The Lost Pirate Fleet
After another nine days of sailing, they finally arrived at their destination, the port town of Kruger. Their speed dropped because the ship had encountered the sea monsters’ nests 3 more times, and thus they killed an additional 57 more. Their long distance voyage allowed Weed’s sailing skill to improve by a level. (T/N I’m not too sure if he improved by a level or became intermediate)
“Land ahoy!”
An ecstatic Surka was the first to leave the dock.
Kruger was a small, charming harbor. The houses and shops were built like a picture.
Weed first went to the bar and collected information.
“You say you’re looking for people or groups related to the Niflheim Empire? It’s been a long time since we’ve had visitors from the outside so we don’t know much. You’re the first outsider we’ve had in awhile. Unless you’re an experienced sailor, most people don’t know about Kruger Harbor, you see.”
They made some money at Port Kruger, selling the necessities of life and then immediately took off. Two days later they arrived in the harbor of Runei. It was a harbor with slightly larger ships that Kruger. Collecting information in the pub was easier if you bought a round of drinks. While sipping cups, the sailor’s stories easily flowed out.
“Sailors don’t like talking about where they’re from. And you don’t even know the name, you say? Then finding em would be even more difficult!”
“If you are looking for sailors from Niflheim there’d be a lot amongst the pirates. Many fishermen can’t fish around here anymore because of the storm and changed to being pirates. Where we from? Thats…hehe, you’d report us if you knew wouldn’t you?
“Storm? I’m not sure why but the seas seemed to start to become like this after the fall of the Niflheim Empire....heard the sea used to be quite calm before that.”
There were also many unconfirmed rumors.
“In the northeast sea there’s an island infested with monsters. Don’t even think about landing on an island infested with monster for supplies. You’ll become monster food in an instant.”
“Did you see the fish with red fins? That one’s meat is tender so its great for eating.”
“The area the pirates mainly infest is the Perion Bay.” Sailors who traveled the extensive sea bragged an awful lot. One could only confirm the truth by going for themselves.
Still, even the smallest tidbits could be used for later reference. It happened while Weed was investigating in a very small port called Rejado. As he bought a drink for a very old fisherman, he drank with thanks and said.
“Young man who has the temperament of an Admiral, are you asking about the Armenian Pirates?”
“I didn’t ask anything about pirates.”
“A long time ago, I heard from my Grandfather about that storm hitting the sea. During the fall of the Niflheim Empire, a certain man went through the ritual of the pirates in that sea and took a ship. Later on, it seems he became the head of a pirate crew. Rumor has it, he was a great magician.”
Weed’s head started processing quickly. Rejado port is very close to the stormy seas, but it was found at the back of an island. Weed would have missed it had he not looked closer.
“Are the Armenian Pirates still at large?”
“Their forces practically ran the North sea.”
“What about now?”
“They’ve been missing for a few decades now.”
Weed decided there was no other way but to pursue the Armenian pirates.
“Is there any way to know where they went?”
“If you travel towards the north for a long enough time, there is said to be a beautiful Aurora that spreads across the night sky. It is said that even the very best sailors may or may not experience it once in a lifetime. If you go along the aurora you will arrive in the Northern Region of the continent.”
Morata was also part of the North and so if the old fisherman were basing the Middle continent as the standard, then Lezadra port was also in the North.
When he liberated Morata, it became the center of the north and supply for dry leather. But most of the north past it was opted out.
Then how much more North are you telling me to go. Weed’s complexion changed as fast as a flying car. This was because he was reminded of that place.
“No way.”
“There’s absolutely no way…..just no way. No matter how bad my luck is, it can’t be that.”
The words of the fisherman continued.
“The place that you must break through is in the cold ice, where the land breathes. Rumors has it that the Armenian Pirates went to the Las Phalanx area. I also heard from grandfather that their treasure lies sleeping there.”
You have obtained information on the quest.
Acquiring clues about the quest!
Las Phalanx. Even the name alone sounded ghastly. It was one of the 10 forbidden areas in the continent, for starters it is an area of fierce glacial cold! Volcanoes constantly explode and spew out lava. And the level of monsters that appear are mainly between 500 and 600, so just entering is impossible unless one was prepared for death.
Weed was greatly enlightened.
“There is a map of Las Phalanx which my ancestors went to. Would you be willing to take at least that?”
‘Ah finally, you are trying to kill me, Quest!’
It could be said that he was moments away from reaching his goal by walking on the path of death. The moment his coffin was made, the hole was dug and all that was needed was for his breath to stop.
Weed sharply asked.
“Is it free?”
“ I have no particular use for it now so just take it.”
The fisherman went to his house and left Weed the old leather map.