Haikou City, which is being rebuilt, is not much less lively at night than usual, and people will gather around to drink and eat at the end of the day, chat and sing with their voices open, and dance and play games around the fire, and Mike and Elijah will naturally join in the evening party.

The merchant remained in the lodgings, and he regained his old self and sat quietly in the dark. The merchant tried again, he set up a gamble with Mike and Elijah and the workers, but the result was nothing special, he still did not fit in, the merchant could not feel the emotions of the workers, nor did he feel the intimacy, he was not touched in the slightest, and the feeling of watching the people of Haikou City die in the mirror before, the only difference is probably that the usual strangeness has decreased, which can be regarded as good news

Today is just another conscientious actor.

So, when you are with the two of them, are you an actor?

This was the first question and not the usual assumption on the part of the merchant, who felt that the relationship between the two sides was different and the same, and the merchant seemed to be beginning to touch something for the first time in so many years.

Knock knock.

A knock at the door interrupted the merchant's thoughts, and similar to the first time the two met, Dean had only arrived after dark, this time a few days later than the last.

Two months had made Dean a lot older, and the haggard in his eyes could not be concealed even by the most experienced businessman, and his face was full of tiredness, and Dean really looked like an old man with gray hair at this moment.

President Dean: "I'm sorry Mr. Merchant, but I haven't been able to meet you at the first time because of the lot going on during this time, so I hope you don't be embarrassed." ”

Merchant: "It's okay, it was the same last time, but it was just a few more days." ”

Dean was surprised and then smiled, this time the businessman's easy-going attitude was in stark contrast to the strength of the last time, Dean sat down next to the merchant, his back slumped, as if trying to vent his exhaustion.

President Dean: "Marquis Veil has contacted me and asked me to provide you with the necessary assistance for this voyage, and I have prepared a long-distance ship for you as required, and the personnel have been equipped, I think it should be okay to call you a 'friend and relative' of Lord Marquis this time, right?"

Merchant: "I don't know how long it will take to go to sea this time, and the food must be well prepared." ”

There is no answer but no denial, which is enough to show.

President Dean felt that he could completely relax and chat with the other party, "Of course, the necessary things have been prepared, Mr. Merchant can rest assured." Speaking of the Thirteen Skulls, I've heard some stories from my years of maritime trade, but most of the people who tell them are dirty madmen in the streets, are you sure your captain can really bring you to this island?"

Merchant: "At least he's a 'madman' who can still read and believe." ”

President Dean: "But you haven't seen him in person, have you? We don't even know what he looks like. ”

Merchant: "I'll know tomorrow, he says he's someone you can recognize at a glance." ”

President Dean: "Well, maybe..... Curious to ask Mr. Merchant, how do you plan to use this fiery fang? Lord Marquis is neither a magician nor a warrior, he is just an ordinary person, and ordinary people cannot withstand the power of the three-color treasure. ”

Merchant: "He can't do it alone, but I can let him do it alone." ”

Dean sat up straight: "It seems that there is still a bit of a gap between me and Mr. Merchant, and I don't really have Mr. Merchant's trust. ”

Merchant: "This is just my normal attitude, you don't need to worry about the nobles who support you behind you, you just need to prepare everything for going to sea." ”

Dean gave the merchant a deep look, then a business-like smile on his face, "Of course, Mr. Merchant, everything is as you wish." ”

Two "salted fish" lay on the table, one named Mike and the other called Elijah. The plan could not catch up with the change, originally in the plan, their captain would be able to arrive at Haikou City the next day to meet the merchant and his party, but after three days there was still no one to see, Ilya was a little suspicious that there was really a person named Balubak in this world.

Mike: "Store manager, do you want to pack all your luggage in advance today?"

Merchant: "Yes. ”

For the past three days, the first thing Mike wakes up every day is to look forward to going to sea, and his fear of the sea has disappeared after living in Haikou City for a week. Packing his bags in anticipation, he waited in the hall for the captain's arrival, but Mike didn't expect such a thing to happen for three days in a row, and there were signs of it continuing.

Ilya cried out: "Ouch, store manager, your captain is not here or not, he is ten days late, and he should be lost." ”

The merchant said calmly: "Wait patiently, either today or tomorrow." ”

Ilya scratched her head: "Please don't repeat it, I'm about to be brainwashed by this sentence, I'm not normal." ”

At this moment, the door was opened, and everyone present seemed to be frozen and motionless. Sensing the anomaly, Ilya kept her movements unchanged, writhing like a worm, adjusting her gaze, and then a terrifying face that broke into her eyes made her bounce her whole body.

Mike shrunk down, as if trying to hide under the table, and the merchant beckoned to the comer, no wonder he was able to recognize it at first, the scar on his face that split his mouth in four was indeed easily recognizable.

When the merchant approached, he asked, "Are you Captain Barubak?"

Balubak: "Yes Mr. Merchant, I'm sorry to be late, but Barubak is happy to serve you, honorable sir. ”

Merchant: "Well, please take a seat, have you eaten?"

Barubak: "No, Mr. Merchant, I'm hungry, I feel like I can swallow a cow alive now!" After sitting down, he did not forget to greet the other two, "Nice to meet you." ”

Mike held out three fingers from the edge of the table and moved in response, and Elijah pulled out a smile that couldn't be faked and sat down slowly.

Only a merchant can treat it normally: "Then fill your stomach first and then talk about other things." ”

......

...

It didn't take long for the table to be filled with food, and it didn't take long for it all to reach Balubak's stomach, and the well-fed Balubak burped loudly and was satisfied.

Merchant: "Have you eaten enough?"

Barubak: "Of course, thank you very much, Mr. Merchant. ”

Mike's eyes widened, I couldn't imagine how Barubak had eaten all that food in his stomach, there were so many portions that he couldn't finish it. Ilya's surprise was how the other party was so energetic and neat enough to eat all the food because he was missing such a large piece of meat.

Merchant: "Well, then Balubak, tell me about Thirteen Skulls." ”

Balubak's expression changed, he sat up straight and said seriously: "Actually, it was an accident. Once, I received a request for help from a merchant fleet at sea to help them recover a lost merchant ship, which everyone thought was unknown due to the storm, and even I thought so, so I agreed on the spot because of the good pay, but what happened later...... I think Mr. Merchant knows something about it. ”

Merchant: "In general, but the details are not known. ”

Barubuk: "Yes, you'll know, everybody will know." ”

The eerie tone scared Mike, and Ilya, who was used to seeing Balubuck's appearance, was interested in the other party's story.

Merchant: "Are you sure you can get us to the Thirteen Skulls Island accurately?"

Balubak: "Yes, I promise, that route has been deeply seared in my brain and soul. ”

Merchant: "Very well, that's what I want, now let's get a little prepared and go." ”

Balubak: "Mr. Merchant, don't you ask me about the details?"

The merchant asked, "Do you need to?" didn't you ask us why we went to Thirteen Skulls?"

Barubak laughed: "Yes, yes, it seems that everyone's purpose is clear, and the details are not important. ”

The merchant finally asked, "So Balubak, what weapon do you need?"

Barubak stopped laughing, he stared at the merchant and licked his cracked lips: "Axe, Mr. Merchant, an absolutely sharp axe, and then we can go and see which 'beauty' is in charge of our voyage this time." ”

......

...

A brand-new ship was parked in the harbor of Haikou City, and it was a busy time for Haikou City to be rebuilt, and President Dean personally ordered someone to buy a new ship from elsewhere and process and renovate it overnight. The ship is tall and sturdy, ordinary blades cannot leave scratches on its hull, the design of the whole ship is simple, only focusing on the practicality of the ship, the only decoration is the bow of the dragon head that can be fake, the whole ship does not look luxurious but majestic.

"Oh oh my God, I swear it's the most beautiful ship I've ever seen, ahhh ”

In Barubuk's eyes, a good ship is comparable to all the beauties in the world.

The sailors who received the instructions and were about to sail all looked at this guy who was hugging and kissing the long-distance ship, and from time to time pointed and laughed at each other's appearance of not seeing the world, but when they saw each other's faces, they were all startled.

Dean and Barron were also present, and the new ship had to be blessed in person, even if there was more to do.

President Dean: "I think this must be the captain you've been waiting for." ”

Merchant: "Yes. ”

President Dean: "Even if he hasn't seen it, judging by his performance, he must be a captain with enough strength." ”

Merchant: "I have no doubt about it, it's all ready?"

President Dean: "Yes, just wait for the sailors to get to know their new captain." ”

Someone who loves a boat so much, and can even whisper to the boat, is the first time in his life that Mike has seen it. Ilya was wondering what it would be like to be kissed with such a mouth, even though it was a ship, but she immediately pinched the idea, which was too rude for others.

The sailors began to assemble at the signal of President Dean, Dean did not intend to make more introductions, and Balubuck did not intend to let others introduce him, he strode out, one by one, the sailors were neatly arranged, and each time they passed a sailor, the other party would subconsciously hold their heads high and raise their eyes, and the sailors did not dare to look at this scary fellow.

When he had looked at it all, Barubak exclaimed, "Very well! I can see that you are all experienced and good men, but this voyage will be different from any of your voyages, because if you are not careful, you will lose your life, and you will not see your friends, your relatives, and the woman you love more than anyone else, so now I give you a chance, and if you want to get off the ship, stand up now, and I can let him go." ”

Ilya leaned into the merchant's ear: "Hey store manager, what if he says this and everyone is gone?"

Merchant: "Don't worry, it won't. ”

The merchant was right, in fact not a single sailor took Barubak's words to heart, and every new captain would basically make an opening statement in his own way, perhaps to boost morale, or to test the sailors, or just to joke.

But the sailors underestimated Barubak's seriousness, and he picked up a sailor who had been in the ranks with his head bowed and did not pay attention to what he was saying, and asked in a stiff tone: "Boy, what are you looking at? Do you think I'm joking?"

The sailor was a little stunned by the suddenness, but he was still able to calmly reply: "No, captain, I don't. ”

Barubak: "Tell me your name. ”

Sailor: "Ace, Captain, my name is Ace." ”

Barubak: "So Ace, tell me, since you know I'm not joking, what are you distracted about?"

Ace the sailor opened his face, but did not say a word.

Barubak put Ace down and looked at the sailors one by one: "I think you all misunderstood, I am not the 'opening remarks of the new captain', but I am seriously telling you about the dangers of this voyage, we are going to the Thirteen Skulls Island, I think you who have lived at sea all year round should know a little about this island." ”

The expressions of the sailors began to change somewhat.

Balubak: "You may have wondered if there really is such an island, but now I can responsibly tell you that this island is not only real, but I have also found it myself, and my face is the best evidence." ”

The sailors were in an uproar.

Barubak nodded: "Very good, now we really start talking, then I will ask again, and it will be the last time, and then no matter how you regret it, I will also take you all on the ship, even if it is to nail you to the mast, who wants to quit?"

The scene was silent, and no one answered.

"We're not going to quit. Ace, who had just been picked up by Barubak, stepped forward, "Even if we quit now, there is nowhere to go." ”

Barubak: "Oh? Why?"

Ace looked at his companions and hesitated for a while before saying: "We are all half-bloods, children born of both aliens and humans, no matter where we are, we will not be welcomed, only the sea, the vast sea will accept us unconditionally, so we can only go to sea, and we will only die in the sea." ”

The words were sonorous and forceful, and the attitude was decisive.

No wonder he didn't care about what Barubak said at first, he reminded of what the sailors didn't have.

It was discovered that some of the sailors in this group would be relatively short but strong, some had strange eyes, and some seemed to have two small horns on their heads, all of which had their own peculiarities when they looked closely.

But Barubak was full of disdain: "Fuck the bullshit, listen to me boys, I don't care what kind of bullshit you are, you can only be my crew on my ship, and you will only be my crew, I will let you do whatever I want you to do, you can only nod your head and not shake your head, remember, I am your captain and your boss." ”

The unexpected reaction left the sailors stunned and did not know how to answer.

Barubak roared again: "Dumb?

Sailors: "Yes! Captain!"

Barubak was a little more satisfied: "Very good, then you will all be my crew in the future, I originally wanted to use my face to scare you into standing up It seems that there is no need, and remember, you are just a crew, my crew, give me what kind of half-breed I heard on the ship, I will make your face exactly like mine, do you hear!"

The sailors replied in louder voices: "I hear you, Captain!"

The atmosphere of the crew was something that no one else could insert, and although Mike didn't know what it was, the voyage hadn't even begun, and he was already feeling his blood boiling. Ilya shook his head, no matter how old a man is, he is a group of simple guys, and he can't go anywhere in the world, so he insists on sending him to death, but well, Ilya doesn't hate this kind of simple guy.

The merchant stood side by side with Dean: "President Dean is very powerful, and he can find a group of guys who are not afraid of death. ”

President Dean: "It's a group of sailors who are capable and not afraid of death, Mr. Merchant is not bad, and you have found a captain who is good at agitating emotions. ”

Merchant: "A clever captain who understands the emotions of his men." ”

Ilya, who was standing in the back, rolled her eyes, what two naïve men.

......

...

Set sail, the tall ship is ready to sail for the first time in its life, sailing, reeling, observing the current, and the sailors on board begin to get busy. As he walked left and right on the deck, Mike was emotionally infected, feeling the need to do something and worrying about getting in the way of the sailors' work.

Ilia sat on the steps with her chin propped on her hands, watching the men running around and shouting, a little idle, feeling uneasy about the adventure she had been looking forward to when it really came time to set off.

Elijah: "What do you think of this voyage?"

Merchant: "What? aren't you looking forward to it?"

Ilya: "Expectation is expectation, but ......"

Distressed frowns, Ilya, who has always been brave and decisive, hesitated, she didn't quite understand what she was worried about, with her own strength, Ilya felt that even if she couldn't keep the ship, it wasn't a big problem to keep the people on board, and she was still the manager of her own store, but it was annoying, annoying, annoying, annoying.

Am I not confident as before?

With doubts about herself, Ilya quieted down. The merchant, who noticed the clerk's anomaly, raised his hand and knocked on Ilya's head, but after knocking himself, he looked at his hand in surprise.

Merchant: "It's not good, but, even if there is an accident, it won't be a big problem. ”

Ilya, who should be reciprocated to the businessman, just touched his head this time and whispered "um". The merchant turned his wrist, and his overly flat reaction left him unsure of what to do, a strong sense of disobedience, and the merchant wondered what he should do to change the situation.

Merchant: "...... Ilya, isn't there something you liked in the store before? When you come back from this voyage, you can pick and take what you want. ”

The effect was very significant, and Ilya's eyes lit up: "Really?!Store manager, you are not allowed to cheat." ”

Merchant: "Well, really, what do you want?"

Ilya didn't answer immediately, there was something in the shop that was a paradise for magicians, and they had to think hard before making a decision, and this was the only time to think about it.

The merchant waited quietly for an answer, but it was still this Ilya who made him feel more comfortable. The merchant suddenly lost his mind, he naturally didn't look like him just now, and his intimate movements were like an ordinary person.

After some thought, Ilya made a decision: "I have the store manager in mind. ”

The merchant replied, "Well, what is it?"

Ilya smiled, a little squirming, looking a little embarrassed: "Hee hee store manager, I want that fur ball rolling around in the store." ”

Merchant: "......"

Ilya clasped her hands together: "That's the same, and I promise that I will never take anything from the store again, even if the store manager stuffs it for me, I don't want it......!" Manager, what do you think?"

The merchant said with a straight face: "No, change the same, the normal 'one'." ”

Ilya, who was rejected, immediately revealed his true form: "How can you play tricks like this, it's the same thing the store manager said, didn't I choose it, and if I chose you and didn't give it, then you might as well pick it up for me directly, and let me pick it myself." ”

The merchant looked at each other condescendingly: "You really can't play tricks like this." ”

Ilya: "...... I, I'm not cheating, ahh ”

Merchant: "Oh, so you mean it's okay for me to give you the furballs 'alone'? After all, you just said that all you want is the furballs." ”

Ilya: "That's... How's that going to work, it's... It's a whole, okay, it's the same, no more, no less, how can you separate it, in the end, you just want to play tricks, provoke, the store manager cheats, bully the clerk, everyone come and see!"

Gradually, the conversation between the two changed from picking one thing to a deep discussion about the definition of the word cheat and the scope of its use, of course, Elijah's call was not answered by anyone, the sailors were busy, Balubak needed to command the whole situation, and Mike Jr. had been following the captain for a long time in the hope of getting a half-official position with Balubak.

With precision, the sails were full, and the sea breeze needed to set sail was successfully captured, and with the help of the sea, the ship finally began to leave the port. The happiest person about the successful departure was not the crew nor the captain but Little Mike, and the sound of the waves breaking at the bow of the boat made him realize that under his feet was no longer the land he had lived on for thirteen years, but an ocean.

Mike: "Captain Barubak, we're really on our way, and it's amazing that only a few dozen people can get this big ship moving!"

Barubak laughed without modesty: "Yes Mike, luckily, these guys are some good guys, so we were able to set sail so smoothly." ”

Mike: "Captain, aren't you going to name this ship? I think it's in desperate need of a name of its own. ”

Barubuk: "Oh, good Mike, you got to the point, it really needs a name, let me think about it...... It's called the Voyage?"

The disgust on Mike's face was undisguised: "Captain, this is too casual, the voyage ship is called the Voyage, it will be unhappy." ”

Suddenly, the hull of the ship heaved, as if it was really as Mike had said.

Balubuck patted the pole of the boat: "Okay, okay, sorry man, don't be angry, give me some time to think about it." ”

Mike asked, "What was the captain's previous ship called?"

Barubak was silent, and his mood on the voyage faded a lot, he couldn't remember how long it had been since he had mentioned that name, but it was still very clearly engraved in the depths of his memory.

Barubak: "Dawn, my former ship was called Dawn. ”

Mike regretted his recklessness so much that he asked a very stupid question and really wanted to slap himself in the face twice.

Mike: "Uh... It's a good name, but maybe there's a better name for it, and we can keep thinking about it. ”

Barubak said, "No, let's call it Daybreak, I'm going to take it back to that place, and this time I'll bring Daybreak back intact." ”

Mike clenched his hands into fists and said excitedly: "That's right, I must bring it back intact!"