Above the mage

Chapter 364 Catching Small Fish

When it came to actually doing it, Gaode realized just how incredibly expensive going overseas really is.

A two-masted sailing ship requires a crew of around 20 people to sail across the ocean.

The most basic configuration consists of a captain, a first mate, a second mate, a third mate, about ten sailors including the bosun, two lookouts, two to three helmsmen, and a cook.

船长的月薪通常在100金雀花币左右，大副是70金雀花币，二副50金雀花币、三副40金雀花币、水手长35金雀花币、舵手25金雀花币、了望员25金雀花币、厨师25金雀花币、普通水手20金雀花币。

All these expenses added up, a two-masted sailing ship would need at least 500 gold coin for crew salaries alone during a month's voyage.

This is just the configuration of a two-masted sailing ship.

For large merchant ships, or even a fleet, the number of crew members would start at several hundred, and their salaries would be several times higher.

In addition to wages, there are necessary port berthing fees, as well as the consumption of supplies including food and fresh water, which requires more than 100 Golden Bird Coins per month.

However, if there are mage apprentices who have mastered the art of water creation traveling with you, only three of them are needed to save on all expenses for drinking and cooking water.

In fact, for large fleets engaged in transoceanic trade, a mage with the ability to produce fresh water was a standard requirement.

After all, fresh water is the lifeline for humankind.

As the saying goes, "No food for three weeks, no water for three days."

Having a mage who can produce fresh water is like buying insurance for the fleet.

Fortunately, it was timber needed in the North, which could be purchased at a discounted price from the raw material supplier at Harland Shipyard, saving Gaode a lot of money.

However, Gaode Maps didn't seem too bothered by the money they had spent.

He knew that if the ship could successfully reach Vallar Bay in the North, it could transport the supplies that Phoenix had prepared in advance back to the Plantagenet Dynasty for resale, making a profit on the trip.

Under the moonlight, the calm sea surface shimmered with a deep and solemn dark green, possessing a cool and mysterious beauty.

However, the lingering stench in the air completely destroyed this ambiance.

This is the Marco district.

Occasionally, a sea breeze would blow by, but it could not dispel the nauseating smell; it could only helplessly whistle against the densely packed shacks.

The shacks were built crookedly, their reflections shimmering on the water.

On the sea, the water rippled outwards, creating delicate ripples under the moonlight.

In the darkness of night, a figure hovered above the sea at an incredibly illogical speed, swiftly navigating the narrow and unplanned waterway.

Wherever it passed, the water rippled outwards to both sides.

The figure, Gao De, had bright, gleaming eyes that allowed him to see clearly through the darkness of the night. He then used a telepathic connection to guide Tuanzi in the right direction.

He first used a magic trick called "water manipulation" to freeze a small piece of water, forming an ice surface large enough for him to stand on. Then he released a ball, let it enter the water, and then pushed the ice block forward from behind.

With such a simple operation, an effect similar to floating on water was achieved.

"Seven days have passed since I wiped out the demonic octopus. The people in the shack should be back by now." Gao De thought to himself as he searched for a path to the shack.

According to Sharma, the seven or eight suspicious residents living in the shack would disappear for a few days every now and then and then return.

Based on the speculation about their origins, it is not difficult to draw a conclusion: these people were most likely temporarily leaving the Marco district to avoid trouble whenever the Sea Sentinel Mages accepted the mission to expel the water beasts and came to carry out the mission.

As for how they knew when the Sea Sentinel Mage would arrive, it wasn't actually a very difficult thing.

After all, these tasks were openly displayed in the main hall of the White Tower of the Abyss.

Once a quest disappears from the board in the lobby, it means someone has accepted it, making it even easier for the mage who accepted the quest to arrive in Lagos.

Gao De's arrival in the Marco Koko district to exterminate the water monsters was aboveboard; he made no attempt to conceal his presence and openly wore the uniform of a sea sentry.

Therefore, with a little attention, one should be able to tell that he had already completed the task of eliminating the water beasts seven days ago.

Even if these people were very cautious, considering the possibility of his sudden return, seven whole days had passed, and they should be able to put their minds at ease and return to the Marco district.

next moment.

The ice block stopped at Gaode's signal.

The shack is just ahead.

The dumplings are already itching to be eaten.

Gao De calmed the slightly restless Tuanzi through a mental connection, and then silently jumped onto a platform extending from another shed next to him.

He stared at the shack that might be hiding the mastermind, and waited quietly.

Time passed second by second, and the night grew deeper.

About half an hour later, the sound of the wooden door opening and closing rang out, sounding particularly clear in the quiet night.

A figure emerged from the shed, his steps somewhat unsteady, as if he were drowsy.

He stood at the edge of the platform outside the shed.

The next moment, the sound of rushing water came from the toilet.

And this is the moment that Gaode has been waiting for.

His eyes instantly sharpened like an eagle's.

"Let's do it!"

After waiting for a long time in the sea, the dumpling received its command, and a fish leaped up and broke out of the water.

With a splash, Tuanzi's sharp teeth bit down hard on the figure's collar, and with the force of the impact, she pushed the person into the water.

Everything happened in the blink of an eye. The man had no time to react before the dull, filthy, and foul-smelling water had already covered his face.

He instinctively tried to struggle, waving his hands wildly out of the water and kicking his legs frantically.

But a net made of water had already bound him tightly, like a dead fish.

【Tidal Fishing Net+】

Being submerged in water, unable to speak and with one's body bound, one is truly helpless and unable to call for help.

As time passed, his consciousness and oxygen were lost, and large amounts of bubbles gurgled upwards from his mouth and nose. His movements gradually became weak, and his eyes began to glaze over.

Soon, he completely lost consciousness and fainted.

However, it was just fainting; it will take some time before he dies.

Gao De didn't intend to kill the other party, so after discovering that the other party had entered a state of unconsciousness, he released the [Tidal Net], used [Water Manipulation] to condense a piece of ice, and had Tuanzi push the other party onto the ice.

Just then, two more figures emerged from the shed, muttering as they walked, "Could this guy have slipped and fallen into the water while releasing it?"

Clearly, they were drawn out by the sound of their companion entering the water.

After they went outside, they looked left and right but couldn't find their companion. So they went to the edge of the wooden platform to look for their companion who might have fallen into the water. They immediately noticed their companion lying flat on the ice.

Because the ice surface was not large, and it was nighttime, it was completely covered.

"What's going on?" The two were completely bewildered and instinctively shouted to their companion who was lying on the ice.

puff!

A lithe figure leaped out of the water once again.

"What?!" The two exclaimed one after the other, their voices filled with fear and surprise.

This time it wasn't a bite; the dumpling was like a cannonball, blasting both of them into the water.

thump! thump!

Two loud splashes instantly drew everyone out of the shed.

"What's wrong?!"

"Help me!" The two who had fallen into the water sent a distress signal to their companions who were emerging from the shack, but their words were cut short.

Because the two tidal nets had bound them, their hands and feet could not struggle or move, and their bodies sank down.

The water quickly covered their faces, and the cold, foul-smelling seawater rushed into their mouths and noses, choking them and causing them to cough violently, thus making it impossible for them to call for help.

"Help!" The others, who were not quite clear about the situation, instinctively wanted to rescue their companion who had fallen into the water. They rushed to the edge of the platform, but before they could even reach out, Tuanzi had already taken action again.

Its movements were as fast as lightning; it leaped up and, in no time, knocked all the remaining people into the water.

As soon as they fall into the water, they are met with a tidal net.

The water surface rippled, but quickly returned to calm.

All seven people were captured without resistance and fell silent.

It went much more smoothly than I had imagined.

I don't know what level of mage these people are.

Gao De's gaze swept over these people, and he thought to himself.

In any case, based on his judgment, those who were sent to this place to do this kind of thing were most likely just mage apprentices, and at most no more than the first level.

"Let's take them ashore."

At Gao De's instruction, Tuanzi pushed all seven people onto the wooden platform of the shed.

Then, Gao De walked on the ice and climbed onto the wooden platform, dragging the seven unconscious people into the small shed.

The room was dimly lit, with only a kerosene lamp casting a faint glow.

Although this amount of light was sufficient for Gao De, who had evolved high dark vision through [Adaptive], the dim light still made Gao De frown slightly due to his long-standing habit.

He thought for a moment, then snapped his fingers lightly.

Four orbs of soft light emerged from his hands, hovering in the air and illuminating the small shed.

【Dancing Light Technique】.

Then, his gaze swept across the room.

The giant water bucket that once caught Gaode's attention is still there.

However, compared to the last time, this time the bucket was filled with dirty water.

The water was a nauseating dark green, with some unidentified debris floating on its surface.

Swarms of strangely shaped, slender, dark green larvae swam freely within, emitting a foul stench.

The stench permeated the entire room, making one want to vomit.

These are the larvae of the putrid water salamander.

"Just as I expected." Gao De shook his head, then kicked the seven unconscious people a few times.

Despite several kicks, none of the people woke up.

After a moment's thought, Gao De stomped heavily on one of the men's chests.

His eyes were cold, and his kicks were ruthless.

The force was so great that you could almost hear the sound of the person's ribs breaking when the kick landed.

But the effect was indeed remarkable.

The man immediately opened his mouth, spewing out dark green sewage mixed with disgusting debris like a fountain, while he kept dry heaving.

The sewage splashed everywhere, and the air was filled with an even stronger stench.

After vomiting the sewage, he recovered and slowly opened his eyes. Gao De's figure appeared exceptionally tall under the light, giving him an indescribable sense of intense pressure.

"Who are you?" the man couldn't help but ask, his voice trembling slightly.

He clearly had never seen Gao De's face before, so he had no idea why the other party would attack him in the middle of the night.

"Gaud, a sea sentinel apprentice mage, has been ordered to drive away the water beasts of the Marco district," Gaode said slowly, squinting at him.

Upon hearing Gao De's words, the man's pupils suddenly contracted.

A hint of fear flashed in his eyes.

He finally understood why he and his companions had been attacked.

"Didn't you drive away the water beast and leave?" His voice was a little dry, and his lips trembled slightly.

"If you don't cut the weeds at the root, they'll grow back in the spring breeze," Gao De said softly, his eyes slightly narrowed. "How could I leave like this without bringing you, the masterminds behind this, to justice?"

"What do you mean by that?" A hint of panic flashed in the man's eyes, but he seemed to still want to be stubborn and tried to appear calm as he spoke.

"The physical evidence is all here. Who told you to do these things? Are you going to confess honestly, or should I force you to confess?" Gao De gestured with his lip toward the wooden barrel in the room.

The other person glanced at the huge bucket and then fell silent.

Upon seeing this, Gao De shook his head regretfully.

He didn't try to persuade him further, but instead slightly raised his hand, palm facing upwards.

A small green ball appeared in his palm. The next instant, Gao De flicked his wrist, and the ball shot towards the latter's right leg.

[Acid splash!]

The ball exploded the moment it touched the opponent's right leg, and the thick acid, which was highly corrosive, spread rapidly.

Zizizi!

The other person's trouser leg was instantly soaked in acid, and the fabric was quickly corroded into strands of charred fragments that fluttered down.

Immediately afterwards, the acid began to erode his skin and flesh, and the originally healthy skin was exposed to reveal the bright red flesh underneath.

"Ah—!" A heart-wrenching scream rang out.

His body trembled violently, and he desperately tried to grab onto something to support his swaying body, but it was all in vain.

Under the continuous erosion of the acid, the muscles in his right leg gradually dissolved, revealing the bare white bones.

The screams gradually weakened, and the person's body became extremely weak due to the excruciating pain and blood loss.

His eyes were filled with fear and despair, tears and sweat mingled and streamed down his face, and his body was convulsing violently.

At this moment, the flesh and blood below his right knee had completely disappeared. If it weren't for a high-level mage or a high-grade extraordinary item to save him, he would have been crippled for life.

Gao De didn't speak, but silently activated the spell model, and another acid ball appeared in his palm.

"No, no, I'll talk, I'll talk, I'll confess everything!" The man looked at the sour ball in Gao De's hand and begged for mercy, trembling all over.

Gao De smiled slightly, not surprised.

Although in novels and TV dramas common in my previous life, these "villains" would usually choose death over surrender in such situations, or even commit suicide by poisoning themselves, this is somewhat of an artistic exaggeration.

The reality is that such loyal bodyguards require at least two or three generations of effort to cultivate and instill loyalty, as well as provide them with generous treatment and protection.

Therefore, only a small number of high-ranking nobles would have such people under their command.

Good steel should be used where it's most needed.

If such assassins truly existed, why would they be sent to do these "odd jobs"?

"Tell me the truth. I'll ask your other companions later," Gao De said calmly, pointing to the other six people who were still unconscious. "Don't blame me for not warning you beforehand. If your statements don't match up, you won't just lose this leg."

(End of this chapter)