บท 65: That Dirty Word, Surgery

"I have not seen too many privateers around these waters, Captain!" the captain shouted at Mariana.

"I haven't seen too many pirates around here, either, Captain!" she shouted back at him.

"That is because they are all in the southwest corners of the ocean! The Dainty was seen near the lumberjack lands!"

The lumberjack lands was a pejorative term for the producers of…well, all kinds of wood west of Neul. It wasn't a place where one wanted to be. It was more likely that Wolfe had simply chosen a silent port for the repair processes and was now prowling around, looking for valuable prey.

As to whether all the other pirates were there as well, Mariana was doubtful about the accuracy of that.

"I was hoping to catch some!" She looked around. "Can I come aboard for a nice and peaceful talk?"

She was allowed to come. Then the captain realized that she still had a faint glow all over her.

"Are my eyes going from bad to worse or is that…"

"It's an exotic curse," Mariana sighed.