Chapter 276: 52. The Queen of Separation (Two-in-One)
In the following two days, while the Iceberg Queen was refueling, Captain Alagina spent some quiet time with Fisher without thinking about anything else. She even ignored the local gang’s representatives who came to talk to her, and the other crew members who understood the situation wisely did not disturb the captain’s good times.
Due to Erwind leaking Fisher’s whereabouts to Nali, Fisher now dared not wander around the island, especially when Alagina was near him.
Elizabeth’s henchmen would definitely come after him, and it was best to get the Iceberg Queen and Alagina out of her pursuit, especially since Isabel was still on her ship.
Fisher planned to wait until Alagina left to be a bit more conspicuous, leaving clues about his trip to the Northern Region for Elizabeth, allowing her to meddle in the messy affairs of the North, thus keeping Alagina safer.
Speaking of the situation in the hotel, the other crew members wisely did not stay in the hotel to delay their captain’s good time, leaving only Alagina and Fisher. Even Aoxi had returned to the ship to oversee the resupply, which seemed to have been agreed upon by Alagina, allowing her to participate more in ship matters while giving her opportunities to interact more with the crew.
Although it might sound boring for Fisher and Alagina to remain in the hotel, their lives were quite fulfilling, at least for Fisher.
He had waited too long before, so now with any opportunity, he appeared tireless.
For Alagina, at first, she was quite pleased to feel Fisher’s closeness as a lady of Sardinia, no one hoped more to be loved by their husband, especially by a foreign man of Fisher’s outstanding appearance and ethereal temperament. However, it didn’t take long for her to begin to realize that something was off.
Sometimes she truly questioned whether Fisher was a normal human. As a gentleman from Nali, he was far more intimidating than herself, a woman from the Kingdom of Sardinia.
It was the same during the day or night; Fisher’s burning gaze was always fixed on her, making her unable to look him in the eye, afraid he would misinterpret some glance or action as a strange uncertain signal.
Even so cautiously, the time they spent in contact was quite long. Alagina always felt as though the time spent next to Fisher seemed frozen in frost, the days passing by in a haze.
Yet clearly, as a Sardinian woman, Alagina still adhered to the stubborn principle of “a woman cannot declare she cannot,” so even though she had already begun to feel overwhelmed, she remained silent.
On the third morning, in the hazy hotel room, the sky outside Pat Sulshen Island was just brightening, with endless vitality pouring into this newly awakened world through the window, illuminating the two people leaning against each other on the bed.
Fisher had long been awake, but he did not wake Alagina beside him. After a rare release over these days, Fisher felt better than ever, even the act of walking felt breezy and his body lighter than a feather, which could not be said to be unrelated to the reproductive abilities granted to him by the Supplement Handbook for Sub-Humans.
Speaking of which, during these days with Alagina, Fisher had purposely paid attention to contraception. He truly could not guarantee whether the enhancement provided to him by the Handbook was about reproductive tiers or abilities; it would be troublesome if it only raised the upper limit of the reproductive race without affecting the lower limit.
Savoring the fresh scent of sea salt nearby, Fisher temporarily diverted his gaze from his thoughts, looking at Alagina, who was sleeping peacefully beside him; her long, thick eyelashes were unlike those of women from other countries.
As expressionless as she usually was, even in her sleep, she did not have any extra expressions, only that arm still subconsciously wrapped around him, proving the connection between them at this moment.
Her features were like ice and snow, and now she appeared a bit weary from last night. Fisher gently held her in his embrace, allowing her to feel more comfortable, but unexpectedly, such a gentle action awoke her.
Her white eyelashes fluttered a few times like butterfly wings, and when she opened her eyes, her twin blue eyes were already staring at Fisher in a dazed manner. Once she realized she was in his arms, she scrambled up from his embrace and wrapped her arms around him instead, then said,
“Fisher, good morning.”
Fisher looked at her strange actions, as if she were proving her identity as a “Sardinian woman,” and couldn’t help but smile. He did not refuse her behavior, only replying, “Good morning.”
After this simple exchange, the room fell silent once more. In truth, the two both understood what the next topic would be; ever since Fisher told Alagina he would leave, she had anticipated this time would come.
Two days may not feel long or short, and Alagina thoroughly enjoyed these days, yet she also knew that now was not the time.
She just felt a little reluctant, which is why she did not actively voice it.
Silence filled the distance between them, and after several seconds, Fisher was the first to speak.
It was only at this moment that he appreciated Renee’s wisdom; farewells and separations were never easy words to say, especially for one with feelings, which might be why Renee always preferred to leave without saying goodbye?
“The weather is nice today, let’s get up for breakfast.”
Fisher smiled, skillfully shifting the mood in the room from the stillness to a lively atmosphere. As he sat up from the bed, the blanket that had covered him slowly slid down his back, revealing his robust muscles.
Alagina remained on the bed until Fisher had donned his clothes and turned to her, asking,
“What’s wrong? Do you want to stay in bed a little longer?”
Alagina’s face was hidden in her long white hair draped over the sheets. Hearing Fisher’s words, she shook her head and said,
“Not just that, I want to see you more, so that when I think of you later, I have a reference, um~”
Those straightforward, unembellished words effortlessly stirred the flames inside Fisher, which had just begun to rest. He uncontrollably leaned down and captured Alagina’s lips, yet only brushed against them.
Just as Fisher was about to make another move, he suddenly stopped. He seemed to think back on how much he had already taken, so he only gently bit her lower lip, but did not go any further.
“You are truly too cute, Alagina. Hurry and get up; I’ll wait for you downstairs for breakfast.”
Fisher didn’t dare to look too long at Alagina’s reaction, quickly releasing her cool, soft lips. He turned to grab the suit jacket Alagina had given him the day before and walked out of the hotel room, leaving behind a bewildered Alagina who blinked her eyes, confused by Fisher’s words.
Fisher learned Northern Region language on the ship, and even Alagina did not expect him to grasp conversational Northern Region language in just a month. He had quite the talent for languages, but even so, he occasionally made small mistakes.
She couldn’t tell if he had used the wrong words or genuinely meant to praise her in that way. Such words might not suit other women from different countries, but somehow, whenever she heard Fisher say them, she never felt uncomfortable.
Slowly, she sat up from the bed, her white hair falling on her shoulders, resembling smooth satin reflecting the sunlight just right, while her blue eyes reflected the port of Pat Sulshen Island, where a ship named “Iceberg Queen” was drawing near.
“Mr. Fisher, over here.”
When Fisher had just gone downstairs, he saw Paz and Old Jack in the dining room. They were enjoying the free breakfast provided by the tavern, with Old Jack’s shoulder supporting a book full of grievances that only eyes and mouths could express, published by Emhart.
For these past two days, Fisher had been so busy enjoying his time with Alagina that he completely ignored Old Jack. He seemed to be sulking, now seeing Fisher come down without a word, even too lazy to scold him.
Fisher felt ashamed; due to the late-night activities with Alagina, he was unable to get up in the mornings. While he was okay, Alagina only woke up around noon, which is why he was cautious just now.
He was genuinely worried that if things continued, they wouldn’t be able to leave today.
“Fisher, someone delivered a letter this morning for Captain Alagina.”
Old Jack pushed a letter from the table in front of Fisher. He glanced at it, seeing two lines of handwritten characters in the Northern Region language he couldn’t understand at all. Fortunately, Paz opened her mouth to interpret for him.
“It was delivered by that Helena’s subordinate. She and those Phoenix Knights left Pat Sulshen Island yesterday. It contains some words for Alagina. It’s quite something that she writes so much after not saying a word when fighting with Alagina. Truly annoying.”
It was clear Helena had complex feelings toward Alagina, but it certainly wasn’t too bad, at least due to her father.
Fisher did not read it, only silently remembered the Northern script on the envelope. After that, he had to enter the Kingdom of Sardinia alone, and knowing the language and writing was essential. Besides, he had to formally begin practicing the demon combat technique that Eil had given him.
In fact, Eil’s battlefield instructions encompassed three stages. The first taught how to integrate his superior physicality with changing life rhythms, but there was not much teaching on combat techniques; the second began to cover combat theory and combat skills.
Now that Fisher’s physique had reached the eighth rank, there was likely still room for improvement once he found other subhuman races from the snow mountains, so starting now was perfect. This was also to prepare for dealing with Erwind. Moreover, he needed to learn more magic before reaching the Northern Region.
“Captain, come eat!”
While Fisher was deep in thought, Paz called out to the entrance of the dining room. Fisher turned around to see Alagina had changed from her earlier pure white dress and instead wore the black captain’s uniform typical for the Iceberg Queen.
She nodded and sat down beside Fisher, who handed her Helena’s letter.
“This is a letter from Helena.”
Alagina glanced expressionlessly at the letter handed to her and, without any hesitation, was about to tear it up. However, after squeezing the paper tightly, she suddenly relaxed, opened the envelope, and began reading its contents.
Fisher started enjoying his breakfast and casually beckoned to the Emhart on Old Jack’s shoulder. He reluctantly floated onto Fisher’s shoulder, remaining silent, merely staring at the man who had abandoned him with dead fish eyes.
Not long after, Alagina finished reading the letter from Helena. This time, without a moment’s hesitation, she directly tore the letter into shreds, causing Paz, sitting across from her, to smile.
“That guy can’t write anything good.”
“Mm.”
“By the way, Mr. Fisher, we will be leaving Pat Sulshen Island today. Should I ask Aoxi to call Miss Isabel down or…?”
When Paz mentioned “Isabel,” she spoke a bit quieter; after all, that was the name of the Nali princess, as well as a hefty bounty issued by the Golden Palace, equating to a gold mine for outsiders.
Fisher shook his head and took a sip of coffee.
“I’ll go to the port to see you off when you leave. It’s also a chance to see her and Kalma.”
“Haha, without you, those three rascals are probably going to cause chaos. I’m beginning to doubt if taking them out of Nali was a good idea.”
Paz noticed Old Jack’s sour expression, clearly annoyed by those three mouse daughters who had finally come out from the basement. She stroked her chin and laughed, patting Old Jack’s robust shoulder.
“Well, there’s still me, Mr. Jack. I’m known for being strict in the army; teaching a few kids is nothing.”
“Let’s hope so.”
During breakfast, only Paz and Old Jack remained in the hotel waiting for Alagina and Fisher; the other crew members had gone to the port to prepare for their departure. They needed to communicate with the local gangs, which was a protocol Fisher was not clear about.
Anyway, by the time Fisher arrived, they would have nearly finished everything. The cargo hold of the Iceberg Queen slowly closed as it approached the side, and after a command from Paz, several thick iron chains were thrown down. Those below could then ascend directly to the deck, just as Fisher had seen when he first encountered Alagina.
Northern Region warships were always immense; upon standing at the side of the ship, one would be awe-struck by the steel behemoth resembling a mountain. The giant cannons of Schwali were polished to a shine, and the massive ice-breaking spear in front radiated a fierce chill, all showcasing the power of this legendary pirate ship.
The local gangs on Pat Sulshen Island and other newly arrived guests all kept their distance, fearing to approach. However, Fisher felt a sense of familiarity with the ship before him, losing some of its chilling aura.
The reason was simple: it was solely due to the Iceberg Queen beside him.
Paz and Old Jack had already grabbed the iron chains leading up to the ship. Fisher watched as the two of them swiftly ascended back to the deck, while Alagina remained beside him, quietly standing there.
Fisher turned to Alagina, who was slightly taller than him, only to find she wasn’t looking at the ship but was gazing at him.
The sea breeze carried by the sunlight gently lifted her ponytail, revealing the pink earlobes Fisher had tasted before.
“What’s wrong?”
“Fisher, I’m thinking about what my goals might be if I were to establish one.”
Alagina extended her hand, letting go of the fragments of the letter she had crumpled earlier, as the paper fell like scattered stars into the sea.
“I know that both you and I are continuously working tirelessly for goals that feel almost intangible. It was only after spending these days with you that I suddenly understood why Helena said I was without goals. Perhaps I have been waiting for that day when my steps could finally pause.”
“When everything is over, when future stories become plain and commonplace, that may be the moment I truly long for. I could return to the Kingdom of Women, find a modest village or city, and interact with familiar and perhaps new faces. Most importantly, I want to build a family with someone I love, to take care of them, make them happy, while they nurture and teach our children.”
Alagina’s expression was tranquil, but the image of Fisher was reflected in her blue eyes.
“I don’t know if you would like such a life, but I truly look forward to living like this with you. I mean, Fisher, if that day comes when our stories have ended, would you be willing to live like this with me?”
She didn’t hold Fisher’s hand, yet the ice prince tattoo on her back began to warm, transforming in her palm into a shimmering ring of water.
“If that day comes, would you be willing to come back and marry me?”
Fisher looked at the frost ring emanating cold air in Alagina’s hand, and for a moment, he was touched. He couldn’t help but chuckle at Alagina standing before him, saying,
“It sounds a bit like a traditional story from the Nali theater, where a general parts from his wife with a promise to return and marry her—only to die tragically on the battlefield.”
That said, he gently reached out, accepting the cold ring from Alagina’s hand. When Alagina saw that Fisher had slipped the ring onto his finger, her blue eyes rippled visibly, and even her lips uncontrollably curled up.
“I don’t wish for our story to conclude with a tragedy as an ending, so we must each take care of ourselves, okay?”
Alagina did not respond but suddenly stepped forward, pinching Fisher’s chin. In his surprised gaze, she embraced him and kissed the corner of his mouth.
Fisher felt her excitement and could only wrap his arms around her waist and back, gradually deepening the kiss.
It was as if she wished to imprint her scent on Fisher’s lips, and only after a long, long time did Alagina finally release him.
“I will, Fisher.”
When Alagina stepped back, responding to him, he felt something and looked up at the deck of the Iceberg Queen, where three little heads peered out—it was none other than those three adorable mouse daughters!
“We will miss you!”
Fisher waved at them, and a colorful parrot flew overhead, flapping its wings slightly as it adjusted its position before slowly descending, landing on a shoulder covered by a black cloak—it was Aoxi at the other edge of the deck watching him. She waved her wings at him and then removed the cloak covering her face, as if wanting to say something, but Fisher couldn’t hear clearly due to the distance.
Beside her was a golden-haired girl with significantly shorter hair, bearing a striking resemblance to her sister, her light golden eyes filled not with emptiness but only with the vast ocean and bright sunlight. She pursed her lips and waved goodbye to Fisher.
“By the way, Alagina, here’s something for you and Isabel.”
Fisher took out two folded paper airplane messengers from his pocket and handed them to Alagina, which was the same as the one he had given Old Jack. Alagina knew its specific usefulness without needing Fisher to explain again. Furthermore, the paper airplane intended for Alagina had an additional line of Nali text written on it,
“My Queen.”
Alagina gazed at the words on the paper airplane for a long while, then carefully tucked her copy into her embrace.
“Then we are ready to set off now. You too… take care, Fisher.”
“Mm-hmm.”
She nodded, putting on the black captain’s hat she hadn’t worn in a long time. Then, stepping forward, she grabbed the iron chain that hung from the Iceberg Queen. She continued to gaze at Fisher, yet the weight from the chains was already pulling her up, flying towards the deck of the Iceberg Queen.
“Woah!!”
The huge horn suddenly blasted in the port, ringing out as the horn of farewell, marking an invisible boundary between Fisher and the Iceberg Queen.
Fisher stepped back, watching as the massive ship sailed out toward the port, with Alagina still not returning to the captain’s cabin but gazing down at Fisher, who was becoming smaller and smaller, just as he had done.
Until the once-massive Northern Region warship was no longer visible, Fisher slowly withdrew his gaze. He looked down at his palm, only to see the ice ring Alagina had just gifted him had completely melted, turning into a cool stream of water.
Emhart on his shoulder lowered its head to look at the droplets in Fisher’s hand, and then for the first time, it broke the silence between them, saying,
“What do we do next? Go to the Frost Parasol Tree in the Northern Region; do you have a plan?”
Fisher thought for a moment and replied,
“That girl from the Turan family named Valentina, she shares a common goal with us. It’s reasonable to collaborate with her. Although I didn’t leave a message for her earlier, there’s no clearer indicator than a beauty from the Turan family looking for the Six Races seal.”
Upon hearing Fisher’s words, Emhart’s previously attentive gaze suddenly transformed into the same dead fish eyes as Fisher’s, then tilted its head slightly, muttering some incoherent curse under its breath,
“Scumbag!”
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(The End of This Chapter)
