Goblin Heavy Dependence

Chapter 404 Set sail
Compared to the average physical attribute of 5 points for ordinary people in this world, Xia Nan's perception attribute of 12 points is almost an exaggerated level that only existed in fantasy works in his previous life.

Take the present as an example.

If it were any ordinary person standing in Xia Nan's position, facing the "Silver Claw Osprey" squad in front of them, aside from the reckless half-orc whose thoughts were all written on his face, they probably wouldn't be able to perceive the negative emotions hidden beneath the faces of the other two members of the squad.

Those who are less perceptive might actually think that Captain Nick is welcoming them when he takes the initiative to greet them with a smile.

But for Xia Nan, his extremely keen perception allowed him to notice a multitude of minute details that would be impossible to notice otherwise, such as the slight stiffness of the muscles at the corners of his mouth when he smiled, the subtle positioning of the three people facing him, and the slight forward lean of his body when he greeted them with a sense of defensiveness...

They sensed the invisible yet undeniably present hostility permeating the air.

His facial expression remained unchanged, and he responded to the other party's greeting with composure and politeness, but secretly he had already memorized the behavior of the others.

Xia Nan had no idea where the so-called "Silver Claw Osprey" team's hostility towards him came from, and he had no memory of these three people at all, confirming that this was the first time they had met.

Based on this premise, and considering the interests and roles involved in this voyage, he roughly guessed that the other party's hostility might be related to his and Alton's sudden joining before the voyage began.

As an adventurer, Xia Nan is never afraid of competition, so he is not too worried about the attitude of the team in front of him.

Combat skills, equipment, and supermodel physical attributes gave him ample confidence to face difficulties.

With a character panel that was practically an elite boss, and his class level being usable as a challenge level, he didn't think these three adventurers were any more difficult to deal with than the Crystal Priest from Sheephorn Town.

Of course, this was out of caution, and also stemmed from the defensive instincts he had gradually developed after his transmigration.

The instant he sensed their hostility, Xia Nan had already included these three adventurers in his list of potential enemies and was mentally rehearsing what it would be like to fight them.

"That half-elf archer should be the only one in the back row of their squad, so he needs to be dealt with first."

"The body type is on the slender side, and the movement speed may be relatively fast. To be on the safe side, you can use [Gravity Control] to apply gravity control. The physical condition should be relatively ordinary, just cut off the head."

"But the deck space isn't very big, so be careful when using [Fang Hunt] to charge, lest you accidentally rush straight into the sea. You'll have to hold back a bit."

"The human captain named 'Nick' is armed with two short swords. Judging from the studded leather armor he is wearing, he is probably more offensive than defensive. He may be hiding something, so we need to observe him further."

"As for this orc... let's cut off his head first. Professionals of this level shouldn't be able to withstand such a fatal wound, but we need to stay away as much as possible after the attack. This kind of barbarian from the wilderness might have dirty tricks like 'self-destruct' or 'final blow,' so we need to be careful."

In a head-on confrontation, and with the initiative to strike first.

Based on the average strength level of level 2-3 professionals in this world, if Xia Nan were to unleash his full power, he should be able to end the battle within five seconds if all goes well.

Thoughts flashed through my mind in an instant.

Nick will never know what the calm, black-haired young man standing before him, who was politely shaking his hand, was thinking at that moment.

All he could feel was the sea breeze that suddenly turned cold, like an illusion, and his heartbeat that inexplicably quickened.

"Cough! Cough!"

A violent cough accompanied by dry heaving suddenly came from behind me.

Turning around, I saw that the half-elf archer "Leda," who had been full of energy and high spirits just moments before, was now lying on her knees, looking unwell and coughing and gagging in a deserted spot on the side deck.

That face, with its exquisite features and an air of arrogance that always stemmed from the bloodline within it, was now filled with an indescribable pain.

"What's wrong? Why are you acting like this all of a sudden?"

Nick frowned, his eyes fixed on his teammates.

"No... Ugh... I'm fine..." The half-elf didn't even raise his head, waved his hand forcefully to indicate that he was alright, and replied with difficulty.

I leaned against the railing on the deck and gasped for breath for a while before I could catch my breath.

"Wasn't everything fine last night? Why did you go back to your room alone and drink?"

For some reason, the half-elf was suddenly behaving this way. Just as they were about to set off, Nick showed an anxious expression, and his tone carried a hint of reproach.

"I, I don't know."

As for Leda herself, she didn't really know what had happened.

Just moments ago, he was standing behind Captain Nick, lost in thought, when suddenly he felt a chill rise from the depths of his heart, like a cold night wind, spreading upwards until…

His slender fingers unconsciously rose and gently stroked his swan-like, white neck, a result of the bloodline of his race.

Before I knew it, goosebumps had appeared on the surface of my skin there.

"Get a good rest tonight. Although our mission is relatively easy and not dangerous, you've been in this line of work for so many years and know that you can't be careless at any time."

Seeing the half-elf gradually recover, Captain Nick, though still worried, breathed a slight sigh of relief.

They were teammates who had worked together for many years and had excellent teamwork; he didn't want to suffer any losses in such an ordinary mission.

Meanwhile, compared to Nick's sudden chill and the half-elf Lyda's coughing and gagging, the burly orc in the party seemed completely unaffected.

He simply stared with his murky, foolish eyes, filled with deep resentment, at the departing figures of Xia Nan and Alton.

"Black-haired boy... short..."

A pair of fangs protruded from his lower lip, making no attempt to conceal his voice. He mumbled incoherently, stammering in a heavily accented Common Tongue.

"The bar girls are not decent."

This is precisely why the "Silver Claw Osprey" team harbored hostility towards Xia Nan and his companion.

From Xia Nan's perspective, he wanted to obtain a way to participate in the "Moonlit Feast" from Hera in order to find clues left by the [Dream Corridor] key in the Southern Islands.

The price to pay for this was accepting the cargo escort mission given to them.

Ultimately, it was nothing more than a common exchange of interests among adventurers, and he didn't see anything wrong with it.

But from the perspective of the "Silver Claw Osprey" team.

As the owner of the "Three-Legged Sea Dogs" and a well-known intelligence dealer in Barracuda Bay, Hera has cooperated with their team many times.

They knew Nick and the others inside and out.

This escort mission was finalized half a month ago. A contract was signed with them, and the escort work was handed over to the "Silver Claw Osprey" team. A deposit was even paid.

But just three days before departure, they suddenly hired two more guards to board the ship.

What do you mean?
Do you not trust us? Do you think our "Silver Claw Osprey" team can't even handle such a basic escort mission?

In other words, Xia Nan and his companion did not affect Nick and his team's income from this mission; otherwise, the atmosphere between them would probably have been even worse.

For adventurers who value gold coins as much as their lives, if their interests are affected, they will not only fail to put on a smile and offer a polite greeting, but they will also likely not give the other party a friendly look at all.

"Don't rush, calm down, bone card."

As the squad leader, Nick, though also feeling some emotion, reached out and patted the arm of the orc beside him, comforting his impulsive and easily angered teammate.

"After we return from this mission, we'll go find Hera and demand an explanation, and get to the bottom of this matter."

In truth, he knew that the crux of the conflict, the object of their resentment, was Hera, the owner of the Three-Legged Seal Tavern. To some extent, Xia Nan and his companion were merely an extension of their pent-up frustrations.

This is why both Nick himself and his two teammates behaved relatively restrained when facing each other.

They didn't completely break off relations.

"but……"

These are all adventurers who spend their lives wandering among the various islands in the south. Lacking the supervision of a sufficiently powerful violent organization, the law of the jungle, which is even more vast than the Misty Forest, is being implemented to the fullest extent.

Pirates, fugitives, cultists...

In most cases, adventurers resolve problems through fists.

The so-called "restraint" and "politeness" are merely words that these adventurers use when they realize that the other party's "fist" might be harder than their own.

Nick had actually planned to give Xia Nan and his companion a hard time before they even set off this morning.

It might not be necessary to take direct action, but using their reputation as "Silver Claw Ospreys" and their larger numbers to intimidate these two outsiders who suddenly boarded the ship would be feasible.

This was also a way for the orc bone card next to him to vent his emotions.

But as he stood on the deck and watched Captain Gregory lead the two men out of the cabin, his thoughts abruptly came to a halt.

The short, half-human figure next to him is unremarkable, so let's ignore him for now.

But the tall, black-haired youth on the other side... didn't seem to be the ordinary adventurer he had originally thought he was.

Having survived in this industry for so many years, especially in a mixed and chaotic place like Barracuda Bay, Nick may not be exceptionally talented, but he certainly has a good eye for people.

The refined aura emanating from his movements, the exquisite equipment he wore... even the somewhat damaged armor on his upper body were not ordinary items that could be bought on a blacksmith's shelf.

Perhaps this black-haired youth is much stronger than he imagined?
Just as Xia Nan stepped out of the cabin and followed Captain Gregory to Nick's side, his deliberately gloomy and aggressive expression vanished from his face as his plan was canceled.

Instead, a smile appeared somewhat stiff due to the abrupt change.

His teammates also showed doubt and dissatisfaction – mainly the orc Bone Card, while the half-elf Lyda on the other side was still in a daze after just recovering, her eyes unfocused.

"Boss Nick, why are you smiling at the black-haired guy?"

"We should scare him, intimidate the little guy, and teach him a lesson!"

Boneka, panting heavily, awkwardly uttered short phrases to express his dissatisfaction with Nick.

Having spent a long time together, Nick knew perfectly well that with the other person's stubborn personality, he wouldn't listen to anything nice when he was angry like this.

Then, with a stern face and a deliberately cold tone, he reprimanded:

"The problem mainly lies with Hera. We're about to set sail, so don't cause any trouble, understand?!"

"Don't you remember what you said when you were brought out of the tribe?"

"Think about the gold coins, think about your old flame in the Coral Courtyard, and listen to me..."

The classic "carrot and stick" combination produces immediate results.

In just a few words, the orc's resentment vanished, and he even looked somewhat aggrieved.

He lowered his head, nodded silently, and said no more.

Standing on the other side of the deck in the distance.

Xia Nan appeared to be gazing at the distant sea with the short man beside him, but in reality, he was subtly watching the "Silver Claw Osprey" team, whose atmosphere had become somewhat strange, out of the corner of his eye.

Captain Nick seemed to have some insight; his expressions and movements changed quickly, and he knew how to control the emotions of his subordinates.
The half-orc was just like his stereotypical image of human-orc hybrids—stupid and not very intelligent, but his actual behavior was quite restrained.

However, the half-elf in their group, who held his head high and seemed rather arrogant, had surprisingly high perception.

It was merely a fleeting thought of my own killing intent that was subconsciously detected by the other party, causing them to react violently and instinctively.

"It's pretty good too."

Xia Nan thought to himself.

Before the other party's explicit hostility exceeds a certain limit, displaying a certain level of strength will help the mission proceed smoothly and avoid a lot of trouble.

While Xia Nan and his companion were interacting with the "Silver Claw Osprey" team, the crew members who had been busy in various parts of the Black Gull had gathered on the deck.

Captain Gregory stood at the very front, near the figurehead, holding a yellow-feathered rooster flapping its wings.

With a slight exertion of his fingers, the crowing of the rooster abruptly ceased, and the noise on the deck vanished instantly, the crew members all falling silent.

"Hey..."

Cold light flickered.

Crimson hot blood gushed from the neck of the yellow-feathered chicken.

The liquid flowed down from the calloused, dark hand, seeping into the gaps between the wooden decks and splashing onto the black seagull statue with outstretched wings at the bow.

"Gah!"

The seagulls circling overhead let out sharp cries, the timing just right, as if they came from the figurehead that symbolized the soul of the Black Gull.

Almost at the same time, Gregory suddenly tossed the dead pheasant, which had already stopped struggling, high into the air and threw it into the sea.

Loud shouts echoed through the air:

"set sail!"

　Thank you "Youzifang" for the Silver Alliance donation!

　　That's too much money! Let's keep up the good work together in the future!

　　I'd also like to recommend this author's book:
　　I'm Not Goblin Slayer

　　Summary:
　　Arriving in a fantastical world, Gauss obtains an adventurer's handbook that grants him strength by defeating and collecting monsters—the more monsters he collects, the stronger he becomes. He initially thought he would embark on a traditional adventure of defeating dragons, slaying demons, and saving the kingdom. However, watching the goblins multiply like pests, seemingly impossible to eradicate, and seeing the rapidly increasing kill count and rewards in his monster encyclopedia, his face grows increasingly resigned.
　　"You have killed a total of 1000 goblins! Intelligence +1, Strength +1, Constitution +1."

　　"Your title 'Goblin Slayer' has been upgraded to 'Goblin Expert.' You are now an expert on goblins; few know better than you how to kill them."

　　"."

　　"Your title 'Goblin Expert' has been upgraded to 'Goblin Slayer.' You are the most ruthless ruler in the history of the goblin race, a terrifying shadow etched deep into the goblin bloodline."

　　Looking at the titles on the panel that are constantly advancing.

　　Gauss really wanted to know if there was any way to prevent people from putting the title "Goblin Slayer" before other famous titles such as Dungeon Conqueror, Redscale Burialer, Phase Hunter, Pale Lord, and Tiamat's Tragedy.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)