Episode 54. The Brothers and Sisters of the Gray Harbor (2)
“It seems like they are all closed for business.”
As expected, the dock was deserted. It was the same even when Kuze scratched his head and looked around.
It was the time of the red moon, and the Ashen Harbor was directly connected to the Ashen Strait on the route. In terms of wildness, the Ashen Strait was the most wild place in the empire.
Bang! Bang!
Phew! Phew!
While the harbor was filled with heat and bustle as work was in full swing to build ships, there were hardly any people passing by on the opposite dock.
However, I couldn’t just wait until a week later for the red color of the moon to disappear.
“First, let’s find a middleman.”
“intermediary?”
When Tina asked, Kuze explained briefly.
“It’s a unique custom that only exists in the Gray Harbor. To get a ship, you have to go through a broker, whether you’re a commoner or a noble.”
The Gray Harbor is a large port where ships from all over the empire gather. If an individual were to go around looking for a ticket in a place where all kinds of goods and passengers are constantly coming and going, there would be nothing more chaotic than that.
It was the broker’s job to arrange this traffic. Passenger ships, cargo ships, even imperial warships. If the conditions were right, you could go anywhere through the broker.
Rubin’s purpose in coming to Ash Harbor was to board the ‘Blue Cat’, but for now, he let Kuze do whatever he wanted. It was also a necessary procedure.
“Oh my, why did you have to buy a ship at a time like this? That’s really it.”
The broker narrows his eyes and looks at Rubin and Kuze.
It was a time when even profitable transactions were rare, so finding a broker was not easy. The broker I finally got in touch with was so blatantly sly.
“Wouldn’t that work?”
“Well, it’s not like it’s impossible. I’m just saying it’ll cost you a little extra money.”
Kuze shook his head and handed over an amount of money that would make the broker’s heavy buttocks move. The broker, who had been carefully checking the amount, shrugged his shoulders and only then stood up from his chair.
“Then let’s look for it together. One Confucius and one servant. Is that all?”
“There’s a cat over there.”
Rubin said briefly.
“Cat? It would be even harder if it was a cat. The sailors would make a fuss, saying it’s bad luck. The moon is red, and if you bring a cat with you, I’d tell them to swim away instead.”
But she couldn’t give up easily. Cats were Tina’s favorite shape-shifting animals, and cats had a habit of suddenly hiding somewhere or doing something strange, so it was easy to remove suspicion.
The ship is a limited space. It would be much more advantageous to bring a cat with you from the beginning rather than having a creature appear out of nowhere that wasn’t there when you boarded.
“Because it’s a precious cat. Once the shipping is secured, I’ll pay you double the deposit.”
Satisfied with the subsequent offer, the broker walked out into the street with a sullen look on his face.
“Oh, right. It’s not easy. Just wait for now.”
The first ship the broker guided was an imperial warship. It was said that some of the rooms on warships returning to the capital were given to travelers.
It was a huge ship that could easily cross the Ash Strait, but it was impossible for Tina and the Imperial Army to be on board.
“Not much here.”
Rubin shook his head.
“Are you serious? If you have an Imperial Pass, you can get by without even paying the ferry fare… … .”
“next.”
“Tch, that’s tricky. Then let’s go next to it.”
An elven cruise ship was anchored next to it.
It was a huge ship, no less than an imperial ship. And since most of the passengers were elves, it was a ship that was both safe and noble.
They paid no attention to the ominousness of the red moon.
But the problem is.
“This cruise ship is for the exclusive use of alien species. No human beings are permitted on board.”
“But wouldn’t these well-behaved passengers be better than those stinky orcs?”
“How can an orc be a different race? It’s a monster, a human. And… … .”
The administrator elf looked back and forth between Rubin and Kuze, who were standing behind her, with her transparent eyes.
“They seem to have a bit of an annoying vibe.”
“What an annoying aura. Despite their appearance, these people are people with guaranteed status who hold imperial passes.”
Eventually, Rubin cut the broker off.
“Okay, Mr. Broker. I don’t feel like it either. Let’s go on the next boat.”
“… … .”
The manager elf looked wary as she made eye contact with Rubin, then turned around and went inside the ship.
‘It’s an annoying feeling… … .’
Even though the darkness was completely hidden, the elves’ keen senses must have caught on to its traces.
If it was a cruise ship, it would be a long journey that would require staying on the ship for at least six months, and Rubin was not happy about it, especially with those elves.
“No, a cat? Is this guy crazy?”
From then on, it was a series of rejections. One sailor, who scoffed at the idea of a red moon as a superstition, said that cats were a no-no and turned him away.
“Even if you have an Imperial Pass, young passengers are not allowed.”
There was also a sailor who glanced at Rubin and whispered this in the broker’s ear.
It was a collection of all sorts of superstitions. I spent half a day wandering around the dock like that.
“There will be a lot more ships in a week. Why don’t you wait until that day, Your Majesty?”
Now, the broker, who seemed tired, slowly approached the negotiation. Kuze glared at him and snapped.
“I haven’t tried all the ships yet.”
I still haven’t seen the ‘Blue Cat’ which was my real goal.
The broker, who had been scratching his head and frowning, finally got up from his seat as if he had remembered something.
“Oh, right! You both said your final destination was Capotini, right? The city of wizards?”
“Yes.”
“There is a ship called Poniak anchored at the port right now.”
“Poniarch?”
——————
faqwiki.us
Join our Discord for new chapter updates!
https://discord.com/invite/xr7SxG5T6V
——————
“It’s a luxurious ship that carries students from the Capotini School of Magic in the first-class cabins. The other cabins are open to regular travelers as long as they have enough money.”
It seems that the ship exclusively for magic students that the wizard mentioned at the checkpoint was the Poniark.
“I think it might be possible with this much money.”
The broker told him the cost of boarding the Poniark’s standard cabin. Kuze looked back at Rubin with a face that asked what he would do.
“I don’t feel like it.”
Rubin shook his head and answered, “It wasn’t the Blue Cat.”
“Ha, the destination is perfect, how can you do that?”
The disgruntled broker muttered, looking down at the floor.
‘And… it’s dangerous to be on the same boat as wizards right now.’
The two of them had not yet decided what identities they would assume in Capotini. It was dangerous to get involved with the local magic students before they even arrived.
The broker sighed deeply.
“Ha, I really don’t have a stomach anymore.”
At that moment, Rubin’s eyes were looking at the ships tied up at the dock, and a ship came into view.
‘Found it.’
“What is that ship?”
It was a ship that was much smaller than an imperial warship or an elven cruiser, but about the size of a three-story inn. Although it was not very large, it seemed capable of medium-distance voyages.
“It looks strange.”
Kuze spoke frankly. The bow of the ship was flat and rounded, unlike other ships. It looked like the mouth of a whale.
“Oh, that one? Hmm, that one is… … .”
The broker glanced at the boat and then turned away. Rubin was curious at the sight of him waving his hand as if talking further would be a loss.
“Well, if it could operate, it would be able to take you two to Capotini.”
“If only it could fly?”
Rubin asked, but the broker continued with his story.
“Besides, the fare will be cheap. They don’t hate cats, and they don’t treat children badly. They are also the kind of people who don’t care about the redness of the moon, like they would a red apple… .”
“So it’s a safe and cheap ship. Isn’t that right?”
“I told you, ‘As long as it can fly.’”
“Why is it impossible to operate?”
The broker shook his head repeatedly as if he was tired.
“Okay. If it’s that ship, just give up.”
“We need to know why it’s impossible. It might be a problem we can solve.”
“hmm…….”
The broker hesitated for a moment, then lifted his index finger and put it to his ear.
“Do you hear this sound?”
“sound?”
As I was thinking about it, I heard a very dull sound ringing in my ears. It was a heavy sound that anyone could hear. Just a moment ago, I thought it was just the sound of a ship being built in the harbor.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
The sound is ominous.
Rubin and Kuze spread the smoke thinly and widely to maximize the senses. This was to precisely identify the source of the sound.
Thud. Thud.
A sound that continues without end.
‘This is… … .’
Two fists clashing, attacks intertwining.
It was undoubtedly the echo of a fierce clash.
Rubin and Kuze nodded toward the broker, encouraging him to explain.
“It sounds like a fight is in full swing.”
“A fight? Isn’t that the work of building a ship?”
At Kuze’s calm question, the broker laughed as if such a misunderstanding was natural.
“Well, you might be mistaken. But that’s not it. It’s the sound of siblings fighting, throwing punches and kicks at each other.”
“Brothers and sisters fighting?”
The noise was too loud for that. Anyone who heard it could tell it was the kind of noise that made logs fall and rocks crumble.
My curiosity grew even more. Aside from saving the ship, what kind of siblings could make such a noise with just punches and kicks?
“I want to see it in person.”
“Yes, yes?”
Rubin headed straight toward the sound.
The source of the sound was an empty lot far away. The broker was startled and followed Rubin, who was walking away without saying a word.
“Sir, stop! You will get into trouble if you go sightseeing.”
“It’s okay. I’ll just watch from afar.”
“That’s not what I’m saying. Think about it. Everyone likes to watch fights, so why isn’t there anyone here? It’s because if you’re unlucky enough to watch one, you could lose your life.”
Rubin ignored the broker’s words and continued walking. The closer he got, the more he felt that the broker’s words were not an exaggeration.
The energy surrounding the empty lot was already on a different level. As they got closer to the battlefield, the huge resonance also grew in size.
Kuze also realized that something was wrong and began to become increasingly cautious.
At that moment, a scream was heard clearly from right in front of me.
“Aren’t you giving up?”
“Huh? Meow? Did you just say ‘meow’ to your big sister? You’re dead, for real.”
“crazy!”
Phew.
Even before reaching the clearing, Rubin realized that the sound of the wind just now was the sound of someone’s fist narrowly missing a vital point.
‘If you just listen to the sound, it’s not a fistfight, it’s more like a siege weapon.’
The man’s counterattack that followed also contained tremendous murderous intent.
This is clearly a fight where they are seriously trying to kill each other.
‘They’re really siblings?’
The fierce competition between brothers was a common sight in the Assassin Sword Family and other families. It was not uncommon for people to get seriously injured while actually sparring.
But I never thought I would see that sight here, in the empty space of a peaceful harbor dock, among two seafaring siblings.
furthermore.
“What size is that…?”
When Rubin entered the empty lot, two giant men and women were locked in a bloody fight right before his eyes.
‘He’s not just a big guy.’
The veins all over the body are bulging.
Their muscles were also swollen to the point where they looked like they were going to tear apart. Steam was rising from various parts of their bodies, showing how overheated they were.
That huge body, muscles, and even strength.
Rubin felt a deep thrill as he recalled the vague memories from before his return.
“What is this little guy?”
“What is this kid?”
Soon, the two giant siblings noticed that there were onlookers and looked down at Rubin and spoke at the same time.
