"It's rude. ”

Another voice chuckled softly, whispering like a ghost in the sea breeze, "That's the Great Sage...... With the dragon, you have to at least add a 'please'. ”

It was a woman's voice. The dim light on the bow of the ship reflected the figure more like a teenager, his face blurred in the shadows.

"Please, Lords. ”

The man who spoke at first was as kind as a stream, and his deliberately accentuated tone was full of sarcasm.

Before Ed could say anything, Iss had already grazed past him and jumped onto the deck in three or two clicks. He sighed slightly, and silently climbed up.

Standing on deck, the ship looked incredibly large. The fortified walls of Stamboch could accommodate two carriages alongside each other, but the deck of the Dragonbone was more than twice as wide as that. The huge black sails pressed down on their heads like dark clouds, obscuring the starry sky, and even the cool sea breeze carried a heavier fishy smell, and it was impossible to tell whether it came from the sea or from the ship itself.

Surprised Ed...... Or, more vigilantly, there were no rows of ballistae or even a few people on either side of the deck, as Bertram described. No one steered the sails, no one eyed them, no one even dragged the coins and gems from the boat, let alone the drunken and grotesque sailors of his imaginary pirate ship, scolding and laughing rudely......

In contrast to the hiding place of the pirates under the Gate of the Storm, the ship was as quiet as a ghost ship, and the darkness made the imagination even more uneasy.

The two men who could be seen clearly were standing in front of them. A short man leaned on the rudder, his arms were unusually thick, his tangled muscles were visibly solid, and most of his face was covered by a thick short beard, and the remaining half was also indistinguishable because of his dark complexion, and a pair of eyes looked down on them coldly, revealing the gloom and cruelty of people.

He's not nine-toed. Nine Toes was supposed to be a tall young man, with short tan hair, a slight hunchback, and his left ear had been bitten off alive in a battle a long time ago......

Of course, the leader of the Black Sails shouldn't be so easy to see.

Ed looked away. In comparison, the woman who is still reclining on the side of the boat is pleasing to the eye. The woman's skeleton is thick, her thin figure is not slender, her skin is rough and dull, and the contours of her face are too deep and not soft enough, but she has an unforgettable charm at first sight.

There was even a hint of innocence in the nonchalant look on her face, but Ed had already been warned:

"Don't underestimate Adora...... Sometimes she's scarier than Nine Toes. ”

"Do you like our ship?" said Adora, her gaze glancing over Is's and landing on Ed's face, a simple and innocuous smile, "It's the best ship on the sea!"

“...... I brought what you wanted. "Ed really didn't have any interest in chatting with her," my father ...... Where is my father's soul?"

Adora pursed her lips.

"It's boring. She said, "I've heard you're very likable...... Is it only a face that is flattering in the end?"

Ed opened his mouth, then closed silently. He wasn't in the mood to please anyone, but he didn't need to anger a moody opponent.

Adora sneered, turned lazily and hooked her finger at them, "Follow me." ”

The captain's cabin was large, but also extremely empty, with a statue of a mermaid on a long table in the center, and long wavy hair draped down to the end of its long curvy tail. Between the mermaid's upward arms, a fist-sized crystal ball glowed softly.

The first thing Ed saw was the man standing at the table, with white hair, a simple blue robe, and every wrinkle on his face seemed to reveal the wisdom and depth of a scholar...... Out of place with everything around you.

But Ed knew he was a good fit for a ghost ship made from the bones of a dragon.

“...... Oylan. Suppressed anger made his voice unusually low.

"Ed Singel. Oylan nodded to him calmly.

“...... Why?"

The question was pointless, but Ed couldn't help but ask.

"'Why?'" Oylan shook his head, only a little ridiculous, "and probably only you can ask such a question until now...... Because Nine Toes has what I want. A deal is like a deal between me and you, to be honest, he is a better deal than you, he doesn't take the necessary cooperation as real friendliness, he doesn't ask the reason or the result...... For me, it's a lot of worry. ”

Ed was speechless. He had to admit that even though he had been used as a test subject, he had always had some kind of expectation for Oylan inexplicably...... He always believed that he had something else to save. Maybe it's because no matter what, the old mage still cares about the people he wants to protect, maybe it's because of his profound knowledge...... Or maybe it's just because of his personable appearance and the fact that each of his paintings is a masterpiece.

He is really a person who is too easily impressed and deceived...... As many people say, "naïve".

Sometimes, that's just as stupid.

"My father ......," he began, trying not to make himself look too depressed, "is he still there?"

“...... I didn't hurt his soul. Oylan replied, "If that's what you're asking." As for what happens after that, it's not me who you should ask. ”

There was no one else in front of him except the old mage. Ed turned around, and even Adora had quietly left, leaving only Iss standing by the door, looking indifferent, and behind him was a moonlit darkness.

“...... So where is Nine Toes?" Ed could only ask Oylan.

Oylan looked at him with a hint of sympathy in his eyes.

At that moment, the sharp chill pierced the heart like a sharp blade, and the last trace of luck was wiped out in a casual chuckle in his ears. Ed didn't dare to look back, and the short knife that stabbed at his waist triggered the defenses he had set up in secret...... and counterattacks. The invisible force exploded in all directions, but at the same time, his chest seemed to be hit by a heavy hammer.

His eyes suddenly went black, his ribs ached like they were broken, his sweet breath rushed to his throat, and his heart seemed to be unable to beat anymore, and it was not just because he instinctively refused to accept the truth.

He was indeed wounded...... Wounded by his own magic.

When he turned around, he had brushed away the pain in his chest and back, but he still seemed unable to breathe. In his sight, Is, who had been hit by the huge impact on the mast outside the door, slowly stood up straight, his lips pulling his unfamiliar arc.

"Did you already notice it?" he said, "and it was boring. ”

.