The clear blue sky and the undisturbed river of gems, the "creaking" of the deck in the rickety cabin, the cool breeze blowing through the window, and the white linen curtains gently passing in front of the bed.

The white and golden hair is scattered on the pillow, and the young man lying on the bed has a quiet and lazy gaze, and a pair of red pupils under the soft eyelids look out the window.

"The sea... What are you asking?

...... is an eternal question;

The sky... What are you answering?

...... It is eternal silence. ”

The pale-faced young man gently opened his bloodless lips and muttered in a low voice, slowly stretched out his right hand, and his pure gaze passed through the gap between his five fingers.

The clear blue seemed to be like his crystal clear mind, with a hint of hesitation......

"Smack!"

The dark-haired wizard with a blank face suddenly appeared, and closed the window directly with his other hand.

"Dear Loren, you're finally back. Lying on the bed, Asrael was not embarrassed at all, and smiled politely, a childlike smile that could melt ice and snow: "I've been waiting for you for a long time!"

What does it mean to finally come back... I haven't left, okay?

Holding back the urge to twitch the corners of his mouth, Loren looked down at the well-behaved young man on the bed: "It's clear that the person who is seriously injured is me... Why are you lying in bed?"

"Probably because... There was no one in this bed at the time?" Asriel blinked, "and I feel that as your friend, I have a duty to make sure that dear Loren has a warm bed at all times." ”

For a moment, Loren wanted to strangle him and throw him to the Jewel River to kill without leaving a trace.

"I'm sorry, but I'm not interested in a warm quilt for an evil god, let alone a cold-blooded vampire. The corners of his mouth twitched, and the black-haired wizard who rolled his eyes waved his hand in disgust:

"Get out of my bed now, immediately. ”

Asriel's face immediately showed an aggrieved expression, and his scarlet eyes seemed to cry.

In the next second, he was thrown into the corner by the black-haired wizard with his collar and like a rag doll.

Ignoring Asrael, who pretended to be full of resentment, Loren, who was seriously injured, now had to lie down and rest for a while even if he walked around a little - no matter how much Edward avoided it, even if he recovered faster than ordinary people, the penetrating injury that hurt his heart and lungs could not be cured in the blink of an eye.

Looking at the closed and cramped cabins on all sides, as well as the water on the table and a few pieces of food used as dry bread...... These are the "meat ticket treatment" that Loren received after agreeing to the tax of one million silver coins from the "Black Sparrow Captain".

But if you look closely, you can find a lot of suspicious things - the lock of the hatch door is not inside the door, but outside, and even the door shaft has been stuck from the outside.

The sound of footsteps coming from the walkway outside the cabin proved that there were at least five or six people wandering outside at all times, and at least two people were standing motionless outside the door, and only someone came to change shifts during the time of eating and sleeping every day;

Even under the only ventilated window, there were people lying next to them at all times, eavesdropping with crossbows and daggers—such a strict defense was no less strict than that of the Summer Twilight Courtyard.

Of course, thanks to a certain teenager... It was because Loren talked to him again and again that the thieves who eavesdropped outside the house felt that something was wrong again and again, but in the end, they were more vigilant because they couldn't find anyone and returned in vain.

Even the contents on his body were all taken by Captain Ed - not even the "spellcaster", leaving only himself with the clothes worn by sailors.

So Ed, the "Black Sparrow Captain", is not as stupid as he seems.

He's greedy but not stupid... I'm afraid that until now, I have not fully believed my own words.

But it doesn't matter, because he has a request for himself, and he wants the ransom of this million silver coins!

From the moment he was unconscious to the time he woke up, Loren noticed several things.

First of all, the place where they found himself should not be far from the port of the imperial capital, but it is not very close;

Secondly, this "Black Sparrow Captain" did not secretly talk to himself about the ransom, but in front of all the sailors, without even asking himself, he directly announced to them that he wanted to get a ransom of one million from himself;

Finally, their accent and a few small gestures prove that they are native Sakrands, which is also crucial!

The Chamber of Commerce in Golovin was not as powerful as the free nobles of Ebolden, and it was impossible to raise private soldiers and thieves to drive them at the foot of the imperial capital, and at most hire some temporary mercenaries and killers;

They came out of the port of the imperial capital, but there was not much cargo in the hold, and there were still people left to watch them except for the busy sailors on the deck - pirates at sea also knew how to smuggle while plundering, even if they were just a group of "river pirates", it was too strange to leave the port empty;

And the unusual behavior of the "Black Sparrow Captain"... Loren had been an attendant to the knights of Leonardo Turin, and had "dealings" with many bandits and robbers, and this kind of ransom was generally not and could not be told to his subordinates.

Because once it is clear, they have to give at least half of it to their men, and this is only the "rule" of the bandits - Loren had heard in his time at Ebolden that the pirates who went to sea were more strict in their share of the spoils, and the captain could only take 30% at most.

And if there are too many points, it is likely that the sailors will not continue to work for him anymore... A whole million, even if it's one percent, how can they still have to live this kind of life of licking blood from the knife?

So unless this "Black Sparrow Captain" is really stupid, he will never publish the real ransom number.

In this case, there is only one explanation for such an unusual behavior of this guy - he intends to use this ransom to boost the morale of the sailors, make a big deal and run away immediately!

His importance to him has changed from a windfall, a pie falling from the sky, to an incomparably good opportunity, a good opportunity to make him rich overnight and even turn his life around!

He wanted to squeeze oil and water out of himself... Even if he didn't have a million silver coins, he would have to make a windfall so that he could run away after he came ashore.

That's why he was so excited after knowing that Loren's surname was "Yode"... The Yod Chamber of Commerce, which can rival Ebolden, is already famous on the Gem River, and for this family, not to mention a million silver coins, even a million gold coins is only a small matter.

"Anyway... What are you going to do if you meet the Yode Chamber of Commerce, Loren?"

Asrael, who was cowering in the corner, looked at the black-haired wizard pitifully: "Do you really want to give them a million silver coins?"

"Hmm... It depends. ”

"Depends on the situation?"

"There is no Yod Chamber of Commerce in the vicinity of the Imperial Capital, except in Golovin, and the nearest is to the port of the Prince's Domain of East Sacraland—even at full speed, it will take a day or two. Loren shrugged:

"A day or two... Although it can't be fully recovered, at least it can be moved. ”

"So......" Asrael tilted his head.

"So if they really keep their promise, it doesn't matter if they give them a million silver coins when the time comes—all the golden tickets are in Ain's hands, but the Yod Chamber of Commerce should have my records, and it won't be difficult to get a million with some effort. ”

The black-haired wizard on the bed looked at the boy: "It doesn't matter if his identity is exposed at that time... What they care about is not who I am, but whether I can come up with the money...... Of course, this is only a first-hand plan. ”

"Hmm... Then if something goes wrong. Asriel's scarlet pupils flickered, his voice was soft and low, and the corners of his mouth raised slightly, "They don't just want money, do they?"

"That day or two was enough. Loren deliberately lowered his voice, with a gentle smile on his face:

"Enough for me to be silent... Kill them all!"

"Bang ——!"

The moment the hatch was opened, the young man with the corners of his mouth curled in the corner disappeared in an instant, and the "Black Sparrow Captain" with a group of dogs broke in, and the only remaining eye stared at the black-haired wizard, exuding endless greed:

"Lord Isaac Yod, I'm here to tell you good news!"

"Oh......" Loren smiled quietly, "What's the good news?"

When the words fell, the captain smiled even more happily, and even the doglegs behind him had excited expressions:

"Our lookout has just seen a merchant ship from the Yod Chamber of Commerce, and you... It's time to go home!"