Sail Shadows in the Sea of ​​Fog

Chapter 141 Arrest Warrant and Entry to Ice Sled Island

"What is this? A horse-drawn carriage model?"

In the conference room of the Valkyrie, Cheng Lang looked curiously at the two carriages in the box.

They were pulled by two horses each, and the wooden cargo boxes had four wooden wheels with shock-absorbing springs and a nice white tarpaulin.

In addition, the box contained a row of more than a dozen spare wooden wheels, a complete set of tools that seemed to be used to repair the two carriage models, and a total of ten horses of different colors.

"This is a traveling carriage, one of the most representative creations of the dwarves, but I've never seen such a complete set before."

The magic mirror was the first to explain, "Besides, fewer and fewer people are using these kinds of carriages these days."

"Because of cost?" Cheng Lang asked.

"Captain, you always have such a keen eye for the issues."

The Magic Mirror flattered, "These traveling carriages are far less cheap than real carriages, and even before my last slumber, very few people used them."

"Legend has it that the dwarves imprisoned the spirits of many ferocious land beasts and stuffed them into the bodies of draft horses, and then drove them to transport ore in the mines."

Yun Lan continued, "Later, because this kind of carriage didn't need any maintenance and was very durable, it gradually became popular. The driver only needed to spend a small amount of money to replace the undead pulling the carriage with the one pulled by the dwarves after the undead power in the horse's body was exhausted and it went into a deep sleep."

"But the dwarves have almost disappeared, and there are very few people left who can maintain the wagons and replace the undead, which is why these wagons are becoming less and less practical."

Yun Ji added, "However, as far as I know, there is a carriage shop in Pirate City that has such a traveling carriage. That traveling carriage is still usable, and many pirates who hold weddings will rent that carriage."

"A Lao'er from another world?" Cheng Lang easily found an equivalent.

“At least in my time, there were quite a few of these travel carriages in various countries of the Star Sea Continent,” Yun Lan continued, “but they were all controlled by the royal family and nobles.”

"Do royalty and nobles also need to use these carriages to haul ore from the mines?" Cheng Lang joked with a smile.

"It's just because these carriages don't defecate randomly," Yun Lan explained with a smile.

"Your explanation makes me sound like an ignorant country bumpkin."

Amid the laughter of the two ladies, Cheng Lang shook his head. "So how do you use this kind of thing?"

"Just take it out and put it on the ground."

Yun Lan explained, "If you need to put it away, just open this box and place it in front of the carriage."

"This is really convenient," Cheng Lang said, picking up the box and leaving the conference room for the deck.

Under the curious gaze of everyone on the ship, Cheng Lang picked up a carriage from the box and placed it on the deck.

Almost at the same moment his hand left, the carriage began to move forward on its own, and it grew larger and larger as it went.

When it came to a stop, it was no different from a normal carriage. However, the two black draft horses pulling the carriage were exceptionally tall and strong, and each of them wore a horse head mask that seemed to be made of urn silver, and horseshoes that were also made of urn silver.

Curious, I climbed into the cargo bed of the carriage. It was surprisingly spacious inside, with a row of boat lanterns hanging on the frame inside the tarpaulin, and even a wooden ladder hidden at the stern for getting in and out of the cargo bed.

"This is really interesting."

Cheng Lang jumped off the carriage, placed the wooden box in front of it, and then gently drove the carriage. The two sturdy draft horses also walked gently toward the box, getting smaller and smaller as they went, and finally went inside through the small door on the side of the box.

Before Cheng Lang could put the box away, the Silver Queen floated over, lifted her skirt and bowed, saying, "Captain, there are clusters of ship lights flashing beyond the fog, and a letter bearer just landed on the lighthouse of Windmill Island."

"It seems the pirate city's reinforcements have arrived."

Cheng Lang slammed the box shut. "In that case, we should set off. Notify all sailors to return to their posts immediately and prepare to weigh anchor."

Before Cheng Lang could finish speaking, Wu Ying brandished a small hammer and rang the ship's bell. Immediately afterward, members of the Tinesa Orchestra on the Thorn ship not far away began to pluck the strings on their stern instruments and play a lively tune.

Urged on by the tolling of bells and music, all the sailors rushed back to the decks of the two ships immediately. They didn't even have time to say goodbye to the villagers on Windmill Island before they hurriedly weighed anchor, hoisted the sails, and left the port propelled by the sea breeze.

"Why are they leaving in such a hurry?" asked an old man wearing an eye patch next to the village chief, Heller.

"I suspect they've already realized that reinforcements from the pirate city have arrived."

Heller said with a hint of regret, "I originally thought we could keep them. The bounty on Captain Cheng Lang from the pirate city is worth two cups of Poseidon's blood and two pieces of armor."

“After all, he and his sailors saved us,” the old man with the eye patch standing next to Chief Heller reminded him, though his expression held a hint of schadenfreude.

Heller snorted, his face ashen, and walked alone toward his windmill.

He believed that no one knew that he was the one who had hired the pirates who were about to slaughter the villagers, just as he had originally been confident of victory over the ship stranded on Windmill Island and the mad captain Horace.

But now, the Pirate City's reinforcements have arrived without his knowledge, which means that things have been exposed. The only thing he can do now is wait to be taken to the Pirate City for trial, and incidentally...
Perhaps the news of Captain Cheng Lang's appearance on Fengmo Island could save my life?
Village Chief Heller pondered to himself, having just learned from the drunken Captain Gerta that they were not going to the Duchy of Murphyta at all, but the Duchy of Gotland.

In the contest of who can convincingly play the honest man, it's still hard to say whether Chief Heller or Captain Gerta is more convincing. However, the thick fog cast by the Silver Queen has already completely enveloped nearly a third of Windmill Island and the equally sized sea surface, easily blocking the view of the pirate ships that might be approaching from afar.

Under this cover, the two ships, which had extinguished all their lights, gradually sped off at high speed, propelled by the sea breeze and the fins of the dragonflies. Meanwhile, their respective single-sailed wooden boats, each with a not-so-bright boat lantern hanging high, raced swiftly towards the Sea of ​​Despair.

"So you figured out that Chief Heller was suspicious all along?" Yun Lan asked Gerta, who was in charge of steering, in surprise from the cockpit of the Thorn.

"There is definitely a problem, a very big problem."

Gerta explained honestly, "When I was young, I was also a village chief. If someone had saved the lives of everyone in the village, why would he have reacted like that?"
"All day while you were wandering around the island, that old man kept asking us where we were going next, and it seemed he was even planning to hitch a ride on our boat. That's not how a village chief should react."

"What did you say?" Yun Lan immediately pressed.

He got me drunk.

Gerta said with a smile, "Then he inadvertently let slip that our fleet captain has fallen in love with a little princess of Gotland, and he is actually planning to meet the princess and elope with her."

At this point, Gerta reached into his pocket and handed a greasy newspaper to Yun Lan. "I haven't had a chance to say this before, but Pirate City has already issued a warrant for Captain Cheng Lang's arrest. He's worth two cups of Poseidon's Blood and two armor pieces."

"That's a really good price."

Yun Lan looked at the newspaper under the starlight outside, and then couldn't help but smile. Cheng Lang in this wanted poster not only looked hypocritical, but the sailboat he drew was still the old Valkyrie.

In comparison, the only thing that is somewhat accurate in this wanted poster is probably the red-eyed skull pirate flag covered with mushrooms, which can only be described as graffiti, and the words "Limited sale of fresh mushrooms and vegetables, 50 silver coins per serving, traded with creditors."

This wanted notice was issued in all the main cities of Pirate City the day after Dragonfly Island disappeared. Generally speaking, wanted notices, especially those issued by Pirate City, never explain the reason.

This is why more and more pirates began to joke in private that the Panini who stayed at home and never went out must have bought the captain's poisonous mushrooms and gotten sick, which is why he issued such a ridiculously overpriced wanted poster.

Of course, jokes aside, the pirate profession is full of reckless and crazy people, but fools usually don't live long. All pirates know that if someone can sell vegetables and make such a high price, then there must be more than just vegetables in his ship's hold.

However, when the wanted poster, which was several days outdated, was displayed on the wall of the conference room by the magic mirror, it still made everyone more vigilant.

"How long will it take us to get to our destination?" Cheng Lang asked, glancing at the wanted poster about himself.

"We currently have sufficient supplies. Following the designated route and avoiding the marked red area, we should be able to reach Ice Sled Island in about 15 days. It is the only way to enter the Arctic Ice Sea."

The Magic Mirror respectfully explained, "We need to attach ice sleds to the two boats there before we can continue."

After entering the icy Arctic Ocean, it will take a maximum of five more days of sailing to reach Frostflower Port, where we plan to dock. "Twenty days is plenty of time for us to get things done."

Cheng Lang said, "Yun Ji, Yun Lan, and the Magic Mirror, I have a very difficult task for you."

"Honorable Captain, the Magic Mirror is at your service at any time."

"Fleet Commander, please give the order." Yun Ji, who had already stood up, and Yun Lan, who was on another ship, said in unison.

"Um"

Cheng Lang nodded in satisfaction. "Use these 20 days to think of a way to make some necessary adjustments to the Valkyrie's pirate flag."

After saying that, Cheng Lang got up, picked up a plate of fruit from the conference table, and walked out of the room, leaving everyone in the conference room staring at each other.

Just as everyone expected, over the next ten or twenty days, the Valkyrie and Thorn used the sea fog and high speed to shake off all the tails and headed day and night towards the Arctic Ice Sea.

As they continued their voyage, the originally warm and pleasant temperature gradually dropped. The sailors also gradually put on thick cotton-padded clothes.

In less than 20 days, Magic Mirror, Yun Ji, and Yun Lan focused all their energy on the "topic" of how to change the pirate flag.

Of course, the one who reaped the greatest benefits was actually Yavso on the Thorn. The fruit tree she transplanted to the open deck has not only survived, but is also growing exceptionally well.

She even discovered that the green spores she collected after the battle with the Corpse Mushroom, though unable to reproduce, were the best fertilizer.

Using these fertilizers, she even successfully grafted various branches cut from the fruit tree onto the ship.

Not only these grafted branches, but also the glowing mushrooms she bribed the little wooden figures to bring back from underground successfully began to multiply in the cabin with the help of these strange, yet nutritious, green spores.

This is why, despite the decreasing temperature around them, the Thorn is becoming increasingly "lush".

Throughout the journey, both ships tried their best to avoid being discovered by passing vessels, and the Valkyrie also tried not to raise its highly recognizable pirate flag.

Finally, on the 22nd day after they left Windmill Island, the two ships were able to see Ice Sled Island covered in ice and snow amidst the falling snowflakes.

"Ice Sled Island is an exclave of the Frost Duchy."

On the deck of the Valkyrie, the Magic Mirror respectfully introduced, "There is a river between this island and the Frost Duchy that belongs to Morphyta. That river is also Morphyta's only outlet to the Arctic Ice Sea."

"So I have to pay taxes twice?" Cheng Lang asked, pulling his cotton coat tighter around himself, almost as if possessed.

"Not necessary"

The Magic Mirror explained, "But we need to go deep into the Arctic Ocean to bypass the outlet of the Morpheus. Of course, even without the outlet of the Morpheus, such a detour is necessary. We need to find the ice layer to use the ice sled."

Without ice sleds, our ship would be forced to navigate through the nearshore ice floes, which would be far too dangerous even for the Valkyrie, given its sturdiness.

Just then, a bird-like creature with wings on its back circled for a while before landing steadily on the deck of the Valkyrie.

"Hello, Captain"

The somewhat chubby-faced birdman folded his large brown wings and said, "I am Owl Loso, the immigration officer of Ice Sled Island. Are you in a two-ship formation?"

"That's right! Two boats!"

Wearing a mask of hypocrisy, Shenba thumped his chest and proudly declared, "I am the captain of this ship!"

"Merchant ship? Exploration ship? Or a raiding ship?"

The examiner, Owl Loso, asked in a businesslike manner, while also plucking a feather from his wing, licking it, and writing a string of scribbles on a piece of parchment that probably only he could understand.

"Merchant ships, of course!"

"Entry fee: 5 gold coins per ship"

Before he could finish speaking, Shenba leaned closer and whispered in the inspector's ear, "The cabin is full of fruit, brother. Take a barrel with you for your family to try, and there's also a barrel of fruit wine for you and your friends."

“Five gleaming silver coins will do,” Inspector Owlloso abruptly changed his story.

Fruit is the hard currency of this godforsaken place, Ice Sled Island.

"Take these 10 silver coins."

As Shenba spoke, he opened his broad palm, but what lay in his palm were 10 gold coins, glittering gold coins.

"Owl Loso, my good brother."

Shenba put his arm around the other person's shoulder and stuffed the gold coins one by one into the other person's shirt pocket, while lowering his voice and saying, "How about you prepare two sets of the fastest ice sleds for us?"

He had barely finished speaking when two gorillas brought over an oak barrel filled with fresh fruit, as well as a large barrel of juice from Windmill Island. Twenty days would be enough time for the juice to turn into fruit wine.

"Make your helmsman obey my commands!"

As he spoke, Owl Loso picked up an orange, took a big bite without even peeling it, then flapped his wide wings and flew into the air, carrying a ship's lamp that kept flashing red light, guiding the Valkyrie and Thorn to squeeze into a working berth on Ice Sled Island.

Before the gangplank they had just boarded had stopped trembling, Shenba personally delivered the two oak barrels to the dock and gave his "old friend" Xiaoluoso, whom he was meeting for the first time, a particularly warm bear hug.

“Xiao Luosuo, my brother, we are in a hurry to get on our way, so we won’t stay any longer. Is there anything we can bring you when we return?” Shenba asked proactively, as if on a particularly eager journey.

"It would be great if you could bring us some of the city's specialty spirits and red pagoda sauce."

As he spoke, Xiao Luosuo, with the help of Shenba, placed the two oak barrels into a carriage.

"If we go to the capital, we'll prepare some decent gifts for you to bring back," Shenba made a remarkably generous promise.

“My friend, let me know your name,” said Owlloso.

“Gerta, my name is Gerta,” Shenba answered loudly, patting his chest.

Your name is etched in my heart.

As he spoke, Xiao Luosuo took out two pairs of objects, each about the size of a scimitar and shaped like deer antlers, from the carriage.

"This is the fastest sled I could find."

"The rental fee is 100 gold coins per set, and the usage fee for two sets is one gold coin per day. This is the lowest price that only friends can enjoy," said Xiaoluo.

"I can feel my friend's sincerity."

As Shenba spoke, he pulled a money pouch from his waist and tossed it to the other party without even counting it. "Xiaoluosuo, we're in a hurry to deliver the goods, so we won't stay any longer."

Hefted the money pouch in his hand, then tucked it into his pocket. At the same time, he casually folded the piece of paper with hardly any words written on it and handed it to Shenba, saying in a low voice, "Friend, you know the rules, and so do I. Don't worry."

"We'll meet again!"

Shenba and the other person shared another bear hug, and Shenba hurriedly ran back to the ship with the paper in his hand, issuing the order to "return to port".

(End of this chapter)