Chapter 135 - - I still have use for_1

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“…Barry, Mahamadu took a fancy to Laurent Swann’s wife and has decided to wage war in order to snatch her back to become the queen of East Sea. How’s that for a reason?”

“Not good. Laurent Swann has many women, and Mahamadu wouldn’t start a war over such a foolish reason.”

“Then, how about this? Safra found a female Ocean Horn, and Laurent’s Ocean Horn is male. When the male Ocean Horn meets the female one, they’ll combine into a new Ocean Horn. Blowing it could summon the deceased Sea God to battle. How about that?”

“Worse still. And it sounds quite ridiculous. Paul, where did you hear these absurd stories from some wandering minstrel?”

“We’ve got enough trouble as it is, do you really have to engage in such wild flights of fancy? With the effort you’re wasting, why not find a prostitute to release your vigorous energy?”

…

Duge cheerfully teased Old Barry all the way back to the Giant Bird, brushing up on his joy attribute.

When they passed the Dufei family merchant ship, Duge stopped talking. He wasn’t sure if there were any candidates on board the merchant ship, and it wouldn’t be good if they recognized him. His strength was still quite weak, not suitable for head-on confrontations.

When they reached the Giant Bird, the painters were sitting in their slings, changing the name of the big ship.

Seeing this, Barry’s heart skipped a beat, and he started considering whether it was really time to retire early.

Duge and his companion were about to board the ship.

Suddenly, a teenager about seventeen or eighteen rushed over from the side and blocked their way. He looked at Duge, “Sir, your gaze is filled with wisdom, as sharp as an eagle in the sky; your body brims with strength, like the rocks on the shore that withstand any storm; your face is always smiling with spring warmth, filled with confidence… You must be the captain of this ship, right?”

“Indeed.” Duge was flattered by the praise and looked at the young man, nodding with a smile.

“I wonder if someone as insignificant as me might have the honor of joining your team?” The young man bowed humbly to Duge, then lifted his head, looking at him with a pleasing look, “It would be the greatest fortune of my life to work on your ship.”

“Of course, no problem.” Duge laughed, “My ship is short of hands right now! We need more fresh blood injected…”

“Paul, he’s just a kid, and it looks like he has no sailing experience.” Barry couldn’t help but frown, “At this time, bringing him on board would only be a burden to us.”

“Sir, I can feel under your robust frame, there lies a kind heart. I can tell that you hold a position of considerable influence on this ship. Sir, my parents are both dead, and I can’t survive in this small town anymore.” The young man looked at Barry, twisting the corner of his clothes nervously, “Could you give me a chance, please? I’m very strong, I can do anything, I want to go to sea, I want to be a pirate…”

“Barry, don’t be hard on a kid.” Duge frowned, looking at Barry with disapproval.

“I don’t want to be hard on him, I think he’s quite alright.” Barry chuckled and even reached out to pat the boy’s head, “Kid, what’s your name?”

“Vito, Vito Hoof.” The young man’s face blushed, embarrassed, “My name might not match up to you gentlemen, but it’s the best my parents could come up with.”

“Alright, Vito. From now on, you are a member of my team.” Duge’s hearty laugh echoed as he readily accepted the young man’s request, “But before you come aboard, you’ll need to add a nickname after your name, a nickname of a sea fish, it’s our tradition.”

“Captain, of course no problem.” Vito smiled, not questioning, “I can be called Vito Hoof Silver Fish.”

“Okay, Vito Hoof Silver Fish.” Duge affectionately grasped his hand, saying with a smile, “I declare, from this moment on, you are a member of the Smiling Angel.”

The moment he took the boy’s hand, his senses seemed to snap back in an instant.

He immediately realized that something was off, as he had just agreed to let a stranger aboard without knowing anything about him, and it all seemed so natural.

Damn it!

He’d been hit by a skill!

“Thank you, Captain, it’s my honor to work on your ship. Your magnanimity is admirable, no wonder you’ve become the captain of a ship so young.” Vito smiled, still maintaining his shy and humble demeanor, “If one day I could become a captain like you, with a ship of my own, that would be so great.”

“You will, as long as you work hard on my ship.” Duge smiled without letting on, casually releasing the young man’s hand. Now that this little runt was his property, his skills could no longer affect him.

But it gave Duge quite a scare. If he hadn’t awakened his skill of slacking off, he might have been duped by the kid.

Advanced skills are terrifying!

You just can’t guard against them!

Looking at his skill effect, it must have been something like Flattery, trying to butter people up with compliments, right!

When we reach the open sea, kill him!

This skill of bewitching people’s hearts is too powerful. I am not influenced by it, but the crew may lose their judgment and do something inappropriate, which might well mess up my grand plans.

His crew could only obey his orders.

…

Afternoon.

The crew members returned one by one.

The eighteen-year-old Vito, with his glib tongue, had become the most popular person on the ship.

Everyone liked him, including the parrot Wendy. Throughout the afternoon, while all the crew were preoccupied with unloading cargo and organizing supplies, Vito did nothing and yet nobody complained.

Moreover, Vito gathered a lot of information from everyone, including the fact that their captain had made a deal with the Sea Demon. He even made a special point of finding Duge to verify the truth of the incident.

Of course.

It was more about probing Duge’s true identity.

After all, a person whose words and actions are too contradictory might also be an exam candidate in a simulation.

Now that Duge was no longer affected by his skill, his responses were water-tight.

Vito went back and forth a few times, and finally confirmed that Paul was indeed a native of this world.

And a lucky one at that.

So, his expression became even more joyous.

Duge watched his performance with a cold eye, further cementing his determination to take him out. If he let him continue with his antics, the ship would no longer be his.

On this ship, only he was allowed to slack off.

Towards evening.

The soaring Giant Bird, no, the Smile Angel, left Madock Port.

Generally, pirate ships do not spend the night in the harbor.

After all.

It’s Navy territory, and who knows what dangers might arise at night!

For their own safety, most pirate ships would prefer to drift at sea.

“Captain, you have eyes that can see through everything and wisdom to pierce through the mist. The Sea God Scepter will surely end up in your possession. So next, we are definitely heading to Herd Island, right?” In the captain’s cabin, Vito buttered up Duge thoroughly before putting forth his own suggestion.

“Vito, among so many on this ship, only you could see my peerless wisdom.” Duge laughed heartily, “You’re right, we are indeed heading to Herd Island next. Go and convey my orders!”

“Captain, all your decisions are the most astute.” Vito smiled and turned to leave the captain’s cabin.

But at the very moment he turned around.

A half-drawn scimitar suddenly protruded from his chest.

Vito stepped forward abruptly, trying to free himself from the scimitar that had pierced him, and at the same time, his mouth moved rapidly, “Captain, your magnanimity is like the vast ocean, your wisdom shines like the stars…”

“What’s your keyword?” Duge interrupted him, pressing a dagger against his throat.

“Flattery, man, I’m not dangerous, my keyword must attach to someone else. Let me live, and we can work together.” Inside the simulation, each examinee on the brink of death burst with a strong survival instinct. He spoke swiftly, “Bro, I know your plan, I’ve just awakened my second advanced skill, which will definitely be useful to you. I’m ranked 480, killing me won’t get you much experience…”

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