Mermaid Wharf

Thunder and lightning flashed on the vast sea, the wind was strong, and the bottom plate under my feet was tilted to one side. I fell in embarrassment beside the buzzing ship wall, and raised my hand to catch Velijia who also slipped down.

The torrential rain accompanied by the sound of hail hitting the deck clearly rang in the ears, and the mournful cry of the mermaid was like a mournful incantation, summoning a torrential and violent storm at sea.Veliga was trembling violently in my arms, and the sound of crying still pierced my eardrums sharply, and I was so sad that I could hardly move.

Realizing that my colleagues are risking the risk of reefing the halyard at this time, the sound of the bracket frame breaking can be heard from time to time, and the stench of sea water has already flooded the deck. If Veliga is not stopped, the Royal Ghost is very likely to die. There will be more trouble, I gritted my teeth, raised my hand and slapped him.

"Vilija! Don't cry, look at me!!"

Velijia raised her head, still panting intermittently, her collapsed eyes met mine, and she struggled to get out of the painful emotion.I patted his back and tentatively kissed his lips, and sure enough I tasted the faint smell of blood; Velija snorted, finally calmed down, and passed out in my arms.

Sensing that he seemed to be dehydrated from crying too much, I hastily pulled the water pipe beside the freezer, opened the valve and poured water on his silver tail.Without the mermaid's call, the humming of the turbulent hull finally stopped, and the squall and rain that hit the deck also slowly stopped, and the sea returned to its original silence.

The ice shattered by the sound waves brought chaos to the ground. I hugged Velija tightly and stood up. My brain was still in chaos after I hadn't sorted out everything. I put on my lamp for a long time, and wanted to go back first.Before he had time to get out of the freezing cabin, hurried and scattered footsteps came from a distance, the cabin door was pulled open forcefully, and the dazzling lights shone straight in.

In the darkness, the patrolmen with lights stood at the door and looked at us in surprise, while Captain Garcia walked out from among them expressionlessly, and his eyes fell on Veliga in my arms.

Cold sweat broke out from the tip of my nose, and I stood there in embarrassment, not knowing how to explain it.I should have thought that Veliga's big commotion just now would not attract attention. Not only did the lie come to light, but I also didn't know how Captain Garcia would deal with us.

"Mermaid?!"

"Why is the mermaid here?"

"That's right, the storm just now must have been caused by this mermaid!"

Hearing the whispers of the sailors, I instinctively held Velijia in my arms, and I had already prepared for the worst in my heart. "...that's enough, let's all go back to work." I was about to speak, but Captain Garcia waved his hand at them casually, then glanced at me and said, "Mano, come with me."

……

After taking Veliga back to the warm cabin and settling down, I sat on the edge of the bed with complicated emotions and looked at his sleeping face with wet tears, then stood up, put on my coat, and went to the captain's cabin to accept someone's trial.

Having just experienced the storm that nearly engulfed the Royal Ghost, Captain Garcia was obviously not in a good mood. He sat there gloomily and watched the report handed in by the patrolman, as if he had no intention of speaking first.I stood silently at the table for 3 minutes, and said: "Mr. Captain, about Velija..."

The report in his hand was thrown on the table. Captain Garcia suddenly raised his head, looked at me and sneered, "Viliga? You are very close to that mermaid."

"Please listen to my explanation, Mr. Captain." I took a step back and stood up straight without avoiding his cold gaze, "You already knew that Velija was on this ship, and this matter is ultimately my fault. Originally, I planned to send him back without anyone noticing, so I took him to the freezer to find a box that could hold a mermaid, but unexpectedly, I saw his uncle's body in those freezers—— A silver fish tail that belongs only to royal adult fish."

Captain Garcia tapped his fingers on the table, and his lips curled up in disapproval: "And then?"

"Viliga felt very sad. His uncle was killed on this ship by an unknown person, and it was only then that he screamed and caused a storm."

He was silent for a while, then sneered, "Oh? So you mean, I should forgive him?"

"No, what I mean is that you should give him an explanation." I continued calmly, "I want to know if you killed Velija's uncle, Mr. Captain."

……

I know that before the truth of the matter has surfaced, it is absolutely not appropriate to rashly speculate on others with malicious intent. However, even if Veliga's uncle was not killed by Captain Garcia, it is definitely not the same as the renamed Polar Joy. Can't get rid of it.Only then did I realize that the reason why Captain Garcia prevented me from getting Angelo's diary was probably because he had recorded some unknown dark side of the ship.

"It has nothing to do with you, Mano." Captain Garcia frowned.

"It's true that it has nothing to do with me." I spread my hands, "But I don't want to work on the murderer's ship."

He really refused to confess to me.After I had an idea in my mind, I decided to go back and read all of Angelo's diaries. Even if God told me to go to work this time, I would turn a deaf ear to it.

"...Mano, do you think I spoiled you too much before?"

Captain Garcia stood up suddenly, his height with me brought a faint sense of oppression.He slowly approached me, grabbed my collar and brought it to him, then said in a depressed tone:

"Do you know how much damage this mermaid storm has done to the Royal Ghost? You'd better look around the bridge to see the rickety masts and frames, and the mess in the cargo holds filled with seawater. tea leaves; and it's a miracle you're still alive. My fair-haired angel, your poor adoptive parents might not be able to afford to sell those few modest fields in the country."

He threw the recounted manifest and the patrolman's report in front of my eyes, and seemed satisfied to see my pale face.The shocking figures on the paper were written clearly. Although I really wanted to continue to question him, I was still choked by the debt that was thrown out of thin air.

……

I don't know how long it took, I heard my own voice that seemed to weaken in an instant:

"I understand, Mr. Captain. I am willing to extend my contract unconditionally until my salary can make up for these losses."

"That's right." Captain Garcia saw my emotional changes, and whispered in my ear with an ambiguous smile on his lips, "Don't worry, Mano, I will arrange someone Return your precious lover safely to Fischer's Wharf; and you will be obediently to work on this ship, and be my slave until you are able to pay all your debts."

……

After getting out of the captain's cabin, I walked onto the deck tiredly, leaning against the railing to light a cigarette in the cool starlight, feeling an indescribable oppression in my chest.

The bridge is really messed up everywhere, Captain Garcia is not exaggerating, I am afraid that the Royal Ghost will have to return to the Royal Sailing Company for repairs after completing this voyage, and this is far from what ordinary rich peasant families can afford ;The storm just now was obviously more ferocious than I imagined. If Velija was stopped one step later, I don't know what terrible consequences will happen.

I thought that all the accidents during this trip were still within my control, but what I didn't expect was that I not only failed to dig out the truth from Captain Garcia, but also sacrificed my freedom for the rest of my life.

As I was feeling depressed, I noticed a small rustling sound coming from the observation deck not far away. It sounded like some kind of smooth scales were rubbing against the mast.

"Who?!"

The black shadow fell from the high watchtower, winding like a deep purple python, and slowly stopped in front of me.

"It's me, Mano."