"Captain."
Danitz stood ramrod straight, puffing out his chest like a peacock displaying for a mate: "I've met that rude, impolite fellow, just as you instructed."
'Iceberg Admiral' Edwina nodded slightly.
At this moment, a voice interjected: "Good morning, madam."
Using 'Dream Infiltration,' Lex successfully entered Danitz's dream.
However, with Lex now added to the room, which already held two people, it suddenly felt cramped.
"Good morning."
Edwina responded calmly, then looked at Danitz: "Could you please wait outside?"
"Of course." Danitz said, worriedly, "Captain, don't you need me to stay?"
Edwina shook her head gently.
Danitz glared fiercely at Lex, giving him a 'warning' look.
Lex remained unmoved. After Danitz opened the door and walked out, he spoke first: "The Blood Admiral intends to hunt you."
Edwina's face showed no ripple, and she nodded very slightly: "That's not surprising."
She wasn't surprised?
Did she already know the Blood Admiral's intention, that he would hunt the Golden Dream in Bayam?
No.
Edwina's tone sounded more like she had prior encounters and conflicts with the Blood Admiral, but likely didn't know he planned to hunt in Bayam.
She thought I had only heard news of their past conflicts.
Lex quickly organized his thoughts and said: "Madam, not long ago, I hunted the 'Blood Shark' in Damir Port. In the Captain's Cabin of that pirate ship, I saw a Sea chart and found several telegrams."
"Those items indicate that the Blood Admiral will launch an operation against you in Bayam tomorrow or the day after. He has already gathered his captains, and I believe Senor's forces are now lurking in the waters near Bayam."
"If you are in Bayam, or about to arrive in Bayam, you will fall into a trap, into a snare."
Edwina first showed a thoughtful expression, then a look of sudden realization, as if she had grasped the key to certain matters. She was not anxious, not flustered, and still looked at Lex with composure.
"Why are you telling me this?"
Lex smiled slightly and said frankly: "I want to join the 'Golden Dream.' While traveling on the Sea, I've heard of you. I know that although you are considered pirates, you are actually more like Adventurers."
"You pursue Treasure Troves, and I am equally fascinated by legends like the 'Ghost Empire,' 'Solomon's Legacy,' and the 'Sunken Laurel.' I feel we have many things in common. Additionally, although I publicly claim to be a Hunter, in fact, I've just ended my pirate career."
"Although I did well on a pirate ship, I don't like simple plunder; I yearn more for exploration and adventure."
"Finally..."
"I am your admirer."
The room door was not tightly closed, and Lex's voice had not been lowered. Therefore, Danitz in the corridor outside the door clearly heard every word he said, including that phrase 'admirer.'
This made the Boatswain almost rush in.
I knew it!
I knew this scoundrel was also after the Captain, otherwise, why would he be so persistent about meeting her?
No, there's already one Jodeson, a Young Master, on the ship. If another one comes...
Danitz secretly vowed to find a way to prevent that guy from boarding the Golden Dream.
After Edwina listened quietly, she said, somewhat inexplicably: "You received an education?"
Lex was stunned for a moment and hadn't responded when he heard the Iceberg Admiral continue: "One can tell that from your speech."
Well, if compared to a certain Boatswain's speech, which is full of 'shit,' it's indeed easy to judge that I received an education.
Lex glanced at the door. Through the crack, he saw a certain uneasy fellow outside.
He chuckled inwardly.
That 'admirer' line probably made Mr. 3000 Pounds anxious, but it wasn't my true feeling. It was just to add some excuses and reasons for boarding the 'Golden Dream.'
"You are very honest."
Edwina continued, "After receiving Danitz's report last night, I conducted some investigations, investigations about you. I found that you suddenly appeared in the middle of this month, and because you hunted the 'Blood Shark,' you became a member of the Blood Admiral's bounty list. Not long after, you hunted another group of Senor's men, raising your bounty from two thousand to three thousand."
"But before the hunt in Damir Port, there was no such person as you on the Sea. You appeared too suddenly. If you just ended your pirate career, then I can understand."
"Can you tell me which pirate ship you were on before?"
That was close!
The Iceberg Admiral really did investigate me.
If the Blood Admiral's plan hadn't been moved up, I would have had over a month to cultivate various rumors about Hunter Rayleigh, enriching the character's experience and making him more fleshed out.
But now the plan was moved up, so Hunter Rayleigh's experience is only half a month long. This is too short, short enough to make people suspect that I'm boarding the 'Golden Dream' for other motives.
So I changed my plan accordingly. An Adventurer and Hunter who just ended his pirate career perfectly explains the issue.
"Wavebreaker."
Lex clenched his fist and coughed dryly: "I used to be a pirate on the Wavebreaker."
In any case, Ken had said that if necessary, selling him out was fine.
So, Lex had no psychological burden in saying 'Wavebreaker.'
A hint of surprise flashed in Edwina's clear eyes: "Wavebreaker, Iron-Blooded Commodore? You were a pirate on the ship of that Iron-Blooded Commodore who has recently risen to fame?"
This time, it was Lex who felt surprised.
Even Edwina had heard of Ken, and of the title 'Iron-Blooded Commodore.' It seems the Captain has been doing well recently.
He nodded frankly: "That's right."
Edwina nodded almost imperceptibly: "I see."
"When we recruit new people, we always explain our principles and benefits."
"Our principles, since you've inquired about us and wish to join, I presume I don't need to explain further."
"As for benefits."
"We have no weekly salary, no annual pension. But as long as Treasure Troves are found, or wealth is plundered, it will be distributed according to rank."
As Edwina described the benefits, Lex felt a bit dazed, as if he had returned to the scene of job interviews in his previous life.
"For example, a Sailor can expect to receive two to three hundred pounds a year. In addition, depending on rank, we also have different numbers of days off each month. But they can only be accumulated and taken at different times."
Wait a minute.
Are you talking about annual leave?
Are you serious? Pirates have annual leave?
Lex was momentarily surprised, even, absurd...