As for whether it was Sules or Xiao who talked about the execution, this could actually be tested at the Hai Shen Sheng Dian using the Hai Shen Cheng Shi.
However, that thing is extremely valuable, and using it once costs ten gold shells.
The Guild would never pay for them, so this matter could only be left unsettled.
And this was exactly what Sules and Xiao had already anticipated.
After the two-legged boats parted ways for good, Sules returned to the pilothouse and dialed Xiao’s radio.
“Our little act this time wasn’t bad. There may be people who still don’t believe it, but as long as we leave them with the impression that we’re at odds, it’ll be enough.” Sules said with a smile.
Xiao’s voice came from the other end, “So, Captain Sules, what should we do next?”
Sules replied seriously, “For now, just hold steady and proceed as before. Wait until my ship is upgraded enough, then I’ll start exploring and provide you with goods.”
“Oh, right!”
She suddenly thought of something, “I can upgrade your captain’s abilities. Wait a moment and find a safe place. You should feel the changes soon.”
Although Xiao didn’t really understand what Sules was talking about, he still replied, “I’m in the pilothouse now, it’s very safe.”
Sules nodded, opened her system panel, and used the reward she’d saved up for Xiao.
He was originally a level three captain, and after the upgrade, he became level four.
But after Sules finished upgrading him, she was surprised to find that his Captain’s Talent had also leveled up, from level 2 to level 3.
There was silence on the other end for a while.
A few seconds later, Xiao’s shocked voice came through, “Captain? What’s going on? Suddenly, a bunch of knowledge flooded into my mind, and I feel stronger all over. Most importantly, my Captain’s Talent actually leveled up!”
Sules said, “I used my ability to upgrade you. The sudden knowledge in your mind is because your navigation experience and captain’s skills have been artificially increased by me, so that’s where those things came from. As for the Captain’s Talent… I guess it was a bonus, a pleasant surprise.”
Xiao was stunned.
He was already in his thirties and had sailed the Eastern Sea, seen quite a bit.
But he had never encountered such a magical ability like Sules’s before.
The two of them discussed their plans for the future a bit more, then ended the call.
The next day, Xiao, using the excuse that there were no crew left on his ship, went directly back ashore.
To others, it looked like he just couldn’t stand working with Sules and left early.
The next few days were uneventful.
Everyone continued fishing at sea as usual.
As June approached, the rains at sea grew more frequent.
Sules and the others had already prepared to return.
Everyone began packing their things, and for a while, the atmosphere on the ship… how should one put it?
It felt a lot like the feeling before going home after final exams.
Sules paid the crew their wages in advance, so they could feel at ease.
***
The day before returning, she gathered everyone on deck, “The main purpose of this little meeting is to talk about contract renewals. Ryan Laide, Shan Mu, the contracts the three of you signed with me are about to expire. I’ll be straightforward—do you plan to renew? If not, I need to make other arrangements.”
Shan Mu nodded, “I’ll probably renew.”
He was a rookie fisherman, and two months of sailing experience wouldn’t give him any advantage in getting hired by those big ships.
Since Sules hadn’t treated him badly, he thought it’d be better to just stay on.
Ryan Laide thought the same.
The two of them, for their own reasons, didn’t want to separate.
Leide was lazy and gluttonous—Ryan knew very well that if they switched to another ship, they probably wouldn’t be treated so leniently.
So it was better to stay.
What Ryan didn’t know was, a merchant’s leniency is always for profit.
The real reason Sules tolerated Leide for so long was that she wanted to get her hands on their family’s magic array blueprints.
Sules nodded in satisfaction, exchanged a glance with Leide, and then said, “Ryan, since it takes time to find a place to stay after coming ashore, I’ve already discussed with Hede that I’ll stay at your house for a few days. Of course, don’t worry, I’ll pay for those days—I won’t take advantage of you. Once I find a place, Claire and I will move out.”
Ryan was a bit surprised and glanced at Hede, not knowing when he’d discussed this with the captain.
Leide, because of his previous conversation with Sules, was a little dazed at first, but quickly reacted and nodded, “Yes, I’ve already agreed with the captain.”
There were some empty rooms at home anyway, so having two more people stay wasn’t a big deal, especially since they’d be paying.
Ryan thought, not only wouldn’t they lose out, but they could also use the opportunity to build a better relationship with the captain—why not?
His younger brother’s relationship with Sules had seemed a little delicate lately.
Ryan didn’t know the inside story, only thought Leide might have a crush on Sules.
If, during this time, he could use some tricks to match up his brother and Sules, their family would have a great helper.
And since Claire was rather pretty, Ryan thought to himself that if he could get together with Claire as well, that would really be “marrying into the family.”
Thinking of this, he smiled and said, “Then we really welcome you, Captain. Just hope you don’t mind our humble home.”
Sules smiled back, “How could I? I’m very satisfied just to have a place to stay. Thank you both for your help.”
The three of them had their own thoughts, but the atmosphere was very harmonious.
***
Once ashore, Sules immediately noticed the crowd had grown much larger.
The entire dock was packed like a spring festival rush.
These were all people whose ships were too low-level to weather the plum rain season at sea, so they had to come ashore and find a place to stay for a while.
During this period, there was no rule that you had to pay to come ashore.
The Hai Shen Sheng Dian knew that everyone really had no choice, so they would be lenient.
Of course, not everyone needed to come ashore during the plum rain season.
Ships above level 5 could easily ride out the two months of the rainy season at sea.
But here’s the thing—a level 5 ship on Mercury was already a big ship that could sail routes on its own.
The captains who owned such ships could definitely afford to live on land.
Most of them already had houses on land.
After all, life on land was more comfortable than at sea.
These people wouldn’t make things hard for themselves by insisting on staying on their ships.
So the poor squeezed onto land, while the rich wouldn’t give up their own places.
That’s why, during the plum rain season, the continent became more crowded than ever.
Sules and her group lugged their luggage and finally squeezed out of the docks, only to see recruitment signs for crew everywhere.
At this time, many big ships lost crew who wanted to go home, so they needed to hire new temporary workers.
After squeezing through this blockade, she parted ways with Annabella and the others, then went to the Guild to turn in her mission.
The next two months would be the fishing ban, and she needed to collect the so-called compensation.
Honestly, she was already satisfied that the Guild would give any money at all, and didn’t expect much.
Sure enough, for the two months of the fishing ban, the Guild only gave two silver shells.
Better than nothing, at least.
After leaving the Guild hall, Sules and Claire met up with the Ryan brothers.
Just then, she suddenly heard a loud “clang”—the sound of a wine bottle hitting the ground.
Sules looked over in confusion and saw that the bar owner next to the Guild had accidentally dropped a wine bottle.
She recognized that boss—
Sules had recruited these crew members with the wine this boss had “gifted” her, saving her a lot of trouble.
Sules walked over with a smile, “Boss, long time no see!”
The man’s eyes widened instantly, and his expression was a bit out of sorts.
But he wasn’t looking at Sules, but behind her.
Sules followed his gaze in confusion, only to see Ryan, Hede, and Claire.
She waved her hand in front of the man’s face, “What are you looking at? Is there something behind me?”
The man finally came back to his senses, looking a bit uneasy, “Ah… no, I wasn’t looking at anything. You… why are you back? Are those people with you?”
Sules frowned and nodded, “It’s the fishing ban, isn’t it normal to come ashore? But you—why do you seem so weird?”
The man covered his nose awkwardly, “It’s nothing, I just… haven’t seen you in a long time, so I was surprised. Well, if that’s the case, you should hurry on your way.”
With that, he turned and rushed into his tavern.
“Weird guy.”
Sules blinked in confusion, then turned and left.
On the way, Claire asked curiously, “Sules, who was that just now?”
Sules replied, “…You could say he’s a friend I once took advantage of. We don’t have much contact, and probably won’t meet again.”
With that, Claire naturally lost interest in the man and focused on the road.
At the same time, Ryder, who had overheard, let out a sigh of relief.
He now saw Sules as his brother’s future wife.
If his sister-in-law got mixed up with that kind of shady man, that would really be a headache.
Ryan Laide’s house was in a narrow alley—a typical European medieval residence, made of wood.
It wasn’t large, but it was tall.
This was all due to Mercury’s unique geography.
Because land was scarce, every inch was precious.
People built their houses to use the least land for the most space.
These days, just having a house on land was impressive enough.
Sules had long wondered how Bruce and his wife—Ryan and Leide’s parents—had managed to get this house.
The two of them—Hede’s father was an ordinary fisherman, already getting on in years.
He still went out to sea, but only near the coast, unable to handle long-distance trips.
The other worked the sea farms, basically a farmer on the ocean.
In seas with low salinity, you could grow sea wheat, which was the main ingredient for their bread.
Such sea areas were usually managed by the big guilds or the Hai Shen Sheng Dian, who rented out plots for planting and then sold the harvest on the market.
Ryan’s mother did that job.
The pay was lower than a crewman’s, but safer and less work.
The two had no background or connections; buying a house on the continent should have been nearly impossible.
Only after hearing some hints from Leide did Sules start to guess—
Bruce and his wife probably got this house because of the secret behind that magic array.
Maybe it was even hush money.
Because of his parents’ guilt, Leide had always been doted on at home.
Even though he complained about them playing favorites, when he got to the door, he was the most excited.
“Mom! We’re back! Hurry and open the door!”
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