Chapter Fifteen: He Who Does Not Venture Into the Windless Zone Is No True Grandson

Captain Grisha's first reaction was—does this person not understand human speech? The actions of everyone aboard this ship, captain included, were not born of some adventurous spirit, nor of a search for excitement. To put it plainly, they had only made this desperate counterattack because they were at the end of their rope, unable to survive otherwise.

The so-called “big score” was nothing more than a gamble for their lives.

There was absolutely no possibility of taking unrelated people along on their journey, and heading into the Calm Belt was not some pleasant dinner invitation… Or perhaps this Qiubai fellow truly didn’t understand what the Calm Belt meant?

The captain’s gaze toward Qiubai began to take on the look reserved for those lacking in sense.

Or perhaps this fellow was simply insane.

Yes, in the New World, it was impossible for anyone not to know the perils of the Calm Belt, so the latter possibility seemed more likely… To think that someone so young already had a troubled mind—well, in that case, this redhead was rather pitiable.

“You two…”

Faced with people so eager to throw their lives away, Captain Grisha was at a loss for words.

“In fact, due to certain reasons, we too need to reach the North Sea quickly. Otherwise, we wouldn’t risk setting out to sea alone. However, with our original means of travel, we couldn’t break free of the ‘normal’ routes, and speed was out of the question. Since you intend to cross the Calm Belt, please, take us with you,” Qiubai explained his impromptu decision as if it had been carefully considered.

“But… that’s the Calm Belt…” the captain continued to try and dissuade them. No matter what, Qiubai and his companion’s circumstances were clearly different from his own group’s; surely, they weren’t truly intent on a suicide mission… The captain had brought even his young son—he had no way out; it was succeed or perish.

From what was generally known in the world, it seemed that no one had ever succeeded in crossing the Calm Belt… At least, there had never been any news of such a feat.

Whether navy or pirates, entering the Calm Belt was certain death. Sometimes, the navy would even drive pirates into it during a pursuit, knowing it meant no return.

Moreover, Captain Grisha was an ordinary civilian, and the Giant was just a merchant vessel.

Therefore, to the captain, Qiubai’s insistence on remaining aboard this doomed ship seemed utterly baffling.

“I’m well aware of the risks, but it doesn’t matter to me. In fact, I even look forward to it. I’m prepared to go down with the ship if it comes to that… Truthfully, I’m an adventurer, and if there’s a chance to cross the Calm Belt, I’d be delighted to try,” Qiubai replied. He was not joking; he truly looked forward to it and longed for the challenge—perhaps only adventures never before attempted by anyone else were worthy of being called trailblazing.

Indeed, Qiubai was an adventurer… who occasionally moonlighted as a highwayman.

“An adventurer? So your purpose in traveling to the North Sea is…?”

“Have you ever heard of Germa 48? That major villainous organization in that world-famous comic that ran for over twenty years? After some research, I discovered that it actually exists, and supposedly the North Sea is the birthplace of the Germa Kingdom—so we’re going to look for traces of them.”

“Germa 48?” The captain clearly hadn’t read that comic, nor did he realize it should have been Germa 66, not 48.

Wait, why did Qiubai blurt out ‘48’?

But that didn’t stop the captain from thinking this man was even crazier—chasing after comic book stories as if they were real… Clearly, he was not right in the head.

Yet that was only because the captain was unacquainted with the world’s realities; Germa was indeed real—though Qiubai’s true purpose in going to the North Sea had nothing to do with that organization.

But if Qiubai was mad, the captain all the more could not in good conscience lead him to his doom.

So he could not accept Qiubai’s request to “sail together.”

“I’m sorry, but our route is too perilous. To say we have a one-in-ten chance would be exaggerating our odds. On such a journey, under no circumstances can I take you with us.”

The captain’s refusal was for Qiubai’s own good; he didn’t want to cause pointless loss of life, but Qiubai failed to appreciate his intentions.

“Since you already planned to cross the Calm Belt, you must have made preparations in advance, perhaps even methods to deal with Sea Kings… You must have taken such things into account. So, while success is unlikely, it isn’t impossible. I don’t believe you would rush in recklessly without any preparation. Isn’t that right?” Qiubai changed his approach and continued to reason.

Judging by his instincts, this captain didn’t seem the type to act rashly out of desperation; his daring attempt to cross the Calm Belt was something else entirely.

“We do have certain measures, but we aren’t confident that they’ll actually work.”

“In that case…” Qiubai was still trying to persuade the captain, but at that moment, Ain could no longer listen. Though she was habitually disdainful toward Yuyi, since Qiubai had made it clear—“whoever doesn’t cross the Calm Belt is a coward”—she would only follow his lead.

Between the two of them, it was always Qiubai who made the decisive choices.

Suddenly, Qiubai felt a lightness at his waist—Ain had already taken his money pouch.

“Two hundred thousand Berries… as our ‘ticket’ to board your ship,” Ain said, opening the pouch to reveal the gleaming gold coins within.

“I’m sorry, I cannot…” The captain merely glanced at the money before continuing to refuse. Though he was poor, he was unmoved by the two hundred thousand Berries before him… If their voyage succeeded, the profit would far outstrip that sum. If they failed, what meaning would the money have? By then, the entire crew would be dead.

“Although you’re the captain, there are some matters best discussed with all the crew,” Ain said as she placed the pouch into the captain’s hand.

The captain fell silent. Indeed, the ship was not his alone to command; both the vessel and all aboard were shared property. The captain was but the figurehead, and many decisions required the crew’s consensus.

Such as whether or not to accept these two hundred thousand Berries.

Captain Grisha looked at the money in his hand, shook his head, and left the cabin.

“I was merely hoping to win them over with virtue,” Qiubai insisted with feigned justification, enduring the girl’s scornful gaze after the captain departed.

Damn it, if bribery works on birds, why not on people?

Though Ain’s method was blunt, Qiubai knew it would achieve his aim… So-called “collective decision-making” was often just a formality, and when faced with immediate profit, one could easily predict where the majority would lean.

The captain might refuse the two hundred thousand Berries out of reason, but his poverty-stricken crew certainly would not.

As it turned out, there was nothing as effective as money in persuading people.

There was a brief commotion outside, which soon quieted down. A short while later, the captain returned to the cabin—without the money pouch.

“You win. We’ll provide you with some food and fresh water, and… take you across the Calm Belt.”

There was more resignation than resolve in the captain’s expression.

Qiubai grinned brilliantly, extending his hand to the captain. “A pleasure to work together.”

At this point, what more could the captain say?

“A pleasure to work together.”

Their hands clasped firmly.

So, bringing the money after all proved to be quite meaningful. Once again, Qiubai’s philosophy was validated: there is both practical need and real value in the art of sword-selling.