167:
When they left Fid Island, Shelley chose the fastest warship and sailed all the way to Vahran. Then, last month, Venomous Snake and the others had sent a warship with an ordinary exterior but a luxurious interior.
With the help provided by Shelley and the secret help of Fente and Ir, the power of Venomous Snake and the others was expanding day by day. In just three months, they already had the momentum and capital to compete with the other pirate kings.
And this new pirate force, perhaps because the leaders were all women… they called themselves the “Canaries.”
With Fid Island as their base, they radiated to the surrounding seas and conquered the nearby pirate forces. And what surprised everyone was that they were not like the previous pirates, who continued to plunder ships… but instead provided protection services. As long as you gave a certain amount of gold coins, no one would touch your goods, and you could safely reach your destination.
Some merchants didn’t believe it at first, but after being forced to pay protection money once, they were surprised to find… it was actually true. The crew was safe, the goods were normal, and their families were also safe. This was simply unbelievable.
The merchants simply calculated and found that by paying protection money, not only was the risk reduced… but the profit from a trade was also much higher. For a time, many people sent requests to the Canaries.
Similarly, this amazing profit also made some pirates jealous and wanted to get a piece of the action. But they always couldn’t control their hands, and there were several incidents of killing and robbing ships. After all, they were used to doing business without capital and were not used to paying for it themselves.
The Canaries’ actions affected the interests of the other pirate kings, the most direct of which was the Naga Pirate King, who was closest to the Fente sea. Everyone was waiting for the Naga Pirate King to make a move on this new, unseeing force. But to their surprise, not only did the Naga Pirate King not take the initiative to attack the Canaries, but after a meeting between the two sides, he completely withdrew from this sea.
This was even more incredible. Because everyone knew that behind the Naga Pirate King was the Temple of the Sea. On the sea, no one’s prestige was more intimidating than the Goddess of the Sea. And the power behind the Canaries was so strong that it could make the Naga Pirate King bow his head and give up this part of his interests.
This matter cast an even more mysterious color on this new force. This made some of the pirate forces that were watching dare not take the initiative to provoke them, and even regarded the Canaries as the fourth pirate king force on the sea.
And this matter not only surprised outsiders, but even Sarah and the others themselves were very strange. That so-called high-level meeting was just the three of them coming to the Naga Pirate King’s ship together, and then watching the Naga Pirate King kneel before the statue of the Goddess of the Sea and receive a divine oracle. In the end, they returned to their own ship in a daze, not knowing what had happened…
Three days later, this long-famous pirate king completely withdrew from this sea and made a statement to the outside world.
And only Shelley knew the truth of this matter. It wasn’t that his godslayer identity was enough to threaten the Goddess of the Sea and make her have some scruples… but for the complete opposite reason.
Shelley… had made an offering.
That’s right. He had bribed the Goddess of the Sea. He had made a deal with her. Shelley had offered the crystal of the pirate divine portfolio he had obtained from Barret as a bargaining chip to the Goddess of the Sea. This matter had made the Goddess of the Sea, who was as moody as the sea, very pleased. She had very easily agreed to Shelley’s request and had handed over the control of that part of the sea.
…
After getting along for a few months, the relationship between Morgan and Erica could not be said to have become friends, but at least they could communicate normally.
Erica was eating the last of the strawberry cake, swinging her calves on the stool, and asked the lazy Morgan with a smile, “Morgan, what kind of person do you think Shelley is?”
Gently putting down her fork, Morgan wiped her mouth with the napkin beside her and sighed helplessly. She picked up her pipe and tapped the table in front of Erica, saying helplessly, “You’ve asked this question many times.”
Giggling, Erica replied naively, “Because I’m bored.”
Morgan sighed helplessly, thought for a moment, and said, “At the beginning, I thought he was a very majestic person.”
That noble figure sitting on the royal pillar had left a very deep impression on her.
“Later, I thought he was a very scary, moody person.”
He killed enemies while chatting and laughing, and could control his killing intent at will.
“But after getting along for these few months, I think he is a very warm person.”
Especially when he was dealing with Catherine, it felt like he was raising a daughter…
“I can’t tell… which one is the real him.”
Quite satisfied with Morgan’s answer, Erica swallowed the last piece of cake and nodded gently.
“Don’t just ask me. What are your thoughts?”
Morgan was a little unhappy with Erica’s lack of initiative.
Why are you so unconventional? After asking me, shouldn’t you take the initiative to say it?
Instead, Erica didn’t care about Morgan’s attitude. She licked the cream from the corner of her mouth, thought for a moment, and said, “I think Shelley is a very gentle person. Very, very gentle.”
“So cautious that he’s even a little timid.”
Cautious?
Morgan was a little confused and looked at Erica with an inquiring gaze. But this time, Erica didn’t explain. She chuckled softly, shook her head, and walked out of the room, leaving Morgan alone in the dining room.
Morgan thought about her own words just now, looked around guiltily, and muttered to herself, “Hmm… it’s all because of the oracle…”
“That’s why I have this illusion.”
Returning to her room, Erica leaned her back against the door. Remembering Shelley’s actions during this period, a smile also appeared on her lips.
“Yes, timid.”
“A person who is worried about the people around him getting into an accident, so he has to bear all the risks himself.”
“Isn’t that just a timid man?”
Erica looked in the direction of the mast, as if she could see through the wall and see the training Shelley and the sleeping Catherine. A brilliant and sincere smile appeared on her face. She said with a light laugh, “But I don’t hate this kind of person.”
“You will be mine.”
“Heehee.”
…
“Master, we have arrived at the Smia Desert.”
Hearing Lilith’s voice, Shelley took off his blindfold, poked Catherine’s cheek, and then gently landed on the deck.
“We’re finally here.”
“Yes.”
Putting on their brown-yellow hoods together, Shelley and his group set foot on this hot and desolate desert.
“Let’s go to the nearby market first to buy some things and gather a team.”
Looking at the oasis market not far away, Shelley revealed a smile.
“Everything for the artifact.”
