Chapter 102.3: The Destiny Unordinary Duo
“There have been a lot of new forces emerging lately.”
The Gale Wind was stopped on the surface of the sea. Its owner, Raven, looked down imperiously at the subordinate standing before her.
“Of the 358 ships under my banner, 119 have suddenly become unreachable during this period. Rook, I know you’ve always liked turning your hand against your own people. Do you have anything you’d like to say to me about this?”
Rook was sweating profusely, too nervous to get a word out.
Among the fleets under Kansidang’s command, the Gale faction ranked third. At its head was Raven, captain of the Gale Wind, who commanded a hundred escort ships, each carrying a thousand elite soldiers.
The so-called escort ships existed to eliminate any and all threats that Raven deemed dangerous to Kansidang.
For example, if the Gale Wind were to destroy Rook’s Wandering Sky, it would not matter that he belonged to Kansidang’s faction as well. Raven would only need to say that she suspected him of being a spy.
That was why Rook was extremely nervous and hurriedly tried to explain himself.
“I… Lady Raven… it really wasn’t me. More than a hundred ships! With my strength, how could I possibly have taken them all out?”
“You know how things have always been on Green Billow Star. Today I swallow him up, tomorrow he swallows me. It’s just that there may be a grand assembly this year, and a lot of pirates are competing for the keys, so there have been slightly more pirate groups wiped out than in previous years.”
He forced a flattering smile at Raven.
“Please rest assured. The purpose of these newly emerged pirate groups is to pledge their loyalty to His Majesty Kansidang. This assembly will definitely satisfy His Majesty Kansidang.”
Raven’s expression remained cold.
She said, “That’s not right. Every year, I keep records of how many pirate groups each faction loses. This year, the number of pirate groups that have been wiped out far exceeds the number destroyed before the previous assembly—by at least half.”
Rook cursed inwardly. ‘What records? What ‘at least half’? You’re only clinging to this because you’re missing more than a hundred ships that used to bring you supplies and gifts.’
He cursed inwardly, but on the surface, he still put on a flattering smile and said,
“Perhaps this year has simply been a difficult one. As you know, the sea level is rising faster and faster, and there are more and more large sea monsters appearing as well.”
“But rest assured, Lady Raven. Although we’ve lost more than a hundred ships, your subordinates all have you in their hearts. The gifts we offer you this year will only be more generous than in previous years.”
Raven gave him a scrutinizing look and let out a cold laugh.
“You think I care about those little gifts? I’m worried that someone might seize the keys, kill everyone who knows about it, infiltrate the assembly, and attempt to assassinate His Majesty Kansidang.”
Rook’s expression changed.
“That… seems unlikely, doesn’t it? His Majesty Kansidang has eight hundred thousand elite troops under his command. Who would be foolish enough to try something like that? If all eight hundred thousand of them stepped on him just once, they’d flatten him into nothing.”
Raven shook her head. “I’ll be leading the guards for this year’s assembly. Think of a way to keep those people with ulterior motives from getting inside.”
Rook: “…I-I’m supposed to think of a way?”
Weren’t Lady Raven’s advisers always Maren in the past?
And if not him, there was still Colin or Tovan.
Raven stared darkly at Rook.
“Maren became unreachable four months ago. Tovan disappeared two months ago. Last month, Colin only had time to say that someone had attacked him before he vanished without a trace.”
Rook: “…”
He now understood why Raven looked so furious.
All of Raven’s advisers were gone. It was hard not to start thinking about conspiracy theories.
“Lady Raven, do you think there’s any possibility that Lord Gareth’s side…”
Wherever there are people, there is conflict.
And that was even more true in a place where a bunch of pirates had gathered.
Raven of the Gale Wind and Gareth of the Gale Wind had never gotten along particularly well. Gareth’s parents were both trusted confidants of Kansidang, and Gareth had always coveted her position.
The two had been openly and covertly competing against each other for seven or eight years now. But Raven had strength and prestige, while Gareth had connections and backing. The two sides had kept each other in check all this time, with neither able to gain the upper hand.
Whenever Gareth was mentioned, Raven felt annoyed.
“Not only does he refuse to admit it, he even turns around and accuses me, saying that several of his trusted subordinates have gone missing and that I must be responsible. Hmph.”
“Forget about him. Help me think of a solution first. It took me a great deal of effort to secure this opportunity. If anything goes wrong, not only will I be kicked out of my position, but none of you will have an easy time either.”
Rook really wanted to say, ‘What the hell kind of solution am I supposed to come up with?’ Wasn’t his role in their group always to be a mindless sycophant?
But obviously, he couldn’t actually say that. He could only rack his brains for a moment before coming up with an answer:
“I’ve heard that there are many extraordinary people living within His Majesty Kansidang’s territory. Their abilities vary, but every one of them has some remarkable skill. Some can even control sea monsters.”
“How about recruiting some of these extraordinary people, my lady, and having them help guard the assembly?”
Raven gritted her teeth.
“You think I couldn’t come up with something that simple? I thought of that long ago. But there are too few of those people, and they were recruited by the Kui faction and Feng faction above us ages ago. They’re the ones who are truly close to His Majesty Kansidang. Do you think I dare compete with them for people?”
She wanted to curse him a little more, but when she saw Rook lowering his head under her scolding, looking cautious and afraid to speak, another wave of anger rose in her heart.
She had so many clever people under her command. How had Rook been the only one left perfectly fine?
Could it really be that the smarter someone was, the worse their luck?
Raven waved her hand. “Forget it, forget it! Go back!”
Rook returned to his own ship with his head hanging low.
On the Gale Wind, he was an inconspicuous little lackey.
But once he was aboard his own ship, he was the esteemed Captain Rook.
The moment he stepped aboard, a whole group of trusted subordinates immediately gathered around him.
“Captain, why do you look so upset? Did something happen?”
“Captain, it’s still raining outside. Have some fish soup to warm yourself up.”
“Captain, I’ll shield you from the wind.”
Only then did some of the grievance in Rook’s heart begin to fade.
“Lady Raven insists that I’m the one who took out those hundred-plus missing ships. How could I possibly have that kind of ability?”
The more he thought about it, the angrier he became, feeling thoroughly wronged.
“I only ate three ships! And I was very careful about it!”
His trusted subordinates hurried to comfort him.
“That’s right. How could Lady Raven think that of you? Ah! Captain, you’ve really been treated unfairly.”
“Captain, you’ve had a hard time. Go get some rest. Leave everything here to us.”
Surrounded by a whole group of trusted subordinates flattering and comforting him, Rook gradually began to feel better.
“Quick, get the ship farther away from here. Go wherever you like, just don’t get on Lady Raven’s radar again.”
The second mate said, “Yes, Captain. I’ll arrange it immediately.”
Rook thought for a moment, then added,
“But don’t go too far from the Gale Wind, either. A lot of people have gotten into trouble lately, and I don’t want to end up following in their footsteps. Lady Raven may have a bad temper, but I’m under her protection. If we really run into trouble, she’ll still come to rescue us.”
His trusted subordinates readily agreed. Just as Rook instructed, they sailed to an area where the Gale Wind could no longer be seen, but which was still not too far away from it.
On the third day, Rook was in a much better mood and went out onto the deck to enjoy the breeze.
As he stood there in the wind, he spotted a huge mass of garbage in the distance, speeding straight toward him.
Rook: “???”
‘What is that?’
‘Garbage that can move???’
The garbage mountain approached Rook at a speed utterly beyond human imagination, rapidly appearing right in front of him.
Only then did he get a clear look.
This wasn’t merely garbage.
It was clearly a sea monster carrying a load of garbage on its back.
Standing atop the garbage mountain was another person, a young woman who looked to be around twenty-four or twenty-five. She was holding a rocket launcher and shouting at the top of her lungs:
“Robbery! Robbing the robbers!!!”
Rook hurriedly dropped to the ground, dodged the mouth of the launcher, and rolled behind cover before shouting at the top of his voice:
“Enemy attack!!!”
A group of reliable sailors quickly rushed over.
“How dare you!! Come on!!”
Rook’s trusted subordinates also quickly emerged from various positions and immediately shielded him with their bodies.
“Captain, are you all right?!!”
Even Rook, who had always treated his subordinates as tools, felt a tiny bit moved at that moment.
These trusted subordinates really were something. Whenever trouble came, they were genuinely willing to take the hit for him.
The trusted subordinates and sailors fearlessly raised their weapons and prepared their firepower, facing off against the robber.
The robber, Ma Yuetian, gripped her rocket launcher and looked at the ship full of Blue Sea residents who seemed incredibly familiar. The corner of her eye twitched several times.
That textbook lackey shouting, “Don’t worry, Captain! I’ll cover you while you get somewhere safe first”—wasn’t he her middle-school classmate??
The sea-monster version of Zhu Feifan also revealed four elongated pupils, staring fixedly at the sailors standing in the front row.
“Grrr?!!”
‘Third Aunt?!!’
Third Aunt did not recognize the sea-monster version of Zhu Feifan, but she did recognize her nephew’s good friend, Ma Yuetian.
With that exact same sun-darkened complexion unique to agricultural students as her nephew, there was no way she could fail to recognize her.
The two sides remained locked in a standoff for several seconds. Everyone fell silent.
Ma Yuetian maintained her grip on the rocket launcher and awkwardly forced out:
“Fine! You have the numbers! We’re leaving!!”
Having received the order, Zhu Feifan immediately turned around with Ma Yuetian and the ship on his back, then sped away in a flash.
The trusted subordinates and sailors aboard the ship exchanged glances and once again slipped back into character.
“Captain, are you all right?”
“That guy got scared and ran away. Tch! What a coward! Captain, should we chase them?”
Rook hadn’t been injured, but he had been thoroughly frightened.
If that rocket launcher had fired at him just now, he would already have been reunited with Maren, Colin, and Tovan.
And another thing—was that a sea monster she was riding?
If that sea monster dragged their ship into the water…
“Chase them? Chase what?! Didn’t you see her riding a sea monster?! What if that sea monster tears open our hull on her orders?!!”
Still shaken, Rook also felt embarrassed about the way he had just been shouting and scrambling around to dodge the attack, so he vented his frustration rather forcefully.
Fortunately, he had considerable prestige. All his subordinates wore expressions that clearly said, “The captain is right,” and listened to him vent without showing the slightest hint of disdain for his earlier behavior.
After cursing for a while, Rook felt much better. Just as he was about to have someone help him up, a thought suddenly flashed through his mind.
“Wait… She can command a sea monster… She’s one of those people with special abilities.”
Wasn’t that exactly the kind of person Lady Raven needed?
“No, no! We can’t let her get away! We’re chasing her!”
The moment Rook said this, he got a little scared again and hurriedly changed his mind.
“No, let’s go find Lady Raven and have her chase them. Lady Raven needs an extraordinary person like that right now.”
Hahahahahaha!
Wasn’t this the perfect opportunity to earn some merit?
As Rook rejoiced, the Blue Sea people around him also began to look thoughtful.
“Captain, why don’t we first send a few small advance boats to follow them? That way, even if you report the news and Lady Raven fails to find them, we’ll still know where they went.”
What a great idea!
And, most importantly, he wouldn’t have to risk his own life.
Rook grabbed the hand of the trusted subordinate who had suggested it.
“Yes, you’re right. Go and get a few capable men. Make absolutely sure you keep your eyes on her.”
His trusted subordinate smiled gently. “Don’t worry, Captain. I’ll take care of it.”
…
After receiving the news, Raven immediately dispatched dozens of ships to search the surrounding waters. Sure enough, they found the girl riding a sea monster that Rook had described.
By this point, the girl and the sea monster, having already chatted with the Blue Sea people aboard Rook’s ship, put on a convincing act of trying to escape the encirclement. They even smashed one of the ships.
In the end, they were “trapped” in a certain area of the sea.
Raven personally arrived on the scene. Standing on the elevated deck, she began to “persuade them to surrender.”
The general idea was that the girl was robbing other ships for nothing more than supplies. If that was the case, she might as well work for the Gale Wind.
With Ma Yuetian’s ship in such poor condition, her life was obviously not going very well. If she joined the Gale Wind, she could enjoy a life of good food and drink.
Ma Yuetian maintained a “wary” attitude.
This was also something several Blue Sea people aboard the advance boats had taught her. Raven was the sort of person who didn’t believe that good fortune simply fell from the sky, so if Ma Yuetian agreed too readily, it would instead make her suspicious.
Ma Yuetian needed to make Raven work for it. The more she did so, the more Raven would feel that it was her own eloquence that had convinced this extraordinary person capable of controlling sea monsters.
Agricultural sciences student Ma Yuetian was following this advice to the letter.
Raven talked for a full two hours before Ma Yuetian finally showed some sign of relenting.
“What do you want me to do?”
Raven’s mouth had gone completely dry from talking.
She knew that recruiting talented people required a certain amount of eloquence, but did this particular talent really require this much eloquence?
Yet even though her throat felt so dry it might start smoking, her expression remained full of confidence and utterly composed.
“Do you know about the Pirate Assembly?”
“His Majesty Kansidang controls all the pirates. Soon, all the major pirate groups on Green Billow Star will gather for the assembly where they present gifts to His Majesty Kansidang. I hope you’ll join the Gale Wind and help us guard the assembly until it concludes successfully.”
Ma Yuetian appropriately put on expressions of “hesitation,” “conflict,” “worry,” “fear,” “longing,” and “ambition.”
Zhu Feifan, meanwhile, was a quiet, brainless sea monster.
The two sides engaged in another round of back-and-forth bargaining.
Another hour and a half passed in the meantime.
In the end, Ma Yuetian finally agreed, albeit reluctantly, and demanded a whole list of benefits and perks.
Raven readily agreed to all of them and even invited her aboard her own ship as a guest.
Ma Yuetian remained wary. “You’re not going to do something to me once I come aboard, are you?”
Raven laughed. “All right, I can understand if you don’t want to come aboard my ship. How about this? Your ship looks like it needs… some repairs. I’ll give you a ship instead. How about that?”
‘There was actually such a good deal?’
Ma Yuetian immediately agreed and quickly picked out the ship she thought was the best among those following the Gale Wind.
“I want that one!”
The captain of the ship she had pointed out: “…”
Raven, however, found the request perfectly acceptable. She wasn’t afraid of Ma Yuetian asking for things; she was afraid she wouldn’t ask for anything at all.
With a single order from Raven, that captain and his crew packed up their belongings and vacated the ship for Ma Yuetian.
Ma Yuetian then tied the ship to Zhu Feifan and began moving the dried fish onto it. At a glance from Raven, people immediately volunteered to help.
Free labor had delivered itself right to her doorstep, so of course Ma Yuetian wasn’t going to refuse.
An hour later, one of the sailors who had volunteered to help returned to the Gale Wind and quietly reported to Raven.
“There are indeed signs that someone had been living on that junk ship for a long time. At least several months. It doesn’t look staged, and the things inside have all clearly been used.”
“I also found some remnants of tree bark tissue where she prepared food. She was still eating tree bark as recently as last month. She must have been living pretty miserably. Just as she said, her ability probably only awakened recently.”
Only then did Raven relax slightly.
How could someone capable of controlling a sea monster have happened to fall into her hands so conveniently?
It was hard for her not to suspect that there was some kind of trick involved.
But since the junk ship had genuinely been lived on for several months, the possibility that this was some kind of trap was greatly reduced.
The reason she had managed to recruit this person was simply that her ability had only recently awakened, and she had never experienced better living conditions.
Because she was poor, she was easily satisfied.
Raven had basically gotten a bargain.
—The only problem was that the girl was a little too indecisive. Talking to her had made Raven’s throat hurt.
Raven watched as Ma Yuetian happily finished inspecting her brand-new luxury ship, and a smug smile appeared on her face.
“When the time comes, she’ll guard the entrance to the assembly with us. Sea monsters have keen senses and an excellent sense of smell. If someone really tries to sneak inside, there’s a very good chance this sea monster will be able to sniff them out.”
…
After getting the ship sorted out and receiving a large amount of food and supplies from the other side, Ma Yuetian was happily munching on bread when she learned about her specific assignment for the day of the Pirate Assembly.
Simply put, she was going to be a gatekeeper.
Everyone who wanted to enter would have to undergo her inspection.
Chewing on her bread, Ma Yuetian looked as though she had already been completely bought off by the food. She thumped her chest and promised:
“Rest assured, Lady Raven!”
“I’ll do my job properly!”
“I absolutely won’t let a single person who isn’t one of our own sneak into the assembly.”
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