Chapter 3

Before Raymond returned to the Suez in the afternoon, he had already negotiated the price with the local vendors, and both parties agreed to conduct the transaction at 8:00 AM the following day. He assigned Lando the task of "becoming the captain" as a condition for the exchange, which was quite simple. On the day of the transaction, Lando only needed to go to the transaction site in place of Raymond and watch as the crew on deck packed and loaded the grapes onto the ship.

... ...

I can only cook fish the young man with black hair said expressionlessly

Oh, it's nothing," the young man with black hair said expressionlessly, in a tone a thousand times more contemptuous than that of a man, "Happiness has come too suddenly, and I am a bit at a loss. You wouldn't mind if I don't kneel down to express my gratitude, would you?

At this point, the young man with black hair slammed the table, leaped to his feet, and proudly declared: "Those who are worthless will eventually face their fate; I quit! If you want the 'Siz' ship, take it! I will go find the 'Leviathan' ship—oh, by the way, I wish you all the best in your voyages, capsizing every time you set sail, capsizing again and again, flipping all the way from the Atlantic back to the Babylonian Sea, until you are left with not a single hair. Don't come crying to me, begging me not to leave."

Randall : `` ... ... ''

Old Quartermaster: "Ah"

The chest of the young man with black hair heaved violently, with his pectoral muscles swelling from A-- to B++

Virtue

Randall cast a wary glance at the man in front of him and asked, "What are you doing? With the book?"

For the centennial foundation of Barcelona! Lando bit down on his molars and shook his head

Lando: "Originally, I intended to have a heart-to-heart conversation with him"

Not only Raymond, but even Lando's first reaction this time was "Why is it so simple?" He opened his mouth, intending to say something, but reason instinctively made him frown, close his mouth, and turn his head to look at the man who had placed the already signed transaction scroll in front of him with a distrustful gaze that seemed to say, "What are you up to this time?"

Thus, he turned around

Old Quartermaster: "Ah"

It is astonishing that Lando actually overlooked how eerie the smile at the corner of the devilish deputy's lips hanging before him truly was

Lando: "How can there be such people in the world—no sighing allowed!"

All the old sailors were as jubilant as if what they were about to welcome tomorrow was not several tons of grapes, but several tons of gold

Raymond: "Those who are wicked will eventually face their own consequences, right?"

This scene is too beautiful

What is the matter with cooking so poorly? Is it that one is being pretentious and blaming the heavens for not endowing them with enough excellent genes during creation?

Lando propped his chin up with one hand, striving to be patient. During this time, he had previously shifted his buttocks on the chair in impatience, barely managing to listen as Raymond slowly explained the task that was to be assigned to him this time.

Lando: "The other party has no intention to negotiate, what does it have to do with me?"

It was a deep sound, akin to the heavy bass produced by orchestral instruments, resonating in his ears

The parties, having obtained a brief opportunity for peace negotiations, sat down in the crew lounge

Raymond: "Every time we go out to sea, we capsize, right?"

This is a task so simple that it can be easily accomplished by anyone with an average human intelligence

It is surprising that he claims that the other person has no redeeming qualities at all

July is the harvest season for white grape Riesling in the Balearic Islands

He actually said that he cannot learn anything!

Randall : `` ... ... ''

At this time of year, a large number of merchant ships gather in the Balearic Islands to dock and purchase this particularly suitable grape variety for producing white wine. Merchants use these grapes to make wine, which is then transported to relatively distant regions, entering the market under the guise of high-quality wine packaging, thereby seeking to reap substantial profits

Without the Schiz, how do you plan to find the Leviathan

A moment later

"What is he waiting for? I've already been cooking for him like a mother, is my sincerity not enough?" The young man with black hair glared, "What more do you want from me?"

After a long while, the young man with black hair no longer heard any response from the man whose entire body was pressing down on him. Instead, the overwhelming presence that had nearly made him forget how to breathe suddenly withdrew. He cautiously opened one eye, only to see the man, now standing upright, looking at him expressionlessly. After a few seconds, the man's thin lips parted slightly as he said淡淡道: "Do you want to be the captain? Fine, I will give you one chance."

Mei Dao Lando could hardly control her hands as she eagerly grabbed the transaction scroll and held it tightly in her grasp

... ...

However, no matter how vigilant Lando was, he could not withstand a group of sailors urging him from behind to "hurry up"—among them, the old quartermaster, who had just been earnestly discussing how beautiful the weather was, had the loudest voice and the most persuasive words. He said: "Why not accept it? How can you not accept it? Hurry up and accept it, young master—what kind of task is this?—First Officer Raymond is simply trying to find a reason to win your approval while conveniently handing over the Sizz to you!"

The man approached step by step, while the young man with black hair decisively retreated step by step. When the man lowered his head, the young man closed his eyes, prepared to face death. After waiting for a while, he realized that the man's fist did not land on his face as the normal script would dictate. Instead, he could only feel the man's somewhat scorching breath being sprayed all over his face.

The docking of the S.S. Ciz at the Balearic Islands this time was not only due to the fleet's need for resupply after unloading in Vatican City, but also because Raymond received a supply request from a land merchant in Portugal— they needed to bring back three tons of grapes, which had been ordered, to the Seville dock on their return journey

Unluckily, his conjecture was confirmed—gradually, the temporary captain of the fleet, a former legitimate first mate, and a despicable individual who had successfully usurped power after enduring hardships, was quietly standing at the door watching him. The newcomer was backlit, and the sunlight seemed to envelop his tall and sturdy figure in a faint glow. Lando's dark pupils slightly constricted, and when their gazes collided fiercely in the air, the latter curled his lips into a smile that, to Lando, bore no difference from a sinister grin.

Randall : `` ... ... ''

At least, this is what Raymond said.

Old Quartermaster: "Ah—oh? Young Master, your bite mark is still flaunting itself on First Officer Raymond's neck... Oh, don't glare at me, it's not like I made you bite him. If you ask me, you should have a good talk with First Officer Raymond. I see that Lord Raymond has been loyal to our fleet for so many years; he is not a heartless and ungrateful person... Perhaps he is also waiting for you to shake hands and make peace with him?"

Raymond: "Ah..."

Go swimming?

Randall : `` ... ... ''

"It's nothing," the man said with a smirk. "I thought you would be weeping and clinging to my leg in gratitude, but instead, nothing happened. I must say—what a disappointment."

Old Quartermaster: "Ah"

In an instant, Lando felt as if he had come to understand something.

Randall, while speaking, made a gesture as if to stride away. After waiting for a while, he realized that no one had rushed to grab his sleeve. The young man with black hair turned around and found that the crew members who had just surrounded him, engaging in a heated discussion on the topic of "how to win over First Officer Raymond," had now returned to their tables. Some were playing with their fingers, others were staring at the ceiling, and the most talkative old quartermaster was discussing the pleasant weather with an old cook, remarking on the clear skies and the beautiful clouds.

Raymond: "In the end, there will be nothing left, and you will be crying and begging me to stay, right?"

Everyone in Babylon knows that First Officer Raymond detests and loathes eating fish. Your so-called 'sincere gesture' is nothing more than a banquet full of fish for him. It would be hard for him not to throw it all out, wouldn't it? The old quartermaster, frustrated by the angry young man with black hair, cast him a disdainful glance and said, 'In my opinion, it's a miracle that you weren't thrown into the sea yourself.'

The first officer Raymond said, "The old quartermaster cleared his throat, lowered his voice, and imitated that man's tone, saying, 'I do not raise a pet that has no redeeming qualities, is utterly incompetent in cooking, and is a complete failure in every aspect.'"

Behind, a dark shadow stepped forward, firmly blocking the sunlight that streamed in from the doorway

Randall: "Who would have thought that the despicable little man not only took my kindness for granted, but also laid his hands on me..."