Chapter 1038 - 975: Father’s Legacy
As the image of the Dark Tide Lord vanished, Da Fei couldn’t help but secretly breathe a sigh of relief. In any case, he managed to find a reason to postpone this matter. To be honest, ordinary players would probably be eager to accept this kind of good fortune, let alone refuse it.
But there’s no way around it, the scope of my career is simply too vast, and I cannot recklessly join strange organizations.
Now, Hailong spoke up: "Warrior, you came to pay the ransom for Pirate Rock, right? Then follow me to see him. When he arrived in the Dark Tide Sea, he was already gravely injured. His life and strength were slipping away, and he could no longer maintain his hero status. You must know, a hero weakened too much ceases to be a hero. After meeting with the Lord, he requested the Lord to maintain his hero power, but as for his life, there was nothing to be done. Even the Lord cannot handle both aspects of such an injury. If you had come later, you might not have seen him. Fortunately, you arrived just in time!"
Catherine finally couldn’t hold back and cried out, "What’s the point of power without life?"
Hailong sighed, "Of course, it’s to await you!"
At that moment, Da Fei and Catherine were stunned on the spot! Da Fei vaguely guessed what was going on—this was a hero passing down his strength before dying; the old patriarch is set on leaving this world!
Hailong continued, "Rock requested the Lord to maintain his power, and naturally, there is a ransom to be paid. However, since the warrior returned the Legion Token of the temple guards and is willing to return the legion soul from General Skira’s Seal, greatly compensating for the temple’s loss, the ransom will be reconsidered. In short, we don’t need the financial resources the warrior brought; instead, the warrior will receive a sum of compensation, inviting the warrior to do transaction business with us. What do you think of my arrangement, warrior?"
Da Fei’s eyebrow twitched! Isn’t this exactly the favorable outcome my earlier calculations predicted? I can offer no sacrifice, yet still gain a benefit from them!
Da Fei was moved to disbelief, "Fair! The Director’s arrangement is extremely fair!"
Hailong laughed heartily, "Our Naga Clan is exceedingly generous and forthright. Doing business with us is indeed a very pleasant affair. We believe those human elves’ shrewd businessmen can’t compare with us."
Da Fei nodded constantly in joy, "What you say is true, as rulers of the sea, the Naga Clan is as broad-minded as the ocean!"
Hailong laughed, "Therefore, if one day, warrior finds the world above to be unpleasant, know that we are your most welcoming second homeland!"
Oh, I see! Ultimately, they are intentionally showing their generosity! But, this, I like!
Speaking so, they reached a hall lined with rooms on both sides of its corridor, and Hailong pointed to a certain room, "Please, the two of you enter!"
Thus, Da Fei and Catherine stepped forward to push open the door, met by the warmth of a hearth. In the simply furnished room, there was only a large bed and a small table. On the bed lay a pirate hero, white-haired and bearded, thin and slight.
Da Fei’s eyelid twitched, this was the bear-like pirate leader he encountered as a rookie at Desolate Island? If not for him still covered in scars, Da Fei could hardly recognize him!
"Dad!" Catherine was frozen for a moment before rushing forward, crying bitterly.
Rock smiled lightly, "My darling, you arrived half a month sooner than I expected, truly remarkable!"
Catherine cried, "The Captain came around from the Nether Sea North Pole taking a shortcut."
Rock’s candle-like eyes turned to Da Fei, "Kiddo, I wasn’t wrong about you. You’re right, pirates really hold no prospects, but since I chose to be a pirate, it’s a path I must walk to its end. I erred in seeking pleasure and indulgence in wine and women, allowing Barak to discreetly surpass my power unnoticed. If I think carefully, it was Barak all along capturing beauties to offer me, expressing false loyalty and deceiving me. As men, such mistakes must be avoided; else, I am the cost!"
Da Fei instantly recalled when he was brought by Barak to Rock, this bear of a man was indeed surrounded by beauties and concubines. The beauty-filled mansion indeed is a hero’s grave!
Da Fei thought with a sigh, "I will take heed; rest assured with me!"
Rock gently stroked Catherine’s hair, "Now, darling, I have no inheritance other than the Orca warship. The only thing left for you is the power I once wielded as a pirate leader. As long as you have power, beautiful life awaits."
Catherine wailed, "Dad! I don’t want your power, I just want you to live, even if like an ordinary person!"
Rock laughed heartily, "Being ordinary? Darling comes to protect me? It’s impossible. I won’t lead a life of being slaughtered willingly, not even if I die. For me now, every day lived is tormenting struggle, and your early arrival spares me ten-plus days of pain, so let’s begin—every moment delayed weakens my strength bit by bit. You’ve saved me over ten days of power!"
Catherine sobbed uncontrollably, "Dad!"
At that moment, Rock placed his dry palm on Catherine’s head, unleashing a burst of red blood light from his hand, illuminating Catherine’s face and the entire room!
Gradually, the hero aura at Rock’s feet rapidly dimmed, his hand began to tremble! Finally, Rock gritted his teeth and unleashed a final mighty roar; a golden-red blood light exploded from Catherine’s body! The system prompt chimed:
——System Prompt: Your Vice Heroine, Katelina has received the hero leadership inheritance from her father Rock. Command Power +3000, Attack +150, Defense +100, Life +1800, Stamina +50, obtained profession "Master-level Pirate," gained Master-level Pirate’s professional skill "Claim as Own," acquired personal abilities Leap, Parry, Advanced Agility Evasion, Liquor Recovery.
Master-level Pirate: Increases maritime damage by 60%, enhances ship speed by 30%, this effect stacks with Attack Skill and Sailing Skill.
Claim as Own: A Master-level Pirate can completely claim a large seized ship without needing ship certification. This skill can only be used once every six months. Seized ships cannot be traded or sold through normal means. (This skill is currently unusable.)
Leap: Advanced pirates possess highly agile jumping ability, capable of leveraging tools like grappling hooks for long jumps and wall climbing.
Parry: Pirates can effectively fend off frontal enemy attacks with weapons.
Advanced Agility Evasion: Increases chance to evade physical attacks by 20%.
Liquor Recovery: Pirates can relieve injuries and fatigue state by drinking.
...
At this moment, Da Fei was awestruck and speechless! Offering mastery, attributes, skills, this is father-in-law bestowing all remaining life’s essence to Catherine—she instantly leaps from an average hero into leagues of ultra-powerful heroes, inching closer to my level!
By now, Rock had no hero aura left; his voice weak as a thread, "Kiddo, Catherine is destined to become a pirate leader. If and when that day comes, staying under your wing will only limit her growth, you know what must be done?"
Become a leader? Da Fei was suddenly startled! As with Vine Demon Village Chief Tachiusu, a leader hero with territory and power won’t be a player’s vice hero, meaning once Catherine avenges herself becoming Desolate Barbarian Pirates’ leader, I have to let her go independent, terminating her vice hero status!
In that instant, a rush of displeasure and reluctance surged within Da Fei. Da Fei seemed to finally comprehend the feeling of being a father-in-law, the feelings of a father witnessing his painstakingly raised daughter run off with a shallow youth; that perplexing silence fathers feel won’t be pleasant.
Da Fei could only grind his teeth, "I will let her be independent to soar higher, and before that day arrives, I will cultivate and empower her, ensuring she’s capable on her own!"
Rock nodded in satisfaction, "I truly didn’t misjudge you..." After finishing, Rock looked at Catherine before him, showing a peaceful smile, until the last glimmer in his eye extinguished.
He passed away.
——System Prompt: You completed Vice Heroine, Catherine’s Epic Quest, "Catherine’s Revenge" first stage "Father’s Legacy," and gained Experience +4 million, acquired large pirate warship Orca.
"Dad!" Catherine hunched over sobbing.
At this moment, even the game-playing Da Fei couldn’t help but be overwhelmed with sorrow, such is life... (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please cast recommendation votes, monthly votes at qidian.com. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.)