Book 4 Chapter 76 (2/2)
“Why is it that you are leaving the Rhine kingdom all by yourself? The n.o.ble's rebellion had been taken care of, and the monsters had all been wiped out.”
“I have some personal business.”
“You seem to have an adventurer's spirit. Well at least that is one of the good things about being in a small Clan, the freedom. We have no choice now but to return due to our orders from the Clan.”
The Pitbull Clan was based in the Izuna kingdom. They had only come over to the Rhine kingdom due to some business in the black market.
However Woohyuk couldn't care less about their situation. He still had many more important things to consider.
“What do you plan on doing when the ghost s.h.i.+p appears?”
“We might fight if it's just one or two s.h.i.+ps, but any more than that would be too much.”
There were currently less than thirty people on board, and things could become quite difficult if they had to fight in close quarters.
“I hope nothing bad happens on our way to port Delphoa.”
“Haha! Stop worrying so much, everything will be fine.”
Jacob smiled as he banged his chest and laughed heartily.
As Seagulls cries were heard from the sky, he started narrating his own heroic exploits once more.
* * *
The first night of their sailing trip, Woohyuk was above deck, not having gone to bed. He wanted to see if a ghost s.h.i.+p would appear.
The captain spoke as he stared into the distance.
“In the past, Nelf Bay was a battlefield upon which countless naval wars were fought. Perhaps the souls of the fallen have reappeared in this world once more.”
“Are they pirates?”
“Some, but there are also smugglers, slaves and even simple sailors just like me.”
The captain went on to explain recount some legends
Siren's Melody, a fairy-like being that sends the sailors into a trance with but a song.
A love story between a captain lost at sea and a mermaid.
Legends about the treasure which the famous pirate, Henry Morgan hid on a remote island.
He had countless stories, but none piqued Woohyuk's interest.
“I've heard all those.”
“You must have great interest in the sea then, young man. You don't seem the type to have worked as a sailor.”
Woohyuk's current appearance was that of a young man with red hair, as he was currently wearing his Jester's Mask.
“I'm a bard, so I happen to know many stories.”
“That's quite surprising, I took you for a fighter.”
The captain had been in this line of work for 250 years, and had noticed some fighting spirit in him.
Woohyuk nodded as he stared back at the man.
“I once worked as a mercenary, but it was out of necessity to have something to eat and barely get by.”
“Even among mercenaries, few have such sharp eyes, you must have led a difficult life.”
“...You don't seem to be the average captain either.”
This captain seemed to have quite the uncanny eye. His own prowess wasn't hidden from him, even if the captain was busy holding on to the s.h.i.+p's wheel.
He didn't seem to miss the slightest detail, as he observed Woohyuk like a hawk.
“Haha! Young man, I've taken a liking to you.”
The captain chortled happily. He then looked up into the starry sky, as he reminisced about his past.
“Actually, I used to be a pirate. Although I was never some bigshot like Drake, I was still quite well known.
Wallace Campbell.
He had sailed together with Henry Morgan, but had retired due to a death curse.
The curse was such that every time they boarded a pirate's s.h.i.+p, their lifespan would be reduced by 10 years.
“Do you know who set the curse?”
“I don't know. It occurred upon discovering a red jewel on an island in the Nelf Bay. I tried to find the owner of the jewel, but failed.”
In the past 200 years, he had yet to meet an archaeologist that could tell him the origins of this red jewel.
Of course many simply refused to even attempt it due to the nature of the curse.
As Wallace pulled out the jewel in question, Woohyuk got closer and took a look at it with his Golden Magnifying Gla.s.s.
[Anne Bonny's Grief]
Type: Consumable
Effect: Any pirate who touches it, is targeted by a terrible curse. Each time they board a s.h.i.+p flying a pirate flag, their lifespan is reduced by 10 years. If they die at sea, they turn in Ghost, cursed to wander at sea. To break this curse, one must present this jewel to Anne Bonnie.
'Is Anne Bonny its owner?'
She had been a famous female pirate, but was killed by a colleague whom she had trusted. Legend had it that she had been engaged at the time. Perhaps this red jewel had been a betrothal gift from her fiance.
The recent appearance of ghost s.h.i.+ps were almost certainly connected to Anne Bonny.
Now that he had the whole story, Woohyuk put away his magnifying gla.s.s and spoke.
“You've stolen from quite the dangerous woman, Wallace.”
“Who? Do you know her ident.i.ty?”
“Anny Bonny. A beautiful woman with stunning red hair, she was said to be rather handy with a cutla.s.s as well.”
“Anne Bonny? s.h.i.+t, I've always said that I'm the unluckiest of fellows.”
Wallace had started up a small business in Media after saving up some money earned from transporting cargo across long distances. Unfortunately sales weren't as good as he had expected, so he had no choice but to return to the sea.
“Why don't you try to meet her, and try to ease her grief.”
“It's all too late for that. Old as I am, I can hardly take up pirating once again.”
Henry Morgan and all of his crewmates had died. If it wasn't for that fact that he had failed in his latest business venture, he could have stayed at home and watched his grandchildren grow old.
As Wallace lamented at his poor fate,
“Sniff sniff….”
The sound of a woman crying was heard at sea, as dozens of ghost s.h.i.+ps appeared.
It seemed to be Anne Bonny's pirate fleet, as their sails were decorated with her famous th.o.r.n.y rose painted in red.
“Speak of the Kraken….”
Wallace said with a troubled expression.
He was but an old man, long past his glorious pirate days. Just waiting for the day death found him. There wasn't much he could do against Anne Bonny's ghost fleet.
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