Chapter Thirteen: The Destination

Qiu Bai was pulled out of the water once again... Though in reality, this was his first time being rescued, using “once again” here didn’t seem entirely wrong.

Of course, the main reasons Qiu Bai and his companion were saved were, first, that the rescuers were feeling charitable, and second, the two of them looked utterly harmless... At sea, it’s a strict rule not to rescue strangers lightly, as those brought aboard might turn on their rescuers and take over the ship.

After all, pirates are as common as cattle on these seas, and their methods of plunder are as varied and imaginative as the ocean itself. There’s no telling when someone might disguise themselves as a castaway.

This, once again, proves the importance of appearance; had Qiu Bai looked fierce and menacing, no matter how much he called for help, no one would have paid him any mind.

Fortunately, he had a gentle face, and, more importantly, was accompanied by a young woman... Women often lower the guard of strangers more easily than men.

After the two were brought aboard, they found themselves in the captain’s cabin.

“So your boat was struck by that earlier ‘hailstorm,’ is that right?” The captain of this ship was named Grisha, and it was his decision to rescue Qiu Bai and Aine.

Captain Grisha was a man of about forty, lacking the burly, rugged look one might expect of a seasoned seaman; in fact, he was rather on the thin side.

The ship had a crew of just over thirty, men and women, young and old, and most of them looked frail and slight. They didn’t seem so much like sailors as like people moving house en masse.

As for the name of the ship beneath Qiu Bai’s feet, it appeared to be called the “Giant,” but truth be told, there was nothing “giant” about it; it was barely larger than Qiu Bai’s own boat, and even looked more timeworn.

To cram thirty-some people aboard such a vessel—one could easily imagine the crowding.

Still, the captain’s cabin was a bit better than the rest. There, Qiu Bai and Aine underwent the captain’s questioning, accompanied by the captain’s son, Aelren, who looked to be no more than ten.

Qiu Bai’s tale of disaster, stripped of embellishment, was certainly jaw-dropping. Captain Grisha had met all sorts on the ocean, but if he had to classify the young Qiu Bai, he’d probably put him in the “recklessly courting death” category.

This young man seriously underestimated the New World, didn’t he? With that in mind, perhaps rescuing him was a mistake?

“If you were an experienced sailor, you’d know that hailstorms in these waters follow a certain pattern. A skilled navigator can tell from the shape of the clouds when one is coming,” Grisha said.

Clearly, Qiu Bai was neither a seasoned mariner nor an adept navigator; it was a wonder he hadn’t sunk sooner.

But after two shipwrecks, Qiu Bai finally saw the light—perhaps captaining his own boat out to sea was a mistake. Maybe he should seek out a more reasonable means of reaching his destination.

He really should have realized this from the start, but better late than never.

“Still, you were clever enough to stay on the shipping lanes, and lucky enough to come across our ship so soon. Otherwise, you and your companion might have been lost at sea forever, or drowned from exhaustion...” the captain said.

“We’ll drop you at the nearest port. Bad luck follows you often enough; next time, don’t set out so blindly. This is the New World, after all.”

Captain Grisha’s only purpose in this conversation was to confirm that Qiu Bai posed no danger, and the result reassured him.

Qiu Bai was just an ordinary castaway.

Besides, with such a slight build, how could he possibly threaten the ship?

Of course, the captain was mistaken in this. Though they had numbers, they were just ordinary folk. If Qiu Bai truly harbored ill intent, he could have laid them all low with ease.

“Thank you so much. But if I may ask, Captain, where is your ship headed?” Qiu Bai inquired suddenly.

Such a question might arouse suspicion, but at this point, the captain seemed convinced the pair were harmless, and a little idle chat about general destinations seemed safe enough.

“To put it simply, our destination is the same as yours... We’re headed to the North Sea as well.”

Qiu Bai and his companion were also bound for the North Sea.

Hearing this, Aine glanced instinctively at the log pose in her hand... Though the captain claimed to be heading for the North Sea, the ship’s course was clearly opposite the needle’s direction.

How could they possibly reach the North Sea this way?

To explain simply, traveling from the New World to one of the Four Seas requires following the Grand Line: first westward to the Red Line, then passing through Fishman Island beneath the continent, entering the first half of the Grand Line, and only after safely traversing it can one reach the Four Seas via Reverse Mountain... Yet the Giant’s current heading was clearly not that route.

Was it just to drop them off at a port?

That question could wait. After hearing they shared the same destination, Qiu Bai’s gaze dropped for a moment, then he looked the captain in the eye. “Since our destinations are the same, Captain Grisha, perhaps you would allow us—”

“No.”

Before Qiu Bai could finish, Grisha refused him flatly... He seemed quite averse to taking on “hitchhikers.”

“Believe me, it’s for your own good. We’re in a great hurry. We must reach the North Sea as quickly as possible, and it’s already a great inconvenience to alter course to drop you at a nearby port,” the captain explained, though it wasn’t strictly necessary.

The unspoken meaning: rescued castaways shouldn’t be making so many demands.

“As quickly as possible?” Qiu Bai grew more skeptical. Travel from the New World to the Four Seas was measured in years, so what difference could a little time make?

“Shipping lanes.”

Just then, Aine whispered two words in Qiu Bai’s ear and showed him the log pose.

Only then did Qiu Bai notice the issue. “Though I don’t know the real reason for your refusal, Captain, if you’re heading to the North Sea, it seems you’re already far off course.”

Captain Grisha smiled.

“So you’re not entirely ignorant of the sea after all,” he said, a hint of mockery in his tone, since realizing the ship was off course wasn’t exactly difficult.

The captain sighed, then continued, “Very well, I’ll explain my reason for refusing. Whether you believe me or not, once we reach the next port, I must insist you disembark.”

As he spoke, his expression grew grave, as though this were a final ultimatum.