"No, Captain, please let me go, I’m really scared—"
"Stop yelling, shut your mouth, if others misunderstand, I’ll beat you to death." Although the bearded captain’s words were harsh, he did slightly relax his grip.
Dragging the still-sobbing small man, he pushed open the door.
Outside, it was dim and impossible to see clearly, but the bearded captain showed no reaction, obviously accustomed to such an environment.
Walking on the creaky and noisy dilapidated wooden corridor, the bearded captain spoke to the small man, telling him to shut his jabbering mouth.
"If you keep yelling and attract Renko’s attention, it’ll all be for nothing."
Perhaps the bearded captain’s words worked, and indeed the small man’s voice grew quieter.
However, the small man’s loud cries inside the room earlier had aroused some people’s suspicions. Not long after the bearded captain began walking down the corridor, not yet out of it, a tall silhouette appeared in the gray mist ahead.
Seeing the figure ahead, the bearded captain cursed under his breath, pinching the small man’s neck fiercely and pushing him aside. Then he took a deep breath and closed his eyes.
When the bearded captain opened his eyes again, his gaze had shifted from a fierce wolfish look to an ordinary sly one, and his demeanor transformed from that of a brute to a naive, honest person.
"Captain Baro?" A pleasant and elegant voice came from the front.
"Yes, Mr. Renko, haven’t you gone to rest yet?" Captain Baro, the bearded man, replied with a smile.
"I just came back from the test fields, preparing to record the growth of the Red Carrot before resting." From the darkness came a tall young man wearing the same linen clothes as Captain Baro. Unlike Baro’s unkempt appearance, the young man looked clean and refined, with a very straight posture. Even on such a gloomy, sunless island, the youth’s hair was neatly combed.
Notably, a slender Knight’s sword hung from his waist.
Renko walked closer to Baro, his gaze unconsciously exploring the small man beside him, filled with curiosity and pondering.
The small man remained completely silent, his eyes drifting, not daring to meet Renko’s gaze.
"I heard little Birch outside just now, shouting ’No, scared’ and such. Did something happen?" Seeing the small man avoid eye contact, Renko directly asked, though his eyes continued to scrutinize the small man, particularly his waist and back.
On this bleak, dim island, where it was mostly men, some people’s moral lines began to stray. The small man Birch was easily targeted, so when Renko heard Birch’s wailing, he hurried over.
Captain Baro naturally caught the implication in Renko’s words and couldn’t help but glare fiercely at Birch from the corner of his eye. This punk got me into trouble! Who would be interested in this guy?
Besides, with Renko, a powerful and self-righteous person maintaining order, nobody would dare to commit any forceful acts at Dock No. 4.
"It’s nothing, it’s nothing. I just wanted to take Birch to the seaside to catch some fish and crabs, but he heard from others that there are glowing ghosts by the sea that devour people and got scared out of his mind. So he’s been fussing about it." After speaking, Baro nudged Birch with his foot.
Birch was initially unresponsive, but when Baro winked at him, Birch quickly agreed, "Oh, yeah, the captain’s right. We were just going to the seaside to catch something to eat, yes, that’s it."
Watching Birch’s dodgy gaze, Baro secretly cursed: This guy is as dumb as a sea cow, can’t even lie properly.
Renko looked at Baro, then at Birch, and finally said softly, "I don’t care where you’re going, little Birch, just tell me, did you agree to this willingly?"
Birch’s eyes darted around. He wanted to say "no," but he understood Renko’s implication. Renko clearly misunderstood his relationship with Captain Baro... Renko didn’t realize that if Captain Baro truly wanted to harm him, there would be plenty of opportunities, and it wouldn’t involve him shouting like that.
He couldn’t tarnish the captain’s name at this point.
Plus, the woman... Just thinking of the words that Little Flea used to describe that woman made Birch feel hot all over, and he did want to see for himself. As long as Man Elder and the others didn’t discover him.
"Mr. Renko, I think you’ve misunderstood, Captain Baro really only wanted to take me to catch fish and crabs, and I really did agree to it voluntarily." Birch nodded and replied.
Renko gazed at Birch, knowing full well the kid was lying endlessly, but when speaking of "willingness," he was genuinely sincere.
"Since you’re willing, then bear the consequences yourself." Renko said no more, stepping aside to lean against the wooden wall, clearing the path.
The implication was obvious; at least with Renko, they had passed the first hurdle.
Baro no longer held Birch by the collar, slightly nodded to Renko, and gestured for Birch to follow, disappearing into the mist.
On the following route, Baro didn’t speak to Birch any further, moving quickly.
After walking another ten meters, a sudden gust of wind caused the planks beneath to wobble, accompanied by the sound of water splashing.
Baro stood steadily, but Birch was unsteady, leaning against the wooden railing, looking down.
Beneath was a pitch-black expanse of water.
They were on a ship.
Wind moved, boat swayed, silence followed after the wind calmed. Baro finally addressed Birch again, "Can’t even stand in a bit of wind, not a seafaring man at all."
Birch murmured in reply, "I wasn’t a seafaring man either, I only went to sea once, and ended up in this ghostly place."
Baro knocked Birch on the head. "Are you rebutting everything I say? Shut up."
Birch pursed his lips, remaining silent.
Baro was finally satisfied, saying, "Hurry up and follow me, we need to leave the dock before Renko figures it out."
They crossed the long wooden corridor, climbed the deck, dropped the rope ladder, and in about five minutes, Baro and Birch finally disembarked.
Standing on the ground at the dock entrance, Baro looked up at the massive yet battered cargo ship, a hint of emotion in his eyes. "The Moonlight Bird," he sighed, "Is there still a chance to set sail?"
Baro shook his head, letting out a long sigh.
Unbeknownst to him, Renko was leaning in the shadow of the mast on the deck, ears twitching slightly.
"Set sail, huh? I hope so," Renko mused to himself, "I don’t want to stay on this cursed island forever."
After murmuring to himself, Renko suddenly lifted his head, looking into the darkness.
"Captain Baro said they were going to the seaside? Hah, but they’re heading north along the inner lake, that’s not the way to the beach." Renko frowned, "Could Birch really be with Baro? Seems unlikely. And if they really were up to something, why go outside?"
Outside not only had beasts and venomous snakes, but also the possibility of encountering people from other docks, who had fallen completely into darkness and couldn’t even be called human anymore.