Rescue

Translator: Cinder Translations

...

Let's rewind the scene to daytime...

The former owner of Flying Dragon Pavilion, Lady Xela Setia, and the waitress Lisa had temporarily lodged at an inn near the dock.

According to the plan discussed with her daughter, they would all sail aboard the Southern Star to the Northwest Bay after its departure.

However, since the Southern Star needed to stay in Niceport for a few more days, Xela Setia treated these days as a vacation for herself, preparing to rest well.

After her daughter left, Xela Setia settled their luggage at the inn and led Lisa to where the Southern Star was anchored.

Captain Quik originally intended to go to a nearby tavern with the First Mate for a couple of drinks, but as soon as he descended the gangplank, he saw Xela Setia returning.

"Hello, Lady Setia."

"Hello, Captain Quik."

Xela Setia gracefully nodded to him and then made a request that put Quik in a bit of a dilemma: "May I visit the Southern Star?"

"Well..."

Quik was indeed in a dilemma. In his eyes, Xela Setia, whom he had only recently met, was not quite considered one of their own, despite being Mr. Dilac's mother.

However, after thinking it over for a while, he agreed. After all, she would be boarding the ship in a few days, so it was good for her to familiarize herself with the environment in advance.

"Please follow me, madam."

Upon boarding the Southern Star, Xela Setia immediately showed great interest, looking here and there.

This greatly piqued Quik's curiosity. Why would a lady of the house be interested in maritime matters?

Seemingly sensing his curiosity, Xela Setia smiled and said, "To be honest, when I was young, I worked as a sailor and spent quite a bit of time at sea!"

Quik's eyes widened in disbelief. "Eh! So women are allowed to work on ships in Angle Bay?"

He immediately felt his words might have been impolite.

"Oh, sorry. What I meant to say is, in the minds of many, women aren't suited to being on ships... at least not in our Northwest Bay."

Including myself, Quik thought.

Xela Setia smiled knowingly, "It's the same in Angle Bay. Alas, it's not easy being a woman anywhere. The reason I could work on a ship was also because of my husband."

Upon hearing this, Quik suddenly had a question: Why hadn't he seen Mr. Dilac's father? Had he passed away? But his mother still seemed quite young; his father couldn't have been too old.

Perhaps there was a reason not suitable for outsiders to know, Quik didn't want to touch on sensitive topics, so he kept his questions to himself.

Xela Setia suddenly became interested in the cannons on the ship's gunwale.

"What are these? Cast in so much bronze, they must be something significant?"

"Uh... uh... These are flamethrowers, used to deal with pirates!"

Quik used the same explanation he used on port officials to bluff her.

Lady Xela Setia lightly covered her lips, her eyes narrowing.

"Hmm! There must be some secrets that shouldn't be known to outsiders! Oh well, if you won't say, you won't say."

Continuing their exploration into the cabin where "her son" slept, Xela Setia bid farewell to Quik after their visit. She led Lisa back ashore to tour the city of Niceport.

As the capital of the Angle Bay Alliance, this city naturally covered a vast area. Despite spending the entire morning and afternoon exploring, they only managed to cover two districts.

Compared to their previous stay in Messiah, Niceport exuded a grander atmosphere, being the administrative center of the largest nation in Angle Bay.

However, the frequent patrols of city guards on the main streets somewhat spoiled the mood. These soldiers not only scanned the streets vigilantly but also randomly stopped and interrogated passersby in detail.

Xela Setia understood the reason behind this; the Duchess Eton's sister had been kidnapped.

As evening approached, the two returned to their inn. They had originally planned to wait for Ladia to return so they could eat together, but waiting proved futile. They ended up having their meal first.

As night fell, Xela Setia started to worry about her daughter. Ladia wouldn't stay out so late helping a friend, right? Even if she had some special means, with so many subordinates at her disposal, what significant role could a young girl like her possibly play?

Approaching ten o'clock at night, Xela Setia could no longer contain herself. She decided to go to the embassy personally to search for her daughter.

Just as she was putting on her coat to leave, the parrot raised by her daughter suddenly spoke in human words.

"Danger! Danger!"

The parrot suddenly cried out, becoming visibly agitated.

Xela Setia was alarmed. "Polly, what did you say?"

"Ladia is in danger!"

Xela Setia's heart clenched. She knew there was a special connection between her daughter and the parrot, akin to a psychic bond. When Ladia left it behind at home, it was to keep track of their situation, although its insights from the Northwest Bay were undoubtedly vague and imprecise.

"Can you tell me what happened?"

This time, the parrot couldn't provide an answer. It suddenly spread its wings and flew up, circling the room twice before landing on the window sill, vigorously pecking at the glass with its beak.

"To the north! To the north! In the forest! Mistress Ladia! Danger!"

Xela Setia forced herself to remain calm and quickly changed into a practical attire that was quite different from her usual homemaker's demeanor. At that moment, Lisa, who had gone out to fetch water, came in. Upon seeing her appearance, Lisa was taken aback; she had never seen the innkeeper dressed like this.

Well... she looked just like one of those adventurers.

"Lisa, stay indoors and don't go anywhere. I have urgent business to attend to."

"Yes! Please... please be careful."

"Polly, let's go!"

Xela Setia hurried out of the room, and the parrot swiftly flew up to join her.

"A situation that even Xela Setia can't handle... What kind of predicament is this? Moreover, there's probably her senior sister accompanying her, who's no ordinary person either."

"I must find some help!"

As Xela Setia walked, she made up her mind and turned towards the dock.

She quickly arrived beside the Southern Star and called out loudly to the ship.

Despite the lateness of the hour, sailors were still on duty on the Southern Star's deck. They heard the call from the shore and recognized its owner.

"It's Lady Xela Setia. Something must have happened. Lower the gangplank; I'll go wake Captain Quik."

A few minutes later, Quik, disheveled and sleepy-eyed, arrived on deck to meet Xela Setia.

"Lady Xela Setia, what's happened?"

Xela Setia, breathless from her rushed journey, gasped, "My daughter... my daughter is in danger!"

"Please... please help me save her."

Quik was bewildered. Her daughter? Wasn't she Mr. Dilac's mother?

"Um... I'm sorry, perhaps I misheard. Your daughter?"

(End of the Chapter)