Sail Shadows in the Sea of ​​Fog

Chapter 131 Target: Frost Duchy
On the deck of the Valkyrie, Yun Ji had just finished speaking when the sea cucumber that had been vomiting its internal organs suddenly froze, and then began to shrink at a speed visible to the naked eye—becoming even more like a giant sea cucumber!

"It seems this thing understands what we're saying."

After Cheng Lang finished speaking, the sea cucumber, which had shrunk considerably, began to nod frantically, and in the process, it also flung out more of its internal organs.

He looked up and met the gaze of Yun Ji opposite him. The latter rolled her eyes, turned her head and called out, "Shenba, come here."

"What's wrong?" Shenba, who was about to disembark to see the wonders on the island, came running over excitedly.

Yun Ji didn't explain. She simply reached out and pulled out the sickle from the other person's waist. With a casual slash, she "shaved" the sea cucumber, which had shrunk many times over, off the surface of the box. Then, with a flick of her wrist, she sent the sea cucumber, which was still vomiting its internal organs, flying into an oak barrel filled with anti-slip sand under the mast.

"It's okay."

As Yun Ji spoke, she tossed the sickle in her hand to the other person.

Taking the sickle, Shenba scratched the back of his head in confusion, glancing at the oak barrels under the mast. But without giving it much thought, he happily jumped off the Valkyrie and ran onto Dragonfly Island.

After exchanging another glance, Cheng Lang and Yun Ji cautiously moved to the side of the box and then carefully opened the unlocked lid.

Inside the box were stacks of nautical logbooks and piles of letters bound with hemp rope with exceptional care.

Besides these, the box contained a broken, ornate rapier and a tricorn hat adorned with beautiful feathers. But there was nothing else inside.

"These are Eleanor the Pirate Queen's logbook and..."

Yun Ji flipped through the letters and threw them back with obvious disgust. "There are also love letters that Van Ha wrote to her."

"Let's give this box and its contents to Princess Yunlan," Cheng Lang said. "She might be interested."

I'll send it to her later.

Yun Ji closed the lid of the box, then looked at the oak barrel not far away. "What should we do with that disgusting sea cucumber?"

"Magic Mirror, do you have any suggestions?" Cheng Lang asked.

"Send it to Lord Yedi."

The Magic Mirror appeared at the right moment and said, "I can clearly feel that Vanhart's soul is exceptionally complete. He is not a ghost that was transformed after death, but rather his soul was extracted and transformed into this... well... captivating appearance while he was alive."

"So he can actually communicate?" Cheng Lang asked curiously.

"If he hadn't gone mad over the long years."

The Magic Mirror said, "If he still retains his sanity, he might be our greatest gain."

“Then let’s send him to Lord Nightshade for rehabilitation training,” Cheng Lang readily accepted the Magic Mirror’s suggestion. “Also, notify Yafso to send over all of Poseidon’s blood.”

“I’ve already notified Miss Yavso, and she’ll be here soon. To be honest, even though I’m just a humble mirror, I don’t want to touch this sea cucumber either.”

As the magic mirror spoke, it beckoned over a gorilla and instructed it to pick up the sea cucumber, which was almost shrunken into a bean curd skin, and throw it directly into the ventilation grille leading to the royal city.

After doing all this, the vine demon wiped its fingers on the mast with obvious disgust.

"Shouldn't we tell Lord Yedi?" Yun Ji kindly reminded her.

"Miss Yunji, please rest assured, I believe Mr. Vanhart will explain it himself," the Magic Mirror said respectfully.

"I hope he survives."

Cheng Lang clapped his hands and stood up, then took out half of the Tiger Talisman and handed it to Yun Ji. "After Ya Fu Suo came over, we only kept 50 cups of Poseidon's Blood. The rest, including what we had accumulated before, were all poured onto the Tiger Talisman."

"I come?"

I wouldn't want to do it myself.

After Cheng Lang finished speaking, he cracked his whip, wrapped it around the boat's handrail, jumped ashore, and began walking towards the island.

"If our ship remains in the dock, what will happen to the Silver Queen and the Magic Mirror?" Cheng Lang asked as he walked.

“We are all tied to the heart of the ship, including Princess Fog Shadow.”

The magic mirror beside them replied respectfully, "So we cannot leave the dock with them."

"Even Mist Shadow can't do that?" Silver Queen asked subconsciously as she played with Mist Shadow on the shore.

“Unless she becomes powerful enough,” the magic mirror explained.

"That's actually a good thing."

The Silver Queen breathed a slight sigh of relief, letting the misty shadow run into the interior of the island, while she herself floated along following Cheng Lang.

Entering the bustling island, the islanders who had thought they would be separated were resettling into their homes. Wilton came over and said with great gratitude, "Captain Cheng Lang, this is a huge surprise! I thought I would never see my friends again!"

"We are friends"

Cheng Lang smiled and said, "I'm glad you're satisfied with this result."

"Satisfied, very satisfied!" Wilton said hastily. "Captain Cheng Lang, what are our preparations for tonight?"

"Feel sorry"

Cheng Lang shook his head regretfully, then glanced at the magic mirror, which immediately offered an explanation.

Taking this opportunity, Cheng Lang also took a tour inside the circular island.

Overall, apart from the slightly chaotic scene caused by having to move the luggage that had just been moved out back to their respective homes, there weren't many other changes. Some islanders even didn't believe that the island's location had changed.

"Captain, I'm afraid we should leave here as soon as possible."

The magic mirror warned, "You've stayed here long enough. If you stay any longer, all the ships in the dock might get lost."

"Alright, you can inform everyone then." Cheng Lang thought for a moment and then asked, "Um, how do we change the password?"

"Just hold the key," the Magic Mirror said respectfully. "It's similar to communicating with the ship's heart."

Upon hearing this, Cheng Lang took out the key hanging around his neck and changed the embarrassing secret to "Open Sesame," which was probably only understood by him and Qin Jinyan.

As he shouted the secret code again, the gate, resembling a lock, quietly opened. The captains immediately called their sailors, who had just come ashore, back to their ships. Amid farewells from the islanders, led by Wilton, and to the tunes spontaneously played by the harp-tailed fishmen, they set sail and weighed anchor, following the Valkyrie through the massive lock.

"Captain Senfa, Mr. Lutin, and Mr. Kervik and Mr. Belvik."

After the dock gates closed, Cheng Lang said apologetically, "It seems our gathering will have to be postponed until next time. There seems to be a huge trap waiting for us on Exile Island, not far from here. So for safety's sake, we should part ways."

“My friend, please accept this gift. I was planning to give it to you after the banquet,” Senfa said, taking a canvas bag from his first mate and handing it to him.

"what is this?"

Cheng Lang took the canvas bag and asked curiously, "There are only five black cloth rolls rolled into a barrel shape in this bag."

"These are the fleet-level plundering certificates of the five other duchies on the Starsea Continent besides the Elf Duchy."

Senfa said, "Although the situation on the Star Sea Continent has been volatile recently, these plundering warrants are still valid. With the corresponding plundering warrants, you can legally dock at most civilian ports. Of course, remember to fly the corresponding black flag."

You always manage to prepare what we need most.

Cheng Lang pulled out a roll of cloth and exclaimed in admiration. The roll of cloth was a black pirate flag, and in the very center was a sealed glass bottle. Inside the bottle, on the inner wall, was a plundering license issued by the Duchy of Gotland.

"I am a businessman."

Senfa smiled. "Alright, my friend, next time we meet, I'll bring you other things that might interest you."

"I also hope that the Brotherhood fleet will grow bigger and bigger," Cheng Lang said as he handed the canvas bag to the Silver Queen, offering his blessings.

"Sail!"

The pirate brothers gave the order, and the Brotherhood fleet, now with two more ships, hoisted its sails and, under Kerwick's command, sailed around the waters where Exile Island was located and headed towards the Star Sea.

"Let's set off! Our destination: the Frost Duchy!"

Cheng Lang paused here, then asked, "Which country would be the best for us to land on the Star Sea Continent from?"

"Dear Captain"

The magic mirror said obsequiously, "Rika is a good choice. We can land there..." "Can't we not land from Rika?" Yun Lan asked from the mirror not far away, "It's so far from us."

“Of course, let’s rule out Rika first.” Cheng Lang made the decision before the other party could give his excuse.

"In that case, the only remaining option is the Frost Duchy."

The Magic Mirror immediately said, "This voyage will take a long time. Although Mr. Senfa has just helped us replenish some supplies, we still need to find a supply port to stop at."

"Any recommendations?" Cheng Lang asked as he walked toward the conference room.

"What do you think of Windmill Island?" the Magic Mirror suggested.

"Fengmo Island?"

"That island is in the wind belt, and there are sea breezes all year round."

Yun Ji, who followed, explained, "The island isn't big, but every household has a windmill, and because of the large temperature difference between day and night, the fruits produced there are extremely sweet."

"Then let's go to Windmill Island."

Cheng Lang went up to the open deck on the second floor and issued the order again, "Raise the sails! Destination: Windmill Island!"

"Whoa whoa!"

Shenba and the gorillas, along with the misled children from the mist, were the first to give a lively response.

Just as the Valkyrie and Thorn were heading towards Windmill Island, on Exile Island, far ahead of them, the criminals serving their sentences were still filling their hungry stomachs by killing each other.

But deep inside the island, on the top floor of a lighthouse that is more than ten stories high, a man dressed in a black robe with a wide hood and holding a blood-red dagger sits on the barrel of the cannon at the top of the tower.

This cannon has an enormous caliber, large enough to fit a strong man like Shenba inside and still have room to spare.

But there were no gunpowder barrels or even a single shell on the turret. Instead, a dozen or so unfortunate souls, struggling incessantly but unable to break free of the ropes around their necks, were suspended from a rusty metal frame.

Amidst the grating sound of metal scraping against metal, the person who had concealed most of her face in her hood used her blood-red dagger to carve a lush tree on the barrel of a cannon, revealing in the process her slender, fair wrist and a strand of black hair that had inadvertently fallen down.

"The prey is about to take the bait."

The woman, who was completely hidden in her robe, said in a childlike voice that was quite different from her temperament, "If you want to atone for your sins as soon as possible, you must hit the center of those two ships after the cannons fire."

"Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu"

On the shelf beside him, the row of hanged ghosts who were not quite dead responded with difficulty.

"Since that's the only ship that can make a dark elf a captain, then don't blame me for taking it from him."

The woman with the sweet, childlike voice spoke to herself in a coquettish tone, uttering harmless words that made the hanged ghosts tremble.

As the endless wait dragged on, day after day passed. The girl with the baby voice, who had been so determined to get what she wanted, grew more and more anxious each day. Why hadn't that ship arrived yet?
If the person and ship she was waiting for were Cheng Lang and his Valkyrie, then she was probably destined never to see them again.

Because today, just as they were only 50 nautical miles from Exile Island, the ring of dense sea fog that had concealed the Valkyrie and the Thorn quietly changed direction, tracing an alluring arc as it headed in a new direction.

"What did you say?"

On the top floor of the lighthouse on Exile Island, a girl with a childlike voice stood atop a cannon and grabbed a small monkey that had just gotten off the back of a beacon. She gripped its neck with both hands, shaking its head frantically, and asked in exasperation, "Those two ships changed course?!"

After failing to pry open those tender white fingers, the little monkey, which was about to be strangled, stretched out its arm and pointed in a direction with great difficulty.

"That idiot must know the code, right?"

As the girl with the baby voice muttered her guesses to herself, she casually tossed the little monkey she was holding outside the lighthouse, and then kicked the huge cannon barrel hard.

Unfortunately, the cannon, which could never be installed on the ship, remained completely still, just like the girl with the childlike voice who was jumping up and down in pain was never allowed to leave the exile island.

On the contrary, the little monkey that was almost strangled was firmly grabbed by its two urine-soaked hind legs by Xinweng, who was already used to this way of seeing off guests, and flapped its wings and flew towards the direction of the pirate city.

Cheng Lang was completely unaware of what had happened on the exile island. At this moment, he and Yun Ji were looking at the strange things that the big cat Ye Di had been tinkering with these past few days.

"Are you sure this is the armor-making master, Vanhart?" Cheng Lang asked curiously.

"Ugly, hairless rat with two legs, are you doubting me?" asked the big cat Night Demon, who was sitting at the feet of the Silver Queen and letting Mist Shadow ride on his back.

It's hard not to have doubts, isn't it?

Everyone looked at the undead being that Ye Di had just driven out of the medium channel with strange expressions.

This translucent body was clearly pieced together from several undead, and its lower body had eight exceptionally thick arms that stretched out like spider legs.

However, it's not surprising that the much smaller upper body has four arms, because what's more unusual is that a bouncy sea cucumber is firmly attached to the top of its bald head. This sea cucumber is the only solid part of this undead creature's entire body.

"This disgusting thing is ultimately not an undead life form."

The big cat, Night Demon, seemed a little embarrassed. While impatiently swishing its tail, it explained, "All I can do is piece together a necromancer body that matches his soul for him to use."

"Can he communicate?" Yun Ji asked.

“Someone erased something from his memory, and now he only retains some instincts.”

At this point, the big cat Night Demon scratched its ear with its hind leg, and a large ring with a deep blue gemstone fell out.

Ye Di pushed the ring to Cheng Lang with his tail and said, "This ring was taken from his body. It is also the place that contains his soul and will be his final resting place in the future."

He's different from those undead sailors; with that ring, you can even take him ashore.

"so."

"My esteemed captain, please allow me to explain."

The Magic Mirror picked up the conversation at the opportune moment, "You might be able to use this strange life form as a retriever. It is a spirit with a soul, and it can be tamed."

"Domesticate? Just treat them like dogs?"

A strange smile appeared on Cheng Lang's face. He even considered taking out his whip to add to the occasion.

"Ladies and gentlemen."

While aboard the Thorn, Yun Lan, who was participating in the discussion through a mirror, frowned and said, "Why do I feel that Mr. Vanhart—I mean his upper body—after removing the extra arms and that disgusting thing on his head, looks very much like a dwarf?"

"dwarf?"

Everyone looked once again at the strange creature that was trying to climb to the top of the mast with its eight arms, but because it was unfamiliar with its body, it fell flat on its back and couldn't get up.

"Has Princess Yunlan ever seen dwarves?" the Magic Mirror asked curiously.

I've never seen it before.

Yun Lan shook her head. "But in the forbidden area of ​​the royal tombs of the Lika family, there are many bronze sculptures of dwarves. Their appearance is very distinctive. I swear I can't remember them wrong."

"Have the nautical log and letters left by the pirate queen Eleanor been delivered?" Cheng Lang asked as he put the ring on his finger.

“It has already been sent to the Thorn,” Yun Ji replied.

“I’ll take a look at it as soon as possible,” Yun Lan added. “The answer might be inside.”

“If Vanhart were a dwarf, his talent would make sense,” Yun Ji said.

Hey! Were you a dwarf when you were alive?

Shenba grasped the only "physical" part of this strange life that still couldn't get up and helped it up, asking questions.

"puff"

Although the undead creature kept its mouth tightly shut and showed no intention of speaking, the sea cucumber once again protruded a lump of internal organs.

"This is disgusting."

Cheng Lang couldn't bear to look anymore, so he activated the ring he had just put on and put Vanhart into it.

(End of this chapter)