Chapter 257: The Sunset and Recruiting Crew Members

"Let's just skip this topic." The expression on Edward's face was also becoming a bit hard to maintain at this moment.

To prevent Mira from saying anything else that would be hard to handle, he decisively changed the subject.

"Miss Yun and Princess, do you have any plans for what comes next?"

"Why is everyone asking me this question?" Hearing Edward's inquiry, Yun Mu was somewhat speechless.

Never mind the Lady of the Dark Night and Brenna, why was even Edward asking? "Well, it shouldn't be a big deal to say it. Brenna and I plan to go to the Orc Federation." Yun Mu looked at Brenna, and seeing that she had no intention of interrupting, she stated what the two of them intended to do.

"Resurrecting the dead... I advise you both to give up on that." Mira, who was to the side, advised after hearing their plans.

As an Elf, especially one skilled in using magic, Mira knew very well what the definition of the dead was in the Ether World.

They were merely empty shells without souls, dead objects; in their essence, they were nothing more than a collection of matter.

"The dead cannot be brought back to life... Of course, if you insist on doing so, I will not try too hard to dissuade you." Mira looked at Brenna and advised meaningfully: "Just remember."

"Do not touch the Taboo."

Taboo. Brenna thought of the Stone that the God of Decay and Necromancy Fen Yege had given her, and she wondered if this counted as the Taboo Mira spoke of.

However, she would only keep this matter in her heart; there was absolutely no way Mira could know, so.

"I just want to try it," she said.

"The Orc Federation..." Seemingly stirred by some memories, Leinuode's expression became somewhat dazed.

"Speaking of which," Lita noticed his anomaly at this time: "Isn't the Captain from the Orc Federation?"

"That, I..." Hearing Lita's words, Leinuode came back to his senses and shook his head: "I haven't been back in nearly several decades."

"In my memory, it was a cold city where people wantonly drove Magic Energy, and the high-rises emitted blinding lights twenty-four hours a day..."

"The streets were full of pedestrians, even at the latest hours, yet people would not communicate, only watching each other coldly with the attitude of bystanders..."

"It was like an Abyss, an Abyss that would eat people..."

"Haa." Exhaling softly, Leinuode smiled forcedly: "These are the impressions left on me from when I was in the Orc Federation during my childhood."

"Thanks to the Captain, I was able to leave that city, so I am very grateful..."

"Tch, isn't it because you brat were thick-skinned and refused to leave the ship, even daring to sneak into a wine barrel to get on board? If the ship hadn't been too far from the shore at the time, I would have wanted to kick you into the sea."

Edward said this appearing somewhat annoyed, yet the slightly upturned corners of his mouth showed that he was actually quite happy.

"Don't say it like that, Captain."

Leinuode laughed "Haha" and patted the tabletop lightly.

"Shouldn't you be happy that free top-tier talent delivered themselves to your mouth?"

Being able to establish prestige in just a few short years and become the First Mate of the Sunset, he, Leinuode, certainly had some skills.

"Pfft, that's because I taught you well." Edward sneered disdainfully: "Besides, as a Beastkin, your physical constitution is inherently stronger than a human's; what is there to brag about."

"Let's not talk about this." Edward looked at Yun Mu and Brenna: "How do you plan to go to the Orc Federation?"

"By sea, or by train?"

"Or are you going by air?" Edward raised an eyebrow: "I heard that Winter City seems to be researching some kind of aerial vehicle."

"You are very well-informed." Brenna was somewhat surprised, but soon, she shook her head again.

"The Pneumatic Airship is currently still in the research and development stage and cannot be used at will."

"Besides, it's fine for that thing to float within the country, but if it crosses the border and is mistaken for an act of war, that would be bad."

"As for declaring it in advance... I don't think any country would tolerate another country's aircraft floating in their sky."

"If we take the Steam Train, we have to go through entry procedures at the border in the middle, and then transfer to the Orc Federation's Magic Train..."

"Although I am a bit curious about the experience of riding a Magic Train, it is still a bit troublesome. It just so happens that Frostfall City is a coastal city; if we take a ship, the speed might be a bit faster, and it will be more convenient to handle the procedures after entering the port..."

"So, you're going by sea."

Edward pondered for a moment: "Hmm... what do you think of the Sunset?"

"The Sunset?" Yun Mu and Brenna looked at each other, both seeing the confusion in the other's eyes.

Although she didn't quite understand what Edward meant by asking this, Yun Mu still answered sincerely: "A great ship. Although it looks quite severely damaged now, I can imagine how beautiful the Sunset will be after it's repaired."

As an artist, Yun Mu's understanding of ships was almost non-existent. If she were to evaluate it, she could only judge by the ship's appearance and the number and caliber of its cannons. She had previously seen the Sunset docked at the pier; perhaps because it had been soaked in the seabed for too long, the wood of the Sunset looked incredibly Damp and was covered in green moss.

But this did not affect its beauty at all; it was certain that this ship must have been very beautiful in the past!

"Hmm... the Sunset?" Brenna recalled the cannon fire that had descended from the sky earlier, as well as the ghostly green flames that fell along with the fire.

"That's a Ghost Ship, right? I've heard that every Ghost Ship has different, peculiar abilities, yet these abilities are often accompanied by a price..."

"Don't worry." Edward interrupted her: "The Sunset's ability is to control Ghost Fire, and the price is that when the Ghost Fire burns, it will incinerate the user themselves, or the items they can control."

"Whether it's memories, emotions, lifespan, or souls, it's all possible... but it's best not to do that. Actually, burning money can achieve the same effect, it's just that the amount of money required varies depending on the power."

"Wait, Uncle Edward, what are you trying to do?" Yun Mu looked at the middle-aged man in front of her with a strange expression.

His words were very strange; it didn't feel like he was showing off the Sunset's abilities, but rather gave Yun Mu the feeling that he was going to entrust it to her. "..."

Hearing Yun Mu's words, Edward was silent for a moment.

He rested his hands on the table and said solemnly: "Could I trouble you to take care of the Sunset for me?"

"Ah?"

Although she had some expectations in her heart, when Edward said this, Yun Mu and Brenna were still somewhat surprised.

"Why?" Yun Mu looked at Edward, somewhat puzzled.

"Captain..." Leinuode, to the side, had a complex expression.

As for Mira?

She just twitched her long, slender Elf ears, and then, pretending she hadn't heard anything, continued to lower her head and enjoy her delicious sundae.

"Ah, this..." Lita looked very conflicted. It wasn't that she thought there was anything wrong with giving the Sunset to Yun Mu and Brenna, but although she didn't know the reason, the Sunset was, to her old man, a Partner that carried precious memories and was incredibly important.

Giving it away just like that, was her old man really okay with it?

Lita couldn't help but feel a bit worried. "It's okay, Lita." Seemingly seeing through Lita's thoughts, Edward said softly: "I have lived in this city for nearly twenty years; to me, this place is like my second hometown."

"Because of the promise I made to your mother, I will continue to stay here in the future, but Sunset cannot."

"I have already delayed her for too long. She is a ship, after all; how can she accompany me, sleeping in the cold seawater, waiting, until she slowly rots away?"

"Let her set sail, to realize that initial dream of mine that I failed to complete."

"You must go too, Lita."

"Eh eh eh!?"

"Me?"

Lita did not expect Edward to say this suddenly, and her expression immediately became somewhat flustered.

"Heh heh." Edward chuckled softly when he saw her reaction.

"Haven't you always wanted to go see the outside world?" He smiled as he looked at Yun Mu, and then at Brenna: "Now is the perfect opportunity. Go with your partners and see the outside world."

"Stinky old man, what are you talking about all of a sudden!?"

Lita slammed the table and stood up: "I am a member of the Supernatural Guard, I have my own work to handle, how, how could I... abandon you, old man, and leave alone?"

"Hahaha, what are you thinking? Your old man here already had his adventures when he was young." Edward laughed out loud: "Now I'm just enjoying my retirement."

"But Lita, you are still young. Just like Sunset, you shouldn't be bound here by me."

"Besides, I know your personality. A brat who dared to take a wooden stick and break into the sewers to explore since childhood, how could you possibly be willing to live in a city you've already grown tired of?"

"So, go do what you truly want to do!"

Having said this, Edward turned his gaze to Yun Mu, and to Brenna sitting beside her.

"This ship is mainly a gift for you, Miss Yun," he said.

"The Princess has a noble status, so I imagine she is not lacking a good ship. Although it is not very polite to say this, if one day you were to part ways with the Princess, this ship should still be able to help you."

"Can you accept this gift?" Edward said, giving Lita's shoulder a firm pat: "I leave Lita in your care."

"Old man, I'm the oldest one among us!" Hearing this, Lita immediately complained with some dissatisfaction.

"This..." Yun Mu was indeed quite tempted by the Ghost Ship, Sunset.

Because of the Lady of the Dark Night's commission, she would definitely have to go to the Exile Sea and the Shattered Star Sea in the future; having a ship that belonged solely to her would indeed be very convenient.

Not to mention that it was a Ghost Ship with excellent performance and special abilities.

But precisely because this gift was too valuable, she felt a bit embarrassed to accept it.

"You should just accept it, Miss Yun," Mira, who was on the side, suddenly spoke up at this moment.

She looked at Edward and sighed with some helplessness.

"Sunset is not as excellent as you imagine. Although it is a Ghost Ship, its main body is already nearly forty years old."

"It's just an old, creaky antique ship. If you don't use its abilities, its speed is even half a knot slower than a steamship."

"If you do use its abilities... do you know how much Gold Frost Sunset can burn per minute?"

"How, how much?" Listening to Mira's tone, for some reason, Yun Mu had a bad premonition in her heart.

"Accelerating the ship's voyage costs 5 Gold Frost per minute, which is 300 per hour, and one volley from the Mortar is 350, while one volley from a single Broadside Cannon is 200..."

"Stop, hold it!" Yun Mu hurriedly interrupted Mira's words: "In short, it burns a lot of money, right? I don't really want to hear this."

"Hey, Mira, are you helping me or sabotaging me?" Seeing this, Edward was speechless.

It was almost a done deal, but now that you've mentioned the side effects, won't Miss Yun be even more hesitant? "No, I never intended to help you in the first place," Mira waved her hand: "I just couldn't listen to it anymore and wanted to correct you. Sunset is just an old antique ship that can't keep up with the times."

"Only you, Captain, would treat her like a treasure."

"That's a bit too much," Edward frowned: "I can't pretend I didn't hear that."

"Sunset is..."

"Alright, you two, stop arguing! I'll accept it!" Yun Mu interrupted the two with some helplessness.

"Hmph, Miss Yun has good taste after all," Edward was quite satisfied.

"Stop flattering yourself. Miss Yun only agreed to accept it after knowing that your ship isn't that amazing."

"She just doesn't want to owe too many favors."

"Tsk, you hateful old witch, do you want to fight?"

"Let's fight then. Is being a Champion so impressive?"

"..."

"This... were they always like this before?" Yun Mu looked at the two who were arguing again and asked Leinuode with some speechlessness.

"Uh... that's right, it's like this." Although he wanted to preserve his Captain's dignity, it seemed there was no hope for that now, so Leinuode could only tell the truth.

"... So that's how it is. Then it's fine." The corners of Yun Mu's mouth twitched slightly, feeling it was hard to comment.

Forget it, seeing Leinuode's accustomed look, this was probably the norm.

As long as they like it. Come to think of it, since Mira doesn't like being called an old witch, why is the name of the clothing store Old Witch Clothing Store? And as an Elf, she doesn't need to stay in this city, right? Could it be... no, no, no, that shouldn't be it.

Yun Mu selectively forgot the thought that had just surfaced in her mind; compared to this, there was something else more worthy of her consideration.

For example—

"A new name for Sunset?" After hearing Leinuode's words, Yun Mu was a bit surprised.

"Can't we continue using Sunset?" she asked.

"Of course not." Edward stopped his argument with Mira and looked at Yun Mu with a serious face: "Although Sunset has been silent for nearly twenty years, there are still many people on the sea who remember what she looks like."

"So you need to change the name to ride her. Besides," Edward chuckled: "Sunset is my ship, and the ship that belongs to you all naturally needs a new name."

"A new name, huh..." Yun Mu looked up at the window, and after noticing the Sun in the sky, she suddenly thought of something, and her eyes lit up.

"Xiangyang, let's call it Xiangyang, meaning chasing the Sun, or perhaps a more beautiful tomorrow!"

(End of chapter)