Chapter 512: First Day at Sea

The "Flying Bird" sailed toward the depths of the Fog Sea amidst the spraying smoke. It would head west all the way, first to the Fog Sea Islands, the overseas colony of Intis—the archipelago in the proverb "Never trust an islander"—and then turn south to arrive at Santa Port in the northwest of the Feynapotter Kingdom.

Although the Fog Sea had always been known for its frequent foggy weather, this phenomenon wasn't actually that exaggerated in the near-shore area. Lumian read books for nearly three hours under the illumination of the brilliant sun.

This was an introductory textbook for the Highland language of the Feynapotter Kingdom. Although Lumian had Lugano as a translator and guide, he didn't hope to become a "deaf-mute" because of this, relying entirely on Lugano to provide information and convey words. In that case, if Lugano really had any problems and deliberately concealed or distorted the key meaning, he wouldn't be able to detect it, and things would become quite troublesome and dangerous.

Lumian wanted to master a portion of the most commonly used Highland language words before arriving at Santa Port, so that even if he couldn't rely on them to communicate with the locals, he could use them to verify the completeness of the translation.

Normally, a Beyonder who wasn't of the "Reader" pathway would find it almost impossible to get started with the Highland language in a journey totaling less than ten days. But Lumian mastered Ancient Futhark, which was the source of the Highland language, and the two had a large number of similarities in sentence patterns, word meanings, grammar, and word construction, allowing Lumian to achieve three or even four or five times the effect with the same effort in learning the Highland language.

"When will dinner be delivered?" Ludwig wandered in front of the lounge chair where Lumian was sitting, feeling very annoyed that the sky outside had already darkened but he hadn't seen the dedicated attendant pushing the dining cart arrive.

Lumian closed the book in the twilight of the setting sun and the lit kerosene lamp, and laughed:

"Who told you to order so much? You always have to give the kitchen time to make it. Fortunately, although the first-class cabin doesn't provide free meals, it has an independent kitchen, otherwise it would really be too busy..."

Before he could finish his sentence, the doorbell rang.

Amidst the *ding-a-ling* sound, Lugano opened the heavy vermilion wooden door, watching the young attendant push the dining cart into the room paved with thick yellowish-brown carpet.

In Ludwig's eager and urging eyes, the attendant laid the tablecloth and set the tableware without haste.

"This is a local delicacy, Gatti herring. Smoked soft herring fillets are marinated in olive oil with onions and carrot slices, and added with spices such as thyme and bay leaves, placed in a cool place for 24 to 48 hours, suitable for enjoying with mild potato salad...

"This is French fries. There is a proverb in the Upper Coastal Province: without fries, there is no heaven...

"This is raisin butter bread...

"This is fresh oysters and various shellfish...

"This is Foss turkey, this is ham mushroom wrap, this is Um duck mince and coarse brown sugar vanilla waffle...

"This is traditional orange cheese... There is also a gray cheese with a very strong smell. Would you like to try it?

"This is the apple cider that people in the Upper Coastal Province love most..." (Note 1)

Lumian listened to the attendant introduce every dish with interest, while Ludwig, unexpectedly, didn't use his knife and fork directly, actually waiting very patiently until the other party finished speaking before starting to eat the appetizer bread and tasting the marinated smoked herring fillet.

Did he awaken something? Lumian glanced at this little kid suspiciously.

"It's okay, the smoked flavor is just right, and it forms a very rich taste with the aroma and seasoning..." Ludwig evaluated in a very professional tone, but paired with his baby-fat face and the appearance of only seven or eight years old, Lumian not only didn't admire him but felt it was absurd and funny.

Gatti Port was by the sea, and oysters and other shellfish were quite good, not only tasting better than most restaurants in Trier but also being cheaper. Lumian drank the brewed apple cider while eating this dinner with distinct local characteristics.

The dinner for eight people was solved by Ludwig's efforts, leaving only clean plates and residue like bones.

Lumian and Lugano's appetites weren't actually small, each eating two portions of the meal, but compared to Ludwig, they were still quite far off. This was based on the premise that the latter had enjoyed afternoon tea and started eating dessert after the meal.

Why didn't I see you go to the washroom frequently... Where did the food you ate go? Is your stomach a bottomless pit? Lumian sized Ludwig up, stood up, and said to Lugano:

"I want to go to the bar on the ship. Do you want to come together?"

"I didn't sleep all night last night and want to go to bed early today." Lugano didn't understand why the employer, who had also stayed up all night and rushed for a day, was still so energetic, not tired at all, and could even go to the bar to play for a few more hours.

Could it be because his sequence was higher?

That little boy with an extraordinary appetite also seemed quite energetic...

Lumian didn't invite the translator again, left a midnight snack for Ludwig, changed into a simple dark brown jacket, left the room, and walked toward the bar belonging to the first-class cabin.

The bar was decorated elegantly, echoing with soft melodies played by a small band. There weren't many customers, each sitting in different positions, very quiet.

Lumian looked at the door for a few seconds, shook his head, and left here.

He walked down the stairs all the way to the deck level and entered the bar belonging to the third-class cabin and ordinary crew members.

Noisy sounds, shouting, slapping sounds, and chaotic roaring singing overflowed from the room amidst the lingering aroma of alcohol, echoing around Lumian.

Lumian suddenly had a sense of familiar home, his whole body seeming to relax quite a bit, every cell becoming active.

This atmosphere is right... As a regular customer who had been in and out of old bars since he was very young, Lumian swayed his body slightly and squeezed to the front of the bar.

"A glass of 'Green Fairy'." He knocked on the wooden table.

The bartender was a young man with the characteristics of a Feynapotter, with a thin face, black hair and black eyes, deep contours, yellowish skin, and facial features that were still quite good.

"Okay, 10 Ricks." The bartender answered in Intisian with a clear foreign accent.

Things on the ship are more expensive than in Trier... Lumian had just counted out the coins when he saw the bartender cast his gaze behind him, saying in a very sincere and enthusiastic tone:

"Lady, what would you like to drink?"

"A glass of cherry wine." The answer came from a lady wearing a thick yellow dress. She had a beautiful face and light green eyes.

"Okay!" The bartender didn't even collect the money first and prepared to pour wine for the lady.

"I came first." Lumian reminded the bartender with a smile.

The bartender answered without stuttering at all:

"This is such a beautiful and dazzling lady. My soul tells me to serve her first."

*Yo*, you really are a Feynapotter... Lumian wasn't angry, but felt like he was watching a circus performance.

Feynapotters were naturally romantic, constantly chasing love, and their mainstream belief was the "Mother Earth Goddess," valuing the status of women, so men of this kingdom would say words of praise to any woman they met. If they really took a fancy to someone, they would pursue them without hiding or being subtle.

In this point, Intisians, who were also naturally romantic, were not as good as Feynapotters.

However, the vast majority of Feynapotters, influenced by both tradition and faith, valued family, reproduction, and children, liking to live in extended families. As long as they chose to enter marriage and there was no element of coercion, they would become like the most conservative Loenese, unable to accept the existence of extramarital affairs.

There were no exceptions here. The most conservative Loen Kingdom also had many adulterers, but it certainly wasn't as exaggerated and universal as Intis, where many people even believed that love didn't necessarily exist in marriage.

After the lady paid the money and took away the cherry wine, the bartender poured the "Green Fairy" for Lumian and inserted a mint leaf for decoration.

He said without any guilt:

"My grandmother told me to treat every lady well, especially beautiful ladies."

"I understand." Lumian entered the state of a regular customer of an old bar, drinking absinthe and making up stories, "I once had multiple beautiful female companions, female companions more beautiful than that lady just now. Unfortunately, I am only one person and couldn't become their husband at the same time..."

The bartender felt like he had found a fellow traveler:

"I also often have similar regrets. In this world, there are too many beautiful women, and I am only one person.

"How should I address you?"

"Louis, you can call me Louis." Lumian reported a fake name.

His current identity was Louis Berry.

"I am Francesco." The bartender chatted with Lumian.

The familiar environment, the habitual bragging, and the lively atmosphere made Lumian feel slightly tipsy even though he hadn't drunk much alcohol.

If there were no such occult disasters, if Aurora were still alive, if he had already been admitted to university, and had no other troubles, just drinking in a bar like this, how good would that be...

People traveling at sea always inevitably discussed those pirates. The bartender Francesco told Lumian:

"Since ironclad ship technology has been widely applied to merchant ships, the lives of pirates have become difficult. Their sailing ships can't catch up with these iron monsters that can run at 16 or 17 knots. They can't even rob them if they want to!"

Speaking of this, Francesco lowered his voice:

"The pirates' favorite trick now is to send some people to disguise themselves as passengers, boarding from different ports. After arriving at the scheduled sea area, they riot internally, initially controlling the ship, so that the pirate ship waiting nearby can have a chance to approach."

"Is that so?" Lumian asked with interest, "Who do you think is a pirate mole on the ship?"

Francesco was stunned for a moment:

"It's only the first day, how can you tell?"

Lumian asked back with a smile:

"Have you encountered similar things before?"

Note 1: Taken from "French Food Journey"

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