章 438: Chapter 438: Even Pirate Hunting Faces Fierce Competition
Chapter 438: Even Pirate Hunting Faces Fierce Competition
The name "King in Yellow" was fairly familiar to Klein. Anyone with knowledge of the Cthulhu mythos would recognize the octopus-headed Cthulhu dwelling in the ocean depths, as well as the King in Yellow adorned in tattered yellow robes.
In his original world, although Klein hadn't extensively studied the Cthulhu mythos, he knew enough to understand that the King in Yellow was a common avatar of an Outer God named Hastur.
If the figure in tattered yellow robes from last night was indeed the King in Yellow, it could very well be an earthly manifestation of the Outer God Hastur. An avatar of an Outer God...
Klein suddenly felt immensely grateful that he hadn't given in to his curiosity the previous night. Instead of investigating further, he had promptly left the dangerous area and refrained from using divination to reconstruct the night's events.
"Indeed, one shouldn't be too curious," Klein thought, breathing a sigh of relief. However, another important realization quickly dawned on him.
The King in Yellow and Hastur... If the King in Yellow existed, then what about Hastur? Klein recalled meeting an enigmatic Count Hastur Campbell in Backlund. Surely, it must be a mere coincidence?
Klein's heart raced momentarily, but he quickly suppressed the strange feeling, deciding not to dwell on it further. Who knew if the other party possessed the ability to know all that was spoken of them?
After two days and one night of sailing, the ship soon reached a nearby port without incident.
As Klein set out to gather information about other wanted pirates, he heard an interesting piece of news. A new pirate-hunting group had emerged on the high seas, consisting of three people and a dog. They were known as the Whip of Judgment, the Brain of Wisdom, and the Dog of Imagination.
Klein frowned. The pirate-hunting business was becoming increasingly competitive, with newcomers joining the fray and vying for opportunities.
Calculating his recent gains, Klein realized that his debt to Miss Messenger had been reduced to 1,000 gold coins, and he had nearly 4,000 pounds in savings. While not an insignificant sum, it was still insufficient to purchase a decent house in Backlund.
"It seems I'll have to risk hunting those pirate generals to accumulate wealth quickly," Klein mused as he sat in a well-informed tavern, disguised and sipping a cheap two-pence beer.
As he pondered his next move, a commotion erupted outside the tavern. Someone had captured a ship full of pirates and was negotiating with the local Storm Church officials for the bounty.
Although the bounty for each individual pirate wasn't high, the sheer number of captives, including many low-value common pirates, made it a substantial haul.
The crowd began to speculate that this was the typical modus operandi of the new three-person-and-a-dog team. Reportedly, this group would offload a batch of pirates at each port, collect the bounty to purchase necessities, and then set sail again.
Several renowned pirates had attempted to challenge this new group, either to curb their rising influence or to make a name for themselves. Invariably, these famous pirates ended up as the next port's living bounty, further enhancing the new group's reputation.
Klein listened quietly, not particularly interested. However, he noted that their path seemed to align with his own, both heading towards the mysterious island mentioned by Emperor Roselle.
"Even pirate hunting has become fiercely competitive these days," Klein sighed. He decided not to rest any longer, realizing he needed to accelerate his intelligence gathering before all the bounty-worthy pirates at sea were claimed by others.
## The Hope and Its Crew
Meanwhile, aboard the Hope, Xio, Fors, Audrey, and Susie were dividing their spoils.
"This time, we've collected a total bounty of 2,780 pounds, plus about 3,400 pounds in cash found on the pirates and their ship," Xio announced, beginning to allocate the funds based on each member's contribution.
She and Audrey took the largest share at 30% each, while Fors and Susie received 20% each.
"Woof!" Susie pawed at her share of the money, carefully counted it, and then signaled Audrey to save it for her.
After spending considerable time together, Xio and Fors had gradually come to understand Susie's extraordinary nature, no longer surprised by her human-like behavior.
Fors, who had initially felt embarrassed to be on par with Susie, now felt relieved that she hadn't been left behind by the dog.
"The closer we get to the location of Emperor Roselle's legend, the higher the probability of encountering famous pirates. I can't wait for our next hunt!" Xio exclaimed excitedly, her eyes narrowing as she clenched her fists.
"We should still be cautious to avoid unexpected situations," Fors cautioned, ever the voice of reason.
Audrey remained silent, her initial enthusiasm for pirate hunting having waned. Now, she found herself more interested in exploring the unknown reaches of the sea.
That night, unable to sleep, Audrey knocked on Hastur's door. Hastur, who had been about to retire, donned a set of pajamas before opening the door.
Audrey's face was shrouded in a faint melancholy, as if troubled by something. Even the bright moonlight couldn't dispel the hint of sorrow in her brow.
"Mr. Hastur, I'm sorry to disturb your rest," she apologized.
"Facing the sea, it's easy for one to become lost in thought," Hastur remarked as he accompanied Audrey out of the cabin to the ship's bow.
Even at night, the ship continued its slow, steady progress. A high-hung fishing lamp barely illuminated the ship's path through the water, occasionally attracting schools of light-seeking fish.
"Mr. Hastur, are you accustomed to life at sea?" Audrey asked, standing at the bow as the night breeze tousled her carefully maintained hair. Hastur casually erected a barrier to block the sea wind and began to chat with Audrey about various interesting aspects of life at sea.
Boredom was an inevitable hurdle for those living at sea for extended periods. People often romanticized the sea, but the reality of maritime life was far less exciting and comfortable than life on land. The confined space could often feel suffocating.
Audrey seemed to be experiencing the disparity between fantasy and reality. Hastur casually selected a few anecdotes that could entertain for hours.
Audrey listened attentively, occasionally smiling as she gazed at the starry sky reflected on the sea's surface.
The tranquil sea, mirroring the expanse of stars, coupled with the mysterious legends being recounted, soon rekindled Audrey's spirits.
"Would you like to experience a different aspect of sea life up close?" Hastur asked.
"Yes, I would," Audrey replied eagerly.
Hastur, his throat dry from talking, opened a human-sized travel portal before Audrey.
"Is this a teleportation gate?" Audrey's eyes sparkled. She had heard Fors mention such things but had never experienced one firsthand.
"It's a portal for travel, and yes, it does have teleportation capabilities," Hastur explained, offering his arm. Audrey took it, naturally drawing closer.
"Woof?" As the two figures disappeared into the travel portal, Susie, who had been following Audrey at a distance, trotted over and pawed at the spot where the portal had been. Finally, she decided to lie down and wait.
The Old Ross Tavern
When Hastur appeared at the entrance of the Old Ross Tavern with Audrey, who was wearing a black magician's hood, they naturally drew many curious glances. The noisy atmosphere quieted momentarily.
Their gazes fell primarily on Audrey, her tall figure and mysterious classical magician attire piquing their interest. However, the onlookers quickly averted their eyes, wary of potential trouble from staring too long at strangers.
As Hastur led Audrey through the crowd, a drunken patron attempted to grope her. A sudden gust of wind effortlessly severed his hand, splattering blood on the floor.
The intense pain instantly sobered him. Pale-faced, he hastily wrapped his wound with his clothes, scooped up his severed hand, and fled the scene. With prompt medical attention, there was still a chance to save his hand.
Audrey, noticing this incident, blushed beneath her black hood. Mr. Hastur had acted to protect her, hadn't he?
Reaching the bar, Audrey was captivated by the wall of various liquors behind it. Although she had seen more impressive displays in Earl Hall's wine cellar, this wall of alcohol symbolized warmth and freedom. The sight alone was exhilarating, tempting one to sample every bottle.
The gradually increasing noise around them, along with someone playing a simple instrument to create a bold melody, urged patrons to order a drink and enjoy the lively night.
Excited by the novelty and thrill, Audrey impulsively ordered three vibrantly colored cocktails. Despite not knowing their flavors, the mere sight of them was satisfying.
Beside her, Hastur had already begun to savor his drink. Noticing Audrey's eager yet slightly apprehensive expression, he advised, "The drinks here tend to be quite strong. It's best to drink in moderation."
Audrey nodded, eventually selecting a cocktail that smelled sweet and fragrant, sipping it slowly.
Hastur glanced at the name of her chosen drink and chuckled, shaking his head. He could already envision Audrey's intoxicated state later that evening.
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