Chapter 236: Section 24: Xu Ma: Come Follow Me
After the group had discussed and agreed upon their needs, the knight youth once again found the receptionist.
“Okay, Magic Beast Meat of the fire crow, Magic Beast Meat of the Steel Rhinoceros, Bloodline Stabilizing Potion, Blast Fighting Spirit, 24 Bronze Level cannons, 30 Secret Contracts…” The receptionist bowed his head and earnestly recorded the knight youth’s requirements.
After a short while, he looked up with a smile, “It will take at least two more days for the cannons to be transported here. During this time, I think you can use it to recruit sailors.”
“That’s exactly what I plan to do,” nodded the knight youth.
“Are you sure you want to use this symbol on the sails and flags?” the receptionist asked with a strange expression on his face.
“Of course,” the knight youth sighed, “You know, I am a knight, a knight of the Empire.”
“I understand,” the receptionist nodded.
After sending off the knight youth and Zong Ge, he looked down at the list he had just made.
“Including the Unsealing Scrolls bought earlier, these people seem to be a bit wealthier than I thought.”
“The only strange thing is that they bought so many Secret Contracts.”
“Hehe. They’re probably turning to piracy and yet they’re still quite conflicted about it. This can be seen from their flag. According to their plan, they should be heading to the Wilderness Continent to strive for military achievements in exchange for fiefs. Yet, they don’t want to give up this opportunity.”
The receptionist thought he had grasped the true thoughts of the knight youth and shook his head with a smile.
In his mind, he dismissed the matter, “Only knights who have risen from the common folk would be so conflicted. In fact, any noble, no matter how destitute, would know the rule of victory and defeat, and would not have such psychological barriers.”
He didn’t know that the funds the knight youth used to purchase supplies this time were less than a quarter of his total capital.
Although everyone had agreed on the purchases, they wouldn’t buy everything at once. It would be too easy to arouse the receptionist’s suspicions.
The work of recruiting crew members was being carried out in succession.
People hidden within the Deep Sea Monster Fish would quietly go ashore and then, posing as sailors, become part of the pirate crew under the knight youth’s command.
This, too, was a carefully considered plan.
These days, being concealed within the Monster Fish had made many restless. They needed to see the daylight again.
And the knight youth needed the backbone to build up his power. Recruiting all outsiders was not safe or reassuring.
With this layer of operations, their identities were concealed, allowing them to actively reappear in front of the world.
Two days later.
The new ship was quietly moored at the dock.
A group of newly recruited sailors lined up, one by one stepping up the gangway to the deck.
Zong Ge stood by the ship’s side, arms folded, seriously inspecting these men.
“Captain, sir,” a long-bearded, sallow-faced man from the Eastern Empire, bowed and nodded to Zong Ge.
Zong Ge showed no expression, “I’m the First Officer, not the Captain. Name?”
“Xu Ma.” The middle-aged Eastern man chuckled, bowing and bending low. He was tall and thin, even taller than Zong Ge, but he was bending so much now, nearly kneeling on the deck.
Zong Ge glanced up and down at him, “I hear you are a Thief? Bronze Level?”
“Hehe, just pilfering, just pilfering, nothing compared to your big deals,” Xu Ma quickly replied.
“Keep your hands to yourself, and don’t let me catch you doing anything improper on this ship.”
“Of course, you can count on me.”
“Stand over there,” Zong Ge gestured slightly with his head.
“Yes, yes!” Xu Ma responded obediently, showing his docility.
Next, three fishermen came aboard together.
“What’s your name?” Zong Ge inquired.
“Big Head.”
“Salty Fish.”
“Feather.”
“All from New Moon Town?” Zong Ge asked.
“Yes, sir,” the three men replied humbly.
Zong Ge scanned the three, his gaze suddenly pausing and lingering on Big Head’s knuckles.
Zong Ge snorted coldly, and Big Head’s heart trembled, realizing that his past identity as a pirate had been discovered.
“It seems you know what business this ship is in. Go stand over there,” Zong Ge pointed with his chin.
Intimidated by the Half-Beast’s Silver Level presence, the three men lowered their heads and moved away.
Mu Ban climbed onto the deck, carrying a simple set of carpenter’s tools on his back.
Zong Ge pretended it was the first time he saw Mu Ban, looking him over, “Do you do woodcraft?”
In fact, Mu Ban had used a Transformation Potion, altering his appearance quite significantly, and indeed needed a fresh once-over.
“A bit,” Mu Ban quickly answered.
“Then go stay in the woodcrafter’s maintenance area.”
“Okay, sir.”
Mu Ban took his place among the other sailors, his special treatment immediately drawing envious glances from those around him.
At that moment, the sailors suddenly became noisy.
A little giant strode toward the new ship, his imposing stature and the repulsive appearance causing many to become disturbed and panicked.
“What’s going on?!” shouted Zong Ge.
The little giant growled at Zong Ge, “You taking me in?”
Zong Ge hesitated for a moment, “Wait, I need to check with the Captain.”
The Half-Beast made a show of entering the Captain’s cabin in the ship’s stern, and then returned to the deck shortly after, gesturing to the little giant, “Come aboard.”
The little giant was overjoyed, laughing loudly, “Hahaha!”
Amid the wary looks of the sailors, he too boarded the deck.
“Move!” he bellowed, driving the sailors away and occupying a section of the deck for himself before sitting down heavily, leaning against the ship’s side and closing his eyes.
“Well played,” observed the knight youth from inside the ship’s stern, taking in the scene.
The little giant was none other than Big Guy.
He had also used a transformation potion to change the color of his hair, and he even affixed a fake copper horn to his forehead.
To distinguish him from his previous identity aboard the Pig Kiss, Fat Tongue personally instructed him on how to perform.
After training no less than a hundred times, he finally achieved such a result—it was worth the effort.
Bai Ya went up to the deck, where he was very average and drew no attention.
Fat Tongue also joined in, posing as a robust chef.
More and more people gathered on the deck.
The sailors whispered among themselves, with Xu Ma being the most active.
He chatted everywhere.
He noticed Bai Ya’s discomfort, “Young man, is this your first time on a pirate ship?”
Bai Ya’s eyes widened, “Ah? Yes, it is.”
“Heh heh, stick with me, I’ve got your back,” Xu Ma had already begun forming alliances.
“Ah?”
“What ‘ah’? Just by looking at you, I can tell it’s your first time aboard, you don’t know the ropes,” Xu Ma raised his head, “Just fighting and killing won’t get you far on a pirate ship. You have to find your place, make the right connections. Alone, you’re easy prey. Look at those guys over there.”
Bai Ya shifted his gaze, listening to Xu Ma’s lowered voice, “The one in charge over there is named Big Head, the sullen-faced one is called Salted Fish, and the one with hair like a bird’s nest is called Chicken Feather. Those three standing together, whispering privately and wearing similar clothes, it’s obvious they’re in cahoots. They are the fishermen here. Look at Big Head, with calluses on his knuckles—it’s a sign of knife use. He’s unflappable and his gaze doesn’t wander like the others; he’s constantly surveying the masts and cannon ports, very pleased with this large ship. He must be a seasoned pirate.”
“Is that so?” Bai Ya was somewhat skeptical.
Xu Ma glared at Bai Ya, “Don’t believe me? Go ask them yourself.”
Driven by curiosity, Bai Ya quietly inquired. Big Head just snorted without hiding anything. The other two, basking in reflected glory, seemed to establish a psychological advantage due to Bai Ya’s approach, no longer as nervous as before.
Bai Ya returned to Xu Ma, expressing admiration, “Predecessor, you have sharp eyes.”
Xu Ma scoffed, “I’m telling you this because I worry about you getting bullied. Everyone knows what this ship is for. I ask you, when it comes time to divide the spoils, can you outwit these old pirates?”
Bai Ya shook his head.
“And even if they weren’t pirates, could you take on the three of them alone?”
Bai Ya shook his head again.
“That’s right,” Xu Ma patted Bai Ya’s shoulder and sighed, “I can tell you’re an outsider, and so am I. We should stick together even more, so that we won’t be bullied on this ship and can vie for more loot, right?”
Bai Ya nodded repeatedly, but inside he sighed: he had no desire to be a pirate at all.
Xu Ma was very satisfied. Having been a thief for many years, his insight was sharp, and he picked out Bai Ya, a “good seedling”, from the crowd, “Stick with me, you won’t be treated poorly. This ship isn’t bad, right?”
“…” Bai Ya hesitated, “It’s okay, I guess?”
“Nonsense!” Xu Ma glared, “Youngster, you lack experience. This is a Black Iron Level demon energy ship, and it’s a new one! The captain is a Silver Level Dragon Vein fighter, and the first officer is Silver Level too. When they eat meat, we will drink soup.”
“Of course, there are many stronger ones, like those of Gold Level fighters. But could we board their ships?”
“Your first boarding, and it’s such a fine ship. Catching up with two Silver fighters forming the core crew – such an opportunity might not come a second time in your life!”
“So, don´t go in with the mindset of making a quick buck, work well with them.”
Bai Ya looked strangely at Xu Ma. He had not expected to be taught by a newbie, to be loyal to the leaders, to be a good pirate.
Bai Ya wouldn’t reveal the truth.
All these old hands had mixed in with new faces, pretending not to recognize each other and planning a slow promotion.
Xu Ma sighed, “You’re really too young, kid. You don’t know how precious such an opportunity is! Sigh…”
The middle-aged man with a yellow complexion spoke with a melancholy tone, as though recalling the first half of his life, “People like us, without good parents, without bloodline, without talent, without wealth, we’re basically set for life.”
“So when such an opportunity arises, you must seize it! Seize it tightly!! Otherwise, how will you stand out?”
“You are lucky to board this ship and to meet me.”
“Ah?” Bai Ya was more bewildered.
“Let me show you, kid, watch closely.” Xu Ma, in his quest to win over this little brother, began his act.
He approached Mu Ban with an exuberant greeting.
Mu Ban gave Bai Ya a covert glance, as if to say, “What’s with this guy?”
Bai Ya blinked, signaling, “That’s just how he is.”
Mu Ban, taking a cue from Bai Ya, humored Xu Ma with a few words.
Xu Ma returned, looking smug, “I’ve got the ship’s woodcrafter wrapped around my finger.”
“Handled him?”
“Of course.” Xu Ma patted Bai Ya’s shoulder, “We need to make good connections with certain people so that our lives on the ship can be better than others. Don’t look at me as just a Bronze, and he’s just an ordinary man. He’s actually very valuable, because he’s a woodcrafter! Even new ships break. Woodcrafters repair ships; they’re indispensable. He gets to sleep in his own workshop, while you can only sleep in a hammock. Do you grasp that?”
“Oh.” Bai Ya could only nod.
“That chef too, we need to be on good terms with him. I remember he’s called Big Fatty,” Xu Ma whispered.
He was earnest.
Listening carefully to the conversations between Zong Ge and everyone else, gathering all kinds of information.
“Watch closely,” Xu Ma went into action again.
“Hey, Big Fatty brother.”
“Mhm.”
“I’m Xu Ma, heh heh.”
“Mhm.”
“Uh… please look out for me in the future.”
“Mhm.”
Xu Ma returned, somewhat dissatisfied, telling Bai Ya, “Just an ordinary guy, and yet so damn arrogant.”
Bai Ya inwardly defended Fat Tongue: He wasn’t being arrogant; he stuttered. To avoid revealing this obvious trait, he had to speak as little as possible.
Xu Ma continued, “So, see, a Bronze level expert like myself, humbling myself even before ordinary folk. In the future on this ship, they’ll all respect me.”
“Respect isn’t something you give to yourself; it’s given by others. Some people mix well, others don’t, and that’s why.”
“Kid, following me, you won’t be at a loss.”
Bai Ya: “…”