Sail Shadows in the Sea of ​​Fog

Chapter 17 The Disappearing Ship
On the sea shrouded in dazzling sunlight, there was no one on the indoor and outdoor control panels of the Valkyrie, and the steering wheel was completely locked. The sails controlled by the vine goblins carried the ship aimlessly on the sea to provide a comfortable boating experience.

In the large kitchen on the bow forecastle, Cheng Lang lifted the wet cotton cloth covering the wooden basin like a gambler.

When he saw the densely packed green bean sprouts in the wooden basin, he jumped and danced like crazy, waving the wet cotton cloth in his hand.

This is the fourth day since they were thrown out of the Sea of ​​Despair by Swallow Island, and the Valkyrie is still lost.

Because of this, Cheng Lang simply locked the steering wheel and adhered to a regular schedule of letting the boat run freely during the day, stopping the boat immediately at night, blowing the horn to summon the sea fog to rest in peace, and no longer caring about where the boat would end up.

Instead, he focused all his attention on the crucial matter of growing bean sprouts.

In the past half month, he had really had enough of eating all kinds of seaweed and kelp, and he was eager to eat some vegetables to treat his stomach and intestines that had begun to become constipated.

After failing several times in a row, this time he finally managed to grow a pot of thriving bean sprouts.

"Eat it! Eat it all! No no no! Eat half! Eat the remaining half tomorrow!"

Cheng Lang made the decision while talking to himself like a madman. Fortunately, the supplies looted from the ship of the Prince of Boerland contained a sufficient amount of seasonings and spices.

Not long after, a plate of stir-fried bean sprouts with little effort and ingredients came out of the pot. Cheng Lang picked up the chopsticks he had cut himself and couldn't wait to pick up a big piece of it and stuffed it into his mouth.

With a comfortable sigh, he swallowed a plate of bean sprouts, which were not very delicious and even tasted a bit bitter.

Not long after, the remaining half of the bean sprouts was not spared and was also eaten as a dish.

"We'll need a cook in the future, and someone who can farm."

Cheng Lang slumped down on the kitchen bench and burped comfortably. At the same time, he couldn't help but start thinking about where on the ship it would be more realistic to open up a vegetable garden.

In the next few days, Cheng Lang completely lost interest in sailing, and almost all his enthusiasm was focused on the important task of growing bean sprouts.

Especially after he belatedly moved the cultivation site from the kitchen at the bow to the side of the boiler in the lower cabin, because of the warm temperature and dim environment, the bean sprouts not only had a germination rate close to 100%, but also finally no longer tasted bitter.

Just as he was eating the first plate of bean sprouts grown in the lower cabin and thinking about how to tackle the tofu challenge next, the magic mirror suddenly shouted in surprise, "Captain! My respected captain! There's a ship in the distance! I see it! There's a ship in the distance! An armed merchant ship flying the coat of arms of the Principality of Ricca!"

"Snapped!"

Cheng Lang immediately slammed the wooden cup filled with fruit wine on the table next to the boiler, stood up and ran onto the deck with the plate in his hand.

It was sunset at this time. In the east, a three-masted sailing ship was zigzagging in the wind. The golden sunset shone on the wind-soaked alum of the ship, making the coat of arms of the Principality of Rica and a slightly smaller flamingo logo on it particularly clear through the telescope.

"Is that the emblem of the Principality of Rica?" Cheng Lang asked an irrelevant question.

"The furnace oozing golden water and the goblet catching it—there's no mistaking it; that's the emblem of the Principality of Ricca!"

The magic mirror shouted excitedly, "Captain, my respected, honorable captain! We are pirates! Let's charge at them now and plunder them! Kill them all! Take away all their cargo! Don't leave them even a rat!"

"Are you going?" Cheng Lang, holding a telescope, asked without turning his head.

"I"

The magic mirror was stuck. "I am just a mirror. Of course I am honored to see you fight so bravely."

“I’m not going either.”

Cheng Lang put down the telescope and said, "That's an armed merchant ship. Do you think our Valkyrie, which has no cannons and only a crossbow, can withstand a few rounds of artillery attacks from the enemy?"

"Forehead"

The magic mirror froze, and said with a dejected look, "So what should we do? Continue our journey?"

“Follow them from a distance”

Cheng Lang said, "They will eventually dock, no matter if it's a small island or the mainland. As long as we see the port, we will naturally know where it is."

"Oh! You really..."

"Shut up, I'm getting goosebumps."

Cheng Lang said this as he stepped onto the bridge, unlocked the steering wheel, and shouted, "Full left rudder! Full sail!"

"Whoa whoa!"

As the order was given, the vine goblins on the ship cheered and manipulated the sails to turn, cooperating with Cheng Lang to complete the ship's turn, keeping a sufficient distance from the armed merchant ship in the distance, and following behind slowly.

"Have mercy on the Valkyrie! Have mercy on Poseidon! Have mercy on the God of Forges! Have mercy on the God of Brewing! Are we being targeted by pirates again?"

On the open deck of the armed merchant ship Flamingo, the middle-aged captain, Mr. Senfa, held a telescope and prayed tremblingly.

Although he had just celebrated his 45th birthday two months ago, this was his first time to go to sea as a captain.

There is no way around it, ever since the four armed merchant ships under the company's name were robbed by pirates one after another a month ago.

In order to keep his business alive, he had to take the risk of going out to sea even though he had a natural fear of the sea and pirates.

"That doesn't look like a pirate ship."

Next to Captain Senfa, an old man who looked at least sixty years old was also holding a telescope and said, "It doesn't fly a pirate flag, and it doesn't even seem to have any cannons."

Hearing this, Captain Senfa finally breathed a sigh of relief. "Mr. Lu Ting, how long will it take us to reach the Suzaku Islands?"

“It will take at least two days.”

"So we will be safe in two days?" Captain Senfa asked subconsciously.

"Two days later, we arrived at the Vermilion Bird Islands and sold all the cargo on the ship to earn enough gold coins to purchase supplies for the return journey and Vermilion Bird Islands specialties."

Mr. Lu Ting paused here and said, "The danger only really started when we left the Vermilion Bird Islands. From the time we set out from the Vermilion Bird Islands until we returned to the Furnace Port of the Principality of Lika, we could be robbed at any time during this period.

Especially as we get closer to the Xinghai Continent, the value of our cargo will increase, and both it and the gold coins we earn in the Zhuniao Islands will become coveted by pirates."

"gollum"

Captain Senfa swallowed hard, "So what about the ship?"

"Ignore him first"

Mr. Lu Ting said calmly, "After dark, we will try to increase our speed and see if we can shake him off."

"What if you can't?" Captain Senfa asked.

"If not, we can only talk to the other party." Mr. Lu Ting said helplessly.

He also came from Flamingo Trading Company, but he retired six years ago. If Flamingo Trading Company had not been at the critical moment of life and death, he would not have come out again this time.

Thinking of this, he asked Captain Senfa again, "What kind of ability did the ship's heart give you?"

"Use the cover of night to temporarily render the ship invisible, but you must drop anchor and furl the sails to stop the ship."

Senfa answered a little nervously. This should be a captain's biggest secret, but he really has no interest in serving as a captain and going out to sea. Naturally, he doesn't care how many people know about his abilities.

"How long will you be invisible?"

Mr. Lu Ting asked with a hint of envy. Although Senfa had no interest in becoming a captain, the abilities given to him by the ship's heart would make most captains grit their teeth in envy.

'Only 12 hours'

Senfa replied regretfully, "Only if we don't get hit by other ships. We're just invisible, not disappearing." "12 hours is more than enough!"

Mr. Lu Ting said helplessly, "Senfa, you are too greedy. Do you want your boat to be hidden all day?"

"I can only use this ability once a day."

Senfa couldn't help but explain, "So it would be best if we could hide for the whole day."

"The ship's heart really favors a weakling like you. Make good use of this ability. We will definitely be able to shake off that malicious ship behind us."

Lu Ting shook his head helplessly, looking at the setting sun in the distance, which was still half above the sea level. He directly gave the order over to Captain Senfa, "Full sail!"

"Yes!"

On the deck, the sailors, wearing greasy cotton and linen cardigans and shorts reeking of feces and urine, responded with a roar, pulling the sails to the sound of the rough ship's song, increasing the speed of the armed merchant ship fully loaded with cargo.

“They’re getting faster.”

On the open-air bridge at the stern of the Valkyrie, the Magic Mirror reminded, "But we should be able to catch up. I guess it's because their ship is carrying a lot of heavy cargo. Dear Captain, are we really not going to rob them?"

"I have no interest in being a pirate"

Cheng Lang was carrying a plate of half-eaten stir-fried bean sprouts and shoveling food into his mouth while saying, "Let's just follow from a distance."

"Goddess of Valkyrie, Goddess of Saint Barbara, you are truly the kindest captain I have ever met. This ocean has become clearer because of your kindness. I..."

"To shut up"

Cheng Lang had had enough of Magic Mirror's corny compliments these days, so he simply changed the subject and asked, "Magic Mirror, after finding the route, where should I find some reliable crew members?"

"Grass Carp's Murphy Tower Bastard or Pirate City, Frost Duchy or Gotland are also OK."

The Magic Mirror gave an overly broad answer without hesitation, "As long as we avoid Boerland, we can probably find the best crew anywhere. But, don't we have the Vine Mandrill?"

"We do have a vine goblin."

Cheng Lang tapped the steering wheel lightly with the end of his chopsticks and said, "But I'm in urgent need of a helmsman. Those vine goblins who operate the sails can work in three shifts, but I don't even have a replacement."

"So we need a helmsman?"

"It would be best if he is a helmsman who is very good at cooking and growing vegetables." Cheng Lang said, and put the last bite of fried bean sprouts on the plate into his mouth.

"Respected Captain, your request is too high."

The Magic Mirror replied with a hint of helplessness, “At least 100 years ago, Lika cuisine was the most popular and richest cuisine in the entire Xinghai Continent and the islands.

But when it comes to growing vegetables, I'm afraid only the drunken elves and the orcs in the southern border of the Frost Duchy dare to say they are good at it.

Compared to these, steering becomes the least important thing. But at least 100 years ago, few elves were willing to go to sea."

"Why is this?" Cheng Lang couldn't help but ask.

During these days of wandering, he had learned a lot about this world from the magic mirror. It was not clear whether this was good news or bad news, but this world not only had elves, but also orcs that were enough to give Fury a heart attack.

"The Elf Principality is a landlocked country."

The Magic Mirror spread his hands and explained, "Those drunkards are afraid of the sea. They claim to hate the smell of fish. I guess that's definitely an excuse, a poor excuse for their fear of the sea."

"Compared to these, we actually need artillery."

Cheng Lang handed the plate and chopsticks to a vine goblin he had called over. He pointed at the sail, which had become tattered and covered with black mold due to the setting sun, and was also shrouded in a cloud of black mist. He said, "And we have to find a way to cover up Poseidon's curse."

"I really can't help you with the curse issue."

The magic mirror replied weakly, Poseidon's curse, which can almost stop the sailors' night cries.

He didn't even dare to tell Cheng Lang that no sailor would be willing to board an ocean-going ship carrying Poseidon's curse.

Just when Cheng Lang was having a headache because of the sails that suddenly became tattered and eerie, the captain of the Flamingo merchant ship that they were following from a distance also cried out in surprise.

"What's wrong?" Mr. Lu Ting asked hurriedly.

"Youyouyouyou ghost ship! It's You. Ugh!"

Captain Senfa's mouth was covered tightly by Captain Lu Ting, "Shh! You idiot! Do you want the sailors to defect?!"

"Um!"

Captain Senfa shook his head repeatedly, and cold sweat broke out on both sides of his forehead.

But he had just clearly seen through the telescope the black ghost ship that had suddenly appeared out of nowhere, its tattered sails, and the pairs of blood-red eyes on the masts.

Ghost ships do exist. When all the crew members of a ship die in a civil conflict on the same ship, but the heart of the ship is not destroyed, there is a certain chance that the ship will become a ghost ship.

This is definitely a nightmare that no sailor wants to encounter - the ghost ship will plunder sailors, but will never fill the empty heart of the ship.

"Keep quiet and don't panic."

Mr. Lu Ting pulled out the telescope from his waist and pointed it in the direction of Senfa's finger.

Soon, he saw a black ship silhouette in the rising sea fog, and scarlet eyes hidden among the tattered sails!

Putting down the telescope and looking up at the wind flag on the mainmast, Mr. Lu Ting's heart became cold as if it had fallen into a trench. Their ship had already reached its fastest speed.

If they wanted to go even faster, the only option was to abandon the cargo in the hold, but this would undoubtedly bankrupt Flamingo Trading Company.

Gritting his teeth, Mr. Lu Ting put away his telescope and shouted, "Fold the sails! Drop the anchor! All sailors return to the cargo hold! Blackout!"

Although they didn't know what was happening, such an order undoubtedly made the sailors extremely nervous.

Even so, Mr. Lu Ting's prestige made the sailors subconsciously choose to trust and execute the order without compromise.

Soon, under the pull of the sailors, the sails were furled one by one, and the heavy anchor pulled the anchor cable and sank into the sea little by little.

A moment later, the sailors, who had extinguished all the ship's lights, lined up and entered the windowless cargo hold, which was piled with a large amount of cargo, while scratching the lice hidden in their hair.

As the last sea fish oil lamp went out, Mr. Lu Ting, who was still on the open-air bridge, said to Captain Senfa, who had begun to tremble beside him, "Senfa, use the power given to you by the heart of the ship.

May the Valkyrie, Poseidon, the God of Forge, and the God of Brewing bless us and help us escape this disaster."

Hearing this, Senfa nodded, and tremblingly pulled out a mirage horn from his collar and blew it.

A moment later, the area within a radius of several hundred meters was shrouded in mist, and the armed merchant ship with its sails furled became dim in the mist.

After exchanging a glance with Mr. Lu Ting beside him, Senfa took off the tricorn hat on his head, first covered his face with it and took a deep breath, then hung it on the locked steering wheel and slowly exhaled a breath of foul air.

Just by taking a deep breath, Senfa's eyes turned into cat's eyes.

This armed merchant ship fully loaded with cargo disappeared without a trace after a gust of sea fog passed by.

"I saw a ghost!"

In the indoor bridge, Cheng Lang exclaimed, "Where's that boat?! Where's the boat we've been following?"

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(End of this chapter)