Navigator: I Have a Legendary Exploration Log

Chapter 9 Compensation and Gangs

Knock knock knock—

Russell's door is noticeably thinner.

Chalice even doubted that he could knock a hole with just a little force.

The door opened.

His face was thin and bluish, with red and swollen eyes, revealing a haggard appearance.

"Ah...you are Mr. Cherries..."

"I apologize for the intrusion."

Chalice said as calmly as possible, "I'm sorry I couldn't bring Russell back. I'm here to deliver the compensation."

"Please don't say that. Going to sea is dangerous. Russell has told me that before..."

As the woman spoke, her swollen eyes filled with cloudy tears again.

It's clear that this couple has a very good relationship.

The clerks of the Navigators' Association would check the number of people going to sea and returning to port while inspecting the cargo on board.

Unless too many crew members die at once.

Otherwise, they basically wouldn't investigate further.

Those crew members who are eligible to be recorded as "victims" must have been insured by the captain.

Otherwise, they would be considered "illegal immigrants".

Their remains will be gone, not even their names will be left behind...

Chalice's good reputation stemmed not only from his high efficiency and reliability in transporting goods, but also from his practice of purchasing insurance for all his crew members.

Even temporary sailors on one-off contracts.

Russell's family has been informed of the incident by staff from the Navigators' Association.

Logically speaking...

Compensation for the deceased crew members ends here.

No one can find fault with it.

But Charys still decided to come.

For the past two and a half years since his time travel, his voyages have been almost entirely completed with the old crew members left behind on the Tulip.

Two months ago.

The boatswain who liked to hum off-key tunes is dead.

just now.

The chief engineer who would stutter when nervous was also gone.

The familiar faces who used to crack jokes are now reduced to Rumlow, whose cooking and medical skills are mediocre, and Wirtz, who can't live without alcohol.

Chalice sighed inwardly.

He took out a leather bag.

Inside were fifty silver coins engraved with the governor's portrait.

"This is a small token of my appreciation, please accept it."

"Too many..."

Unexpectedly, the woman barely glanced at the silver coins, only sniffing her stuffy nose and saying in a muffled voice, "Russell told me you were a good captain... Now it seems you're not only a good captain, but also a good man..."

"Take it..."

Chalice glanced at the two little boys nestled beside the woman. "You still have children to raise. This makes me feel a little better. Consider it a favor..."

These words seemed to strike a chord with the woman.

Tears streamed down her dull skin.

The older boy awkwardly wiped away his mother's tears with his rough fingers.

Chalice saw it as soon as he entered.

The small house was filled with neatly stacked pieces of paper and cardboard boxes.

Russell is going to sea to risk his life.

His wife is in poor health and cannot do strenuous work.

But besides taking care of the children at home, she wasn't idle either.

I don't know how many cardboard boxes I need to fold to earn a single copper coin.

Perhaps this whole room full of food can only be exchanged for enough food for three people for one day.

But this is already quite good.

At least they have a separate house.

The dock area was full of poor immigrants crammed into the most space-saving bunk beds, with at least thirty people squeezed into the same room.

even so.

People flock to Simon Island to make a living.

This is because, in addition to the powerful governor who is a third-order extraordinary being, the three major righteous churches are also stationed here.

The simultaneous existence of both indicates that Simon Island will not experience major turmoil for at least a considerable period of time.

Thinking about this...

Cherries sighed again, wishing that powerful governor were still a woman...

Even though he still has dark skin, he still has incredibly muscular muscles.

He's willing to suffer for his brothers in order to take a shortcut.

The governor's secret of being a woman was hardly a secret on Simon Island, because he himself had no intention of hiding it.

Anyone with even a little bit of connections knows that this is the result of the Governor's pursuit of advancement in the Extraordinary Sequence.

Although he eventually succeeded in advancing to the third rank, the price was becoming a real man bursting with masculinity!

It is said that the Governor-General is now focused on only two things.

Besides tirelessly seeking a "husband," another thing she did was to pursue higher-level advancement in order to become a woman again.

In this regard.

Cheryl sincerely wished him success in turning back into her.

That way, I might be able to live off her without her consent...

To persuade Russell's wife to accept the bag of silver coins, Cherries also told her about his job at the Sartre's Tavern.

This poor woman has cried her eyes out.

This time, however, it was tears of joy.

Amidst the woman's repeated bows of gratitude as she pulled the bewildered child along, Cherries hurriedly left the nearly broken home.

I went downstairs.

Chalice did not rush to leave.

He found a heavily made-up woman nearby.

"I never expected my first customer today to be so handsome! Sir, I charge fifty for everyone else, but you'll only need twenty copper coins!"

"Stop talking nonsense."

Chalice waved his hand dismissively, signaling the other person to stop trying so hard to take his hand.

He flicked a silver coin away with his thumb.

"Take me to your jailer."

The woman's surprised expression instantly changed; she instinctively didn't want to get involved in any trouble.

This silver coin is worth far more than its "market price," but the price of accepting it could be life-threatening.

The woman really didn't want to turn this "one-off" business into a one-time life-or-death transaction...

But when she noticed the gun holster that Chillie had inadvertently revealed by lifting the hem of her trench coat, she decided to obediently lead the way.

Dark basement.

The gambling was in full swing.

"Holy crap! What kind of luck is that?!"

The man with a cigarette in his mouth was squinting at the cards.

Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed that the streetwalker who was supposed to be outside soliciting customers dared to come back early with a stranger.

The man's already unhappy mood became even more gloomy.

"You little bitch! Instead of working hard to earn money, what are you trying to do by bringing this gigolo back with you?!"

"Boss, this guest wants to see you..."

Before the trembling young woman could explain...

Chalice cut to the chase: "You're in charge of this street? I have a business opportunity, how about we chat?"

"What the hell gives you the right...?"

bang-

A token was slammed onto the card table.

The gang leader stared intently, his slightly narrowed eyes widening in surprise.

The badge of a bronze-class navigator.

This is not like those guys who dare to claim they're going to sea just because they have a small boat.

A bronze badge certified by the Navigators' Association requires at least 10,000 nautical miles of safe sailing.

This has a higher gold content than even the gold coins bearing the governor's portrait.

Sometimes, islands with whom you have a bad relationship will refuse to accept your gold coins.

However, the badges issued by the Navigators' Association will recognize the captain's identity and abilities as long as the ship can only reach the port!

The newcomer turned out to be a genuine bronze captain!

"Oh, so you're a captain..."

The man's tone softened, and his words became much more refined.

"We haven't dealt with each other before, have we? What brings you here?"

"Could you do me a favor?"

Cherry told the mob boss about the Russell family.

"I know your methods, but don't use them on this family. Her husband may be dead, but his captain is still alive."

That's all.

Chalice took out a silver coin, gently placed it on the gambling table, and pushed it over.

"This unannounced visit is a small token of my appreciation."

The gang leader remained silent and did not take the silver coin.

A moment of silence.