Goblin Heavy Dependence

Chapter 405 Pirates!

Life at sea is far less interesting than one might imagine.

Colin has a deep understanding of this.

Today is the third day since the Black Gull set sail.

Through his uncle Paddy's connections, he came aboard the ship as an apprentice sailor, expecting to fight against the raging waves, sing his heart out in the night filled with the aroma of wine and food, and fight to the death with pirates, just as the bards described.

But in reality, all that was left for him during those three whole days was seemingly endless work that he could never finish.

Repairing ropes, pulling sails, cleaning decks, pumping water and plugging leaks...

The extremely demanding work made Colin feel that several times when he returned to his straw mat, which was located in the crevice of the cargo hold, to rest, he was so exhausted that he passed out.

Just like that experience of getting up close and personal with goblins that dispelled his yearning for being an "adventurer".

Life on the Black Gull, with its harsh realities, shattered his illusions about being a "sailor" and "navigation."

The enthusiasm of young people comes quickly and goes quickly.

But after all, he wasn't a young master from a noble family. Even though he was the second son in the family and grew up being pampered by his parents and older brothers, he was still an ordinary person from a small village.

Colin will not give up or throw a tantrum simply because reality is different from what he imagined.

He even became more hardworking, demonstrating a level of responsibility that his peers lacked, and doing his best to complete the tasks assigned to him.

She wanted to gain the approval of her colleagues, but also didn't want to embarrass Uncle Paddy, who had taken such good care of her.

To be honest, Colin knew he was being taken good care of on the ship.

As a fellow trainee sailor, he not only didn't have to clean toilets or eat leftovers like other new recruits, but he was also never bullied or mistreated by the other veteran crew members.

There were a few sailors who were said to have terrible tempers and loved to joke around with the newcomers on board to relieve the boredom and stress of sailing, but they were always smiling when it came to themselves and never lost their temper.

Colin knew perfectly well that his uncle, who ran a grocery store, alone could not achieve such an effect.

The reason he is currently being kept out of the bullying is entirely due to Mr. Xia Nan.

Colin didn't advertise it, but every crew member who works at sea year-round is a smart man.

Ever since Xia Nan greeted Colin on the day she boarded the ship, their relationship had already spread throughout the Black Gull.

Even though the frequency of their interactions after setting sail suggested that Xia Nan and Colin weren't particularly close, the crew members were still very cautious when dealing with Colin, the apprentice sailor who clearly knew the professional guards on board.

Xia Nan himself didn't mind this.

If his connection alone could spare Colin some unnecessary suffering on the ship, he would be quite happy to see that.

To some extent, his views on seafaring life were actually the same as Colin's.

Coming from the inland, this was my first time traveling by boat.

At first, when he had just left the port, he marveled at the vastness of the sea and the spectacular view of the red sun on the horizon at sunrise and sunset.

But no matter how magnificent it is, you'll eventually get tired of seeing it too much.

Xia Nan gradually got used to the scenery at sea, and even found it a bit boring.

On the contrary, Alton, the halfling with an incredibly rich travel experience, always appeared to be in high spirits.

Sometimes, I can spend an entire afternoon just sitting on the deck, watching the seagulls circling overhead.

He showed an extraordinary enthusiasm for everything about the voyage.

He even used the recipes he had learned during his trip to give Xia Nan a few extra meals, since she was tired of the monotonous food on the ship.

The presentation was a bit lacking, somewhat sloppy, but the taste was excellent, no less than that of the tavern kitchens in town that made food specifically for sale.

"I wonder if the short guy will cook tonight. The butter-roasted chicken he made yesterday smelled so good. I'll ask him where he learned it later."

Thinking about the wonderful taste he enjoyed at yesterday's dinner table, Xia Nan stepped out of the cabin.

It was early morning, but the deck was already bustling with activity.

Several young men who looked like sailors, including Colin, were cleaning up the stains on the deck;

Alton, a halfling, found a fishing rod somewhere and sat by the railing, fishing with great enthusiasm.

In addition, the three members of the "Silver Claw Osprey" team had also gotten up early and were gathered on one side of the deck, discussing something.

The group was positioned directly facing the hatch exit, so they immediately spotted Xia Nan emerging from the cabin.

Squad leader Nick forced a smile and waved to Xia Nan. Compared to when they first met three days ago, the stiffness in his smile was much less, indicating that he had made some adjustments.

As always, the half-orc Bone Card, with his thick nerves and low intelligence, wore his thoughts on his face. You could still see the resentment on his ugly face, but with Nick's restraint, he obviously didn't dare to cause trouble for Xia Nan.

As for the female half-elf archer named "Leda"...

Perhaps it was because Xia Nan's murderous intent during their first encounter was too intense that this usually aloof half-elf, even three days after leaving the port, still dared not meet Xia Nan's gaze.

Whenever his gaze swept over her, the other person would unconsciously lower her head.

Xia Nan nodded in response to Nick, not wanting to get entangled with these people any longer.

With a turn of his feet, he was already heading towards Alton.

As a devout follower of Lady Luck and seemingly favored by the Smiling Lady, the short man's behavior while fishing quite fits Xia Nan's stereotype of such a lucky person.

There are almost no skills involved, let alone any professionalism.

I didn't care about the weather or the fishing spot; I just found a place to sit down by the boat. The bait was some dried meat I grabbed from the kitchen, torn into small pieces. I cast the line weakly, and the hook almost swung into the sea.

He didn't even need to focus much; he held the fishing rod in his hand, his eyes were already slightly squinted, enjoying the sunlight, looking content and lost in thought.

But it is precisely because of this absent-minded, amateurish attitude that his fishing hook seems to be some kind of magnet specifically designed for fish in the sea.

Casting, bait bites, fish on the hook...

Casting, bait bites, fish on the hook...

The longest interval between waits was no more than five minutes, even after Alton took his hands off the rod and ran to the kitchen to get a few mandarins.

Moreover, Xia Nan once witnessed a fish he caught being a common sea bream that had appeared many times before.

Alden muttered something under his breath, sounding somewhat disappointed.

The next cast of the line yielded an astonishingly strange-looking silver anglerfish with glowing tentacles on its forehead.

According to the experienced sailor next to me, it is a rare fish that lives in the deep sea and only surfaces under very rare circumstances.

It makes short people very happy.

This also made Xia Nan wonder if Alton could catch whales or some giant sea monster unique to this world if he really wanted to.

I stood by and watched for a long time, seeing one fish after another on the Alton fishing hook, as if it were treating the sea as a pond in its own backyard.

Xia Nan also felt a little itchy to try it.

However, after a tentative inquiry, the other party laughed and jumped up, shoving the fishing rod into Xia Nan's hand.

"I'm a little tired from fishing, here you go!" Xia Nan wasn't a seasoned angler in his previous life. No matter how interested he was, he simply couldn't find the time to go fishing outdoors due to his busy work schedule.

All I can do after get off work is lie exhausted on the sofa and watch some related videos.

But regardless, he still knew some basic swing techniques and fishing tips.

"Shh!"

With both hands gripping the fishing rod tightly, one in front of the other, the waist, abdomen, and arms work together to exert force, the posture is relaxed and graceful, and the professional-level mastery of the body is fully demonstrated at this moment.

"Plop."

The fishhook was cast high into the air and landed cleanly in the water, splashing up tiny droplets.

The buoy rose and fell with the surging waves. Xia Nan focused his attention, his perception far exceeding that of an ordinary professional, concentrated on the crimson buoy amidst the waves.

As soon as a fish bites the hook, it can sense it instantly, without any possibility of missing it.

With calm and focused eyes, Xia Nan waited patiently.

Five seconds... ten minutes... half an hour...

Until Alton, who was sitting on the deck next to him and was always full of interest, watching him fish with a smile, stretched lazily out of boredom, something he hadn't done in a long time.

The buoy that was bobbing up and down in the waves remained completely still.

Xia Nan appeared calm and composed, but his hands were already beginning to retract the club.

"I think we should switch to some more professional bait; these sea fish are quite picky about their food."

He secretly regretted not bringing the [Tide Lure Rod] with its baiting effect; otherwise, if the little guy had caught a whale, he could have taken the opportunity to test the equipment's effectiveness.

As Xia Nan was reeling in his club, his hand suddenly paused.

Beyond the buoy, on the distant sea, a faint black dot can be seen.

Attention is subconsciously focused, and perception takes effect.

That is……

Almost simultaneously, from the towering mast above, the lookout, binoculars in hand, shouted with all his might, a loud and clear voice coming from overhead:
"Starboard! Upwind! A single-sail speedboat!"

……

On the vast ocean, there are no radio waves that can communicate over long distances like in my previous life, and in most cases, there are no crew members available for spellcasters.

Unless they are close friends.

Otherwise, when two unfamiliar ships meet at sea, it is only natural and common to assume the other's intentions with the utmost malice.

When the lookout's warning reached the deck of the Black Gull, the previously relaxed atmosphere instantly froze.

While the inexperienced trainee sailors were still subconsciously gazing into the distance, the seasoned veterans, without needing any instructions, had already rushed in batches towards the stern deck and the inner cabins.

While relaying information to the captain and other senior personnel, prepare weapons as quickly as possible.

Within ten seconds, Captain Gregory of the Black Gull hurriedly came to the deck.

Holding a pair of binoculars, he scanned the direction the lookout had warned him to.

What came into view was a single-masted wooden boat that looked like a fallen leaf, bobbing on the waves.

"All personnel, take your positions!" He shouted, raising his right fist sharply. "Prepare to turn and gain the upper hand!"

Gregory was clear about the Black Gull's position and knew that their mission was to escort cargo.

When encountering an unfamiliar vessel within your field of vision, giving way is undoubtedly the right thing to do to show your attitude.

If the other party has no hostility to begin with, his actions will undoubtedly help them avoid an unnecessary dispute.

The helmsman stands firmly behind the rudder with his legs like nails, exerting force with his arms; the sailors either rush to the sail lines, pull the ropes, and adjust the angle of the sails, or quickly clear the deck and move some debris that may affect the next operation back into the cabin.

Time passed by minute by minute.

Gregory's expression grew increasingly grim and serious.

The single-masted wooden boat in their field of vision had not only not increased in distance as they retreated, but had actually gotten closer.

Even an ordinary sailor with average vision could see that small black dot on the distant sea.

His extensive seafaring experience had already convinced this dark-skinned middle-aged man.

The target of this single-sailed speedboat was none other than themselves and their companions.

Without the slightest hesitation, he raised his voice and said:
"Everyone, alert, prepare for battle!"

The Black Gull is a medium-sized ordinary cargo ship, and it is currently fully loaded with cargo, making it much slower than its counterpart.

With the enemy already locked onto the target, being caught on the open sea with no cover is almost a certainty.

Although there were also instances where the other party encountered some unexpected situation and took the initiative to approach them for help.

But right now, it is essential to prepare for battle.

“Patta…”

The sound of hurried footsteps echoed across the deck.

The arrangements had already been made, so the sailors didn't need any further instructions; they acted efficiently at a single command.

Some armed with bows and crossbows ran to high points such as the sterncastle to seize firing positions; others with spears gathered on both sides of the ship to hold off the enemy in any boarding maneuvers; the strongest men stood solemnly on the inner deck, armed with swords, shields, and axes, ready to engage in the most brutal hand-to-hand combat with the invaders once they boarded the ship.

Xia Nan and Alton watched the whole thing from the sidelines.

He has no experience in navigation, and interfering at this time would only make things worse.

But at the same time, they were also prepared for battle.

【Emberfall】The straight sword was drawn silently, its gray-black blade reflecting the azure sky above, refracting a sharp, cold light.

A pair of cold, dark eyes were fixed on the single-sailed wooden boat that was rapidly approaching in the distance, and he remained vigilant.

Even though Captain Gregory had reacted as quickly as possible, the speed difference between the ships was something that could not be easily overcome by skill and alertness alone.

It was visibly getting closer and closer between the two ships.

The sailors could even see the fully armed adventurers on the other side's deck.

Meanwhile, it was clear that the other party had finally confirmed the nature of the Black Gull cargo ship.

Swah——

Symbolizing bloodshed and misfortune, a jet-black flag suddenly rose from the mast of the single-sailed speedboat.

"Pirates! Pirates!"

(End of this chapter)