.

Just like Bone Sheep Vanousi, the madman who struck fear into the hearts of all the Vikings, he was nothing more than prey to be slaughtered.

Old Tom shook his head and gave a wry smile.

These days, all sorts of weirdos exist. (End of Chapter)