Above the mage!

Chapter 480 The Funeral Auction
“Who wouldn’t want to marry a red-haired beauty!” Apache whistled. “If you could see Sarah in person, you would think the same thing.”

Upon hearing this, Gao De and Lan Wen exchanged a glance, both seeing a look of indifference in each other's eyes.

No matter how beautiful the red-haired beauty is, can she be as beautiful as that silver-haired beauty from the North?

Their aesthetic standards have long been raised infinitely by silver-haired beauties.

Afterwards, Apache introduced God and Lanwen to the most famous gangs, pirate groups, and sea hunters in Black Sails City.

This gave Gaode a basic understanding of Black Sails City, and also prevented him from provoking the wrong people.

Even with Lanwen, a fourth-ring mage, accompanying him for protection, one can hardly rest easy in this sinful city where fifth-ring mages exist.

It was at this moment that Hawke, who had left in a hurry not long ago, rushed back once again.

"Gentlemen, our boss has prepared some fine wine at the Broken Bones Tavern and would like to invite you to come up and have a taste. He'd also like to discuss some goods with you while we're at it. It's located in Coral Alley in the Central District. What do you think?"

He pointed to the mid-level buildings of Black Sails City, seeking their opinions.

Gao De and Lan Wen exchanged a glance, then nodded and said, "Lead the way."

The Embroidered Anchor Gang is not considered a top-tier gang in Black Sails City. Their most powerful member is their leader, a fourth-circle mage.

Hawke felt relieved when he saw Gao De nod, and quickly led the way.

Gao De and Lan Wen followed.

The three walked forward for a while, turned through a pier-like archway, and arrived at the slaughter area of ​​the dock.

A pungent, sweet smell mixed with a putrid stench wafted towards us.

The enormous carcass of the strangling octopus, like a mountain of flesh, was chained to the center of the slaughter rack.

A dozen or so professional butchers, like construction workers at a high altitude, were performing different tasks at different heights on scaffolding made of sea monster skeletons.

The butcher at the highest point stands with his foot on the dorsal fin of a throat-snatching serpent and wields a specially made bone knife.

Where the blade sliced, dark green scales peeled off like withered leaves, revealing fresh muscle underneath, still oozing blood.

The butchers in the middle layer were responsible for gutting the octopus. When the bone knife was plunged into the abdomen of the octopus, thick juices poured down like a torrential rain into the wooden barrels below that were receiving the goods.

The barrel was lined with a waterproof membrane made from the stomach pouch of a marine mammal; otherwise, ordinary wood would have long since rotted into dust.

The entrails they pulled out were piled up like small mountains, some still twitching and writhing. The fluorescent swim bladders were hung separately on iron hooks, and were highly sought-after magical materials; the dark purple fish livers were as big as millstones, and restaurants in the upper town were willing to buy them at high prices.

The poorest laborers suffered the most, running barefoot through blood and bits of flesh, collecting cut pieces of meat with iron forks.

The head of the strangling octopus was placed alone on a stone platform, its huge mouth open, and several apprentices were using scrapers to pry out the crystal core from its eyeballs.

Even when the crystal nuclei are ground into powder, they become a superior and extraordinary material.

The scene was truly spectacular, but the smell was so pungent and fishy that Gao De quickly quickened his pace and left the slaughter area.

As they passed through the slaughterhouse and turned the corner of the dock, Gao De's pupils contracted slightly.

Because at the corner at the end of the dock, there stood a huge wooden frame resembling a door frame.

Hanging on the wooden frame were more than a dozen naked corpses, both men and women.

Some of the corpses were already shriveled up, their skin wrinkled like withered tree bark, while others seemed to have just died and were still bleeding.

Dark red blood trickled down the cracks in the wooden frame, attracting a flock of black crows that cawed and pecked at the remaining flesh.

“These are all guys who have offended our Embroidered Anchor Gang,” Hawke explained with a grin, noticing God’s strange expression.

This is a common sight in the City of Black Sails.

He didn't sense anything was wrong, and his tone was as calm as could be, as if he were talking about the weather today.

Gao De nodded silently, without saying anything more.

Although the buildings in Black Sails City are chaotic, the districts are very clearly defined.

The dock area is called the port area. Beyond the dock area, the city is further divided into three urban areas: upper, middle, and lower, based on the location of the buildings.

Buildings of various shapes and materials are connected by elevated walkways.

The Broken Bones Tavern is located in the Midtown area.

Therefore, after passing through the port area, you still need to go through the lower city and then go uphill to reach your destination.

The Lower Town has almost no streets in the traditional sense; it is like a huge maze, full of winding underground rivers and hidden entrances.

There is no clear boundary between the buildings here and the sea. Some houses are built directly on the wreckage of half-sunken old ships, while others are simply hollowed-out sea cliffs with honeycomb-like caves carved into their walls.
Underground rivers and boardwalks connect these intricate buildings in the lower city.

The dark green river meanders between the buildings, and in the occasional splashes, one can glimpse the reflection of the scales of sea creatures thrown out of the slaughterhouse.

Gaode also spotted many people floating up and down in the underground river, seemingly searching for something.

“When processing and slaughtering sea monsters, some scraps will be washed into the underground river. If you’re willing to search through the underground river, you can always find something of value,” Hawke explained to the two of them, noticing their scrutinizing gazes.

The piers connecting the buildings are even more bizarre: some are suspension bridges made of the spines of sea monsters, and when people walk on them, the joints creak; others are wooden planks spanning between two shipwrecks, with dark green seaweed stuck in the gaps between the planks, and if you are not careful, you will slip and fall into the underground river.
Following Hawke, Godland and his companion stepped onto a pier made from the keel of an old ship.

The barnacles on the keel scraped against the soles of the shoes, and with each step, a sharp sound of wood rubbing against metal could be heard.

After turning three bends along the underground river, a "plaza" made of broken ship planks comes into view.

In the center of the square stands a huge stone pillar covered with sea vines, on which bloom blood-red flowers, each flower resembling a human face.

“This is the ‘Bloodvine Pillar,’ a landmark in the Lower City. It’s covered in bloodvine flowers, which, unlike other plants, feed on blood,” Hawke explained, pointing to the pillar. “After passing here, go up the stone steps to reach the Middle City.”

Sure enough, after passing the blood vine pillar, a stone staircase carved into the sea cliff and winding upwards came into view.

Stones emitting a cold blue light were embedded on both sides of the stone steps, making the seaweed on the stone surface appear eerily purple.

Led by Hawke, God and Lanwen climbed the steps and passed through a small alley before arriving at a very unique tavern.

It was built from the hull of an old ship, and it's unclear how much effort it took to hoist this wrecked vessel to the central district.

The massive ship skeleton supports the tavern's frame, resembling the ribs of a giant beast, giving it a rugged and primal awe-inspiring feel.

The ship's hull was wrapped with a dense network of cables, resembling a coiled giant python.

Some of the ropes still had faded flags hanging from them, each depicting a huge, rusty iron anchor that fluttered in the wind, serving as decorations for the tavern.

At the entrance of the tavern, two lanterns lit with sea monster grease swayed with a dim yellow light, casting long shadows at the doorway.

On either side of the entrance, there are oddly shaped corals salvaged from the deep sea.

Some resemble twisted fingers, while others look like grotesque ghost faces, appearing even more eerie under the light.

Before even stepping into the tavern, a complex aroma—a mixture of rum, tobacco, and sweat—wafted towards them. The three entered the tavern.

The room was dark and cramped, with various nautical tools hanging from the low ceiling as decorations: old compasses, rusty anchors, as well as wine bottles, jars, wood, and even stones.

Worn-out nautical charts hung haphazardly on the wall.

The walls, converted from the deck panels, are covered with names, graffiti, and some mysterious symbols.

Those were marks left by the crew when the ship was sailing the seas, before it became a tavern. Behind each mark may lie an untold story.

At the far end of the tavern, there were some old oak barrels piled up.

In the center of the hall, several men were shouting loudly around a dilapidated table. On the table were several empty wine glasses and leftover fish bones.

They each had a cigarette between their fingers, puffing out smoke.

When Hawke entered, the men merely glanced at him before continuing their conversation.

Hawke ignored them as well and led God into the tavern.

Having already quietly used [Sensing Emotions+] to lock onto Hawke as his target, Gao De keenly sensed Hawke's disgust when Hawke looked at the men.

It seems Hawke doesn't get along with these men.

He thought to himself.

The three walked all the way to the front of the tavern, where two burly henchmen stood with their arms crossed, staring intently at them.

Hawke nodded to the two men, who then opened the wooden door.

Inside the door was a luxuriously decorated room, yet somewhat cluttered.

The walls were covered with strange animal hides, and there were also several gleaming bone knives.

In the center of the room stood a huge oak round table, surrounded by several worn but comfortable leather chairs.

Beside the round table, a short, stout man with a powerful aura was facing the door, intently wiping his staff.

Hearing the door open, he immediately looked up and said, "Please sit down, my two friends."

Gao De and Lan Wen exchanged a glance and slowly sat down.

Hawke stepped aside and stood still like a statue.

The man wore a jeweled eyepatch over his left eye and a winding scar on his right cheek, which added to his fierce appearance. He wore a half-smile on his face. "I am Santos, the leader of the Embroidered Anchor Gang. Welcome, both of you."

As he spoke, he casually placed his staff on the table, picked up a bottle of rum, poured himself a full glass, and then poured a full glass of rum for Gao De and Lan Wen.

Rum is a special type of liquor popular in ports. It is cheap and has a high alcohol content, making it a very cost-effective option for people who spend most of their time on ships or making a living in ports.

Based on the different raw materials used in its production, rum is divided into two varieties:
One is brewed from a root crop similar to potatoes, and the other is brewed from sugarcane juice.

The latter has a significantly higher alcohol content than the former, and the longer it is aged, the stronger it becomes.

When Santos pushed a large glass of rum towards him, Gao De's nostrils twitched slightly before he picked up the glass and drank it all in one gulp.

Upon seeing Gao De's action, Santos was taken aback for a moment, then a smile appeared on his face, seemingly very satisfied with Gao De's gesture.

Seeing this, Lan Wen followed Gao De's action without hesitation.

Of course, it's not that Gao De was so careless as to accept the drink Santos offered without any precautions.

Rather, it is the existence of the [Primary Amber Body] that makes Gao De's senses exceptionally acute in their perception of toxins, enabling him to accurately detect potential toxin threats in the surrounding environment based on subtle clues such as scent and taste.

He had not detected any toxins in the rum.

When you take a sip of rum, it's like a bolt of fire going down into your stomach, with a slightly sweet aftertaste at the very end.

According to the classification of the previous life, the alcohol content is estimated to be around 50 degrees, which is the level of baijiu (Chinese white liquor).

Ordinary people can only sip this level of alcohol, but someone like Gao De who can down a full glass in one gulp is a true daredevil, whether in his past life or this one.

Even Lanwen, a Northerner with a physique far stronger than the average person, only drank half a cup before stopping.

"A huge amount!" Santos couldn't help but exclaim in praise.

Then, without further ado, he quickly got to the point.

"I heard from Hawke that you've brought a ship full of good goods, intending to sell them in Black Sails City?"

"correct."

"What is the exact quantity and grade of the cargo on the ship?" Santos asked, his eyes narrowing slightly.

Gao De didn't answer immediately, but instead turned to look at Lan Wen.

Lan Wen immediately understood, took out a piece of parchment from his pocket, and spread it out on the oak round table. "This is a detailed list of the cargo on the ship. Please take a look."

Santos nodded, his gaze sweeping carefully over the parchment.

As his gaze shifted, the pupil in his only eye slightly contracted.

Gao De hesitated for a moment, but ultimately resisted the urge to cast [Perception Emotion+] on Santos.

Given the opponent's mage level, their mental strength is far superior to mine. Not only will my spells be immune to them, but they will also be able to detect my abilities.

A few minutes later, Santos finally raised his head and spoke to God—he had already realized that God was the one in charge.

“Your cargo is quite valuable; an ordinary gang might not be able to handle it all at once. However,” he paused, then suddenly grinned, revealing a gold-toothed smile, “our Embroidered Anchor Gang is capable of handling it. You’ve come to the right place.”

"As for the specific price, it depends on how urgent things are for you. If you are, I can give you a fixed price, cash on delivery. Of course, this price will be a bit lower, about 30% off. This is the rule in Black Sails City, and it applies to all gangs."

If you're not in a rush, we can go through market bidding. You'll earn more, and we'll only take a commission. It just will take a little longer.

“Of course, from my personal perspective, I would prefer you to choose the former,” Santos joked.

After a moment's thought, Gao De slowly said, "Chief Santos, we are indeed in a hurry to cash out. How about this: half of the cargo on the ship will be sold at a fixed price, and the other half will be handled in the second way, how about that?"

Santos tapped his fingertips on the table a few times, tilted his head back and downed the remaining half glass of rum in one gulp, then replied, "Of course, no problem."

The deal was struck in a few words, but then Gao De made another request: "There is one more thing I would like to trouble Chief Santos with."

"Oh?" Santos's one eye lit up. "What is it?"

“I want a ticket to the Wrath of the Liberation auction,” Gao De said calmly.

(End of this chapter)