Walking through the streets of Byam, Esther and Alexander were dressed like pirates, and even Mary, who was with them, did not attract attention.

"You've seen the serious situation lately, I heard that several airships were dispatched two days ago, and they searched here for the traces of the pirates." Alexander walked at the front, whispering an explanation to Esther, who was walking beside him.

"And we're going to take a boat to another island?"

"We just need to rent a boat at the private pier and go to the small island where we are moored, there are many people here doing this business, haha, you don't get seasick, right?"

Alexander's innocuous little joke made Esther change her opinion of him a little, and Esther, who had thought it was a more old-fashioned scholar, replied with a smile:

"If I get seasick, I won't be able to make it to Byam, and I'll have to swim back to shore halfway."

Alexander also laughed: "Oh, at least you can swim!" It's a small step for you to go to sea. ”

"Is it a big step to be a pirate?" Esther answered tentatively.

Mary muttered quietly, "I'll just say you're a lover of Russell the Great, just look at it." ”

Alexander seemed to be pleased: "No matter how many famous words the Emperor left behind, it is far less precious than the various machines and manuscripts he left behind, it can be said that he single-handedly promoted the development of the Church and the world's technology, but it is a pity that ......"

Esther keenly grasped that Alexander's direct reference to the "Church" rather than the "Church of Steam and the Mechanics" seemed to indicate a lot of things—such as Alexander's identity, and the possibility of a believer or member of the Church.

Judging by his ability to "identify" as an extraordinary person and the tone of his comments in this regard, it is obvious that he looks like a "craftsman", and it is very likely that he will be an official member.

Could it be that the organization behind the "Clover" is the Heart of the Machine?

After a ten-minute walk, the three got into a rental carriage and staggered to the beach.

Alexander showed erudition befitting his appearance, even far beyond Esther's expected expertise, and he seemed to know a lot of everything, including the music theory that Esther knew so roughly.

Seeing that Esther's eyes gradually became admiring, Alexander didn't mind telling her more information in exchange for Esther's previous candor:

"My sequences can greatly strengthen the memory of knowledge, and I will basically never forget everything I have seen, touched, and learned."

"Sounds like a great and unique ability."

Alexander smiled and sighed: "Alas, it's a pity that my age has stopped me here, but I'm already content, although the benefits of the extraordinary world are many, but the same is too dangerous. ”

Esther nodded, "I have to admit, I have a hard time seeing you as a member of some pirate group. ”

"I've been buried in books and machines for too long in my life," Alexander lowered his gaze, and the smile under his beard was very peaceful, "there's nothing wrong with coming out and seeing." Since I have been entrusted by others, of course I should also be loyal to others. ”

Entrusted by others, loyal to others?

Esther quickly parsed and restored this sentence, and it was obvious that this was also a "proverb" left by Russell.

——

About half an hour later, the taxi stopped at a beach, and Mary, after paying the fare, offered to help Alexander carry the suitcase, but the old gentleman refused:

"I'm not that old, so I don't need to oppress young people."

Although Alexander often smiled when he spoke, Esther noticed that his eyes were always deep, and only became much brighter when he shared his knowledge with others.

The enthusiasm between his words is more out of good cultivation, this is a person who treats himself quite strictly, and will only pour enthusiasm into what he is interested in, even if he will joke when he talks, it is to soften my impression......

Mary's restraint in front of him is because this "Bright Pearl" is not good at facing such an elder with a sense of majesty? She was afraid that she had been in a very harsh family environment, or that she had a rather serious teacher, who was often reprimanded and punished, to leave such an instinctive uneasiness.

When Mary was alone with me, she seemed much more casual, unlike now, when she was always tickling her back.

Esther followed Alexander into a fishing boat with sails, and today the waves were not loud but there was a light breeze, so that the fishing boat could not hurry north.

——

Off the coast of Byam, Desert Reef Island, "Clover".

This is a barely medium-sized pirate ship, the overall warm wood color, the hull on each side of the six gun emplacements, the firepower is really not excellent, unlike traditional pirate ships, it is equipped with chimneys in addition to sails, steam drive to ensure the ship's superior speed, quite "I can't beat me" meaning.

At the top of the mast hung a pirate flag on a black background, embroidered not with a skull but with a gold-edged four-leaf clover, and two long crossed bones lying horizontally below.

Strangely, a large amount of translucent foam was piled up around the ship, refracting a colorful light, enveloping the pirate ship and hugging it upwards, leaving most of the hull exposed.

The dark-skinned, sturdy boatman followed Alexander's instructions and placed the three on a reef with barnacles on the sidewalls. After receiving the fare from Alexander, the boatman quickly departed, as if he did not want to stay long.

Mary pointed to the strange bubble in the distance, "This place is quite famous in the vicinity, and is called 'Haunted Reef' by fishermen and sailors, and we would never have dared to come here if it weren't for the floating system designed by Mr. Alexander and the magic assistance of Mr. Thoma." ”

Esther looked at the hill-like foam cluster, and it was difficult to see the whole picture of the "Clover": "There are a lot of reefs here? ”

Mary nodded: "Yes, and for some unknown reason, the reef under the water sometimes changes its position, often floating in unexpected corners, so this whole sea area is basically rarely visited." ”

Alexander raised his hand towards the sea: "There should be some kind of cursed power under this reef, there are almost no active aquatic life, only barnacles and a lot of seaweed, even the local fishermen are reluctant to come." ”

"No wonder Mary said her destination when the boatman was full of reluctance."

In the end, Mary promised to give three times the fare, and the other party agreed in embarrassment.

As the three of them spoke, Esther could finally see the hull of the ship, the bubble-clad pirate ship slowly rising, revealing the tip of the mast and the flag inside.

The hull of the ship was slightly out of the water, and it slowly moved towards the reef where the three of them were, but at a rather slow pace.

It was the first time Esther had seen such a wonderful ship in person, and she felt a sense of joy at watching a fantasy blockbuster: "Is this really—the ship itself is a magical item?" ”

"Your instincts are sharp, miss," Alexander smiled proudly, the corners of his mouth turned up, "but this 'ghost ship' is not very good-tempered, and it sometimes likes to maliciously turn into reefs or undercurrents, or attract some troublesome sea monsters. If Aaron hadn't been lucky enough to control it, the 'Clover' would have sunk itself long ago. ”

Esther thought it was even more amusement, that the name of such a clover ship was actually such an unfortunate negative effect.

But soon, Alexander's phrase "not very good-tempered" came true.

A tall, lanky, brown-haired middle-aged man waved his arms vigorously at the bow of the boat and shouted at the three people below in Intidis: "The princess is out of control again!" Get out of the way, she's going to run over!" ”

The boats were too close for the trio to move to the reef on the other side.

Mary also roared at the bow of the ship: "TMD, you can't have said it sooner!" ”

Alexander reacted faster than Esther, and quickly found the most appropriate way to deal with it, he grabbed the shoulders of the two girls: "Quick! Jump into the water! ”

The three of them held their breath, and under Alexander's pull, they fell into the sea next to them with a "poof".

A peculiar sense of weightlessness appeared under the feet, automatically holding the three of them in a position that would not fall into the water, including the suitcases of the three of them floating.

Esther was still a little dazed, for she had just heard that the man at the bow and Mary were not shouting in Rune, but in Intian that Esther had not actually come into contact with, but she could clearly distinguish the meaning of the words.

Because language is only a medium, the meaning of communication can be directly received? It's like skipping hearing and being "perceived" by me.

She hadn't paid such close attention before, and when she heard the local residents of Baiam talking, she didn't focus on distinguishing them.

The boat slowly sailed over the trio's heads, casting a meteorite-like shadow and a large froth of foam over their heads, causing Mary to sneeze. Mary's wig cover was soaking wet, sticking to her head like a black clump of seaweed.

Esther looked into the water, and Alexander's suitcase was emitting a blue light curtain, constantly increasing the buoyancy of the surrounding seawater, so the three of them could easily poke their heads out of the water, and the suitcase did not sink.

No wonder Mr. Alexander was not worried about his luggage at all, and his suitcase was specially protected. Even the suitcase has a special function, and this kind of handwriting is more mechanical and does not care about the wear and tear style.

Is this the waywardness of the "craftsman"......

Esther, who was observing the nearby blue light, was stunned for a moment, her perception suddenly touched by something, and she caught a very subtle humming sound.

Esther immediately looked up, and the thing that was calling from above was being set off by a myriad of bubbles, and she stretched out her left hand and raised it slightly, as if to greet the "Clover".

She was still a long way from touching the hull, but the ship immediately stopped where it was, as if it had sailed over to wait for its guests and crew to board.

Alexander saw this scene and looked quite surprised: "Oh? She stopped, and we swam to the side. ”

Mary couldn't wait to swim to the front, grabbed the rope ladder thrown down from it, took her suitcase in her mouth, and climbed up with agility on her hands and feet.

Looking at her fierce face, eighty percent of them were going to get on the boat first to scold.

(End of chapter)