Chapter 158: Female Pirate

Chapter 158: Female Pirate

Klein was somewhat curious about the result of the exploration, but he asked no further questions. He passed the captain’s cabin and walked toward the stairs leading down.

After a few steps, his throat itched. He could not help pressing a fist to his mouth and coughing twice.

Klein was not surprised by this. It was bound to happen. The previous night, he had carried the Biological Poison Bottle for definitely more than two hours. Only late at night, after confirming that Admiral of Stars and her people had no intention of attacking him, had he transferred that mystical item into his black suitcase. As a result, he had tragically fallen ill.

Of course, he had not carried the Biological Poison Bottle for too long, and his body had not been in a weakened state, so his illness was quite mild—merely a simple swelling and soreness in his throat.

Cattleya, walking behind him at a steady pace, saw this scene but did not find anything wrong. On the contrary, she felt this was what was normal.

Beyonders with enough knowledge all knew the rule that mystical items inevitably possessed negative effects. They had even learned from the seven great Churches, collectively referring to those with severe negative effects and difficulty in long-term, frequent use as Sealed Artifacts.

The reason Cattleya had sold or exchanged many low- and mid-level mystical items was partly because she wanted stronger objects that could improve her own chances of survival, and partly because having too many kinds of negative effects was also a burden. Often, one could avoid one while failing to avoid another, and some negative effects might even stack upon one another, producing a result greater than the sum of their parts. For Beyonders, the harm could outweigh the benefits.

When she discovered that Gehrman Sparrow had armed himself to the teeth with mystical items, Beyonder weapons, and spiritual charms, aside from feeling surprised and emotional, she had already begun guessing what sorts of negative effects he would suffer. Judging from today, it appeared, for the moment, to be only a simple illness.

Stepping steadily onto the deck, Klein immediately saw Frank Lee. He was still wearing a white shirt with suspenders, his sleeves rolled high. His arms were stained with mud, and he seemed entirely unafraid of the cold wind blowing beneath the clear sky.

“Good morning, Gehrman.” Frank waved warmly. “Come look at my latest achievement. This is absolutely going to be the most popular thing at sea!”

As he spoke, he lifted his other hand. In his palm was a broad, fat sea fish of indeterminate species.

No. I don’t want to know what sort of “monster” you’ve created this time… Klein stopped and looked on with an icy expression.

Frank Lee failed to notice anything wrong with his attitude. He drew a dagger from his waist, thrust it into the sea fish with a swish, then sliced open a wound.

Blood gushed out, accurately falling into a large beer mug on the deck. Yet not the slightest fishy smell spread out.

“Can you smell it? What an intoxicating aroma of wine!” Frank Lee half-closed his eyes and spoke with fervent zeal. “This is a fish whose blood is red wine. And the wine carries many nutrients because of that!”

…Klein found himself unable to speak.

Frank looked excitedly at the surrounding sailors, then turned to Gehrman Sparrow.

“Do you know what troubles us most at sea? It’s when the alcohol runs out before we reach shore! As long as this kind of fish can reproduce quickly and become one of the sea’s main products, then no matter where we go, we’ll never lack alcohol. Yes, they’ll have different varieties. Some will produce Lie Lanzi, some Nipos, some red wine, and some beer. Beer must use sharks or whales; otherwise there won’t be enough to drink!”

Isn’t the biggest problem a lack of water? Of course, most of the time, you all use beer instead of water because it spoils less easily… Poor fish… As Klein considered how he…