Sail Shadows in the Sea of ​​Fog

Chapter 41 Wandering Circus

"Wandering circus? Is it very famous?" Cheng Lang asked while playing with the letter.

"It is an organization that has appeared in Pirate City in recent years."

Yun Ji introduced, "They seem to have been engaged in the mermaid egg business, and I heard..."

"what?"

Seeing that the other party stopped talking here, Cheng Lang couldn't help but look up at him.

"I heard that the director of the wandering circus is a mixed-race woman."

Yun Ji said, "It's a child born to a male mermaid by a female elf."

"Wait, mermaid? There are male mermaids?" Cheng Lang asked a stupid question.

"Why can't mermaids have men?" Yun Ji asked subconsciously.

"Well, I haven't seen a mermaid." Cheng Lang spread his hands and answered truthfully.

"Mermaids are almost the most similar to humans among all the sirens."

Yun Ji explained carefully, "Their position in the Sirens is similar to that of the elves in the human world."

"Are they all aliens?"

"That's right"

Yun Ji nodded and let her long black hair loose. "They are all relatively popular outliers. Of course, as far as I know, there are no mermaids with black hair who would be ostracized by their own kind."

"Let's continue talking about the leader of the wandering circus," Cheng Lang brought the topic back.

“There are many rumors about her in Pirate City. The more complete rumor says that she was born to an elven noble.

But for some reason, she became a commodity to be auctioned like those female mermaid eggs."

Yun Ji explained, "While they were being taken to the auction, the half-blood killed all the sailors on the ship and seized it.

She also hatched all the mermaid eggs on the ship and started a wandering circus with them."

"Then what?" Cheng Lang asked.

"The Wandering Circus has been rescuing half-blood children who were sent to auction. They also raise many half-blood sailors."

Yun Ji said, "I guess those mermaid eggs you have hatched are their cargo."

"You mean to say that she's in the mermaid egg business, and she's expanding her staff?"

“Maybe that letter holds the answer.”

Yun Ji said, "The Wandering Circus's biggest enemy isn't humans, but the Sirens. I guess the slaughter ship we encountered was probably the Sirens' revenge against the Wandering Circus."

"It's really complicated," Cheng Lang said as he tore open the envelope in his hand.

Contrary to his expectation, although there was letter paper in the envelope, there was no text on the letter paper. Instead, it was wrapped with a palm-sized golden scale, on which the outline of the unicycle clown was also engraved.

"What is this?" Cheng Lang asked.

"I don't know," Yun Ji shook her head, "maybe it's a token of love."

Putting the rather nice-looking scale aside, Cheng Lang asked, "So you and your brother are planning to stay on my ship for a long time?"

"If you don't mind two more crew members," said Yun Ji.

"Welcome to the Valkyrie," Cheng Lang smiled and extended his hand to the other party.

“It is an honor for Shenba and me.”

Yun Ji stood up as she spoke, and extended her hand to shake Cheng Lang's. "I hope to join this ship as an apprentice bard."

"no problem"

Cheng Lang let go of the other person's hand and readily agreed, "Where's Shenba?"

"helmsman?"

"No problem," Cheng Lang nodded again.

"Good night, Mr. Generous Captain."

Yun Ji smiled, turned and left the captain's bedroom, and helped close the door from the outside.

"Magic mirror, what is that scale?" Cheng Lang asked.

"Just mermaid scales."

The magic mirror explained, "They can communicate with each other through scales. If you want to know what the scales say, I'm afraid you'll have to find a mermaid."

"Do you know anything about that wandering circus?" Cheng Lang asked while playing with the golden scale.

"I don't know. There are no relevant records about the Suzaku Islands." The magic mirror's tone was full of apology.

"It's okay." Cheng Lang threw the scales in his hand into the drawer and said, "Keep an eye on the situation outside."

"Please rest assured"

The magic mirror replied respectfully, "I will also help you keep an eye on the other ship, respected Captain."

"Can you still keep an eye on the other boat?" Cheng Lang became interested.

"They've signed a ship-heart contract with the Valkyrie. Of course I can see it, but of course, if they're too far away, there's nothing I can do."

The magic mirror said flatteringly, "Anyway, everything is normal in the lower cabin of that ship now."

"Thank you for your hard work," Cheng Lang said as he lay down on the bed and closed his eyes again.

For this world, the sudden appearance of the Valkyrie and its captain has an impact that goes beyond the pirate brothers who have returned to serve as captains.

That very night, the news of the complete disappearance of the Demon Hunting Fleet was finally delivered to a port on Xiangsha Island that was permanently leased to the Royal Fleet of Boerland.

"Oh!"

A well-dressed young man, who looked no more than twenty-four or twenty-five, kicked over the table. "What did you say? The Vine Goblins left Savage Island and the Sea of ​​Despair, but not only did your fleet fail to stop them, but they were completely annihilated?!"

"Yes, that's right, Your Highness Prince Marian."

The fleet admiral, over fifty years old, bowed respectfully and responded, "The latest news from the Suzaku Islands is that many ships have gone to salvage the sunken fleet ship, but the next day, the Harvest also disappeared. No one knows where it went."

"Where is Gabriel? Did he survive?" the young man called Prince Marian asked with narrowed eyes.

"It has been confirmed that he is most likely dead," the major general replied.

“It would be better if I died”

Prince Marian thought for a moment and then ordered, "Keep an eye on the major ports and try to find any ships using Vine Mandrill. Have our Siren Hounds also help search to see if any ship smells like the Harvest."

"As you command! Your Highness, I'll make the arrangements right away!"

"The last letter from the Harvest said they captured two dark elves. Where are they?"

"It hasn't been delivered yet. I guess it's on the way, or... or it's lost along with the Harvest."

"Go find"

Prince Marian said, "The Dark Elves and the Vine Mandrills, as well as the remains of my dear brother, Prince Gabriel, and the Harvest. I want them all."

"Yes!" The major general pounded his chest in salute and turned to walk out of the luxurious palace.

"Why hasn't the White Conch arrived yet?" On the same night, a woman in a cloak asked on the open bridge of an ordinary three-masted sailing ship.

"Do you want to arrange for Xin Weng to ask?" asked a woman wearing a cloak next to her.

"Need not"

The first woman said, "There must have been an accident. Let's go straight over there."

"That boat only carries the cheapest mermaid eggs," said the woman next to him.

"Those mermen's eggs aren't important," the first woman shook her head, "but the messenger on that ship is very important."

"Raise the sail!" The cloaked woman next to her immediately gave the order.

Dawn at sea always comes faster than on land. That is why Cheng Lang was woken up after only two or three hours of sleep.

"Dear Captain, the sun has risen," the magic mirror said cautiously. "The hatching of the mermaid eggs is about to begin. Do you want to go and see the excitement?"

"I'll get up right now"

Cheng Lang, who had known for a long time that he would not be able to sleep well, stood up dazedly and walked into the bathroom.

The work he needed to do was not just to pee and then watch. At the reminder of the magic mirror, he had to go to the open deck and command the vine goblins to board another ship and move all the mermaid eggs to the open deck to be exposed to sunlight. This was the key to hatching these mermaid eggs.

Meanwhile, the pirate brothers Kervic and Belvic returned to the deck of the Valkyrie.

"Respected Captain," Kervik said flatteringly, "You are finally awake. May I ask if there is any red or black paint on your ship?"

"Do you need paint?" Cheng Lang asked.

"Yes, we need to change the color of this boat."

Kervik said, "I know this ship, the White Conch. If we sail it to Pirate City in such a high-profile manner, we might get into trouble."

"Just change the color?" Cheng Lang asked with a yawn.

"Of course not. We may need to go to the Shipbreaking Island to make some modifications to the ship." Kervik nodded and said, "Of course, this will cost money, but we don't have it."

"How much do you need?" Cheng Lang asked.

"At most 100 gold coins will be enough," Kervik said, rubbing his hands.

“Let’s eat first”

Cheng Lang invited the two brothers to sit down in the conference room where breakfast was already served. "Have you decided on a name for this boat?"

"We're planning on... Oh—!"

Belvik didn't even finish his words when he uttered a cry of surprise as his brother stepped on his toe.

"We intend to listen to your suggestions," Kervik said flatteringly. "After all, this ship is your private property, and we are merely your sailors."

"This guy is a flatterer"

Cheng Lang muttered to himself, but asked with a smile, "Do you have any ideas?"

"We don't have any ideas," Kervik said more flatteringly.

"Belvek, do you have any ideas?" Cheng Lang asked.

"How about the Candide?" Belvik said immediately.

"Why is it called this name?" Shenba asked the question that Cheng Lang wanted to ask.

“Our father is a carpenter.”

Belvik explained, "His nickname is Honest Man, Honest Ivan. Many people on Shipbreaking Island call him that."

"Are you from Shipbreaking Island?"

Shenba asked in surprise. He even shuddered subconsciously. He and his sister were tricked onto the ship at the Shipbreaking Island.

“We grew up on Shipbreaking Island”

Kervik explained, "At the age of 15, my brother and I started our sailor careers as carpenters. At least half of the carpenters in Pirate City came from Shipbreaking Island."

"Just become a pirate?"

Cheng Lang muttered to himself, then said, "In that case, let's call that ship the Honest Man from now on."

"Thank you, thank you, respected Captain." Kervik said gratefully.

“Let’s eat first”

Cheng Lang had already picked up the chopsticks as he spoke. Today's breakfast was bread slices, ham fried eggs, seafood and mushroom soup, as well as stir-fried bean sprouts and vegetable salad, and a glass of juice for each person.

"This is such a luxury! When did our ship ever have breakfast?"

Belvik asked in a low voice. Of course, his voice was not low, and everyone at the table could hear it clearly.

"Shut up and eat!" Kervik glared at his brother, picked up the fried egg, sandwiched it with bread, and took a big bite.

But seeing how slow the others were, Kervik quickly put the two-thirds-eaten slice of bread with the fried egg on the plate, and imitated Yun Ji who was sitting diagonally opposite him, cutting it into small pieces with a dinner knife and putting them into his mouth.

"Dear brother, is your toothache starting to hurt again?"

While speaking, Belvik had already stuffed his bread and fried eggs into his mouth and asked vaguely.

"I don't have a toothache!"

"Then why do you cut them up so finely?"

Before Belvik finished speaking, he had already reached out and picked up the remaining bread slices and fried eggs from his brother's plate and stuffed them directly into his mouth.

"Mr. Kervik, there's no need to be so reserved." Cheng Lang said with a smile.

“Lots of bread and fried eggs”

As Yafuso spoke, she tiptoed to lift the table cover, revealing a large plate full of ham and eggs and a basket of steaming bread.

"Then I won't be polite."

As the tall and thin fool Belvik spoke, he had already picked up a fork, poked a pile of ham and eggs and put it on his plate, then picked up a large piece of white bread and took a big bite.

"Leave some for me, you idiot!"

Kervik also subconsciously stood up with the plate and poked a pile of ham and eggs with his fork.

With the addition of these two brothers, the breakfast was naturally extra lively.

By the time everyone had filled their stomachs, the sky outside the window had already brightened. It was a rare sunny day and also a good day for hatching mermaid eggs.

First, he called on half of the vine goblins to help paint the entire exterior of the Honest Man with red and black stripes. These half of the vine goblins then helped to carefully clean all the cabins on the upper and lower floors of the ship.

By the time everything was done, it was already the hottest time of the day at noon. Under the bright sunshine, bubbles were blowing from the mermaid eggs, and the "nutrients" that were watered last night also seeped into the follicles.

"How long do you think it will take?"

On the deck of the Honest Man, Cheng Lang asked as he looked around.

"They will be hatching tonight."

Kervik replied confidently, "After just one night of adaptation, they'll be able to learn how to control the sails tomorrow. By tomorrow night at the latest, the Honest Man will be running."

He is truly a natural born sailor, Cheng Lang muttered secretly, but it was inevitable. He still felt that fate seemed too cruel to these innocent lives.

(End of this chapter)