Chapter 222: 158. Captain, First Mate, and Second Mate (Combined)
“I’m pleased to meet you.”
Fisher smiled and shook hands with the impressively presented First Mate. However, upon contact, he immediately felt the variously sized calluses on the hand of the plump woman before him. Before Fisher could observe further, the First Mate, Pahaz, quickly retracted her hand.
Captain Alagina, dressed in white, was standing next to the mast. After giving Pahaz a blank look, Pahaz understood and put on her short hat that had been draped in her pocket. After smiling at Fisher, she waved her hand and shouted loudly at the crew who were watching the drama unfold behind her.
“What are you all staring at? Is the work done? Hurry up, move! If the Nali military ship finds us, it will be bad for us! Quick! Set sail!”
“Set sail!”
“Set sail!”
With Pahaz’s words, the crew members in the distance scattered as if passing a relay baton, conveying her message down to the ship’s hold.
As the crew began to move, the entire Iceberg Queen stirred to life, and a violent cloud of steam suddenly erupted from the top of the ship’s hull with a crisp sound, reminiscent of a steam kettle venting.
“Whoosh!”
The large amount of ice fog generated by Alagina’s relic, the Ice Prince, dissipated completely at that moment, intertwining and dissolving with the roaring steam. The engine below the ship first made the whole vessel tremble, then produced significant force, pulling the entire ship forward.
This was Jasmine’s first time witnessing how a steam-powered ship was started. She curiously stared at the smoke rising above her head and, just as she leaned in to get a whiff, the pungent odor caused her to recoil and cough twice.
“Cough, cough!”
Her silly appearance caught the attention of both Alagina and Fisher, but Alagina kept her gaze on her non-human features, clearly her first time seeing a real Ocean Subhuman.
“After we set sail, there will be some odor on the deck. Let’s talk in my captain’s room and leave this place to Pahaz and the others.”
Alagina’s captain’s room was located above the deck, spacious and used for planning routes and commanding the ship.
Behind the captain’s room were a few additional rooms, presumably for living.
“Wow! Look, Dot! What a long and thick plume of smoke!”
“I sense there are many of Dot One’s kind down below!”
“Woohoo!”
“Keep it down, you three!”
On their way to the captain’s room, the lively Kalma and her two companions jumped down from Old Jack and curiously looked around from the steps in front of the captain’s room.
Having grown up in a basement, they had never seen such a grand scene, and Dot even stood on the railing, feeling the sea breeze brush against her face.
This startled Old Jack, as the ship housed the most boisterous female pirates of the Sardinia Kingdom. He heard that they were particularly unfriendly towards young girls from other nations, let alone three small Mouse Daughters.
He reached out to give each of them a knock on the head, causing them to cover their heads and spin in confusion. Before they could speak, a dry mocking voice suddenly came from behind them.
“Hahaha, silly!”
This infuriated the three Mouse Daughters, who were eager to make the person who mocked them taste a lesson.
However, when they turned around, they saw a large colorful parrot perched on the iron railing, tilting its head to look at them while letting out “caw caw” laughs.
“Silly, silly!”
“Stinky bird! Stinky bird!”
“Chirp!”
Kalma and her friends defiantly stuck out their tongues, and even the little mice on their heads began to shout along, making the scene of several mice and a parrot squabbling quite amusing. What was most surprising was that the parrot held its own in the verbal sparring, its insults sharp and rapid, making one wonder if having such a creature around was a way to replace expletives.
“Shh!”
Just as the parrot was about to expand on the feud, a distant, clear whistle came from the top of the mast. Upon hearing this sound, the parrot abruptly stopped its rant, hopped onto the railing, and flew upwards.
Kalma and her friends pursued to the railing, where they saw a woman in a heavy robe seated at the very top of the Iceberg Queen’s mast. She had short white hair, and her expression was obscured by her robe. However, at that moment, her gaze was also surveying the guests below.
The nagging parrot landed on the girl’s arm, preening its feathers while still making noise.
“Silly, silly!”
Feeling it might upset someone on the ship, Old Jack quickly scooped up the three rambunctious kids, but Alagina casually walked over to the captain’s room door, introducing others as she did.
“That’s my Second Mate, Aoxi. She is a keen-sighted Cangniao Tribe Subhuman.”
“Cangniao Tribe?”
Fisher had seen many subhuman races, this one included.
He remembered that during his time at the Nalin Circus in the Southern Continent, they had a Cangniao captive who was on the verge of death in the same tent where Raphael was held.
This subhuman species was widely distributed throughout the Northern Region, but there were also branches in the Southern Continent. The two varieties looked quite different, but they were classified under the same species. This classification was proposed by Old Jack’s son, Little Jack, and Fisher had read his paper and fully agreed.
The Cangniao tribe member above had an overall hair color of white with a tinge of cyan. She was also noticeably larger than the Southern variety, clearly one from the Northern Region.
“Yes, many subhuman races live in our country in the Northern Region, and humans frequently hire them for work. Before I defected from the Sardinia Kingdom, Aoxi was once my bodyguard.”
Subhumans serving as bodyguards?
Actually, Fisher was aware of this situation in the Northern Region long ago. Humans and subhumans have believed in the deity known as the “Frost Phoenix” together for generations. This deity encouraged cooperation among species to dispel cold and advocated for a symbiotic relationship among living beings.
So, in areas worshiping the Frost Phoenix, subhumans could work and live with humans openly, but even so, intermarriage generally remained uncommon among them.
Additionally, this situation varied by region. Some citizens in feudal states of the Sardinia Kingdom did not worship the Frost Phoenix, leading to attitudes toward subhumans that were no different from those in the Western Continent.
“This is my captain’s room. Please come in.”
After introducing her Second Mate to those present, Alagina gently pushed open the door to her captain’s room. As the door swung open, everyone felt a chilling gust of wind rush out from inside. Upon closer inspection, they found a huge block of ice standing at the end of the room.
Upon further observation, they discovered that within the center of that ice block lay a shimmering sword, the relic known as the Ice Prince.
The biting cold quickly silenced the usually boisterous Mouse Daughters, who huddled closely to Old Jack, shivering. Isabel also shrank a bit; they had just gotten wet, and entering this frigid environment was uncomfortable. Thankfully, Jasmine held onto Isabel’s cold hand tightly.
Seeing Fisher examining the giant ice in the room, Alagina, after inviting everyone to sit down, waved her hand to activate the magic within the room. As the emblem brightened, the surrounding temperature gradually rose to normal. She also began to explain to Fisher.
“My relic cannot be used directly in its original form, as it continuously produces biting cold ice. So, during normal use, I summon its phantom through the tattoo it grants me as a substitute. Though it’s a bit troublesome, it allows my ship to avoid concerns about fresh water at sea.”
While Alagina spoke, she retrieved several cups from a nearby shelf and proceeded to chisel a few blocks of ice from that solid frost. At that moment, Fisher noticed a complex-patterned black tattoo partially revealing on her neck from beneath her clothes. The cold emanating from that tattoo even caused the skin around it to faintly turn blue.
No wonder when Fisher saw Alagina using her relic, it always seemed like she was pulling it from thin air; it turned out she hadn’t actually carried the real relic but used some means to employ its weakened phantom.
However, this also indicated that the Ice Prince, as a relic, held significant status; even its phantom remained powerful in Alagina’s hands.
Beside the massive ice block on the shelf, Fisher surprisingly spotted a complete set of armor from the Sardinia Kingdom. The armor featured twisted lines and an uncommon form, exuding a noble beauty. Its colors were primarily light blue and cyan, making it appear more like a piece of art than equipment.
In fact, this armor was typically possessed only by the nobility of the Sardinia Kingdom. At the time of its forging, craftsmen would engrave several phoenix feather shapes on its protruding chest area to symbolize the identity of the armor’s owner. The number of feathers was strictly categorized according to rank.
The armor worn by the Queen of Sardinia—who was nominally the queen of the kingdom—would have five feathers, the highest rank; while her princesses and feudal lords shared four; and the daughters of feudal lords and other high-ranking noble armors would have three.
Alagina’s armor exhibited three shiny phoenix feathers, symbolizing her past status as a feudal princess.
Furthermore, because the women of the Sardinia Kingdom were generally tall and slender, the associated armor was made very light and intricately designed, giving a sense of resilience while highlighting feminine characteristics.
From afar, that armor appeared refined and beautiful, a rare collectible.
It must be emphasized that while the customs of the Sardinia Kingdom favored female superiority and male subservience, it didn’t mean that their women shared the same style as men from other nations; this armor served as the strongest proof.
“Fisher, that sword was once a weapon belonging to the king of the Northern Region’s Phoenix Tribe! After the Phoenix Tribe’s queen unified the Northern Region, she personally came to the Holy Land, asking the esteemed Holy Spawn to forge weapons for her and her offspring. The Holy Spawn agreed, taking a feather from each of them as materials to forge four unique weapons: one mother sword and three offspring swords. This is one of the three offspring swords.”
As Fisher and Alagina were pouring water, Emhart, who had somehow regained consciousness from being submerged, was attracted by the relic in the corner before he had a chance to complain. He sneaked up to Fisher’s ear and said in a hushed voice, only for them to hear.
“That woman is a human, of course, she can’t handle the original form of that relic, because this weapon was not designed for humans but forged for the phoenixes.”
“When did the Phoenix Tribe become relevant?”
“How would I know? I saw it in a book that the nasty demon Baemon collected. It didn’t specify the exact time. That guy has no method when recording things, or perhaps all demons are like that. You have no idea how exhausting it is to read her books; just distinguishing her handwriting is a hassle. You forgot that I had a fiery argument with her over this matter!”
Upon hearing this, Fisher cast a disdainful glance at Emhart by his side. What do you mean you had a fierce argument; didn’t she subdue you instantly and then humiliate you thoroughly?
However, Fisher didn’t expose Emhart’s flaws, as Alagina had just returned with a cup of water filled with ice blocks.
Fisher looked and noticed that the ice cubes in her cup melted quickly after moving away from the Ice Prince and arrived in front of him as a cup of chilled fresh water.
“Please enjoy.”
“Thank you.”
Alagina did not sit in her more distant main seat but directly sat next to Fisher.
Earlier outside, she had been observing Fisher, so she had neglected the people accompanying him. Now, upon carefully glancing around at Fisher’s companions, her expression subtly shifted into one of curiosity.
An elderly Nali man with a mouse-like appearance, a weary Nali woman, and a sea subhuman—this combination looked somewhat strange, which piqued her curiosity about the current situation in Saint Nali. Nonetheless, she did not probe further, maintaining a polite distance from Fisher.
“Fisher, have you decided where to go after leaving Nali?”
“Not yet. While I have some personal matters to attend to later, I first need to ensure my companions are settled.”
“I see.”
Hearing this, Alagina’s eyes lit up momentarily. She gently extended her hand and unfurled a nautical chart.
Fisher glanced, realizing it was a third edition nautical chart of the Sardinia Kingdom. Yes, the Sardinia Kingdom was at the center of the map. Alagina traced a line down from the Northern Sea to their current route position in the Southern Sea before saying,
“Last month, we accepted a private order at the Pirate Port. Having completed it, we are now preparing to return. Next, we’ll sail northeast from the Southern Ocean back to the Pirate Port. If you don’t mind, you can come with us for now. Once we arrive at the Pirate Port, we can decide what to do next.”
She moved her pale, slender fingers along the Southern Ocean until she reached the edge of the known region on the map, stopping just outside the Eastern Ocean beyond Cardu.
Here it’s essential to highlight that the vast area east of Cardu in the Western Continent is still filled with many remnants of nations from the era of the Central Empire. This has caused the entire Western Continent to divide at Cardu, where the numerous nations to the west have been thriving, while those to the east remain in constant turmoil.
Historically, after Nali advanced and took the Holy Church of Cardu, Godlin the First turned back and did not invade farther lands; similarly, Shivali, who reached its peak many centuries ago and occupied Saint Nali, also coveted that land but ended up abandoning it just like Godlin the First.
The reason is that the situation there has always been quite dire; since the Central Empire was established, governance and religion remained entwined there. They also held a fervent belief in the Mother Goddess. That said, their beliefs varied slightly, but they all acknowledged the position of Cardu’s Holy Church, leading to conflicts of secular power among the nations.
Once outsiders interfere with their problems, they unify against the foreign threat. This back-and-forth often left the robust Shivali feeling confused. Additionally, because the line from Shivali to the east of Cardu is too long, they ultimately had to give up.
Such chaotic circumstances also meant that many of the small nations there were far behind Nali and Shivali in exploring the sea, while the nearby Eastern Ocean happened to be the most extensive area among the four great oceans, dotted with countless tiny islands claimed by private entities. Nali, the Northern Region, and Shivali all kept their eyes on this land.
This even more complex situation on the eastern coast of the Western Continent created a paradise for pirates and adventurers, and the Pirate Port Alagina referred to was located somewhere within the Eastern Ocean.
“In the Eastern Ocean?”
“Yes, the so-called ‘Black Chieftain’ Arid, one of the Four Great Pirates, arrived in the Eastern Ocean several years ago. He calls himself a ‘black explorer,’ attempting to find the legendary ‘Storm Sea’ there. To do so, he didn’t hesitate to join forces with many pirates to establish a massive base known as the Pirate Port.”
“The information there is very well-connected, and people from everywhere come and go, including many subhumans. Moreover, official hands from various nations currently cannot reach there. If you are uncertain of your next destination, you can settle there for the time being.”
Upon hearing this, Fisher felt somewhat tempted.
The most significant goal in front of him was undoubtedly Erwinde, but Fisher couldn’t just confront Erwinde directly now; he wasn’t ready yet—especially now that he was aware of the new ways to enhance the Handbook for Sub-Humans. He needed to find more subhumans to study and examine the effects.
Another issue, however, was how to settle Old Jack and Isabel, especially Isabel.
Fisher believed that it wouldn’t be long before Elizabeth issues a bounty for him and Isabel after taking care of matters at home, and there was no way he could bring her along when he went to find Erwinde; that would be a literal joke with both their lives.
Fisher’s preliminary plan was to settle them in the Northern Region because, considering the overall situation, only the Northern Region seemed viable.
Shivali had recently reconciled with Nali, and during their honeymoon phase, it wasn’t safe to send them there; Cardu was indeed safe, but it’s an inland country. Getting them in would require either going through Shivali or navigating through numerous smaller nations in the ongoing conflict surrounding it; and the Southern Continent could be disregarded entirely, for there, the number of decent folks was scarce, and no laws applied—survival was left to fate.
After considering it thoroughly, he realized that the currently relatively safe Northern Region was the only option.
However, Alagina was currently the highly sought-after fugitive of the Sardinia Kingdom, making it unlikely for the Iceberg Queen to deliver them to the Northern Region. Thus, heading to the Pirate Port to find someone to escort them might be a good approach.
With this in mind, Fisher nodded and agreed to Alagina’s suggestion.
“Then, I will trouble you, Captain Alagina, during this time.”
Hearing Fisher’s agreement made Alagina’s earlobes turn slightly pink; a sweet thrill rushed in her heart, lifting the corners of her cold lips.
From the Southern Ocean to the Pirate Bay, there was a journey of one to two months ahead—during this time, Fisher would be on the ship with her, undoubtedly a great opportunity for her.
Maintaining her gentle and beautiful smile, she was about to speak again when she suddenly noticed that the young Ocean Subhuman girl behind Fisher was staring at her intently.
Staring.
Those ink-black eyes abruptly halted Alagina’s unfolding dialogue, pressing the conversation on pause. At that moment, the perceptive Fisher sensed something off. He turned to glance at Jasmine, but she had already turned her head away.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. If that’s the case, I’ll go call Pahaz to arrange rooms for everyone.”
As Alagina finished speaking and walked towards the door, the plump First Mate, Pahaz, was already standing at the door, fiddling with a small harmonica. Once the door opened, she hastily stuffed the instrument back into her pocket and looked at her captain with a sly smile.
“Captain, you finished your chat? Shall I arrange rooms?”
“Mm.”
“Understood. Everyone, please follow me.”
Though Pahaz’s figure was plump, her mind was agile. After getting a response, she led Fisher and his group to the back of the captain’s room, where several rooms were located, but three were already occupied, corresponding to the captain, first mate, and second mate, while other crew members resided below the deck.
She pointed out separate rooms for males and females: Old Jack, the three Mouse Daughters, and Fisher would share one, while Jasmine and Isabel would stay in another. Fisher’s room was right beside Alagina’s.
“Please tidy up your rooms first, as we haven’t used these two in a while, so there may be some clutter.”
“Thank you, First Mate Pahaz.”
After Fisher spoke, Pahaz appreciatively twirled the harmonica in her hand, then looked at Fisher and said,
“I thought you would address me as ‘lady’ like the other Nalis. Good, good; ‘First Mate’ is my title. You all tidy up; I still have work to do. If you have any questions, just call for ‘Steel Knife,’ and it will notify us.”
“Steel Knife?”
“That’s the stinky parrot!”
Before Fisher’s group could raise their heads, the three Mouse Daughters in Old Jack’s arms had already pointed at the colorful parrot perched above the house, realizing that Steel Knife was its name.
The parrot tilted its head back toward the Mouse Daughters in Old Jack’s arms, flapping its wings before continuing,
“Silly, silly, silly.”
“It only knows that one phrase!”
“Stupid bird! I’m going to tell Dot One to bite your butt!”
Pahaz simply laughed, gracefully walking along the corridor toward the lower deck. Upon reaching the end, she suddenly remembered something and turned back to say,
“By the way, dinner will be served at six-thirty on the ship; make sure to come down to eat.”
Saying this, she left the captain’s corridor with her harmonica in hand. Fisher opened the door, revealing a relatively tidy room inside.
The room was spacious but had only one bed. However, there were plenty of bedding available for use. Instead of entering to tidy up first, he turned his attention to Jasmine, who was staring blankly at his room.
Her hair and eyes were pitch-black, and Fisher knew this was due to her curse. He also understood that ever since the incident with Muxi, she had been burying many thoughts in her heart. However, being considerate, she didn’t want to hold Fisher back because of her feelings, so she hadn’t revealed her thoughts.
Fisher looked her over and felt it necessary to have a chat with her.
“Jasmine.”
“Ah!”
But it seemed Jasmine was preoccupied with something in her little head. When Fisher called out, she nearly jumped in shock. Turning around, her gaze flickered, and she didn’t even dare to look at Fisher, speaking hesitantly in a guilty tone.
“Uh, um, the room… the room is a little messy. I’ll go tidy it up.”
With that, she hurriedly grabbed Isabel and dashed into their room, hastily shutting the door behind her.
Her sneaky demeanor made Fisher raise an eyebrow. He felt that Jasmine seemed to be hiding something from him. However, he didn’t press too hard or pursue her directly. Instead, he planned to give Jasmine some space and look for a better opportunity to discuss matters with her later.
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(End of Chapter)
