The weapons I forge are absolutely flawless.

"It's high tide now, so most people only dare to stay in the nearshore waters. Who would go to a place like the Kuroshio Strait? That's the territory of the true ocean overlords."

He paused, a look of fear crossing his face. "Last month, the Anchor Pirates refused to believe in superstitions, saying that the bigger the waves, the bigger the fish, and insisted on venturing into the Kuroshio Strait. And what happened? None of them came back."

"How strong is the Iron Anchor Pirates?" Vina interrupted.

"The Anchor Pirates are considered one of the top crews in the port, and their captain, Hogg, is a seventh-tier Emblem Master. But it's no use. The sea is not like land. Once the ship is destroyed, even a seventh-tier Emblem Master will not escape death," the bartender said with lingering fear.

A seventh-tier emblem master is already an unattainable existence in the eyes of ordinary people.

Even such a powerful figure could not escape the Kuroshio Strait unscathed, demonstrating its extreme danger.

“I see…” Viner said thoughtfully.

He wasn't worried about the monster that destroyed the Anchor Pirates, but he realized that with this precedent, it would be even more difficult to find a ship willing to set sail again.

“You should recommend a few people to me,” Viner said. “Even if we want to persuade Miss to change her mind, we still have to go through the motions.”

"Sigh, even if I tell you, they might not dare to go out to sea."

The bartender knew that Viner had not given up, but he still wrote down the names of several boatmen for him.

"Thanks."

Wiener accepted the note, glanced at it briefly, and then headed towards the dock.

Chapter 528 The Kuroshio Strait: A Place of No Return

"Going out to sea..." The boatman stroked his chin. "Since you were introduced by Gary, I can give you a discount. Where are you planning to go?"

Gary is the bartender's name.

“The place I’m going to is the Kuroshio Strait,” Viner said frankly.

As soon as he finished speaking, the boatman, who had been quite amiable, immediately changed his expression.

"No way! Are you trying to kill this old man?!"

As he shouted, he hurriedly withdrew his hand that had just been extended to take the money, and pushed Vina away like he was shooing away a fly, "Hurry up and go, don't get in the way."

"It's not going well at the start."

Venere, who was pushed out the door, let out a long sigh.

This was the last boatman he had found based on the list provided by the bartender.

Their reactions were all similar; regardless of their previous attitude, they immediately turned hostile upon hearing that they were going to the Kuroshio Strait.

Wiener did try to find boatmen who weren't on the list.

However, few people are familiar with the Kuroshio Strait route, and the news of the complete annihilation of the Iron Anchor Pirates has already spread throughout the port, so even if they were offered money, they would not be willing to take the risk.

However, some people heard that Venus was going to the Kuroshio Strait and took the initiative to contact her.

However, they were not boatmen, but rather had their eyes on Vina, this "sucker" who was recklessly heading to the Kuroshio Strait.

Vina, who was already in a bad mood, followed them into the alley.

By the time he came out, he had already earned back the money he spent on tipping the bartender and staying at the hotel that day.

"Forget it, let's go back and think of another way." Viner looked up at the sky and decided to return to her residence first.

Jessica had returned even earlier than him. After hearing about Viner's day, she couldn't help but mock him: "So all you did today was bully some thugs and didn't get anything at all?"

"I didn't want to either," Viner said, toying with the gold coins she had seized, her eyes filled with helplessness.

"They say this high tide came suddenly, so something big must have happened. I reckon it's related to the Holy Sword."

Only the Holy Sword can force these ocean overlords, who have no natural enemies, out of the deep sea.

“Since no one is willing to go, can’t we just buy a boat ourselves?” Felix asked. “As long as we stay on the right track, we should be able to find it.”

With two high-level mages, Lisette and Jessica, even if they couldn't sail a large ship, they could still push it to their destination using wind magic.

“No,” Listy rejected the suggestion as soon as he finished speaking. “Those high-level magical beasts are extremely sensitive to fluctuations in magical energy. If we keep using spells to propel the ship forward, we are essentially giving them directions.”

"What if we use 'Mirror Flower, Water Moon'?" Vena asked. "Could we disguise our aura as that of a sea monster and fool them?"

After a moment of contemplation, Lisette said, "...It seems that this is the only way."

“Then I’ll go to the docks tomorrow.” Vina nodded, then looked at Jessica, “What about you?”

“Of course I contacted the Knights.” Jessica crossed her arms, a hint of smugness in her voice. “Guess who’s nearby?”

“Samif?” Viner was slightly taken aback and blurted out.

"You could have guessed that?"

Jessica was clearly surprised by his answer.

"I only know a handful of people, okay?" Viner shrugged helplessly. "Is it really her?"

“Yes,” Jessica nodded, her expression becoming serious. “She’s been investigating the Taivo family and has been active within the kingdom recently. She said she’ll come and join us as soon as possible.”

Compared to the Holy Sword, the affairs of the Taivo family are utterly insignificant.

So as soon as she received Jessica's message, Samif rushed to the port of Parebia.

“That’s good news.” Viner also breathed a sigh of relief.

As a companion, Samif's abilities are beyond question.

A familiar reinforcement is always better than a stranger temporarily assigned.

Just then, there was a knock on the door.

"Come so fast?"

Felix ran to open the door in surprise, thinking to himself that the Holy Knights were really efficient, arriving so quickly.

But when he opened the door, he found that it wasn't Samif standing outside, but a small, thin figure.

"I'm sorry!" Doni bowed deeply and handed the half gold coin he had given Felix with both hands.

“I lost track of that woman named Jessica, so I can’t accept this money.”

Although he was somewhat reluctant, he knew very well what kind of money was too hot to handle.

The blonde woman, despite being a stranger, managed to evade his pursuit time and time again; she was clearly not someone he could afford to mess with.

"You don't do any real work, you just find me a little culprit?"

Jessica stared coldly at Vina.

Now that things have come to this, how could she not know who was behind this?

Upon hearing the voice, Donnie looked up abruptly and was shocked to see his target sitting openly inside the house: "Eh?!"

"Well, this is just a test for this kid," Vena said, feigning ignorance.

He then waved his hand, signaling Felix to let Donnie in.

"Um... is it too late for me to pretend I didn't see anything?" Donnie asked somewhat nervously.

“It’s getting late,” Viner said, pulling out a stool and then another one, placing it in front of Doni. “Sit down.”

Donnie hesitated for a moment, then realized he had no way out and sat down dejectedly.

“We won’t do anything to you, we just have a few questions we’d like to ask you,” Listy said gently. “We heard you’re a survivor from Ronag Town?”

"How did you know?!" Donnie stood up abruptly, his eyes filled with panic and wariness.

“Is it strange?” Viner raised an eyebrow. “Since you’ve volunteered to be a guide, we naturally need to investigate your background. Given that you’ve upheld your principles, we’re giving you this opportunity to be open and honest.”

"So you really did come for Ronag Town." Doni slumped down, his face full of helplessness.

“You’re probably overthinking it. We’ve come to Port Parebia for other purposes. It’s just that the news of the destruction of Ronag Town has touched my young lady’s heart, so she wants to find out who did this,” Viner said, shaking her head.

Donnie was silent for a moment after hearing this, then raised his head, a glimmer of expectation in his eyes: "If I tell you the whole story, can you help me get revenge?"

“Of course not,” Vena denied. “However, I will hand you over to the Knights of St. Freya. If there is any injustice involved, they will seek justice for you.”

"So what do I need to do?"

Donnie knew that there was no such thing as a free lunch.

“It’s very simple. We need a boat that can go out to sea. Whether you rent it to us or sell it to us directly, as long as you help us find a seller, I will give you a reward.”

"The rumors circulating at the docks today say there's a fat sheep trying to get to the Kuroshio Strait. Could it be you they're talking about?" Donnie looked at Vina suspiciously.

The three people, except for Vina, couldn't help but laugh.

"So what if it is?" Viner said, forcing a smile.

"Those guys went to the Kuroshio Strait as well," Doni said through gritted teeth.

Chapter 529 Yukikaze

"That happened more than a month ago. The Anchor Pirates came to our town looking for a navigator who could get to the Kuroshio Strait," Donnie began to explain.

"Aren't there people readily available in the port?" Viner frowned, looking somewhat puzzled.

The bartender's list alone included six boatmen who had traveled to the Kuroshio Strait.

"What are those guys?" Donnie scoffed, his eyes full of disdain. "They just took a quick stroll around the outer edge of the Kuroshio Strait and came right back. People like that dare to boast that they can sail through the Kuroshio Strait."

"So who is the person who was taken away from you?" Viner understood the deeper meaning in his words.

“It’s my father… He’s the only person who actually ventured deep into the Kuroshio Strait and came back alive.”

Donnie lowered his head, his fists clenching slightly.

“My father didn’t want to go with them, but they threatened him with the lives of everyone in the town. Even so, they still didn’t let everyone go.”

"If I hadn't left the village early, I'm afraid I would have ended up the same way."

That day, he hid in the shadows and watched his father board the Iron Anchor Pirates' ship.

Donnie didn't dare to go up and acknowledge him; he could only silently pray that he would return safely.

However, what they received was news of the complete annihilation of the Anchor Pirates.

"What good would this do them?" Felix asked, puzzled. "Unless they don't plan to come back after going to sea, there's no reason for them to do something that cuts off their own escape route."

“You’ve already given the answer,” Vena said, looking at Doni. “I didn’t say anything wrong, did I?”

Donny nodded slowly. "My father told me with a code that the Anchor Pirates have a new 'big fish'."

It's not unusual for a fleet the size of the Iron Anchor Pirates to have many unfamiliar faces on each voyage.

It is clear that no ordinary person could make Hogg lower his stance and completely obey his orders.

He had every reason to believe that it was this special guest who made the Anchor Pirates act so aggressively.

"I don't think the Anchor Pirates were completely wiped out; they're probably still somewhere in the Kuroshio Strait."

It was less about confidence in the Anchor Pirates and more about confidence in that special guest.

Although it was only a brief encounter, the person Donnie didn't seem like someone going to their death.

Silence fell over the room for a moment, and Viner and the others each had their own guesses.

"If you really are going to the Kuroshio Strait, please be sure to take me with you!" Doni said urgently.

“We’re not playing house.” Jessica’s face turned cold. “Even if everything you say is true, at most we can help you keep an eye out for your father and the Anchor Pirates. We can’t possibly take you, a burden, into the Kuroshio Strait.”

“I’m not a burden,” Donnie retorted. “You have no experience and you’re unfamiliar with the shipping routes here. If you set sail rashly, you probably won’t find the Kuroshio Strait for a month or two.”

“But I’m different. I’ve been learning about navigation from my father since I was a child. Even if he’s gone, I can still take you to the Kuroshio Strait based on his notes.”

"And most importantly, I have a boat!" Donnie dropped another bombshell.

"Oh?" This sentence piqued Vena's interest.

“I know what you’re planning. You’re probably thinking that since no one else is willing to go, you’ll buy a boat and go to sea yourselves.”

“But the ship is their livelihood, and they won’t sell it to you unless they’re absolutely determined to leave Parebia Port,” Doni said confidently.

"Why don't we let him give it a try?" Felix suggested.

“I want to check out the ship first,” Vina said cautiously.