894 Meeting (1/2)
Danitz turned agape as he subconsciously said in Intis, ”Hotel.”
The air seemed to instantly freeze as Danitz looked at the carriage driver's dark-brown skin, coarse and messy black hair, rather soft facial contours, and blank expression. He exhaled silently and blamed it on his bad luck before silently carrying his luggage to walk down the street.
”Dogsh*t! I actually encountered a carriage driver who doesn't know Intis! Shouldn't someone who picks up passengers near the harbor know a few Northern Continent languages? There are so many people from Intis, Loen, and Feysac around here!” As Danitz grumbled, he looked ahead to look for pedestrians who looked to be from the Northern Continent or had similar heritages in a bid to smoothen his process of checking into a hotel and filling his stomach.
According to what he knew, Behrens Harbor had quite a number of people from Intis, Loen, Feynapotter, and Feysac who had migrated here. As long as he met one, communication wouldn't be a problem.
However, Danitz felt that all of this was built on a premise: he had to ensure that he didn't collapse from heatstroke.
”This dogsh*t weather!” He looked up at the azure-blue sky, white clouds, and the sun which wasn't too glaring. Cursing with a warped expression, he raised his hand to wipe the sweat from his forehead.
Despite his cursing, Danitz actually knew that the temperature in the Southern Continent was considered mild to the point that even calling it slightly cool wasn't an exaggeration. The reason why he was feeling so hot was because he was wearing the Sun Brooch. However, having just arrived and having not figured out the situation in his surroundings, he didn't dare remove the brooch to stuff it into his luggage bag. If he were to lose the item, he could imagine the cold and crazy look Gehrman Sparrow would give him.
Come on, give me a few people from the Northern Continent. Any country would do. I'm a famous pirate who knows several languages after all… Danitz kept muttering under his breath as all he could think of was iced beer and icebergs that floated in the ocean.
As he muttered, he suddenly rubbed his eyes.
He had finally seen someone who was clearly of Northern Continent descent!
Furthermore, it seemed to be someone familiar!
Diagonally ahead of Danitz, at a street illuminated by bright sunlight, a young man with blond short hair that was split seventy-thirty was leaning against a wall, blowing into a silver harmonica.
He had emerald-green eyes, and he wore a white shirt that didn't have the top two buttons buttoned up. He wore a completely unbuttoned black vest, dark-colored trousers, and a single black glove. He was none other than the Strongest Hunter of the Fog Sea, Anderson Hood!
What a coincidence? This fellow actually came to West Balam… Danitz felt delighted deep down, feeling that he had finally grabbed a floating plank in the sea of people. Ignoring Anderson's actions on the Golden Dream, he approached him and greeted in standard hunter speech.
”What happened? Treasure hunting hasn't been working out for you, so you've begun busking on the streets?”
He noticed that Anderson had an overturned hat in front of him. In it were about twenty to thirty brass coins. A few of them were Intis Coppets, with the majority being local Delexi.
In Intis, Delexi meant copper coins.
Anderson stopped playing the harmonica as he shot Danitz a glance.
”That's not my hat.
”I happened to walk past and saw a hat on the ground. Seeing how no one discovered it, I felt a little wistful and took out my harmonica to play it. To my surprise, quite a number of people gathered around to listen and threw money in it.
”A boorish pirate like you probably doesn't understand the beauty of music and how it has no borders. I'm telling you, your captain especially likes…”
”Stop!” Danitz's forehead throbbed as he stopped Anderson from diverting the topic of conversation. He asked, ”Why are you here?”
Anderson held the harmonica and thought about it seriously.
”That's a good question.
”I have no idea why I'm here in West Balam either. I don't remember a thing that has happened over the past two months.”
Danitz originally wanted him to cut it out, but Anderson's serious expression convinced him. He deliberated and asked, ”You don't remember a thing?”
Anderson put away the silver harmonica, bent down, picked up the hat with quite a number of coins, and dusted it.
”My last memory was of me in Bayam with Gehrman Sparrow. After going our separate ways, I had apparently gone somewhere to meet someone. When I woke up, I was already here in West Bayam…
”Haha, don't be concerned over such matters. As long as I'm still alive. Ah, it's almost noon. Let's go have a meal. I heard that Behrens is famous for its pork knuckles.”
While saying that, Anderson placed the hat along with the coins beside a tramp to his side.
Already hot, hungry, and exhausted, Danitz was invigorated upon hearing that.
”You know Dutanese?”
Anderson chuckled.
”Haven't you heard of my numerous adventures as a treasure hunter in West Balam?”
That's right. I had thought of seeking you out to get information on West Balam… The situation here is chaotic, and it's rather dangerous. I'll definitely be safer with Anderson around. Also, I'll have an interpreter! I can't say I'm hiring him, as I can't afford him… Danitz slowly revealed a smile.
”That puts me at ease. Let's go.”
Holding his luggage, he and Anderson circled to a nearby main street and found a restaurant.