Otherworld Advance Team
Chapter 1009 - 1002: Captain Wadulan

Chapter 1009: Chapter 1002: Captain Wadulan

After waiting inside the inn for about a day, the Advance Team finally received a reply from Headquarters. The news excited them, since Headquarters had already coordinated everything for them; they simply needed to follow the plan.

According to the reply from Headquarters, they had contacted a Blaiqi captain at the Luscaque branch through the Blaiqi merchant network. This captain owned a medium-sized cargo ship that had recently sailed north from Odelanqi to Luscaque.

The Advance Team just needed to find him, and he would take the team back to Blue Bay directly. Once everyone arrived at Blue Bay, Headquarters had arranged for an airboat to wait and meet them.

Headquarters had also fulfilled Luo’er’s requests—after picking up the team, the airboat would head straight to Ilanadale, drop off the team, and then return with the Holy Book of the Ancestors, documents, and relevant personnel to the base.

Luo’er knew that such decisions at the front line surely had no authority; it must have been the result of meetings and discussions at the rear Headquarters. Thus, he greatly admired the people at Headquarters for their ability to convene a meeting upon receiving the message and immediately come up with a plan of action without any delay.

Of course, there were people dissatisfied with this speed, namely Hu Daoke and Cheng Ziang. They had not had a chance to stroll around and meet girls before the Advance Team had to relocate again, leaving them frustrated and attempting to engage with the elf maids in the inn, only to be met with numerous cold shoulders.

After a brief rest, they all went to the docks again and met with the Blaiqi captain who was supposed to connect with them.

This was a typical Blaiqi man in his fifties, who appeared quite tall and burly. Probably because he had been living comfortably, his big belly could never be tucked back in, and he had to hold it up with one hand, making him look like a pregnant woman.

"You must be Captain Luo’er," seeing Luo’er, the captain didn’t show any displeasure but rather lit up and reached out his hand, saying.

"You are too kind, Captain. What may I call you?" Luo’er shook his hand and asked respectfully.

"I am Captain Wadulan of the Riding the Waves." The captain introduced himself uniquely, speaking the phrase "Riding the Waves" in Chinese.

"Captain Wadulan, a pleasure to meet you," Luo’er nodded and said.

"What words, esteemed guest! Your presence brings glory to this humble ship!" Wadulan said with a beaming smile.

"Captain Wadulan, have you studied Chinese?" Luo’er asked, noticing that the phrase he used was also in Chinese and quite standard.

"Oh, where do I begin? When I was young, I had a modest achievement in Chinese literature," Wadulan replied proudly.

"You’re being modest; it doesn’t seem ’modest’ at all," Luo’er said, laughing.

"How embarrassing, how embarrassing, this way please." Wadulan waved his hand, then gestured for them to follow him toward the dock.

"Captain Wadulan, is it recent that you came to Luscaque?" Luo’er asked as they walked.

"Yes, they said the route was open again, so I sailed right up here; alas, my cargo was backed up for over a month, barely keeping the cash flowing," Wadulan shook his head and sighed.

"Is this route still dangerous?" asked Luo’er.

"Well, it varies from person to person, I guess, but I think it’s manageable," Wadulan said. "You must have heard that the ’Deadly Route’ is very close to the deep sea. Sailing through it is like walking on the edge of a cliff; a slight misstep might lead to an attack by monsters from below the cliff."

"Isn’t that too risky to sail through?" Luo’er hesitated.

"Oh, worry not, distinguished guest," Wadulan waved his hands, assuring confidently as he patted his chest, "I’ve been in this line for over thirty years. I know this route very well; even if we navigate closely to the deep sea, there is no need to worry about an attack by Leviathan."

"What makes you say that?" asked Luo’er.

"Every Leviathan has its own territory, which is vast. To patrol its territory completely takes at least half a month. If a ship passes through one Leviathan territory after another in deep sea, it’s inevitable to encounter a patrolling Leviathan, which might launch an attack leading to the destruction of the ship and loss of lives. However, if we merely skim past, the chances of encountering a Leviathan are actually very small," Wadulan explained.

"Oh, I see," Luo’er nodded in understanding.

"Moreover," after a pause, Wadulan continued to reassure, "you also know that the sea water here in the north is very cold during winter, and the only warm current flows through the shallow sea areas. Therefore, Leviathans are rarely active in this region during winter. More often, they prefer to stay in the deep sea or relatively mild waters and do not trouble the shipping lanes without cause."

"I’ve always had a question, but I’m not sure if it’s appropriate to ask," Luo’er said, looking at Wadulan.

"But please do ask. As a distinguished guest, I will answer anything I know," Wadulan replied.

"I want to know what the main reason is for Leviathans attacking ships. Is it to eat the people on board?" Luo’er asked.

"Hehe," hearing Luo’er’s question, Wadulan grinned and then waved his hand, saying, "It’s not like that. They just don’t like ships passing through their territory because they see it as an invasion of their space, an act of hostility. From my observations over the decades, Leviathans do not actually eat humans—not just humans, they don’t eat fish either; it seems they don’t eat anything at all."

"Then how do they survive?" Luo’er asked, puzzled.

"I’m not sure about that. Some say they are made of magic and thus only consume magic, while others say they are satisfied by drinking sea water. In any case, we rarely see Leviathans feeding. Of course, there are indeed Leviathans that swallow ships and people on board, but that’s more out of anger than hunger," Wadulan replied.

"So, whether they eat the people on the ships depends purely on their mood?" Luo’er asked.

"Yes, you could say that," Wadulan nodded.

"Most ships dare not sail now, only Captain Wadulan dares to travel back and forth; it seems the captain must have some unique insights?" Luo’er complimented.

"Ah, I’m just making a living," Wadulan waved his hand and said, "I’m not like some people who are immersed in the soft comforts of the Snow Elves’ affairs. Ironically, the Snow Elves ignore them, and yet they stubbornly remain here."

"Does it feel like he’s talking about the two of us?" Hu Daoke turned to look at Cheng Ziang and asked in a lowered voice.

"It’s probably about you, I’ve never thought that way," Cheng Ziang unceremoniously threw back the blame.

"Scoundrel, you rush for the benefits and vanish at the sight of trouble!" Hu Daoke cursed through clenched teeth.

"They probably don’t sail because they lack the experience of the captain, so they can only wait until spring to set sail," Luo’er said with a smile.

"Ah, Captain Luo’er flatters me. These things only require courage, not much experience," Wadulan said, waving his hand, obviously pleased with Luo’er’s compliments.

The group, led by Wadulan, arrived at the dock and saw Wadulan’s merchant ship. It was a very ordinary medium-sized wooden sailing ship, and at that moment, dockworkers were loading crates of cargo into the hold.

"What is this cargo?" Luo’er asked.

"Oh, these are furs, bound for Odelanqi and then transshipped to Yazhi City," Wadulan turned and explained to Luo’er, "Of course, since your organization has paid, whenever you come, we are ready to set sail without delay because of loading."

"No need to be so polite; it doesn’t seem right for you to leave with an empty hold. Just load it up first; we can set sail when it’s almost done. We are not in a hurry on our end," Luo’er reassured.

Luo’er’s magnanimity won Captain Wadulan’s approval, and he joyously said, "Ah, we are truly thankful. Come, come, distinguished guests, this way please, you are our most honored guests, please take the first-class cabins and don’t be shy with me."

"Then we are in your care, Captain," Luo’er said with a smile.

"No, no, no, it is I who should thank Captain Luo’er," Wadulan said, beaming.

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