章 38: HoG - Chapter 38
Chapter 38: Innate Assassin
In Iron Anchor Bay, at the Sailors and Cats Bar, the entrance opened onto a small square overlooking the port's anchorage. Here, one could witness the comings and goings of ships at the earliest moment. This vantage point attracted many free pirates, who nursed cups of the cheapest beer, their eyes alight with anticipation. They yearned to join a formidable pirate ship and pen their own legends. Gradually, the bar evolved into a sort of job agency, bridging pirate ships in need of sailors, sailors seeking ships, and newcomers eager for maritime adventure.
Suddenly, a commotion erupted in the square, and a voice shouted:
"Quickly, brothers! Head to Pier Two—the first mate of the 'Beast Cage' is recruiting crew members. This is a rare opportunity!"
"That's the ship of Councilor Ferdinand, a 'Conductor' of the Pirate Council. If we can join the crew of this third-tier great pirate, we'll be rich!"
"I've heard that these great pirates possess not just one, but multiple sets of pre-sequence supernatural knowledge and promotion rituals. They're not only wealthy but also offer a chance to become supernatural. If one sequence doesn't suit us, perhaps another will?"
Confident pirates drained their cups of cheap beer, bolstering their courage, slapped their thighs, and rushed out.
Soon, Pier Two was swarming with people. Unfortunately, they gathered quickly but dispersed just as fast. Great pirates had higher standards for crew members than they had anticipated. It was akin to modern job hunting; without an impressive resume and work history, big companies wouldn't grant you an interview, dismissing you outright. Most of them clearly lacked such credentials.
"Sigh!"
A Bay Folk youth in his early twenties, with a pair of daggers at his waist, sat back down on the stone steps of the small square, looking somewhat forlorn. He was of ordinary build and appearance, the kind you wouldn't notice in a crowd. He was so distressed that he buried his hands in his hair, and even his shadow on the ground seemed to share in his gloom.
"The 887th attempt, another failure. When will I finally be able to set sail and become a true pirate?"
He was so heartbroken that he couldn't help but wail aloud. This caused the nearby pirates to give him a wide berth, fearing they might catch his bad luck.
Iron Anchor Bay was home not only to pirates but also to a multitude of ordinary Northern Bay Folk. It was said that even the term "Bay Folk" originated from Iron Anchor Bay. Unlike the pirates who came from various backgrounds before going to sea, the Bay Folk who had lived here for generations adhered to tradition, viewing "going to sea" as the most noble profession and honor.
The successive failures were obviously a significant blow to this typical Bay Folk youth.
At that moment, a large hand suddenly patted the youth's shoulder, and a voice as gruff as gravel sounded in his ear:
"So you're here, Gri. If you hadn't suddenly shouted, I would have lost track of you again."
Then, a middle-aged man with a bushy beard sat down beside him. Seeing the youth's desolate appearance, he couldn't help but offer comfort:
"Listen to me, Green, your talent is absolutely the most... uh, unique I've ever seen. Yes, it's unique!
The reason you've been failing on pirate ships is just because this talent hasn't been used in the right place. If you hadn't chosen to go to sea and instead became a thief in some bustling city of the Old Continent, I believe you could become a legendary super thief! Don't you dream of getting rich? Think about it, being a thief is also a promising job."
The man was the owner of the Sailors and Cats Bar, a retired Bay Folk pirate who had amassed considerable wealth.
Evidently, he had a good relationship with the youth. Although, as a pirate nation, their value system was somewhat skewed at its core.
The youth thought of his talent, and a glimmer of light appeared in his eyes, but it quickly dimmed again. He turned his head to look at the old pirate with a serious expression:
"Uncle John, thank you for your concern. Actually, I don't like money; what I truly love is freedom and dignity! It's just that, coincidentally, money can bring freedom and dignity."
Just like the song "The Call of Valhalla" sang: "We are the shield, we are the spear, standing tall.
Sharing hardships, sharing plunder, for honor, we stand united, asunder."
Their branch of Northern Bay Folk, entrenched in Iron Anchor Bay and Scandinavia, had always practiced the primitive religion and had not converted to the church like the English branch.
They firmly believed that plundering the enemy in blood and fire was glorious, but stealing from ordinary people was a disgrace. Although he loved money, he had his own set of principles, a kind of honor among thieves.
"Uncle, I think most of a person's confidence comes from economic strength. I hope that one day, I can take a deep breath and say, 'It's good to have money.' Instead of helplessly sighing, 'If only I had money.'"
When he said this, the youth paused and continued to look at the man beside him, correcting him very seriously:
"Also, Uncle John, my name is Guss, not Gri, nor Green."
The man smiled awkwardly and withdrew his hand. It wasn't because he was particularly forgetful, but because Guss had a talent, or rather, a condition.
He was born without a sense of presence!
Except for his mother, everyone else would subconsciously ignore his existence, sometimes even looking directly at him without seeing him.
This situation hadn't affected his life much in his childhood, but as he grew older, it became more severe.
Until a few years ago, when his mother, the only person who wouldn't ignore him, passed away because they couldn't afford the medical treatment. The "condition" even worsened to the point where even acquaintances would completely forget about him after just a moment.
John, the bar owner, as their old neighbor, was one of the few people who could still remember him.
Guss had, of course, tried to save himself, seeking out many excellent ship doctors on pirate ships to no avail.
Until finally, a High Tower sequence "Prophet" told him that he had innately awakened the "Assassin" profession's "Screen Presence," but during his growth, he had accidentally lost his only... "anchor"!
Not only could he not become a supernatural individual, but he might even disappear from the world one day. Unless he found someone who could always remember him, everything might return to normal.
"By the way, I came mainly to remind you that this month's rent is due. Young man, you must keep trying! Take advantage of the recent influx of pirate ships to Iron Anchor Bay, try more times, and you're sure to succeed. Just don't forget to bring back the settling-in fee for me. After all, you wouldn't want to sleep in the square tonight, would you, Des?"
Old John gave him a big smile and turned back to the bar.
Guss was too exhausted to correct his naming issue. But when he heard the word "rent," his face fell hard. Did he look like someone with money?
Guss's wish now was simple and urgent. He just wanted to find a captain who wouldn't accidentally forget him, so he could move onto the ship. It would be better if he was rich!
"God of Prophecy, Sovereignty, and the Wild Hunt, please, grant me a wealthy captain!"
Just as Guss prayed helplessly, he suddenly heard two people talking behind him.
"Strange, what's going on in Iron Anchor Bay recently?
Yesterday, when we passed by here, it was also a councilor from the Pirate Council recruiting people, it seemed like 'Butcher Bird' Morrison's 'Thorn of Impalement' and 'Redbeard' Edward's 'Vengeful Goddess.' Today, it's 'Conductor' Ferdinand's 'Beast Cage.'
They're all mid-sequence supernatural individuals of the third tier and above. Looking at the pirate flags fluttering atop those ships in the port, it's evident that many renowned pirate captains have converged here. Are they not preoccupied with plundering ships, or have they come here for some other purpose?"
"Indeed, Captain, it seems like they're making a mockery of us. They're snatching away all the exceptional crew members we hoped to recruit for the 'Golden Hind.'"
Guss pivoted and observed two figures approaching, one leading the other. Fortune smiled upon him, for the individual in the fore was adorned with a triangular captain's hat!
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