Chapter 99: Divisions and Gains

"Witch?" Jia Deli Ya furrowed her brow, looked at Xi Ya, and said that.

Xi Ya flicked her scarlet hair, did not answer Jia Deli Ya's question, but instead began:

"Your mission is only the cargo on the ship; the goods on these two smuggling vessels can be taken entirely, but a few of this ship and its crew must be left behind, and I still have to return to East Bairang."

Jia Deli Ya stared quietly at the flamboyant red‑haired lady before her, remained silent for a long while, then slowly nodded: "Fine."

Seeing that Xi Ya had reached an agreement with his current captain without a fight, Lei Ke Dun breathed a sigh of relief.

"I originally intended to use this chance to join Seniol's pirate crew, to facilitate future operations, but I didn't expect it to be sabotaged right at the start!"

Xi Ya looked at Lei Ke Dun with a plaintive expression.

Lei Ke Dun awkwardly averted his gaze, dared not look directly at her, and changed the subject:

"So, Sister Xi Ya, what are your plans afterward?"

"Shift the target and head to the Southern Continent, but most likely there won't be any gain; just treat it as a government‑funded tour around."

Xi Ya said nonchalantly.

"Government‑funded tour!" Lei Ke Dun thought Xi Ya had the attitude of a lazy Earth worker,

"Aren't you the same? Don't tell me you actually carried out the mission seriously."

Xi Ya glanced at Lei Ke Dun, giving him the feeling of being seen through by a perceiver.

"You've already become a secret arts instructor?"

That was Lei Ke Dun's conjecture when he saw Xi Ya simulate those two Solar Domain spells; such a level of imitation is certainly beyond what a scholar could achieve.

"Take a guess?"

Xi Ya gave him a look that said he should figure it out himself, then turned and walked to the bow, staring blankly at the sea.

"Prepare, transfer the cargo from the two ships, then leave this sea area."

Jia Deli Ya's voice reached every crew member's ears.

The crew of the Future soon crossed the Starlight Long Bridge that Jia Deli Ya erected, brought the two smuggling vessels close, and transferred the cargo.

During that interval, Lei Ke Dun chatted with Xi Ya, telling her his messenger's summoning incantation and the spirit‑realm sorcerer's visualization ring.

When the Future's crew finished moving the cargo, Lei Ke Dun stepped onto the Starlight Long Bridge to return to the Future.

"Remember, you're not those Storm Barbarians next door; in battle you must use your brain, not rush in recklessly."

Xi Ya reminded him again from behind.

"Got it!" Lei Ke Dun waved his hand, and couldn't help quickening his steps.

Lei Ke Dun could already foresee that today's battle would become a black mark in his life before Xi Ya.

"Sigh! Still too careless!"

"If the fight were on land, Frank could have resolved it quickly, but aboard the ship his performance was heavily limited; I didn't anticipate that, and over‑trusting Frank Sequence Six's strength was also problematic."

Lei Ke Dun sighed inwardly at today's battle.

Recalling this truly first evenly matched battle, Lei Ke Dun knew that if Xi Ya hadn't happened to be on the ship, he would already have had his trait reclaimed by the hidden sage.

After returning to the Future, Jia Deli Ya ordered a change of course toward Indis. Xi Ya took the remaining smuggling vessel to East Bairang.

After a richly rewarding victory, the Future's crew threw another wild celebration.

Lei Ke Dun still sat on the rail with Tu Ba Ge and Pas, two extraordinary beasts, feeling the sea breeze, one hand holding Tu Ba Ge's fruit, the other holding Pas's dried fish.

Jia Deli Ya approached, holding a glass of red wine:

"Why are you sitting here alone?"

"Huh? Captain! I'm recalling today's battle; I realized my judgment and actions were seriously flawed. If I hadn't happened to know someone on that ship, I would have turned into a mass of extraordinary traits."

Lei Ke Dun said, his mood not very high.

"What you lack is combat experience; after you go through more battles, you won't perform like this again."

Jia Deli Ya offered Lei Ke Dun a word of comfort, then added:

"I also bear some responsibility for today's situation; I performed a divination then, and the result indicated no major issues, which is why I approved your and Frank's actions."

"Can a divination be completed in such a short time?"

Lei Ke Dun asked curiously.

"Experience," Jia Deli Ya replied with just two words.

Lei Ke Dun nodded without taking a stance; today's battle, from start to finish, demonstrated one thing: his experience was severely lacking, both in preparation and in‑battle response.

"Captain, was today's sudden battle a mission from the Moss Ascetic Society?"

Lei Ke Dun asked bluntly, thinking Jia Deli Ya would tell him.

"That's right; before you set sail you should have received maritime intel from the Knowledge Church. I don't know what your mission is, but it should be unrelated to the Future."

Jia Deli Ya answered Lei Ke Dun's question without hesitation, making him feel she was there to lay the cards on the table.

"Indeed it's unrelated to the Future; my main purpose aboard the Future was to find Frank and, incidentally, process the demon elixir. As for the mission, I never even considered it—maybe the mission will complete itself sometime."

Lei Ke Dun looked as if he had already given up.

"Why?" Jia Deli Ya was surprised by Lei Ke Dun's attitude.

She knew little about the Knowledge Church, only that it differed from the other major churches, being an academic‑focused organization, more like a school than a church.

The two Knowledge Church members she met now, in both conduct and principle, bore no resemblance to the righteous deity churches; the former was on a government‑funded tour, and on her own ship there was another waiting for the mission to finish itself.

"The mission's objectives involve several factions; perhaps they'll bungle it while squabbling among themselves!"

Lei Ke Dun bit into Pas's dried fish and said,

He truly thought so; although the primal moon is a demonic mantle, the Desire Mother Tree is contending with the Fallen Mother God, and perhaps when they fight over that mantle, Lilith will backstab them.

Though she didn't quite understand why Lei Ke Dun was so lax about the mission, Jia Deli Ya nodded in agreement, then produced a small iron box, opened it, and handed it to Lei Ke Dun.

"Hm? Extraordinary trait?"

Lei Ke Dun hesitated, looking at Jia Deli Ya with some confusion.

The two extraordinary beings you killed on the smuggling ship today, your sister Xiya didn't want them; she said since you killed them, they belong to you. Jiadellya explained.

Leikdun reached out and took the iron small box; one was a gray‑white light cluster pulsing like a slow heartbeat, the other a deep‑colored glow like a white bone skull emitting specks of green light.

Spirit Medium and prisoner?

Leikdun quickly figured out the pathway and sequence of these two traits, pondered for a moment, then asked:

Captain, do you know any small animal suitable for walking the Death God Path? My Spirit Medium trait is a bit excessive.

After encountering several Death God Path extraordinary beings in a row, Leikdun had some ideas about the ability to command the undead, wanting to cultivate a subordinate of his own.

Why does it have to be a small animal?

Jiadellya didn't quite understand Leikdun's line of thought.

It's simpler, with less scheming; often I find them more reliable than people.

Leikdun voiced his inner thoughts.

Although Jiadellya didn't understand, she still gave an answer:

The creatures most suited to the Death God Path are naturally feathered serpents and phoenixes; other animals basically don't differ much.

Feathered serpents and phoenixes—whether one can find them is one thing; even if found, they might not be easy to defeat. Leikdun fell silent for a moment.

Captain, how did you manage to have so many undead on that ship? Even in a cemetery, you couldn't produce that many undead! Leikdun changed the subject.

A magical item contains a small underworld similar to what's inside a gatekeeper's body, but it's been shattered, and that small underworld has returned to the true underworld.

Jiadellya quickly gave an explanation.

Leikdun nodded thoughtfully; he found that the abilities of the magical items he crafted were actually quite useful—though they couldn't last as long as sealed items, they likewise didn't carry the sealed items' terrifying side effects.

There's also a sailor's knife made of white bone; its undead aura is too strong, making it unsuitable for use—it needs to be reforged. Jiadellya continued.

Leikdun clearly remembered that white‑bone sailor's knife; the bald prisoner had almost slashed himself with it.

In the coming period, the Future Ship will head to Intis.

After Jiadellya finished stating the Future Ship's course, she turned and left.

Leikdun didn't mind much; to him, staying anywhere was the same. His plan was to spend time on the Future Ship spreading knowledge to the pirates, to digest his Keeper of Knowledge potion.

Hmm, if I have time I still need to go to Mr. Huang's place to find some books to read; although I'm already a Sequence Seven extraordinary being, I often still worry about exams! Leikdun sighed inwardly.

Al, do you know what potion I need to take next? Meow~ Pa Si, who was nibbling on dried fish on the side, suddenly spoke up.

Huh? You want to advance?

Leikdun was a bit doubtful, but he still told the black cat what he knew:

The next sequence you need to advance to is Sheriff; the potion's main ingredients are a pair of fear‑magic worm eyes and the right paw of a silver‑white war bear—I only know the main materials, not the exact potion formula.

Worm eyes! And bear paws! These ingredients are so strange, meow~! Pa Si said, shaking his confused little head.

(End of chapter)