Extraordinary Voyage-Chapter 463 - 425: Clues_2

"Something’s not right!"

Alek, who had been a pirate for half his life, did not feel the thrill of a mouse entering a rice jar; instead, his heart tightened at the sight of this unusual scene.

Looking at this small town again.

In the damp, cold drizzle, the gas lamps hanging at the door cast a dim yellow light. The moss-covered corners of the walls resembled eerie mold spots, seemingly ready to gradually consume the entire town.

The town was pitch black, with only a few buildings showing faint lights. Through the rain curtain, they flickered like mocking eyes of some sort of monster.

Listening closely, besides the sound of rain, there was complete silence, as if the entire town was deserted.

However.

It was impossible for a pirate to give up the wealth that’s almost within grasp; a little abnormality wouldn’t scare him.

Moreover, even if Alek wanted to retreat, those red-eyed subordinates wouldn’t agree.

If these guys initially understood how to restrain their desires, how could they have chosen the pirate trade back then?

"Sparrow, do you think there’s a problem?"

For such strange occurrences, consulting a professional was necessary. Alek opened his left hand, and asked the parasite there slowly opening its eyes. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

"Hmm, in my perception, the people in the town are still there, but their status seems to be asleep."

Sparrow, parasitizing Alek’s left hand, although without an independent body, with its existing powers, can be treated as half an Official Wizard.

His words had some credibility, which slightly eased Alek’s vigilance.

"Go! Search house by house; there’s no bank here, they might have buried the gold coins in the yard, don’t forget to find them."

"Hahaha, don’t worry, Captain!"

"We’ve got experience!"

Upon hearing the orders, like hungry wolves smelling blood, the pirates quickly formed into teams of three and rushed into the town.

And under Alek’s personal lead, a team of over ten fully armed elites went straight to the most splendid house at the town’s center, clearly the mayor’s home.

Bang—

A kick smashed the yard’s gate open, and a group of uninvited guests like wolves swarmed in.

Some went straight for the main bedroom, as experienced bandits knew that’s where the host’s valuables were most likely hidden. Others dashed towards the garden, looking for gold coins possibly buried in jars underground.

However.

Alek found it increasingly strange that even with such a ruckus, the people inside the house did not wake up.

A bit uneasy.

He personally opened the bedroom door on the second floor, seeing the somewhat obese lady owner on the bed, evidently the food at the mayor’s home was decent.

But the mayor was nowhere to be found.

Knock knock knock...

Knocking heavily at the door, yet there was no response from the other side.

Upon further inspection, he found that she seemed to be in a trance, even pinching her eyelids showed no signs of awakening.

On this New Continent, oddities happened from time to time, and apparently the town encountered some unusual event before their arrival, now completely defenseless.

It was a stroke of luck for them.

The other pirates in the town evidently noticed this too, with no one able to stop them, many had begun to demolish violently.

Alek didn’t care anymore, waving to his subordinates:

"Take action!"

Immediately, the room was filled with the sound of boxes being overturned.

Swish swish swish...

Then, bags of gold coins were found.

Alek didn’t act himself, but while reminding Sparrow to watch out for the surroundings, he drew his scimitar, cautiously guarding against any possible surprise.

For the origin of this town’s abnormality, whether it had left or not, was still unknown.

Suddenly, in the rainy night.

"Woof woof woof..."

"Caw caw caw..."

"Whoosh whoosh whoosh..."

Noises like dog barks, crow caws, or the roar of a storm suddenly reached the ears of those in the room.

Bang—

Alek, ever vigilant, immediately pushed the window open and looked outside, his eyes faintly glowing.

[Spiritual Vision]

Sparrow gifted him a unique sight, allowing Alek to easily see the scene outside the town through the night.

In the cane fields outside town, a mass of lingering clouds descended, or seemed like a materialized darkness.

At the town’s edge, a group of seven or eight people in different garments staggered towards the cane fields.

Among them were well-dressed upper-class folks from the town and guards in militia uniforms, as well as... the previously missing Dragon Cavalry sentries.

However, their bodies were slightly swollen compared to normal people.

Especially near their necks, where fleshy sacs the size of several human heads, full of wrinkles, had grown, radiating a nauseating black and green light.

"Hiss! This is..."

Alek’s eyes widened instantly.

...

Royal Colony East Lenz, Raleigh Port.

Aiven sat in a cozy café built of spruce wood, holding aromatic coffee in one hand and fiddling with a golden talisman inlaid with turquoise.

This was acquired through a deal involving the intermediary "White Knight" and the Golden Sea Pirate King "Dead Bone" Rudolph.

The price was the body of a Tier 3 Totem Warrior and... the Ocean Treasure "Ghost Cloak."

However, in Aiven’s view, this trade was highly profitable.

Reportedly, recently in the Cordillera Mountain Range, a Sea Hunter discovered a complete temple dedicated to the Sun God Inti of the Gashna Empire, containing countless treasures from the Gashna Empire era.

And "Dead Bone" Rudolph was one of the participants in that event.

Although the focus was primarily on the Succession Golden Crown of the Gashna Empire’s Emperor.

In reality, this item was the most precious, [Extraordinary Talisman: Eye of Inti], appearing as a golden talisman with a vertical eye embedded with turquoise.

Legend says the descendants of the Sun God possess the ability to be reborn in flames; the talisman’s ability is similar.

Effect: No matter what kind of physical injury is suffered, it will be restored in the golden flames released by the talisman. However, the soul is not Inti’s domain, damage is ineffective.

Exchanging an Ocean Treasure and the body of a Tier 3 powerhouse for an extra life was certainly worthwhile for Aiven.

If it weren’t for the strong allure these two items held for "Dead Bone" Rudolph, he wouldn’t have traded such a treasure.

After playing with it for a while, he stored it away, not forgetting today’s business.

At this time.

Outside the café, Milan, dressed in noble attire, walked handsomely with a native girl clad in short leather armor, showing patches of her smooth, wheat-colored skin, chatting and laughing.

An observant person could tell their relationship was unusual, and at least in terms of looks, they were quite a match.

Aiven couldn’t help but sip his coffee, glancing at Warrant Officer Roddy sitting nearby acting as a temporary attendant, and with Ah Q Spirit, consoled himself:

’The world is filled with the stench of romance, but we alone emit the fragrance of singlehood.’