Chapter 5

What arrogance! Get lost, explode! Three Jacks and a pair of 4s

At this moment, a young man with black hair was being scolded harshly by his teammates. Amidst the furious verbal onslaught from his teammates, he held a large handful of cards that he had barely managed to play. He stretched his neck to look at the already concluded game, staring blankly. After a long while, he touched his nose, dejectedly threw down the large handful of cards in his hand, and rummaged through his pockets, deciding to dump out the last few coins he had. While pouring them out, he muttered, "What are you all shouting about? Here, take these to buy a coffin, no need to thank me—oh, by the way, let me remind you, the ship's rules state: anyone caught gambling on board will have one month's salary deducted, be punished with two weeks of deck scrubbing, be placed on the blacklist, and will not be eligible for promotion for a year."

Xiao Jieluo revealed a rogue-like smile on his face and directly sat down in the spot vacated by Lando. As the young man with black hair left the card table and settled into a corner of the cabin, picking up his diary and worn feather pen to start writing furiously, the crowd nearby, now livelier with Xiao Jieluo's presence, began yet another new round of cards with much commotion.

Many sailors : `` ... ... ''

However, in the public waters east of Palma, the sea surface, dyed red by the setting sun, appeared far from tranquil—seagulls flapped their wings in alarm, and schools of fish leaped in a frenzy, scattering in the direction of the ocean current. All of this was merely due to a massive fleet, composed of dozens of ships, slowly making its way in from the sea. Above the leading large three-masted sailing ship, a flag representing the Spanish royal family fluttered in the sea breeze.

He is the "Little Jero" spoken of by many.

Engaging in activities that violate the regulations of the fleet

A pair of K!

At the very moment the gate was closed, the lowly sailors in the warehouse scattered with a cry, each rubbing their hands with glee, preparing to welcome the happiest time of the day

Lando speculated that the reason they seemed to hit it off at first glance was likely because neither of them paid much attention to their appearance. For instance, at that moment, the sailor named Xiao Jieluo was wearing the same colorful socks as Lando, but unlike Lando's gear, his socks had even more holes. He was dressed in rags, yet the necklace hanging around his neck was exceptionally exquisite. It featured a staff design entwined with two snakes. According to Xiao Jieluo himself, this was the staff of the god Mercury, who was his patron deity.

It is best to honestly admit when one has been a poor teammate; I have never seen such a peculiar attempt to whitewash one's intelligence by invoking the ship's rules. The sailor who is most gleeful in berating the young man with black hair wears a black eye patch; his name is Old Pad. Of course, the title "Old" Pad is merely his own wishful thinking, as he is actually the youngest assault captain on the ship Seize, approximately twenty-five years old, with a high nose and deep-set eyes that hint at some unknown ancestry. It is said that his highest record is single-handedly sinking a pirate ship with the help of eight subordinates.

And this large three-masted sailing ship is named the Suez

Pad raised an eyebrow upon hearing this: "I really don't feel like playing with you anymore! It's quite frustrating, and if this continues, I might not be able to keep my underwear intact tonight!"

Hey, Lando, when I told you to blow it up, did you really have to be so honest? What's wrong with you? Can't you play cards? I've already reported a pair, and you just keep blowing it up, what the hell? After blowing it up, you still play five cards, where am I supposed to steal three more cards to make five to counter you? Damn it, didn't you see that your next player is a farmer? Didn't you notice that the big and small jokers haven't been played yet? Are you some kind of clown sent by the farmer?

The sailors sincerely and perfectly answered the man's question with expressions on their faces that resembled those who had seen a ghost

In the year 1488, the Babylonian Sea, in the public waters east of Palma

It is somewhat renowned in the Babylonian Sea

Before Xiao Jieluo could finish speaking, he was hurriedly interrupted by Pade: "No matter how stupid I am, I would never set off a bomb when my teammate reports a double. After the explosion, I still have to deal five cards to myself. Who am I trying to infuriate with such low intelligence!"

They pulled out a homemade duty roster from the corner of the warehouse. When the designated "duty personnel" for that day stood alone in a peculiar posture, striking a "top heaven and earth" pose on the stairs with his ear pressed against the board door, the remaining burly men joyfully crowded together around a small, swaying kerosene lamp. A large group of people, undeterred by the heat, enjoyed each other's company in a harmonious atmosphere

Many sailors

Stop overthinking; who needs that broken thing of yours? Are you going to put it on your head to rob the first officer's rest cabin?

Rando shrugged, stood up from the ground, and as he looked up, his gaze inadvertently collided with that of Little Jero in the air— the two exchanged glances, and after a brief pause, they simultaneously raised their hands and clapped with a "pa" sound.

Raymond stood up, his piercing gaze sweeping across the faces of every sailor on the deck, and then he said calmly: "A question."

Meanwhile, on the deck, all the sailors who had not yet returned to the cabin were able to witness a splendid performance with their own eyes

At the moment the sun just disappeared below the horizon, they watched in astonishment as First Mate Raymond set aside his work and approached the entrance of the cargo hold. Under the curious gazes of the sailors, the man first crouched down beside the wooden planks, listening intently—though it was unclear what sounds he might have heard from within the hold. In any case, moments later, all the sailors on deck saw their first mate's lips suddenly curl into a chilling smile that sent shivers down their spines. The man first crouched down beside the wooden planks, listening intently—though it was unclear what sounds he might have heard from within the hold. In any case, moments later, all the sailors on deck saw their first mate's lips suddenly curl into a chilling smile that sent shivers down their spines.

A pair! Double report! There are 2 out of 2, no 2 means a bomb! If there is no bomb, I can continue playing!

"Oh, do you have any objections?" Lando shot a sidelong glance at Pad, "If you have any issues, go tell Raymond. Just say that I caused you to lose everything and that you are unwilling to play with me anymore"

Because he could not compete with the poor card skills of the young man with black hair, who was fully equipped with verbal skills, the blindfolded sailor simply shifted his target of attack—accompanied by his words, almost everyone's gaze unconsciously settled on the young man who was currently pressing his ear against the wooden door in a "defiant" posture—he appeared to be around twenty years old, quite handsome, with a pair of emerald green eyes and a head of brilliant, flamboyant golden hair. When he smiled, he had two deep dimples, but perhaps due to his lack of attention to the details of his appearance, he looked even more like a little rascal among the little rascals than Lando did.

Haha, blow you up! Big and small kings, blow up, bring ten cards of Tongtian Shun! Clear the cards, clear the cards, I have won, kneel at the feet of the farmer, you despicable slaves, bring the money, bring the money!

At this moment, amidst the accusatory gazes of everyone and the awkward chuckles of a certain young man with black hair, little Jero boldly placed his leg, clad in colorful socks with holes, on the stairs. With a puffed chest, he spat and said in a distinctly biased tone: "What nonsense are you all talking? As if you all became gambling gods the first time you held a card, clearly you are just a bunch of amateurs"

After a day of cargo counting and organizing under the sun, the sailors on deck are now busy preparing to change the sails in anticipation of the night. As darkness falls, the flag bearing the Spanish royal crest is slowly lowered. Beneath the feet of the sailors who are bustling back and forth on the deck, a heavy hatch door leading from the hold to the deck is also slammed shut with a loud "bang" from the inside.

... ...

This is the most renowned merchant convoy flagship in the Babylon Sea today

Unfortunately, what Lando despises the most in this life are those who, having a bit of strength, become arrogant and particularly conceited and boastful

Approximately fifteen minutes later

Raymond: "Have I been too amiable lately, to the point that a few filthy rats are daring to challenge my authority?"

A young lad who appeared to be of a similar age to Lando was the first and only friend he made after being cast into the cargo hold by the unscrupulous first mate, following his inheritance as the "heir of Captain Sizz" and joining the ranks of the lowly sailors.

Dusk is approaching, which is originally a good time for the people living on the Babylonian sea to conclude their day's work and prepare to enjoy a delightful and joyful nightlife

Come on, come on, come on, come on, he complains for half a day after losing a hand of cards. Are you even men? If you want to lose everything, isn't that easy? Tonight, I will make each of you willingly contribute your own underwear!

It is just that the person is a bit arrogant and full of themselves

Ah, damn it! I really hate the person who taught you how to play cards—hey, I'm talking about you, Xiao Jieluo!

With a resounding bang, there was a sound that shook the heavens and the earth, along with a colossal hole that left the world in awe

... ...

In mythology, the creature "Ziz" appears alongside the sea monster "Leviathan" and the land beast "Behemoth" in ancient texts, symbolizing a giant bird representing the sky and freedom

When the "filthy rats" in the cabin, believing themselves to be concealed, were loudly shouting "bang bang bang" and "blast your ancestors," the cabin door was kicked open from the outside.

"Oh, Old Pad, where do you get all this nonsense? I already said that Lando just learned how to play cards!" Little Jero impatiently glanced at the eyepatch-wearing sailor, thought for a moment, and simply retracted his long legs to leave the 'scout' position. He walked briskly to the back of the young man with black hair. When he bent down, his tall and slender figure completely overshadowed the young man sitting on the ground. Then he reached out and patted the latter's shoulder, asking, "Hey, Lando, do you still want to play cards with this bunch of rascals?"