parentshiftbook Chapter 9 I want to stay here!
Chapter 9 I want to stay here!
"If I lose, next time you come, I'll send you a boatload of good stuff," Su Lan promised.
"It's so realistic," Seraya said, glancing at Su Lan with interest.
"If you can produce the map, I'll tell you a secret and do you a small favor while I'm at it!"
In this round of empty promises and hedging, no one benefited.
However, they didn't care; it was purely for fun, a little gambling for fun.
After a gust of cold wind blew through the bow of the ship, Su Lan made an excuse to return to her cabin.
He locked the door behind him, sat down at his desk, and focused his attention on the box containing the keepsakes.
[Having sailed for one hour on the Storm Petrel, my last wish has been fulfilled.]
[The inheritance has been completed; you can check it yourself.]
There was no new suicide note this time.
Su Lan probably didn't expect that "Runaway Su Lan" had touched the magic cannon before embarking on the voyage.
But that doesn't matter.
The box containing the keepsakes was opened, and out flew a scroll and a thin booklet.
With a thought, Su Lan took out the scroll and spread it out on the table.
A topographic map came into view.
Centered on the territory's dock, the map not only marks the distribution of reefs within a ten-kilometer radius, but also points out threats on nearby land.
"What a pleasant surprise!" Su Lan rubbed her hands together.
The reef is something Celia needs to consider. If he wants to utilize it, he'll have to wait until the port renovation is complete and maritime trade begins.
It's quite far away.
Su Lan is now more concerned about the situation on land.
He first looked at the north of the map, where caves were everywhere and monsters gathered, posing the biggest obstacle to the development of his territory.
"Stone-shelled hermit crabs, mist-shadow sea bats, venomous jellyfish... and a few drowned corpses. Are these considered elite monsters?"
Okay.
They're all level one or two mobs. Once I finish what I'm doing, I'll train a group of militia and we can handle them.
Nothing unusual happened in the south, but the location of Viscount Sean in the west was shrouded in mystery, with a big question mark appearing on the "runaway Su Lan" list.
Below is a line of small print.
"He seems to be up to something. I spotted a group of mutants who appear to have some sense of reason, but I'm too afraid to get close. I'm too uncertain..."
A flash of inspiration struck.
Su Lan recalled Tia's investigation a few days ago.
To the west lies corrupted magic and mutated humans...
"What kind of biochemical experiment?!" Su Lan gasped.
Report this! It must be reported to the court!
Well, Su Lan was just joking; he's not much better than Sean.
One conducts biochemical experiments, while the other shelters the source of pollution.
They belong to the category of "Sleeping Dragon and Young Phoenix".
He put away the map, opened the booklet next to him, and glanced at it casually.
"Huh?" Su Lan's pupils suddenly contracted, and she sat up straight.
I've recorded information on some people and categorized them into three groups: trustworthy, usable, and suspicious, for your reference.
[The bodyguard Baldr is largely credible. During the assassination attempt in the Inquisition, he took an arrow for me; his fate is unknown.]
[The bodyguards Luca and Linus are highly suspicious. They disappeared during the assassination attempt at the Inquisition and are likely the mole.]
"Reid and Seraya are also on the trusted list, but Tia didn't mention them, so I guess he doesn't know them..."
"I only have three guards, and you're telling me there are two traitors?"
Su Lan rubbed her temples.
He thought it was just some ordinary intelligence, but it turned out to be the real highlight!
There were a few more pages, but Su Lan didn't have time to read them.
Seraya's voice rang out from outside the door: "Su Lan, we've arrived. Come out and see if this is the place?"
Su Lan opened the door and looked around: "This is it, that's right."
"Baro, let's dock on that platform over there," Seraya called out, turning back to Su Lan.
"You have good taste; the place you chose is indeed suitable."
As they were talking, Tia climbed up from the lower deck, carrying a small bag on her back: "Su Lan, Sister Seraya, I'm all packed."
"Have you thought this through?" Seraya's expression turned serious. "It might not be safe here."
"Yes!" Tia nodded. "Su Lan is different from others. She's not afraid of me, she doesn't hit me, and she plays with me every day. She's very good to me..."
She stole a glance at Su Lan and saw that Su Lan was smiling at her. Instantly, she mustered up her courage:
"I'm not afraid, I want to stay here!"
Looking down into the passageway behind her, she continued, "I just discussed it with Hecate and the others. Next time we come, they'd like to get off the ship and take a look."
Seraya remained silent for a long time, then suddenly laughed:
"The little guy is still siding with outsiders! Fine, I'll come back in a month, and you can still come back then."
She looked at Su Lan with an unreadable expression.
"Don't worry." Su Lan couldn't stand the gloomy atmosphere, so she reached into her pocket, took out a roll of parchment, and handed it to Seraya.
Here, the map.
"Are you serious? You're not going to draw it on the spot, are you?" Seraya raised an eyebrow and casually took it.
But a moment later, her expression changed drastically, and she gasped, "Not bad! I underestimated you!"
"This thing is indeed useful to me," Seraya clicked her tongue, seemingly unwilling to give up. "You win, a bet's a bet. Now, tell me, what help do you need?"
Su Lan really does have one, and she's very serious about it.
"I think the pollution suppression system in your room is pretty good. Do you have any extras? Could you get me one?"
With this installed at home, Tia's range of movement will be larger, and he won't have to worry about her every day.
"Are you sure?" Seraya's expression was somewhat strange.
Su Lan nodded.
He did want Seraya to help him fight against the Inquisition, but it was just a game of chance and shouldn't be taken seriously.
If you actually bring it up, it's because he doesn't know how to be tactful.
"Then you're wasting your chance. I was thinking of taking care of Sean a couple of times for you on my way here in a few days!"
Su Lan was completely confused. They were all neighbors, and everything was fine. Why was he hitting Sean?
Seraya didn't explain much, but opened Tia's backpack and pointed to the six cylindrical devices inside, saying:
"Isn't this a portable pollution suppressor? It's their go-to accessory when they go out, didn't expect that, did you?"
After waiting for a long time without seeing Su Lan's regretful expression, Seraya suddenly lost interest.
"This is pointless... Alright, I won't let you suffer a loss. This thing consumes a lot of magic crystals, so I'll give you two months' worth, that should be enough."
"Thank you very much."
With her last wish fulfilled, the weight that had been pressing on her heart lifted, and Su Lan felt sleepy and couldn't help but yawn.
As if it were contagious, Tia's eyelids also began to droop.
Seeing the Storm Petrel dock, the two exchanged a glance and both understood each other's meaning.
"Tia and I will come back from upstairs, so you don't need to worry about it."
Su Lan was about to disembark.
"Don't rush off!" Seraya suddenly caught up, wrapped her arms around Su Lan's neck, and whispered in his ear:
"You forgot? There's another secret I need to tell you."
"Hmm?" Su Lan blinked.
"Have your scales been getting hot lately?" Seraya asked mysteriously.
"The fusion is going well. We might be able to contact its owner in the next couple of days. You can ask her more questions about the extraordinary; it will be beneficial for you."
These words left Su Lan somewhat bewildered.
Judging from Seraya's tone... why does it suddenly feel like the Tide Scales don't quite seem like her own?
Forget it...
Su Lan's mind was a complete mess right now, and she was too lazy to dwell on it. She'd just have to ask her when the time came.
He responded and turned to disembark.
To Seraya's astonishment, the two suddenly landed on the ground and disappeared into the tunnel.
"Bye-Bye!"
"Haha, goodbye, sister!"
Seraya slapped her forehead.
These two clowns, did they plan this all along?