Chapter 497: The Wall of Rewards

After the talk about the legends of treasures that had inspired

generations of adventurers to go to sea came to an end, the cook had

also finished roasting the flesh of the murloc's belly.

They were white after being cooked, charred a little black, and covered

with tiny brown particles that glistened with a moist, oily glow.

The repeated smearing of seasonings had already seeped into the texture

of the meat, effusing it with a tantalizing visual effect.

"Desi grilled fish, it's different from how you usually eat it." Elland

pointed at the white porcelain plate the cook lowered.

Donna held her fork and knife and eagerly said, "I love honey-roasted

fish!

"But this is also very appetizing."

*Honey-roasted fish... How much honey would that take... If I have a

chance to try it, the taste should be pretty good...* Klein

allowed his imagination to run wild.

With a chef, there was no need for them to serve themselves. They could

only look on expectantly as pieces of fish were sliced, placed on

different plates, and served in front of them.

Klein was very serious when it came to tasting delicacies, so he was in

no hurry to deal with the fish. Instead, he took a sip of black tea and

used the slightly sour liquid to clear his mouth of any remaining

flavors.

After doing all of this, he forked a piece of fish and stuffed it into

his mouth.

In a split-second, he felt the slightly stimulating flavors of fennel,

basil, and other spices. They were sufficient enough to help him open up

one taste bud after another.

Immediately after, the delicious juices of the meat, the slightly

astringent taste of the sea salt and the refreshing, sour, and sweet

taste of lemon all burst out at the same time, filling his oral cavity

and making his mouth water.

As he chewed, the last bit of the fish meat's stubbornness was broken

off one by one after having its fat roasted out of it, fully presenting

the splendor of the meat, as well as its faint sweetness.

Swallowing the fish in his mouth, Klein recalled a delicacy program he

had watched in his previous life and chose the evaluation line that

matched what he just felt: "The layered flavors are very clear,

excellent!"

"Haha, your tone and words make you sound like a gourmet," Elland joked.

Donna waved her fork and echoed, "Uncle, perhaps you should write a

column in the newspaper about different restaurants and different

cuisines."

*Eh, why didn't I think of this idea... This is a good job that can earn

me money, as well as allowing me to taste delicacies! The only problem

is that an obese man can't be a flexible clown... Use the great art of

spewing vomit? What a waste of food!* Klein seriously considered

Donna's suggestion.

"To a beautiful night!"

When there was very little food left, Elland poured himself some more of

the Sonia blood wine and raised his glass with a ruddy face.

Klein and the others echoed in similarly good moods, "To a beautiful

night."

They drank the rest of the liquids from their glasses and watched the

waiter clear the table and clean the deck.

They talked for a while more amidst the cold wind, talking about the

mermaids that Donna was most interested in.

Cleves told the young lady that, in some legends, mermaids were also

called Sirens, and they used their songs to confuse humans not for

entertainment but for hunting. Aside from the possibility of

encountering these creatures on the sea route from the Gargas

Archipelago to the depths of the Sonia Sea, there was a certain chance

of discovering it in dangerous seas that haven't been explored by

humans. However, all of this stemmed from the drunken boasting of

certain pirates, and they all avoided the question of how they escaped

from the mermaids' songs, which made it highly suspicious.

*No matter what, this at least points me in a possible

direction...* Klein took note of what they had discussed.

"Donna, Denton, it's time to go back. You'll have to get up early

tomorrow and have breakfast with your parents." Cecile looked at the

moon's position.

"Fine." Donna stood up reluctantly.

Denton hurriedly asked, "D-do I have a chance at becoming an

adventurer?"

His mind had been captivated by the previous hunt and the legends.

Cleves walked to his side, patted his shoulder, and said, "Before you

ask this question, you need at least five years of combat training and

studying. I think your father will hire a good tutor for you."

"Yeah!" Denton's eyes lit up, and he nodded vigorously.

*After five years, the adult you probably won't want to be an adventurer

who can find himself buried at the bottom of the sea at any time...

Cleves's handling of the situation was very shrewd. He didn't

immediately refuse him, but rather he gave him hope and let time wash

away his interest. This prevents the child from becoming suddenly

rebellious... Regardless, mastering a fighting technique is always

beneficial for anyone...* Klein put his hands in his pockets and

thought with appreciation.

On the way back to the interior of the cabin, Cleves handed two

five-pound notes to Klein.

"Your payment."

He had just received 150 pounds from Elland's purchase of the whole

murloc.

"I didn't do anything," Klein instinctively refused.

Cleves glanced at him with his pale blue eyes and said in a low voice,

"You freed up Cecile and took good care of the children."

Took good care of the children? Klein was somewhat amused, but

he finally took the two bills and drew a triangle on his chest.

"You're more generous than I thought. Thank you."

He stopped declining because he suddenly figured out something. If he

hadn't accepted the ten pounds, then in the eyes of a veteran adventurer

like Cleves, it would appear as though he was dissatisfied with the

price and was attempting to get more, making it possible that he would

attack them at any time. Among self-proclaimed adventurers, there was

definitely no lack of greedy madmen!

Seeing Gehrman Sparrow pocket the money, Cleves looked away and said

flatly, "This is a rule of the sea."

Without another word, he followed Cecile, Donna, and company into the

cabin.

*If I could get such rewards with every single mission and job of this

difficulty, then I would've long made a fortune with my job as a private

detective...* Klein gave a self-deprecating laugh and turned his

head to look at the red moon hanging high in the sky.

It still shone quietly and gently in the night.

*Legends of the sea, different monsters... I've finally found the slight

feeling of being an adventurer.* Klein turned around and walked

to the edge of the ship. Bathing in the crimson veil, he admired the

waves that were growing darker. Gradually, his mood settled as he walked

out bit by bit from the gloom of Backlund's Great Smog.

The cold, damp wind slapped his face, and the vast, endless ocean caught

his eye, opening up his heart.

For a moment, Klein felt the urge to sing, but when he opened his mouth,

he found that he couldn't remember the corresponding modern verses.

*I can't just end up saying, "Oh sea, you're all water"... The Emperor's

Savant Sequence is really well suited to doing such things. When I have

the time, I should read through his poems so as to not look like

illiterate...* Klein lampooned as he looked at the red moon and

the ocean before sighing.

"What a beautiful night."

After an accidental episode of getting lost, the exploratory team

returned to the City of Silver.

Looking at the wall's cracks filled with weeds, Derrick found himself in

a trance, as if he had been gone for many years.

Diagonally behind him, Demon Hunter Colin's eyes suddenly wore a lost

look as he raised his hand to press on his right temple.

The rest of the team members were filled with joy and relief from the

bottom of their hearts.

After a difficult exploration, having a home waiting for them was the

happiest thing in their hearts.

Collin's gaze returned to normal as he turned his head to the side and

looked diagonally ahead.

Backlund, the White family.

After some thought, the confident Emlyn came up to his parents and

asked, "If I wanted to delve into the history of us Sanguine, who would

I look for?"

*If I were to ask about the City of Silver directly, it's very likely

that I'll be exposed for being problematic. Although I'm not afraid and

very calm, for the Ancestor and in order to save the entire Sanguine

race, I have no choice but to hide it... I've always been interested in

the history of Sanguine. I've collected a lot of information, and Father

and Mother know that, so I wouldn't be suspected in any way... This

excuse is perfect!* Emlyn praised himself inwardly.

He resembled his father to a certain extent. He wore gold-rimmed glasses

that made him look very professional.

The gentleman, who had gotten his doctorate in medicine, put down the

thick "Anatomy" book in his hands, nudged his glasses, and said, "No one

in Backlund knows more than Lord Nibbs."

...If I dared to seek Lord Nibbs, I would've long done so...

Emlyn thought of Mr. Fool's description of him being a messiah, that had

to bear the burden of a secret while being misunderstood, as he pressed

with a solemn expression, "Aside from Lord Nibbs?

"He's sleeping underground, so it's not convenient for him to be

disturbed."

Emlyn's father pulled up the collar of his thick cotton pajamas and

thought for a moment.

"Waymandy. He always thinks of himself as a historian."

Emlyn heaved a sigh of relief and smiled.

"I wish to visit him."

Woo!

The whistle sounded and the White Agate sailed into Damir Harbor.

It would replenish fresh food and water on the colonial island and set

sail again the next morning.

After hunting the murloc, Klein spent the next two days of what could be

described as a leisurely or boring life. He was completely bored by the

scenery of the sea, and he decided to head to the harbor's bar to look

around that very night, hoping to get more information on mermaids and

inspiration for acting.

*If I were to come across a pirate whose hands are stained with blood

onshore, I wouldn't mind teaching him a lesson. There are still souls

waiting to be released from Creeping Hunger...* Klein's forehead

sweated as he equipped himself with all his mystical items as he left

his cabin before heading down to the harbor.

During this process, he met Donna, Cleves, and the others. They seemed

to be heading over to a port restaurant to taste Damir's most famous

cured meat.

Donna and Denton greeted the adventurer, whom they had just gotten to

know, without their parents noticing, and seemed curious as to where he

was going.

Klein smiled back, pulled up his collar, and, following the directions

of the sign, found the nearest bar.

Flying Fish & Wine... Klein looked at the signboard and saw

that the outside of the bar was plastered with bounty notices.

Among them were the 800,000 pounds belonging to the King of the Five

Seas, and more than a hundred pounds for the common pirate captain. This

formed a unique landscape that ranged from the highest to the lowest.

It's all money... Klein stood on the spot and looked at it for

a long time.

He withdrew his gaze, pushed open the door, and entered the bar, only to

find that it was abnormally quiet. It didn't have the din that such

places came equipped with.

What happened? Klein looked around and saw Captain Elland, in

a dark red coat, sitting at the bar, as well as two large men in the

middle of the room, facing each other.