Surviving The Fourth Calamity

Chapter 1297: Chapter 1088: So They’re the Black Death Brothers~

”Speaking of....” An undead dressed in a very pirate-like fashion tugged at his hat string and slowly walked out from the crowd, his tone carrying a hint of hesitation, ”We have always suspected that the Nameless Island at the southwest corner of Snowdrop Island... the bay between it and Guinais Island, at the outermost point of the cape... that rather fierce Black Dragon is not just one, but identical twins.”

He usually doesn’t fight us proactively, and he generally only charges tolls from passing merchant ships without robbing them... he just likes to double-cross, strikes viciously, and doesn’t even let us pick up the heads.

The only reason we have any communication with him is because... sometimes we need to fight him for some bounty pirates, but if we get them first, that Black Dragon waits nearby, and if we have no interest in those pirates’ dirty ships, he just takes them himself.

Seems like he’s planning to create a sunken ship cave for himself... a peculiar hobby.

Later... the pirate hunting groups around the Moonshadow Archipelago generally reached a consensus with him, he leaves the pirates’ bodies intact, and we leave him the ships.

He’s not too concerned about us undead wandering around his home, often rising and falling in front of us.

So, our relationship is okay, otherwise, we wouldn’t be guessing whether it’s him or them.

They are indeed quite strong, otherwise, they wouldn’t be able to live right on the shipping route of the Moonshadow Archipelago. The Navy once attacked there, but they suffered a miserable defeat.

It’s like as soon as that guy returns home, he springs back to life, who wouldn’t suspect there’s something fishy going on!

Honestly, although they look just the same, even if there’s a single different scale, we can spot it!

Not to mention, there are several places on their bodies where the size and arrangement of the scales aren’t quite the same!”

”Hmm...” The ’Old Age Striking King’ lowered his head and type fiercely, his tone full of sarcasm, ”Seriously, theoretically, you’ve made commendable contributions.

But why do I feel only your utter boredom?

You hang on ships every day just to do this stuff?

Is it a big-find-the-difference game, or is everyone spotting faults?”

”But... catching pirates, especially those with bounties, is inherently a task that tests patience!

Can’t catch even one for days, gotta find something to do!” That person replied righteously.

A few listening Quel Senta people were stunned... since when did pirates become existences hard to find worldwide?

Weren’t they things that could be found on any inhabited island?

Even though it’s known that due to the presence of the undead, it caused a devastating blow to the pirates in the northern seas... but didn’t past Kings with determined governance do such ruthless things?

Wasn’t the Elves’ Royal Fleet ruthless enough?

They also couldn’t completely prevent skilled pirates from appearing near Eternity Island, robbing those young elves who definitely carried magic weapons when they went out, and if they had even more sinister thoughts, they might capture an elf slave and ship them off to places like Quel Senta Federation.

Of course, this might also relate to the internal conflict among the Elves... sometimes even the Royal Fleet doesn’t know what the robbed and the robber have gotten into.

So, they only go pirate catching when an elf asks for help, naturally leading to some misses.

But at least... pirates in the northern seas, even under the encirclement of the Moonshadow Archipelago, Eternity Island, and Anmur’s three navies, have been rampant for over a thousand years.

Whenever a king intent on causing trouble comes along, they’d just hide; after all, how many nameless islands are there in the vast sea?

By the time the king is overwhelmed by excessive military spending... Ah, is there a noble in this world who doesn’t skim off military funds?

Naturally, they’d just return to their home turf.

So, the Quel Senta people just thought that facing the powerful undead, the pirates just hid.

Especially since many pirates are actually fighters raised by these powers... even many dragons living on the islands raise more than one group of pirates!

So these pirates, even with bounties on them, can’t they just hide in the naval powers’ domains of various countries?

They completely couldn’t figure out how the undead managed it.

Devis couldn’t help scratching his two hands against each other, he had a bad feeling... he originally wanted to take Edna back to see his mentor.

After all, coming from Kalinsan, a few days’ boat ride would get them there... but now it seems the undead... might possibly be a big trouble.

Of course, he could see that Edna would never abandon the undead to choose the followers of Azuth, even though her father was there.

This Devis could understand, for a smart child like Edna, who had become an Eighth Ring Mage before coming of age... she would surely understand that just because someone provides funds doesn’t mean they raised her.

No matter how much money that mentor of hers gave Edna... Devis couldn’t pass through Luskan without probing about Lady Sharol’s character from the side, that lady’s luxurious noble style was truly famous in the rather unsophisticated Luskan.

Of course, given her life background and upbringing, such behavior isn’t problematic either, the City Lord’s household ladies of Quel Senta led even more extravagant lives.

But... combining what Devis learned from Silvermoon City, it was clear how Sharol’s money came about... Elaströ’s orders, Sharol’s father would never refuse.

That is to say, when Sharol went out, she only took her family’s possessions... How much could she have left after all the jewelry, luxury clothes?

Spending lavishly, raising children, all on the money of her teacher who got swindled by Silvermoon City... it’s likely not a penny was given to her daughter who had been separated.

Devis could imagine how much grievance little Edna had to bear to know not to let such a mother know about her own assets.

How many eight-year-olds can truly see their mother’s true colors?

So, leaving money and a magic book behind, thinking he had completed his mission, that teacher of hers, Devis didn’t think Edna had much affection for him.

She didn’t even see Azuth’s favor as the foundation of her future, leaning towards Mystra in her words and actions, even though it’s the former.

Moreover, so many mages came from Quel Senta, which probably didn’t leave a good impression on Edna.

Devis knew very well, to get Edna to go to Quel Senta, the Undead Tribe would be the unavoidable tag-along.

But... speaking of raising pirates, all major city states of Quel Senta, not only pirates but also many bandits are raised.

Otherwise, how to deal with the neighbor conflict?

Under the restrictions in Quel Senta of not easily going to war with other city-states, sending troops to save the poor neighbors exterminated by bandits, while taking those poor civilians and slaves under their own control isn’t that standard procedure?

Devis tried to give a polite smile: ”Pirates... don’t they usually hide within the territories of other countries when being wanted by a nation?

With this... what do you do?”

”What?” The undead wearing a captain’s hat looked at him in surprise, ”Which country would stop us from striking evil?

We swear by the emblem of Tyr and Lansendel that we only go for evil... if someone wants to stop us... isn’t that just an evil ally?

Of course we clear them out!

Unless they publicly declare that Tyr and Lansendel are useless, generally speaking no one dares to say that, including Anmur.

If anyone’s truly stubborn, we’ll use Shaer’s emblem to try.”

”Even those who disregard Shaer’s reputation are definitely followers of Bane... they are eternal enemies of our Undead Tribe, and rules don’t need to be observed, just kill them directly.” ’Old Age Striking King’ mildly added.

Devis chuckled awkwardly twice, his eyes swiftly darting to the ceiling, and finally transformed decisively into nothingness... Sorry, teacher, I absolutely cannot bring these disasters to Quel Senta for the sake of our little money-and-benefits-based student-teacher relationship.

My city state is flanked by mountains and water, with limited development space, relying entirely on neighbors in need of rescue to expand territories... can’t let the Undead Tribe wipe out my troops all at once!

”So... what’s the name of that black dragon?” ’Old Age Striking King’ turned and asked, ”You’re almost at his house as guests, can you not exchange names?”

”Wezlum Urzul.”

’Old Age Striking King’s fingers, which were flying, stopped: ”That’s a short name, right?

Why so strange?

Huh? He even directly reported his short name?”

”What do you mean?”

”We’ve called Elvia for so long, don’t you forget her full name, right?”

The captain’s hat froze for a moment, then hurriedly dug out his tablet under Elvia’s angry glare: ”Called... Elvia Tulais?”

”Who is that?” Elvia shouted angrily, ”Let’s forget those unfamiliar, but you! I remember you’re called Ji Be!”

”Elvia Tulais! Ah! Elvia, don’t be angry, don’t be angry! Look, we’ve always called you by that name!

This time I... I definitely won’t forget!” Ji Be quickly begged.

”Hehe~” ’Old Age Striking King’ laughed, ”Looks like that black dragon is clever, knowing you’re conjuring something after a few interactions.

Right, Elvia, do you recognize those two dragons?”

”I don’t know them.” Elvia shook her head, ”They must have escaped from Ferun Central to avoid Dragon Madness.

But, the names they reported are odd, short names at most 4 words, but this is clearly not a full name.”

”So, it’s confirmed. This is made of two short names, they told you right from the start they are a duo.” ’Old Age Striking King’ tapped the tablet, a trace of disdainful smile emerging at the corner of his mouth... Clearly a small presence sitting on the sofa, yet with an imposing aura... completely suppressing the tall Ji Be standing beside into shattered branches and defeated leaves.

Hill on the Floating Castle finally confirmed the identity of the black dragon brothers... come to think of it, this was the first time he heard the names of these two brothers who loved to act!