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The next morning, Da Fei's task was to use a bucket of perfume to repeatedly clean away the smell of alcohol in the room. Da Fei knew this was the illiterate female pirate's idea of being artsy.
Anyway, when all kinds of heroes and violinists took their places and the music started, amidst the surging tides, the wildly sexy Catherine arrived fashionably late.
Today, Da Fei had money and smiled, "To thank the lady for her hospitality, I'd like to buy the lady a drink."
Catherine took the drink handed over by Da Fei, gently shook the bottom of the glass, and stared at the liquor inside with a solemn expression, "I heard that you know something about Mysterious Stealth Navigation?"
Da Fei couldn't help but feel thrilled! Originally, he had wanted to ask her about it, but now she took the initiative to inquire. This would be easy. Whether it was to get close to her or to obtain more information about the Divine Skill, he had plenty of reasons to share what he knew.
Da Fei hurriedly said, "I know a little."
Catherine was surprised, "Our pirate intelligence network on land is not bad, but we have never heard about the Pirate King's Mysterious Stealth Navigation being cracked."
Da Fei immediately understood—so the pirates were also interested in the Pirate King's ultimate move. Perhaps if someone cracked the Pirate King's technique, the Pirate King's throne would be at risk? Haha, if that's the case, it's not me chasing you but...
Da Fei gave a conceited chuckle, "There are some things that can't be found out through inquiry."
Catherine asked, "You said yesterday that the Pirate King's Mysterious Stealth Navigation was cracked by the navigator Renior. Do you know Renior?"
Da Fei nodded, "In a certain sense, I can be considered his student."
Catherine went "Oh," "What proof do you have that you are his student?"
What? This needs proof? Da Fei couldn't help but be dumbfounded. Wasn't that boasting too big a story? But indeed, she's an NPC, after all, she cares about proof, not some player's tall tales. But if we're talking about evidence, there is some!
Da Fei immediately took out Renior's unintelligible Skill Book, "This is it! This is what he passed on to me, Renior's Sailing Skill Book."
Catherine took the book and her eyes went dark, "I can't read."
— Ah pfft! Da Fei spurted out on the spot, this was the only thing that could prove his connection with Renior!
What to do? Should he find someone literate to verify it? I think that violinist looks quite literate; he should have no problems.
Catherine, however, did not immediately throw the book back, but just played with the book in her hand and asked, "Then, what do you know about Mysterious Stealth Navigation?"
Oh, not fixated on evidence anymore? That's good.
Da Fei winged it, "I don't know much, this skill might involve Reconnaissance Skill, Sailing Skill, arcane knowledge, and even the material of the ship itself. In short, it's likely a group skill, not something one person can activate." Hmph, these are all the research findings recorded by Sailing Captain Juan.
Catherine went "Oh," "Is that all you know?"
Da Fei nodded, "Yes, so I want to know how much the pirates know."
Catherine shook her head and then added, "I heard when Barak, the big-bearded guy, caught you, you had already captured a great white shark?"
Heh heh, although he didn't know her motive for asking this, it felt like a woman asking, "I heard you knocked down that impressive person?" As a man, one should never miss any opportunity to show off one's grand image in front of a beautiful woman.
Da Fei posed cockily, "As long as you find the right method, capturing a great white shark isn't difficult."
Catherine chuckled then fell silent again, just flipping the book back and forth in her hands. I say, she liked this fiddling when I gave her the binoculars; she was like a child back then, but now she's like an adult, repeatedly caressing a lover's gift lost in thought.
Da Fei's heart skipped a beat. Could it be that she's charmed by my impressive skills and broad knowledge? Could it be… impossible, impossible, a Legendary Hero, after all!
Finally, after a long silence, Catherine asked again, "Have you decided yet?"
Da Fei's heart sank, "Decided what?"
Catherine chuckled, "Of course, whether you've decided to join us or not. Are you willing to wash dishes here forever? Time waits for no one. While you're washing dishes, others have already surpassed you with great strides."
Well, she really does appreciate my talent, eh! Even though I am talented and there's a legendary beauty in front of me, my resolve will not waver.
Da Fei shook his head, "I will not join the pirates." Huh? Surpass me? I don't believe it unless there's never a storm here and not a single chance for me to escape! As soon as I get away, even without a ship, just an Epic Quest is enough to make a fortune.
Catherine's gaze turned cold, "Do you really look down on pirates that much?"
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Da Fei sighed, "It's not about looking down on them, it's just that pirates are indeed limited in their vision."
Catherine replied coldly, "That's looking down!"
Bang! She stood the Skill Book up and slammed it onto the table, warping the hard cover!
Da Fei's heart skipped a beat in shock! No way, did I just offend a rich lady?!
What shocked Da Fei even more happened next—Catherine swiftly tore off the golden cover of the Skill Book!
—Ah puh! You can tear a Skill Book too? Hey hey, that's my mysterious Skill Book, you can't do that!
Right then, a shimmering golden piece of paper floated down from the torn cover compartment—there's something inside! Da Fei's eyes narrowed in shock, that golden light was unique to Divine Artifacts!
Catherine, grinning, pinched the paper and said, "I can't read, can you read it out for me?"
Staring at the swaying piece of paper, Da Fei was dumbstruck at that instant! It's not a treasure map, it's not a bank card!
—Wisdom Scroll of the Navigator: Transform the hero's innate sailing talent into a Professional Specialty of the Sailing Captain!
Message from Renior:
—I've met many excellent sailors who have innate peculiar talents. However, it's a pity that our current occupational system is so outdated that it can't support their specialties. Some exceptional talents that don't receive occupational bonuses and can't be improved through practice are buried just like that. If peculiar talents are a gift from the gods, then only gods can train and enhance them!
—To the one who finds this scroll: First, you must be a Sailing Captain! Next, the fact that you discovered this paper proves that you have the excellent intuition required of a captain, and you are qualified to use this scroll that records my lifetime of experience and my lifelong collection of Divine Wisdom.
...
It dawned on Da Fei that the enigma of "The truth hides in the commonplace" written on the last page of the Skill Book refers to something like this? The secret of Heavenly Sword and Dragon Slayer Sword is that there's something hidden inside! A completely clueless item in his hands revealed its flaw in hers, that's the gap between Legendary Level and my rookie level!
This is something that could change a hero's fate!
What does this mean? It means I can convert my innate speciality Storm Navigation into a professional specialty, which means I'd lose my innate talent! It would mean I can choose a new innate talent! This is what they call players being able to change their specialties with efforts later in the game!
No, I'm more advanced than them, it's like I have two specialties! Normally, it might take me a very, very long time to discover the secret of the book. But now, the Legendary Hero has discovered it for me, and the shortcut to skyrocket my status has flung its doors open to me!
Looking at Da Fei's astonished expression, Catherine chuckled, "What exactly is it? Read it to me."
Holy crap! This is a divine, game-changing treasure! She's a pirate, what consequences would there be if it falls into her hands? I must figure out how to get it back!
Da Fei cleared his throat and said, "It's a letter."
Catherine uttered, "What kind of letter needs such high-end material to be written on?"
Da Fei's brow tightened! Tell the truth? She's a pirate, a female thief! It's a career that's systemically allowed to legally take players' things! I definitely couldn't have found this paper on my own, yet she did, giving her all the more reason to claim it as her own. So I lie to her? After all, she can't read! But if I'm exposed, wouldn't I be in even worse shape?
But, women, when it comes to money they get smarter, when it comes to love they get dumber. I've got to give it a shot!
An idea struck Da Fei, and he coughed, "It's a letter written for the Goddess..."
Catherine teased, "Goddess? Well, read it out to me?"
Da Fei looked at her affectionately, scanning her from head to toe, "My Goddess, I remember the day we met, we sailed the world on a luxurious ship, we filled our ship with gold to sell, we bought an island, and built our own Kingdom estate upon it!"
If she's fooled, I might be able to get the paper back. If she sees through me, I'll just say I took the opportunity to express my love to her, with no intention of deceiving her. This is called having a foot in both camps!
Catherine swung the paper in astonishment, "Is that it?"
Da Fei nodded, "Yes. So, please return this letter to me..."
Catherine smiled genuinely, "It's about what?"
Da Fei, with deep and distant emotions, replied, "It's the sound of waves crashing against the ship's hull."
Catherine burst into loud laughter, "I like this letter! It's as if you're speaking to me!"
—Ah puh! Da Fei spurted out a mouthful of old blood...