Chapter 395: 12. Dilemma Resolution (6.5k)
“Fisher, you didn’t go shopping, so you just wanted to find her?”
Hearing Renee’s “sincere” question, Fisher quickly compared the current situation with the various events since Renee and he landed on the island, then glanced at the messenger from Captain Alagina in Renee’s hand, and soon he had a general understanding of the situation here.
The difficulty was, of course, with Renee and Alagina, but the main conflict lay with Renee. They had to be separated first for any possibility of resolution, but he first needed to defuse Renee’s murderous intent. Alagina held no initiative in this situation and was essentially being one-sidedly slaughtered, so her priority was lower.
Fisher quickly made a decision. Without changing his expression, he walked over to Alagina’s side and stopped not far in front of her. He nodded to Renee and said, “Hmm, don’t be afraid; let me introduce you. This lady is not an ordinary pirate; she is Captain Alagina, a very kind woman from Sardinia, who has helped me a lot before. Alagina, this is Renee, my friend.”
Alagina blankly nodded, unsure if she should mention that they had already communicated earlier. However, being usually inarticulate, she was evidently flustered by Renee’s earlier attack and almost lost her composure. Now, in front of Fisher, she didn’t want to seem that way.
Looking at Fisher standing beside her, Alagina felt a mix of emotions. On one hand, there was the comfort and joy of a long-awaited reunion, and on the other, a sense of unease. She didn’t want Fisher to know about her unsavory thoughts when she accepted him in the Southern Ocean.
Renee’s gaze, however, was fixed on Fisher’s position closer to Alagina, and she momentarily paused her attack.
Alagina might be foolish, but Renee was not. Although Fisher’s words “don’t be afraid” were ostensibly directed at Renee, they were, in fact, meant for Alagina. Moreover, judging from his position and introduction, he was clearly protecting Alagina from being bullied by Renee, indicating that he was siding with Alagina.
“Oh, sorry, sorry, I misunderstood. I thought this lady was a pirate villain on the island, but it turns out she’s your friend. When I first met her, she boarded our ship to stop and search us, which scared me. However, since she’s Fisher’s friend, there’s no need to meet her secretly behind my back, or is there something wrong with me going with you?”
Although Fisher was subtly protecting Alagina, his words were not very aggressive, and Renee tried to probe further, clinging to Fisher and refusing to let him go to meet Alagina, expressing her doubts.
“Well, indeed, there would be a bit of trouble.”
To Fisher’s utter surprise, he shot back without hesitation, seemingly telling Renee that her presence would spoil his dealings with Alagina, as if she were an unnecessary person.
Renee blinked her purple eyes, her expression showing no significant change, but her delicate fingers were wrinkling the cover of the book Emhart was holding, making him look pathetically at Fisher as if he was about to shout for help.
Clearly, Renee was also taken aback by Fisher’s words and felt somewhat lost.
Though she said nothing and barely moved, the atmosphere fell several degrees, making Alagina feel infinitely colder than touching the Ice Prince directly. Fisher stood still, fixated on Renee.
She mumbled in the silence, replying, “Ah, I see.”
Just as she was about to articulate a full sentence, Fisher shook his head and said to her, “Because I’m a bit worried that you might expose my current state of being chased by death. Just now, Old Jack was constantly asking about our situation in the Northern Region and our future plans. Each excuse I made couldn’t dodge his inquiries, and he was about to ask you. That’s why I had to pull you away quickly. Otherwise, I wouldn’t want to leave so early.”
“I also planned to secretly meet Captain Alagina afterwards. If I were alone, it would be easier to explain my whereabouts. I don’t know if I’ve been infected by you, but after being apart for so long and searching for you for so long, I’ve also become a bit not good at goodbyes. Sorry for making you misunderstand, Renee.”
“When I was leaving Nali with Old Jack, I had no one to rely on. I was almost locked up in the Golden Palace by Elizabeth for a lifetime. Thanks to Captain Alagina’s help, I was able to escape the encirclement of the Nali Royal Navy. She treated me very well on the ship and even arranged accommodations for Old Jack and them, so I’m grateful to her regardless. She already helped me a lot before, and I didn’t bring her anything in return this time. If I were to trouble her again, I’d feel a bit guilty.”
After this statement, the grip of Renee on Emhart loosened slightly, and the cold atmosphere in the vicinity gradually lifted back to its original temperature. She redirected her gaze back at Fisher, absentmindedly adjusting her long legs wrapped in black stockings that were propped up on the stone step.
Both ladies could certainly hear Fisher’s words, but each received different messages.
Renee clearly understood everything Fisher discussed with Old Jack earlier in the tavern, knowing Old Jack did not interrogate about his future whereabouts. Yet, that was only superficial logic, a surface understanding. What she truly cared about was Fisher’s latter statement, which was the essence of the words.
Firstly, Renee had been apart from Fisher for a long time. When he faced great damage and was forced to escape while being enemy to the world in Nali, it was Alagina who helped him. Even if Alagina might have her little thoughts and ulterior motives, Fisher could not forget her kindness in his time of need.
He was telling Renee that he must give Alagina an explanation; that was the real reason he had presented her with that messenger.
If Renee truly knew nothing about Fisher’s situation, then Fisher’s comments would have no effect on her and could not dispel her suspicions regarding Alagina and Fisher’s relationship. But if Renee was fully aware of Fisher’s journey, and understood the nature of Alagina and Fisher’s relationship, then why had she always been reluctant to show herself, hesitant to see Fisher, even when he was at his most helpless? Why now, of all times, was she questioning Alagina, who had reached out to help her?
But that did not mean Fisher was blaming or resenting Renee for leaving without a word for so long; he was not that petty.
He understood that Renee’s departure was for a reason. He had always been tolerant and extremely patient with her, even willing to cross miles to the Northern Region in search of her, wanting to learn the truth behind her departure, even with just a single hair as a clue. He had never forgotten about Renee and constantly thought of her, knowing her dislike for separations. He patiently refrained from questioning her concealment, only wishing that she would not leave again.
Alagina, on the other hand, was rather simple-minded, basically unable to comprehend the deeper meanings in Fisher’s words. All she heard was that “Fisher is being chased by death.”
“Fisher, what are you talking about? What does being… chased by death mean? What exactly happened in the Northern Region?”
But Fisher did not respond to Alagina’s question right away; he simply stared at Renee, whose wine-like enchanting eyes reflected his figure, until several seconds later, she smiled, stood up, and extended her hand towards him, saying, “I see, it appears I misunderstood. In that case, Fisher, give me the money. I will prepare the ensuing supplies and magic materials and also buy a gift for Emhart. You and Captain Alagina can reminisce. You must be quite content after such a long journey. Don’t you want to take a moment to catch up?”
Upon hearing her words, Emhart trembled in fear, causing Renee to laugh. She patted the cover of Emhart’s book and comforted him, “Don’t worry; this time I’m really going to buy you a gift~”
“…”
Emhart dared not refuse and merely rolled his eyes toward Renee.
Looking at Renee’s outstretched hand, Fisher did not immediately hand over the money. Instead, he said, “Renee, since you are now going to be honest with Alagina about our future whereabouts, it would be better for you to stay and explain.”
Renee knew Fisher’s intentions. It was only the ruthless and greedy who came and went quickly; a guy like him who was greedy but reluctant to hurt anyone’s feelings treaded carefully. At this moment, she did not intend to add to his difficulty.
So, she simply smiled, shook her head, and reached out, taking the money pouch from Fisher’s embrace, then returned Alagina’s messenger to his hand. After that, she turned and slowly walked in the other direction with Emhart, her voice faintly trailing back, “It’s alright; I also want to wander around the vicinity. You explain to them, and I’ll wait for you at the port. Don’t keep me waiting too long.”
“…Alright.”
Watching Renee’s figure walking farther away, Fisher let out a slight sigh. He had temporarily pushed back Renee’s onslaught but had not resolved the problem. However, now that Renee had retreated and they had separated, it was a crucial step towards resolving the conflict.
If the first phase, where they met, was focused on Renee, then after their separation, the focus would shift to Alagina, because Renee had learned about Alagina’s situation early on, while Alagina was still unaware of Renee for the time being.
He took a deep breath, turned to Alagina beside him but hadn’t spoken before Alagina seemed to impatiently reach out and pull Fisher into her embrace, gripping him as if trying to embed him within her body.
Fortunately, Fisher’s life rank was not low; he merely felt that Alagina’s body was cold and soft, and being held by her was quite comfortable.
“Fisher…”
A strong scent of sea salt wafted into Fisher’s nose, making him somewhat dazed as he gently patted her back, saying, “I was actually going to find you but did not expect you to meet Renee first.”
“What exactly happened in the Northern Region? What does being chased by death mean?”
Alagina temporarily released Fisher. Instead of answering his question, she immediately inquired about what happened in the Northern Region.
Fisher sat in the spot where Renee had been, gesturing for Alagina to sit beside him, then briefly recounted the events that occurred in the Northern Region. When he mentioned being struck by the death rune, Alagina paused and looked up in surprise.
“At one point, I was almost ready to give up, planning to come to Pirate’s Bay to see you one last time before ending things with Elizabeth, but unexpectedly found Renee. She said she could help me solve the problem, which is why I came here with her. But I couldn’t avoid seeing you because if I ultimately fail and die, it might be…”
Before Fisher could finish his last word, Alagina had already leaned in and pressed her lips against his, deepening the kiss. It wasn’t until several seconds later that she pulled away a little, gasping for air, and said, “Sorry, I missed you too much. Don’t say such things.”
“…Okay, I won’t say it anymore. By the way, did Renee say anything to you just now?”
Alagina pursed her lips and then sat up straight, removing the black captain’s hat from her head and placing it on her lap. Suddenly, she asked, “Fisher, were you really here to find me just now?”
“Otherwise, what is there for me to cherish here besides you, Old Jack, and Isabel?”
Well, actually, Fisher had also taken the opportunity to send a message to Nali to alleviate Elizabeth’s concerns, but it hadn’t taken much time, so he mainly came to find Alagina.
“That’s great! I thought… I thought you didn’t want to be with me anymore, so you had Renee come to make me retreat. I just sent you the messenger, and it ended up in her hands. I thought you were allowing it. Sorry, do you think that makes me seem unladylike?”
As Alagina spoke, she suddenly raised her head to look at Fisher, adding, which made him chuckle quietly, “Unladylike? Are you referring to the women from the Sardinia?”
“I don’t know; I haven’t dated any men from the Sardinia, but you are indeed somewhat different from the men I remember. I’ve also changed a bit, so is Renee pursuing you?”
“Pursuing? Not exactly… I don’t want to lie to you, Alagina. To be honest, my relationship with Renee is indeed a bit subtle, especially since you know I’ve known her for a long time.”
“I know I’m the latecomer, but that doesn’t matter. I just want to confirm your current relationship with her.”
Alagina turned her head to look at Fisher, scanning his body up and down. Through the suit that Renee bought him, she vaguely spotted a deep purple symbol and continued, “Actually, Fisher, when you left Nali with Old Jack, I… I was a bit happy. Because I knew I wasn’t worthy of you; I’m just a fugitive pirate. Everything I have seems trivial in your eyes. If you hadn’t left Nali, I might never have had the opportunity to be with you. So, while it’s despicable, I indeed had a fleeting moment of thought like that.”
“Elizabeth can grant you dazzling glory and societal status admired by thousands, while I am still a stray dog chased by my hometown; Renee can easily help you escape the pursuit of death, while I don’t even know what it is. By comparison, I’m truly not a good choice, but I really cherish this opportunity, and I don’t want to give it up.”
Fisher was slightly taken aback, watching Alagina, who appeared dejected. He gently flicked her forehead.
“From a utilitarian perspective, we do indeed have more optimal solutions. You always view me from the perspective of the Sardinia, and it seems the troll blood runs deeply in you. This has its advantages and disadvantages, but I am not that kind of person or heartless beast. I remember your kindness, but I have never quantified it. I only remember that in the depths of the Eastern Ocean, a woman named Alagina is waiting for me.”
Alagina touched her forehead, her earlobes tinged with pink. It seemed that the pain brought her an indescribably pleasant feeling. If she weren’t a bit shy, she would have wanted Fisher to do it again. But the key thing was that she did not feel any letting go from Fisher’s words, which was what she desired.
They fell into a momentary silence, stopping the discussion about Renee. Alagina knew this was not the time; Fisher still had matters to attend to, and she also did not feel exceptional enough. She simply enjoyed her time with Fisher, nothing more.
They began chatting about other topics, such as Isabel and what she was currently doing in search of the Storm Sea.
“Isabel is now working as a sailor on the ship. She is progressing rapidly, getting along well with the crew, handling matters delicately, and her training has made her much stronger. The last time we encountered a kraken at sea, she saved several crew members’ lives and even shot one of that sea beast’s teeth down with a gun. Now she has Paze carving that tooth into a dagger.”
Fisher found it difficult to imagine how the charming Isabel from Saint Nali University had transformed into the image Alagina was describing. According to Old Jack and Alagina’s accounts, in his mind, Isabel was nearing the image of a brave indigenous woman from the Southern Continent or a soldier from the Sardinia.
The kind of woman with dark skin and well-defined biceps.
“Kraken? I think Paze mentioned encountering a siren last time in the Southern Ocean. Old Jack said you are currently looking for the Storm Sea. Is there any progress?”
Alagina shook her head and said, “There are many spatial turbulence in the depths of the Eastern Ocean. None of our maps or compasses are usable; we can only rely on the sailors’ experience. The Black Chieftain has explored there many times but still hasn’t deciphered the rules of the turbulence. But we guess the end of the turbulence leads to the Storm Sea. By the way, is there anything I can help with? I can have the Iceberg Queen return now.”
Fisher declined Alagina’s offer, as he, after all, did not know what method Renee would use to help him escape from death, so he couldn’t say how Alagina could assist for the time being.
“Alright, I won’t go see Old Jack and them. Remember to keep my status confidential. I came this time in a hurry and didn’t bring anything for you.”
Fisher stood up, adjusted his clothes, and prepared to leave. Alagina, however, merely sat still with no intention of moving. After this simple exchange of dialogue, the previously “intense battle” atmosphere gradually softened, covered by the scent of the ocean, as charming as the presently tranquil Alagina.
Under her gaze, Fisher’s figure gradually faded away, and that silhouette in the sunset slowly ignited the long-buried ambition within her heart. Even though Fisher had no utilitarian thoughts, that woman, Renee, made her feel a previously unseen pressure as if she could easily take Fisher away.
This uncertainty was unappealing to Alagina. To rid herself of the terrifying shadow, she was determined to pursue power with all her might.
Sitting in the night wind, Alagina could no longer be sensed by Fisher. He returned the way he had come when he arrived with Renee that afternoon, going straight down until he reached the port.
The night wind blew away the heavy atmosphere in the pirate bay, but the port still harbored great terror that Fisher needed to deal with; that was the tail end of this difficulty.
The evening port was quiet; it was time for dinner, and not many people were around. Fisher slowly arrived at the corner where Renee had docked her small boat, finding her waiting there, dressed elegantly in a black Cardu gown.
The small boat held various foods and magic materials, while Emhart was sitting at the stern, his butt in the air, reading. It seemed to be the gift Renee had just bought him. Only when Fisher approached the small boat did he turn to look at Fisher.
“I’m back, Renee.”
“Hmm?”
Renee sat at the bow of the boat, seemingly enjoying the slowly descending sunset. When she saw Fisher come, she turned her beautiful face toward him and pointed at the boat’s position, saying, “All taken care of? Then let’s set off. Row the boat out of the port first. I’ll take us to our destination later.”
“Okay.”
Fisher did not speak initially, simply complying and stepping onto the boat. He took hold of the oars, slowly pushing the small boat out of the port, gliding far toward the direction of the setting sun.
“Splash splash~”
Emhart glanced at the book while occasionally looking at the two silent figures in the boat. Feeling a shift in the atmosphere, he shivered slightly and paused his reading as he watched the sunset gradually sink below the horizon.
The sea was very calm, with no excessively turbulent waves. Apart from the sound of Fisher rowing, there was no other noise until they had gone far enough, and the pirate bay could only see lights through the night. Only then did Fisher put down the oars, stopping in the middle of the sea.
He didn’t row anymore but instead glanced at the beautiful woman at the bow of the boat, who had remained quiet, admiring the scene of the sea like a painting.
Her long black hair cascaded down, and a subtle smile graced her lips, making it hard to distinguish her current emotions, only adding further beauty to her.
The silent atmosphere felt like a cocoon ready to unfold its wings, waiting for a gentle breeze to break it. The distant sunset completely sank, and under the boundless dark starry sky, a huge and bright moon rose, casting its cold light on the water surface until the ripples created by the small boat fully dispersed it.
“Renee.”
In the endless ocean, Fisher suddenly spoke.
At that moment, the night moon was bright.
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(The end of this chapter)
