Goblin Heavy Dependence

Chapter 400 Sea Rhythm Festival and Moonlit Feast
Xia Nan chose the "Three-Legged Seal" as his temporary residence in Suoyu Bay for one reason: the food at the tavern was indeed quite good, and the seafood-style cream of mushroom soup was especially to his liking.

On the other hand, and most importantly, he hoped to obtain some information about "Algae Scales" Dodd from the tavern owner Hera, in order to help him find the key to the [Dream Corridor].

The unexpected incident at the "Golden Cod" casino has been perfectly resolved with the meeting between Alton and Shanan.

They knew that the halflings hadn't come to Barracuda Bay to cause trouble for their casino; it was purely by chance and out of interest.

Hera breathed a sigh of relief and began to share information about "algae scales" with Xia Nan.

"You should know that Dodd comes from an adventurer background in Barracuda Bay."

Xia Nan nodded slightly. He already had a general understanding of the "algae scales" through the information provided by the association.

They knew that the other party was not a vicious pirate from the beginning, but was only wanted after plundering the kingdom's cargo ships.

"I've heard some rumors, but their accuracy can't be guaranteed. Just take them as a joke."

"According to sources, Dodd was aware of the Serbian Kingdom's official status before attacking the cargo ship, and it was not an unintentional act as some have claimed."

"He was heading straight for that ship."

"To some extent, the fact that Dodd had already transferred his wealth and fleet supplies several months in advance also testifies to this."

Hera took a sip of chilled ale, her dark green hair swaying as the glistening liquid trickled down her chin, across her slender neck and delicate collarbone, disappearing into the depths of her shirt.

After the trip to the casino, her attitude towards Xia Nan had silently changed.

From initial unfamiliarity and tentative exploration, they gradually came to regard each other as potential partners with whom they could deepen their cooperative relationship.

"I will compile information about Dodd's specific fighting style and the combat techniques that have been previously revealed into a written document and have it delivered to your room the night after tomorrow."

"Then I'll have to trouble you," Xia Nan replied sincerely.

Searching for the key to the [Dream Corridor], this information will greatly facilitate his battle against the "Algae Scales," at least ensuring that he doesn't not know whether his opponent is a melee fighter or a ranged spellcaster before the fight.

“However, you should only treat this information as a reference and not rely on it too much.” Hera reminded her, brushing a stray strand of hair behind her ear. “After all, this information was collected many years ago when he was still working as an adventurer.”

"So much time has passed now, who knows what changes might have occurred, so the timeliness might be quite poor."

Xia Nan subconsciously frowned slightly upon hearing the subtext in the other person's words.

"You mean...the other person has had less contact with the outside world in recent years?"

“Dodd’s personality leans towards caution and conservatism,” Hera nodded and replied. “In fact, after he attacked the cargo ship and was wanted by the kingdom, he has hardly shown his face at all.”

"He and his fleet usually hid deep in the archipelago, occasionally coming out to commit a heist, and never took any prisoners. Very few survivors were ever found."

"Apart from the members of their own pirate crew, no one knows the location of Dodd's headquarters."

That would be troublesome.

Xia Nan pondered to himself.

The 【Dream Corridor】 item itself has an exaggerated ability to provide combat skill proficiency, making its level of secrecy second only to his "transmigrator" identity and attribute panel.

He would never reveal the existence of the Dream Corridor to anyone unless absolutely necessary.

For this reason, when Xia Nan was searching for intelligence, he tried his best to lead the clues toward "Algae Scale" Dodd, at most adding "Lylo Morton", but never mentioning the strangely shaped, silver-white metal object left behind by this Morton family descendant in the notes.

If the key to the [Dream Corridor] is indeed in Dodd's hands, the other party, who is missing his physical body, has no means to activate the device and is also likely unaware of its function, at most keeping it in storage as a collectible.

In this situation, one can only feign compliance and obtain the key without the other party noticing. Otherwise, directly revealing one's purpose will only arouse the other party's suspicion and increase the possibility of the leakage of the [Dream Corridor] item information.

It's best to communicate face-to-face; the more intermediaries there are between the two people, the greater the possibility of unforeseen events.

All of this can be achieved if one doesn't even know where Dodd, the "Algae Scales," is.

No matter how thorough the preparations, if you can't meet the person, you can't move forward.

"However... it's not like there's absolutely no way to find a solution for the other party."

After a slight pause, a sly glint flashed in Hera's emerald eyes before she spoke again.

His eyes were fixed on Xia Nan across the table, as if trying to catch the changing expressions on his face.

There was no malicious intent; it was simply a tactic used in negotiations to gain the upper hand.

However, Xia Nan rarely reveals his inner emotions in front of strangers, and his increasingly enhanced physical fitness further strengthens his control over his facial muscles.

Even if one's heart is indeed stirred by the other party's sudden change of topic, one's face remains completely expressionless, cold and calm.

Hera, who had hoped to see a different side of herself in this young adventurer, couldn't help but feel disappointed.

He curled his lip in slight boredom and continued:

"Most of the time, Dodd and his fleet stayed in their stronghold, and it was virtually impossible for outsiders to find them deep within the archipelago unless they had the precise coordinates of their base."

"But that doesn't mean Dodd will stay in his village forever and never leave the village."

Gazing into the pair of dark eyes across the table, Hera's lips moved, and she slowly uttered three words:
"Sea Rhyme Festival".

Sea Rhyme Festival?
Xia Nan repeated it to himself.

Of course he had heard of the name.

Even before setting off from River Valley and preparing for this long journey, he had already learned about this once-every-three-years regional festival, which is almost the most important regional festival in the Southern Islands.

The festival originated in ancient times. In the southern islands, a "Saint of the Tide" was born who could communicate with the ocean through soul chanting. She calmed storms, guided fish, and healed injuries through her songs. She established great prestige in the nearby waters and almost became a god in the mortal world, a saint on the ocean.

Perhaps humanity has seized too many natural resources through this saint, or perhaps the power of faith that the saint gradually accumulated over time has aroused the apprehension of certain beings.

A massive and terrifying catastrophe descended from the sky; houses were destroyed by raging waves, islands were swallowed by the furious sea, and the people of the southern archipelago suffered immense hardship.

Knowing that the key to breaking the deadlock lay with himself, this "Saint of the Tide" resolutely sacrificed his life to appease the wrath of the gods, making the waters near the Southern Islands calmer and easier to navigate, resulting in bountiful catches year after year.

In memory of this noble and venerable saint, the inhabitants of the Southern Islands spontaneously sang the beautiful songs that had sheltered them from storms and waves and connected them with the ocean on the day of her death.

This led to the formation of the prototype of the "Sea Rhyme Festival".

Today, after countless years of evolution, the "Sea Rhyme Festival," held every three years, has become the largest festival in the Southern Islands. The festival customs have also evolved from simple singing and chanting to more convenient, wider-reaching, and more celebratory activities.

Including but not limited to "flower boat parade", "singing competition", "fish-hunting night"... "Moon Tide Feast" is one of the most famous customs that have evolved from these.

On this day of the Ocean Festival, people often prepare a grand feast with all the ingredients from the ocean, inviting relatives and friends to gather and share it.

Some smaller islands with strong economies may even host a grand banquet for all the islanders to celebrate the festival.

"In the outer islands, the 'Moon Tide Feast' event has also been passed down to this day, and it is even held on a larger scale."

However, due to the numerous fugitives and criminals lurking in the archipelago, this custom has changed in nature among some groups after being combined with the local context.

Every three years, the organizers will invite a large number of "big shots" with sufficient prestige and power at sea to gather on a pre-selected island in a specific location that changes every year.

Under the guise of the festival, people exchange information, share channels, and strengthen relationships.

Xia Nan's target, "Algae Scales" Dodd, was naturally one of the invitees.

And over the years, he has never been absent.

"So, if I can get to the venue of the 'Moonlit Feast,' I'm sure I'll be able to see Dodd, right?"

After hearing Hera's introduction, Xia Nan's heart stirred, and he asked her for confirmation.

"Of course!" The woman smiled and took another sip of wine. "Whether you want to make your move right there at the banquet or go back to their hideout with them is up to your own skills and choices."

"But from what you're saying, the banquet that Dodd attended must have been by invitation only, right?"

"Without an invitation, wouldn't we not even know the specific location of the event?"

Xia Nan keenly realized the difficulties in the plan and subconsciously looked at the still charming tavern owner in front of him.

Seeing their expression, I knew that since they had brought it up, there must be a solution.

He didn't say anything more, turning the tables and simply staring at Hera, waiting for her to respond.

As expected, facing Xia Nan's calm gaze, Hera, who was once again trying to sway his emotions through conversation, knew that the young adventurer in front of her had already noticed her intentions.

He chuckled and shook his head, no longer keeping her in suspense.

He raised his right hand, pointing his index and middle fingers upwards, making a "V" sign in front of Xia Nan.

“There are two ways to participate in this ‘Moonlight Feast’ located deep within the archipelago.”

It looks very complicated and high-end.

But in reality, it's quite simple.

The first method is to gain sufficient prestige and fame in the southern archipelago region, including Barracuda Bay.

The attendees at the banquet were a mixed bag, and their reputations didn't necessarily come from whether they were adventurers or pirates.

When you are powerful enough to build relationships and expand your network, and your deeds are famous enough to reach the ears of the banquet organizers across vast oceans.

Naturally, they will receive invitations from you.

Simply put, it's about making yourself a "prominent figure" in this sea area.

After carefully consulting with Hera, he had a rough idea of ​​what level of fame he needed.

Roughly similar to the "Grey Sword's" level of fame in Riverdale?
Not everyone may know it, and those who have heard of it don't need to know what "Gray Sword" looks like or the specific deeds behind its name.

However, anyone who has ventured deep into the adventurer's world, has a habit of gathering information in taverns, and aspires to become a "veteran" in this field, has at least heard this name mentioned by others.

For Xia Nan, gaining such fame in the Southern Islands was neither difficult nor easy.

He was able to rise to fame in River Valley Town by excelling in several quests in cooperation with other adventurers, accumulating experience along the way. He also used figures like "Gap Tooth," who had some local reputation, as stepping stones to achieve a qualitative change and gain fame.

To achieve the same effect in Suyu Bay, some planning is required.

The planning itself requires Xia Nan to have a thorough understanding of the local environment and well-known figures.

This is not something that can be accomplished in a short time; it takes time.

"As for the second one..."

Hera gazed with interest at the black-haired youth across the table, a glint of light flashing in her emerald eyes.

"Find someone qualified to attend the banquet to take you there."

Those who can attend the "Moon Tide Feast" are all prominent local figures. Whether for security reasons or for the sake of prestige, they generally do not go alone.

Bringing a few subordinates is perfectly normal.

To some extent, if one really wants to quickly gain the qualification to participate in the "Moonlight Feast" without any prior reputation, this method can be considered a shortcut.

However, similarly, compared to the previous plan, Xia Nan, although possessing certain strengths and willing to make sacrifices to achieve the goal.

But after all, he was a stranger in a strange land, a newcomer who had only recently arrived in Suoyu Bay.

He had no connections.

Today is his first day in Suyu Bay, and he knows only a handful of people.

We can rule out Mar from the association for now. This is outside of official business, and the other party is just an ordinary person who has neither the ability nor the obligation to participate.

Colin was obviously not qualified to attend the banquet, even though his uncle Paddy had been running his business in the area for many years. However, seeing the dire state of his grocery store, which looked like it was about to go bankrupt, he was clearly not qualified to attend the banquet either.

Alton, I can ask him later.

And then...

As if realizing something, Xia Nan raised an eyebrow slightly.

Those dark eyes were already fixed on Hera, who was smiling in front of her.

"Oh? So...you can take me there?"

(End of this chapter)