After getting rid of the empire's pursuers, it took the Seven Seas Traveler two days and one night to cross the turbulent sea, and successfully arrived at the sea outside Zhili three days later. From there, heading south, you can successfully reach the giant tree.
The hill.
But if they choose another, older route, the westerly wind in the air and sea will take them to Cape Saint-Hughan, which is also the purpose of the Seven Seas Traveler's trip.
The afterglow of the setting sun reflects at the intersection of sea and sky, soaking the wood on the side into a warm wine red. The texture of the wood is rough and clearly visible, and there are occasional one or two scratches on it - those are the traces left by shrapnel.
, but the Seven Seas Traveler had just experienced a war, and some other parts needed to be reinforced, so that no one took care of the wear and tear of these details.
The evening breeze was slightly tipsy, and Fang Yu asked Catherine about the rumors about Saint-Hughan, the distribution of pirates, the climate, ports and anchorages. Under the ship's side, the air and sea returned to their original deep, rose-red color, which was a bit intoxicating.
Siesta was standing next to Sylvester, the maid used a plumb to record the changes in the ocean currents, the ship officer nodded from time to time, holding a quill in her delicate hand, and wrote down these numbers one by one in the notebook.
.
After confirming that they had completely sailed out of the dark sea full of rocks, everyone's tense nerves were relaxed. "It's incredible, we actually escaped from there," Tianlan sat on the deck and stared at the purple-gold
On the sea surface, he couldn't help but murmur to himself, "If I were asked to choose again now, I would rather face the Empire." Parker said sharply: "If we face the Empire, we would have been buried under the sea."
Miss Poet was choked. Although she knew she was being unreasonable, she still insisted: "We just almost died at the bottom of the sea."
The voices of two people hovered on the deck, like a pair of crows circling on the mast, noisy. Miss Nightingale sighed when she saw it. Such a scene was common on the Seven Seas Traveler, as if it were a daily occurrence.
She was already used to it.
The two-day and one-night voyage was indeed far from easy. The dangers in the turbulent area were just as Catherine said. Turbulence was just a 'little trouble'. The real dangers were often hidden under the reefs and whirlpools.
Catherine told them that there were 'relics' left by the battle between two dragon knights. A war that took place in the Golden Year destroyed an island there. Most of the broken floating islands sank under the sea of clouds, and the remaining
The parts that constitute the wonders they see——
Black, glassy rocks as big as mountains floated on the clouds, as if they had been melted. Most of the sharp rocks were hidden under the clouds, waiting for the raging turbulence to send the sailboat to the door and smash it to pieces.
There are countless such rocks floating on the empty sea, as small as cinnabar and pebbles. When they float on the clouds, they hit the sides of the ship with a pinging sound, which makes the people under the cabin tense their heartstrings. After a voyage, everyone
People are exhausted physically and mentally.
But Alyssa has indeed never seen similar scenes in other places, including the sea of ice cut by glaciers and full of rocks on the Baozhang Coast. The broken continental edge forms the first dangerous channel from Kaolin to Ithulian.
But it’s not as good as here——
What the female pirate said may be true. Only a dragon knight can achieve such great power. She reached out and picked up one from the rubble. The glassy rock was covered with fine pores, like igneous rock.
That scene appeared in her mind involuntarily.
A pillar of fire descended from the clouds and hit the huge floating island. The high temperature of hundreds of millions of degrees melted through the center of the island, and the turbulent elemental power tore the entire island into two.
Lava gushes out from under the cracks, pours into the empty sea, and cools to form what it is today. These large and small rocks are the blood flowing from the earth, and they are the floating island that exists on this empty sea.
The last trace.
The power of destruction has completely distorted the laws here. The raging wind elements form turbulence under the etheric sea, like the ghosts of dead elements, resurrected from nowhere, forming a hidden undercurrent that strikes without warning.
One mistake could result in a shipwreck and loss of life.
"Such scenes can be found everywhere in the second world," Miya walked up, looked at the stone in her hand, and said, "The wonders and power shaped that world. It was far more dangerous than here, and the turbid
The domain was once an ancient battlefield, and if you are not prepared, I do not recommend that you go there."
Alyssa turned back and looked at her, "Does Miss Miya also feel in danger?"
"The abilities of dragon knights are also divided into high and low levels. As long as you reach the gold level, you can be called a dragon knight. But compared to the two dragon knights who once fought here, I am far inferior to them." Miya shook her head.
Shaking his head, he couldn't help but think of everything that happened at Covenant Mountain.
Although she had used some power, she could indeed say that she had smoothed that place. It should have fallen apart by now, and the scene left behind should not be any better than here.
"But Miss Miya got to know the captain earlier than us. You should know that with Ed's character, he will take us there no matter what." Alyssa looked at Miya. The wolf girl had a temperament that matched her.
Silent and mysterious, those silver eyes seemed to be able to accommodate everything. At first, Fang Pliance could not help but fall into this dream. Miss Nightingale herself almost lost her consciousness. She blinked her eyes before she came back to her senses, something strange
He glanced at the other person.
Miya looked at Fang Plover, who was talking to Catherine, and nodded slightly.
…
"The Seven Seas Traveler was seriously damaged, especially the several hits that penetrated the lower cabin. Although the breaches were repaired by Cuisi and Miss Lark with magic white oak, it was just an appearance," Fang Plover told Catherine.
Said: "The elemental structure and Guy generator can only be repaired after arriving at the port. Before that, we can only maintain the current leisurely speed."
"That's nothing," Catherine answered him. "If you drive at this leisurely speed to Lufflin, it will only take you more than half a month. Anyway, you have the foresight to replenish supplies at Quemana, and on board
Nothing is lacking.”
"I'm not worried about this," Fang Plover shook his head. "I plan to find a port to dock first, but the nearest port is also in the Gray Whale Islands, which is actually close to the outer edge of San Juan. I want to hear your story.
That land of freedom, Lady Catherine."
"My messages are not free."
"I have promised to cooperate with you," Fang Pliong sighed, "Ms. Catherine."
Catherine smiled slightly and told him: "Cooperation is just a prerequisite, but you still have to pay me. In this way, I will give you a discount for the first time, and you can pay me a silver coin."
She stretched out her hand, and Fang Yu was slightly startled. He thought that the other party was just taking advantage of him for fun. He was slightly surprised, so he reached out and took out a silver coin from his pocket and handed it to the other party.
But Catherine took the silver coin, looked it up and down, handed it back, shook her head and put it in front of him. "That's not what I want," she replied, "Well, let me teach you the first thing.
Let’s learn a lesson, pirates like gold and gems, and they will also trade with these things, but in the territory of Saint-Hughan, there is only one proprietary currency in circulation, which we call pirate money, or cursed silver coins.”
Fang Yu was stunned. He had indeed heard of this legend. There was a currency circulating among pirates that only they could use. It was called cursed money. However, people generally believed that this was just a legend.
.
After all, pirates have no control over each other, and the so-called Pirate King is only the overlord of one side. The pirates in Kukai don't obey each other, so how can they agree on a common currency?
The pirates of Etalia are not known for their credibility.
"Cursed money?" he asked.
"Yes, do you think it's strange?" Catherine replied, "Actually, we don't know where this kind of coin comes from, but pirates regard it as very important, even more precious than gold, jade and emeralds.
After all, you can use it to buy everything in St. John's - human lives, ships that are treasured by pirates, and even holy objects and artifacts."
She took out a silver coin and placed it in front of Fang Plover - it looked like an ordinary coin, even the silver on the surface was a little black due to oxidation, the casting process was rough, and there was a strange inscription engraved on the surface of the coin.
triangle.
It's really hard for Fang Plover to connect the legendary cursed money with this poor coin. It looks like a private imitation made by a small workshop. Private money that would be rejected in larger cities.
Even the value of recasting is lacking.
And he had never seen the triangle on the coin, and he had never heard of which god's holy symbol it was, nor did it appear to be the symbol of an organization.
If Catherine hadn't shown him a look, then carefully taken it back and hid it as a treasure, he almost thought that the female pirate was taking advantage of him. "Actually, when I proposed it to you, there was a third way.
Possibly, if you have enough pirate money, you can take it to the free port to seek help, and some pirates are willing to cooperate with you."
She glanced at Fang Yu and said, "But I guess you didn't."
"Will the pirates recognize it?" Fang Pulver asked. He did not believe that such a currency would be inherently trustworthy, unless it was gold, other precious metals or precious jewelry, and someone endorsed its value behind it.
Where is its credibility established?
Freeport is a place without rules. There is no king who can rule everything. This is true for Rodrigo in the past and Barossa now. They are just overlords in the air and sea, with a far-reaching reputation.
But that doesn't mean they can order other pirates around.
The pirates' deal, to put it bluntly, depends on who has a stronger fist and who has a louder voice. They formulated a set of agreed-upon rules in Saint-Hughan, but that set of rules is also based on the law of the jungle, but only maintains
Following the most basic order.
It seems unlikely that this set of general rules would allow the pirates to implement a monetary policy.
"Because the Holy Secret Society recognizes it." Catherine said.
"Holy Secret Society?" Fang Plover asked. It sounded like the name of an organization, but such secret societies were all over Aitaria, and it was impossible for him to know them all.
"It is an organization established among brothers. You and your companions are not walking in the gray area, so it is normal that you have not heard of it," Catherine told him. "The Holy Secret Society originated in Lotao and later spread.
To the Hill of the Giant Tree, it is famous among the pirates of San Juan."
"Very famous, why?"
"The reason is these cursed silver coins," Catherine replied. "The Holy Secret Society recognizes the value of the cursed silver coins and recycles them. Moreover, the Holy Secret Society only trades with pirates and will only recycle such coins from pirates they recognize.
That’s why it’s called pirate money——”
"I don't quite understand," Fang Yun said in confusion. "Assuming that this kind of silver coin is really valuable to them, why do they only trade with pirates? Could it be that if this kind of money returns from other people's hands, it has no value to them?"
Is it valuable?”
Catherine thought for a moment, "Actually, you are not the only one who has this question, but the legend is related to the protector of pirates. There is only one temple of the god in the Freeport of St. Anthony. Do you know which god it is?"
Fang Plover shook his head.
Catherine looked at the sea. The sunlight formed golden rays on the clouds, like sparkling waves. "Sailors believe that once they set foot on the empty sea, it is like leaving their destiny in the hands of the saints, and among the saints of Orin
, there happens to be such a god who is in charge of destiny."
"Destiny Girl Elaine?" Fang Pliong asked.
"Elaine?" Catherine shook her head, "We don't know the name of that lady. We only know that she is the most mysterious one among the Saints of Orin. Even her name is not widely circulated to the outside world."
Fang Yu was slightly startled. Elaine was one of the eleven righteous gods of the Olin Gods. How could even her name be hidden? He suddenly thought of a possibility and couldn't help but be stunned.
And Catherine was continuing: "The history of the cursed silver coin among the San Juan pirates is even longer than that of my grandfather, and the pirates passed it down word of mouth because it is attached with the divine power of fate, and the Holy Secret
Maybe he is a believer of that goddess."
Although I don’t know the reason, Elaine, the girl of destiny, is indeed the only goddess among the eleven gods who does not have a public temple.
This is different from the twin goddesses of Ameya. The Shadow in the Forest was originally just a secondary god.
But the Holy Mysteries are followers of the Goddess of Destiny?
Fang Plover was a little confused.
"But this is just your speculation," he asked again: "There is such an organization that issues currency among pirates and only trades with pirates. Have you never doubted it?"
Catherine looked at him and said, "I know what you mean, but I think it's unlikely because you don't understand the value of cursed coins. There are three grades of silver coins, like the one I have.
As long as ten coins of the same kind can be exchanged for a big ship from the Holy Secret Society."
She continued: "Do you know what a ship means to pirates?"
Fang Plover shook his head.
"It means all possibilities," Catherine said, "Sometimes, such as now - a boat means an opportunity for me to make a comeback, so that I will not become a prisoner, and as long as you have the cursed silver coin, the Holy Secret
I will take whatever I ask for."
She looked at Fang Plover, her emerald eyes flashing with scorching gaze, "They have never refused a deal. Do you think it is necessary for them to do this again?"
Fang Yu was a little shocked when he heard this. He had never thought that there was such secret knowledge among pirates. Before passing through the star gate, he even thought that he knew enough about the world, but he did not expect that what he had glimpsed was just
Just the tip of the iceberg.
As Catherine said, what he saw was only the high-profile information related to the alliance, but he knew very little about the things under the gray area.
Fortunately, it seems that Minmir found a reliable guide for them.
"So this kind of silver coin is very important to you," Fang Pliance said, "Then why doesn't Ms. Catherine directly trade with the Holy Secret Society?"
Catherine stuck her shell for a moment: "...This has nothing to do with you."
Seeing Fang Plover looking at her suspiciously, she sighed and had to confess: "Well, actually I don't have that much money. Do you really think that the cursed silver coins are so easy to get? I haven't saved much over the years. This is my
The final trump card.”
"So for your news," Fang Pliance asked, "you will charge me a silver coin?"
The female pirate's face turned slightly red, "It's just a joke, and I'm not providing you with information for free, little one, don't be ungrateful."
"So what do the other two levels of Cursed Silver look like?"
"The one I have is of the second grade," Catherine was eager to change the subject. "The first grade has no coin face and is much cheaper. As for the third grade, I have never seen it. It is said that it is priceless.
You can use it to get a real artifact from the Holy Secret Society."
Does the Holy Secret Society still have artifacts on hand?
However, Fang Yu then thought about it. If the Holy Secret Society was really a believer of Elaine, this didn't seem to be a big deal. What the Seven Seas Traveler needed at the moment had nothing to do with any artifact, so he didn't raise the issue redundantly.
"Actually, there are many different rumors about cursed silver coins. For example, when you collect a certain number of cursed silver coins, you can even use them to make a wish, and the goddess of fate will fulfill your wish," Catherine said,
"Of course these are just mythical rumors and no one has ever realized them."
"So the Mysteries have a presence in Freeport?"
"Yes," Catherine nodded, "Freeport is different from what many people imagine. Although it is a free place, it actually has its own rules, called the Pirate Code - the earliest pirate code was written by the pirate prince Francis.
Kidd, the most legendary pirate king in the history of the air and sea, and today’s Gray Whale Islands are named after his fleet.”
Fang Yu had actually heard of that code. After all, he had learned about the life of Rodrigo de Andris in detail. Later, the code was perfected by the gray pirate king William, Rodrigo himself, and gradually became St.
General rules.
San Juan is not the home of a certain pirate force, or the Corin-Ithurian Blood Shark Pirates. In fact, many famous pirates have operated there, including Rodrigo and Bluebeard, the pirate king of Silver Chain Island.
.
Many pirates gather here, and they can live in peace in the free port precisely because of this set of universal rules.
"The protector of the pirates is the goddess of destiny," Catherine said, "but in fact, the Holy Mystic Society did not build a temple belonging to this lady in the Freeport. On the contrary, St. Joan actually only has a holy temple of one god.
temple."
"I know that," Fang Plover replied, "Business lady Roman."
Ms. Roman will not protect the pirates. After all, she believes in fair and equitable transactions, the spirit of contract, and business skills. However, Saint-Hughan needs to establish a set of general rules so that the pirates can live in peace there.
It is precisely for this reason that the temple of the Goddess of Commerce was erected, which can be regarded as a unique wonder in St. Anthony.