Sail Shadows in the Sea of ​​Fog

Chapter 155 Are you ready, kids?
"Bebedo, would you like to leave with us?"

Back in the hunting tent, Cheng Lang asked the most crucial question directly, "Your father's undead adventure contacted us, surely hoping we would take you away from here."

"Sir, where are you taking him?" asked the smallest of the wolf beggar children.

"We are the sea. Explorers of the sea," Cheng Lang gave himself a title that didn't sound like a bad guy.

"That's just a pirate!" The little beggar mercilessly exposed the gold plaque that a certain captain had just put on his face.

"Think what you want."

Cheng Lang asked again, "Beibeiduo, do you want to leave with us?"

"Leave with them."

The little beggar unexpectedly said, "Kruk, or your name Bebedo, whatever your name is, whether this gentleman is a pirate or a sea adventurer, at least following him will keep you from going hungry."

"I"

Beibei looked blankly at Cheng Chenglang and Yun Ji, then looked down at the spider bow that Yun Ji had just placed in her palm, and finally looked at her friends.

"I want to be with you," Bebedo finally made her decision. "I don't want to leave you."

"But we don't want to be with you."

The leader of the small, thin children said, "We are beggars, we can't even get enough to eat every day, so we can't take you, this burden, with us."

"But I"

"What do you mean, 'you'?" the leader of the children said disdainfully. "We can't just take care of you for nothing, so we'll give you this strange umbrella."

"What's your name?" Cheng Lang asked the short leader of the group.

"Krugki," the little fellow replied, "Mr. Pirate, what's your name?"

"I'll introduce my name later, you're almost crying."

It would have been better if these words hadn't been spoken. Once certain things are brought to light, certain emotions become uncontrollable.

Sure enough, after a brief silence of less than two seconds, the little beggars huddled together and began to wail loudly.

"I thought you didn't want me anymore!" Bebe cried out in terror.

“You’ll die if you stay with us,” Krugs responded with a wail.

"cough cough"

Cheng Lang cleared his throat. "Actually, my ship is currently recruiting sailors. There are no age or race restrictions, and no gender restrictions. Food and lodging are provided. The requirements are that the sailors must be able to eat and urinate, and must not wet the bed at night. They will mainly be responsible for non-combat work. The salary is one gold coin per month."

After he finished speaking, the little beggar who had just been crying with his head in his hands raised his head blankly and looked at Cheng Lang with confusion.

Don't you want to find a job?

Yun Ji smiled and reminded them, "If you don't wet the bed, you should just meet our labor needs."

There was no need to go into more detail at this point. The little beggars finally realized what was happening and immediately surrounded the captain.

"Sir! No, Captain! Are you really willing to hire us?"

Despite his excitement, Krugch maintained a level of vigilance unlike the other little beggars. "I don't think we're up to the task on the ship," he said.

There's a child on our boat too.

Cheng Lang said nonchalantly, "She needs some playmates. Your job is to keep her company and also take care of some cleaning."

"Such a good thing? You wouldn't happen to be..."

"Think what you want."

Cheng Lang said nonchalantly, "If you're willing, pack your things right now and leave with us later. If you think we're lying to you, then don't come with us."

After saying that, Cheng Lang turned around and walked out again. Seeing this, Yun Ji smiled and followed him out.

"You plan to take them to the Elf Kingdom?" Yun Ji pressed.

"No need for the Elven Duchy."

Cheng Lang truthfully stated his thoughts, "Let's go see if we can find that big bug, and then head to the Beast Remains Territory."

Once we find what's on those two treasure maps, we'll have probably built enough trust with them. Then we can let them and Gerta stay and wait for us.

As for Beibeiduo, if he's willing to come along, we'll take him to find that big tree. If he's afraid, we'll send him to Yunhai after we go out to sea.

"If Yun Hai is willing to take in the seven wolf cubs, then take them with you; if not, just hand them over to the pirate brothers."

“This may not be as safe as being a beggar for them,” Yun Ji said, “but at least they can fill their stomachs.”

"That's right, at least it can fill our stomachs."

Before Cheng Lang could finish speaking, Beibeiduo and the seven little beggars led by Krugki had already lined up and walked out.

Their possessions were pitifully few. Apart from the umbrella that Beibei was holding, their only belongings were a dark, black hanging pot and a matching spoon.

“We’ve decided to go with you,” Krughi said.

"Could I hear your reasons?" Yun Ji asked with a smile.

"At least it will fill our stomachs," Krughi said, echoing the promise Cheng Lang and Yun Ji had just made.

Welcome aboard the Valkyrie!

Cheng Lang extended his hand to Krugki, adding with a mischievous grin, "Ready, kids?"

"We're almost ready," the little beggars, led by Krugki, replied hesitantly.

“You must say, yes, Captain,” Cheng Lang corrected him earnestly.

"Yes, yes, Captain," the little beggars answered in unison, looking slightly bewildered.

"Too quiet!" Cheng Lang said with amusement.

“Yes, Captain!” The voices of the little beggars with their wolf ears perked up were a little louder.

"Oh~~~ Who lives in a giant pineapple in the deep sea?"

As Cheng Lang walked back, he sang his "self-composed" boat song to himself.

The little beggars—no, the little pirates—who followed behind him carrying pots and umbrellas, though they didn't understand what was going on, were amused by the strange tune and giggled.

As for Yun Ji, who was walking at the back and had already started patting her forehead in a habit, she couldn't help but mutter a particularly brainwashing phrase to herself: "It's SpongeBob SquarePants."

Even though she had no idea which baby it was, she couldn't help but forget how many times their captain, who was sometimes clever and sometimes foolish, had sung it while they were on the ship.

Singing all the way, they led the eight little beggars, including Beibeiduo, back to the Golden Hoof Inn, and even opened an extra four-person room for them.

When Shenba, Yafusuo, Cheng Lang, and Yun Ji together removed their masks of hypocrisy in front of everyone, the little ones completely lowered their guard and happily accepted the job of guiding them around Panjiao Town the next day. After letting their guard down, these little beggars became much more enthusiastic, and it was only at this point that everyone realized...

They turned out to be brothers from the same family, and their mother came from Wolf Tail Heights, where Cheng Lang and the others were going next.

"Although our mother moved from Wolf Tail Heights to Corner Town, we have never been to Wolf Tail Heights."

Krug said, "But Kru Bebe..."

“My name is Crook,” Bebedo said. “Please continue to call me Crook.”

“Okay, Kruk escaped from Wolf Tail Heights before,” Krukchi said again.

There are many elves there.

Whether it was Kruk or Bebedo, the little guy's face, which had just been washed, inevitably showed fear. "There are so many of them. Besides capturing dark elves, they seem to be looking for something else."

This was undoubtedly a crucial clue, so crucial that Cheng Lang and the others had to reconsider whether they should go to Wolf Tail Heights.

“Go, it’s safer for us to go there,” Cheng Lang said.

"Why?" Yun Lan asked curiously.

Is it because this broken lamp under the light has no blind spots?

Cheng Lang glanced at the miner's lamp on the table that provided extra warmth, picked it up, and pointed to the spot that was originally covered by the lamp holder, explaining, "This is the principle of 'darkness under the lamp.' Right now, all the dark elves are fleeing outwards, so if we go in now, we won't arouse suspicion."

"And when you left?" Yun Ji asked.

"As long as we don't head towards Frostflower Harbor, they probably won't care."

Cheng Lang said, "However, I have a question. With so many Verdant Hunters operating within the Frost Duchy, don't the orcs have any objections?"

"Of course we have no objection."

Gerta said, “Besides supplying the Frost Duchy, the Elf Duchy is also the biggest buyer of the spices from Pancorn Town. Similarly, they prioritize purchasing many things from the Frost Duchy. In exchange, the Frost Duchy will allow their hunters to search for dark elves within its territory.”

"The Frost Duchy is not afraid."

The Frost Kingdom would love for those pointy-eared creatures to act foolishly.

Yun Lan joked, "The Frost Duchy possesses the most powerful land force in the entire Starsea Continent. If those pointy-eared people do anything, they will probably launch a large-scale attack before the Elf Royal Family can say anything, and occupy the Sin Gold Mine area, which is not far from the border."

"The Frost Duchy has indeed always had this plan."

Gerta stated truthfully, "Trading a gold mine for some border towns that can be reclaimed at any time is a very good deal."

"Those with pointy ears aren't stupid either."

Yun Lan joked, "The orcs are their only staunch allies; they wouldn't do something so stupid."

“In that case, let’s rest tomorrow, and then we’ll head to Wolf Tail Heights,” Cheng Lang arranged. “Also, each of us should take one or two people with us tomorrow and buy them a few decent outfits. We’ll set off early the day after tomorrow.”

"Are we really going there?" Crook asked nervously.

"We're just passing through. If you're afraid of this, how can you be brave sailors?"

Yun Lan explained with a smile, "Clearly, this expired princess is fooling children without any psychological barriers."

"Who, who said we're scared!" Krugman said defiantly.

"If you haven't run away when we wake up tomorrow, then you're truly not afraid."

Yun Ji easily blocked the last possibility of these little guys escaping. "Shenba, take them downstairs to get something to eat. If anyone asks, just say they are our hired guides and helpers."

"Come with me! I'll take you to eat something delicious, and you'll see some pretty bunny girls!"

Shenba greeted her enthusiastically, and unsurprisingly, he once again slammed the back of his head hard into Yunji's palm, producing a crisp sound that made people instinctively shrink back.

After settling the trainee sailors in, Cheng Lang yawned and returned to the room he shared with Gerta and Shenba. He went to sleep early, before Shenba, who was snoring in his sleep, returned with the sailors.

That night, the big guy Shenba didn't return to the room he was supposed to share with the captain. Instead, he squeezed into a room with the little beggars and all the snacks he had bought.

No one knows how many snacks Shenba, this intimidatingly large man with the mind of a child, and these little beggars who seem to be able to play with him, ate that night, or what they talked about.

Just as no one knew, how many Verdant Hunters had rushed to Frostflower Town that night, searching high and low for the missing hunter squad.

But Cheng Lang knew at least that he slept exceptionally well that night because there was no disturbing snoring.

The next morning, after everyone got up feeling refreshed, Cheng Lang also called on a little beggar named Krubb, and they began to wander around Panjiao Town.

"This brand's spice powder is the finest."

A chubby wolf cub named Krub pointed to a shop with a large bell hanging from it and said, "If you want to buy some spice powder, you can't go wrong with theirs."

"How do you know his is the finest?" Cheng Lang asked with a smile.

"Because they all have their spice powder ground by us."

Krubb replied matter-of-factly, “Compared to other places, the owner of this place not only pays us the same salary, but also provides us with an all-you-can-eat barbecue meal, so we always grind their seasoning powder extra.”

Cheng Lang smiled upon hearing this, "If I need anything, I'll buy it from his store before I leave. Let's go buy some clothes now."

"Come with me!"

Krubb excitedly led Cheng Lang into a narrow alley lined with shops on both sides.

Although Panjiao Town is not large, it is small but complete. After a whole day of shopping, apart from Gerta who was guarding the luggage at the Golden Hoof Inn, Cheng Lang and the others all bought what they wanted with the help of the young guides.

Of course, this town also fulfilled all of Cheng Lang's imagination of the world: cobblestone streets and houses, and all kinds of beautiful women with long legs, slender waists or big breasts, full of exotic charm and reflecting the diversity of life.

Of course, there were also large chunks of roasted meat, foamy beer, noisy caravans, and bustling markets filled with laughter.

Led by Krubb, who was dressed in new clothes, Cheng Lang toured Panjiao Town thoroughly. Still feeling unsatisfied, he returned to Jintizi Post Station with bags full of various local specialties, already filled with anticipation for the upcoming trip to Wolf Tail Highlands.

"I found it!"

On the ice outside Frostflower Harbor, a green-clad hunter rushed into a hunting tent and excitedly shouted, "After investigation, before the target team went missing, someone saw an orc and an elf striking the anchor of a flower boat!"

"And then?" the squad leader in the hunting tent asked, puzzled, while holding a cup filled with red lotus flower tea.

"After the target squad went missing, some elves who were about to set sail had slept with... our hunters on that pleasure boat."

"Snapped!"

The cup in the squad leader's hand smashed to the ground and shattered—just like her worldview.

"Captain, what do we do?" the hunter who came in to report asked cautiously.

"Surround that flower boat!" the squad leader ordered through gritted teeth.

(End of this chapter)