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 should respond to Frank, Admiral of Stars Cattleya also arrived on deck. Passing by him, she asked her first mate, “Is Nina ready?”

“She’s ready. She’s already drunk a bottle of Nipos!” Frank pointed toward a shadow cast by the sail.

So the so-called preparation is drinking a bottle of Feysac’s specialty Nipos—the kind strong enough to strike matches on? Klein suddenly felt that the lady named Nina mentioned by the first mate probably had Feysac blood.

“Captain, I’d have preferred a bottle of Sonia blood wine!” From within the shadow, a female figure slowly stood and walked out.

She was over 1.8 meters tall, with golden hair casually tied into a high ponytail. Her features were not particularly outstanding, but they carried obvious Feysac characteristics: fair skin and pale eyes.

The lady called Nina wore black, close-fitting clothing that seemed made from fish skin. The upper and lower portions appeared connected as one, fully outlining her fiery figure.

That style was already quite alluring, and Nina’s chest exceeded the limits of fairness by a considerable margin. The meaning in the gazes the surrounding pirates cast toward her could be imagined.

Klein originally felt somewhat embarrassed and wanted to look away. But then he remembered that Gehrman Sparrow absolutely would not be so inexperienced. Thus, he could only let his gaze become slightly unfocused and stare levelly at Nina’s face.

“Gehrman, this is our boatswain, Nina! She’s also the navigator’s assistant. Haha, her Sequence is called Navigator!” Frank Lee remained entirely unreserved in his introductions.

This Toxin Expert really is simple and straightforward outside of researching hybrid species… Now I remember. This Nina has a bounty of 3,600 pounds. Her nickname is Underwater Killer. Sigh, I’ve looked at too many wanted posters. Some of them don’t come back to me immediately anymore… Klein looked into Nina’s eyes and gave a calm nod.

“Good morning, madam.”

Nina smiled as she examined Klein from head to toe.

“Good morning, Mr. Sparrow.

“I’m curious. Is Vice Admiral Ailment as charming as the rumors say?”

As a female pirate who had long moved among the lower and middle levels, she had always been straightforward and frank regarding matters between men and women. Originally, she had wanted to directly ask whether Gehrman Sparrow found her not charming enough, or whether he was the cold and indifferent type, since he had completely ignored her and shown no reaction at all. However, considering that the person before her was a powerful fellow, an adventurer who had almost successfully hunted Vice Admiral Ailment, a madman who might draw a gun and fire at any time, she rationally swallowed back those teasing words and indirectly asked about Vice Admiral Ailment instead.

…How am I supposed to answer that? Klein fell silent for a moment, then said, “Her bounty is very charming.”

Nina froze for a second, unsure how to continue the topic. She could only turn to Admiral of Stars.

“Captain, do we begin now?”

Cattleya, whose own bounty inexplicably flashed through her mind, nodded to Nina.

“Begin.”

The instant she finished speaking, Nina strode to the edge of the ship. Bracing herself with her right hand, she directly leaped into the sea, swimming downward like a large black fish.

At the same time, several splashes sounded in succession as a few sailors jumped in after her to provide support.

This… She says begin and immediately begins, without the slightest buffer… This lady has the temperament of the Church of Storms. As expected of a Beyonder of the Sailor pathway… Klein looked over the side of the ship and could not help coughing twice more.

“You’re ill?” Frank Lee asked directly.

Klein gave a detached nod.

“A little.”

Frank thought for a moment, then without even saying a word, thumped back into the cabin and ran somewhere unknown.

Beside him, Admiral of Stars Cattleya pushed up her thick glasses and smiled faintly.

“Frank is a Toxin Expert, and also an outstanding doctor.”

As expected, he belongs to the Planter pathway… Klein asked nothing further. He stood there and waited for Nina to complete the preliminary exploration.

Seeing the scene suddenly fall silent—so silent it was slightly awkward—Cattleya took a few steps forward and spoke as if casually.

“In one more day, we’ll leave the whaling route.”

“It should take at least a week to reach that sea.” Klein thought for a moment, then raised the question.

“That would be if we followed the whaling route. In reality, this route leads farther north and involves a detour. I know a secret route that can take us to the sea you want within two to three days.” Cattleya’s gaze passed through the thick glass lenses and fell on Klein’s eyes, as though she wanted to see how much he knew about that extremely dangerous sea.

After considering for a moment, Klein replied in only two simple sentences.

“Excellent. That is exactly what I need.

“Also, that sea is closer to illusion than reality.”

Cattleya thoughtfully withdrew her gaze and looked toward the cabin entrance.

Frank Lee came thumping back out, holding a greenish apple in his hand.

“This is another one of my achievements: hybridizing medicine with fruit, turning taking medicine into enjoyment!” he said, beaming as he handed the apple to Klein.

…I’m afraid eating it will make my illness worse… Klein glanced at Admiral of Stars. Seeing her give a slight nod, he accepted the apple with external calm and inner reluctance, bracing himself as he took a bite.

It had the normal flavor of an apple, except with more juice and a softer flesh.

After eating several bites, Klein discovered that his throat no longer hurt, and he did not know when his coughing had stopped.

I have to admit, this really is miraculous… As long as his work doesn’t involve animals or humans, Frank Lee should be a highly valued genius within the Church of the Earth Mother. Unfortunately, in the end, he became something like a demon… Klein looked at the Toxin Expert and said frankly, “Cured.”

“Good.” Frank did not praise himself. Instead, he casually began introducing the pirates on deck to Klein.

Quite a while later, Nina and the supporting sailors surfaced and returned to the ship.

In her hands were a rusted metal strip so corroded that its original form could no longer be discerned, and a hard piece of black soil covered in honeycomb-like holes. She complained to Admiral of Stars Cattleya, “Captain, there isn’t any giant deep-sea well at all!

“That well isn’t even as wide as my chest!

“Of course, it is very deep, dark and hollow, with no telling what’s hidden inside.”

She gestured in front of herself as she spoke.

“Exaggeration is a common trait among pirates and adventurers.” Cattleya nodded, not using the word “bragging.”

The opening is that small? Klein looked in puzzlement at the items in Nina’s hands, politely avoiding her body, which was dripping with water.

Cattleya’s gaze moved in sync with his, and she said, “Tell us the specifics.”