Pillar of Yita

The Seven Seas Traveler, under military guidance, slowly docked at the pier. Fang Hong saw his uncle and aunt waiting on the pier as soon as he disembarked. Tang Xin went forward and called ”Mom and Dad.” Zhang Rou held her daughter’s hand, pulling her close and scrutinizing her suspiciously: ”You didn’t cause trouble for your brother, did you?”

Tang Xin rolled her eyes, wondering who’s the biological child between her and that fool cousin? Ai Xiaoxiao timidly stood behind Tang Xin, obediently greeting ”Hello, Uncle and Auntie.” Zhang Rou recognized her daughter’s desk mate and friend, smilingly nodding at her while pulling her husband alongside.

Tianlan, Gita, and Luo Yu also stepped forward to greet them. Most of the Seven Seas Travel Group had met these two before, but the ’little ones’ had their own circle and couldn’t mingle with the adults. Only Atira and Zhang Rou chatted for a while, mainly about Fang Hong.

Tang Sheng nodded at the Big Catfolk in acknowledgment; after all, there were many differences between the two worlds, not being Invokers nor having shared topics. After a while, Hilveld descended from the ship with Xiesta and Bakins, elegantly greeting Zhang Rou with her hands folded over her skirt.

Seeing the future ’daughter-in-law,’ Zhang Rou’s eyes turned into crescents with joy; her stern demeanor melted away. She thought her Little Hong truly had good fortune with such a poised and beautiful bride.

Holding her daughter’s hand with one hand, she pulled Hilveld closer with the other, warmly asking: ”Hilveld, have you been well recently? Has Little Hong been bothering you?”

Hilveld found it amusing, covering her mouth lightly and shaking her head. Tang Xin rolled her eyes beside them, feeling she must be adopted, with Lady Zhang Rou clearly being her stepmother.

”Don’t worry, if Little Hong dares to bully you, I’ll give him a good beating.”

Lady Zhang Rou was true to her word; Tang Xin shared this trait with her, promptly resorting to action rather than verbal admonishment.

Miss Ship’s Officer shook her head, not disliking this chat style, rather finding it quite interesting—Eteliria’s upper society wasn’t like this. Nobles spoke with sweet poison, always maintaining pretenses no matter the actual sentiments behind the scenes. This straightforwardness felt more genuine.

”Come on,” Tang Xin said irritably: ”My comedic cousin bullying people? He’d be doing good not to embarrass himself.”

”If you can’t speak nicely, be quiet, Tangtang. He’s your brother.”

”Precisely because he’s my brother; I wouldn’t bother with anyone else.”

Watching Zhang Rou’s eyebrows raise, Tang Xin pursed her lips, wisely choosing to shut up.

Unawares, Fang Hong had just finished his duties onboard, climbed down the ladder, and curiously glanced at Hilveld beside his aunt, promptly calling, ”Uncle, Auntie.”

”Little Hong, come over and let me see you.”

”Huh?” Fang Hong was unwilling. Lady Zhang Rou seemed to treat him not as a nephew but as a family pet, always wanting to pinch and stroke his face. It was tolerable during childhood, but now such acts would be too embarrassing.

Last time on the sickbed, no outsiders saw it, but this time he couldn’t let her succeed.

”What’s with ’huh,’ come over.”

Not wanting to be subdued, Fang Hong, as Captain, had to maintain his dignity. However, before Lady Zhang Rou could raise a second finger, Fang Hong reflexively replied, ”Okay—”

On the deck were Luo Hao, Xiangzi, and Parker, plus half a person—still a minor, in child labor condition—Pasha. The three watched their Lord Captain suffer under the clutches from afar. Only Luo Hao was rolling barrels, stacking them at a corner of the deck. After stacking the last one, he turned back to the three standing on the deck and asked, ”Aren’t you going down?”

Xiangzi shook his head.

”What’s the point of going down,” Parker scoffed, ”flattery, no more than the Captain’s uncle and aunt. Look at these people; true Papalarians disdain such things.”

”I think it has nothing to do with that. It’s just human nature. You’re really not going down? They won’t start onboard after this.”

”Well, as a true Papalarian—”

”No, you’re not truly Papalarian either.”

”That’s not important. It’s the Papalarian racial gift.”

”I’ve never heard of such a gift,” Luo Hao shook his head, ”but fine. By the way, those things you hid under the bed were confiscated by Miss Atira earlier. Ade asked me to let you know.”

”What?”

Luo Hao didn’t bother with the Papalarian petrified into a statue, turning to Pasha instead: ”Pasha, aren’t you going down?”

Pasha hesitantly shook his head: ”I’ll stay on the ship to watch it.”

Luo Hao nodded: ”Alright, then you’ll come down with me later.”

”Lu-Luo Hao sir, I meant...”

”It’s not crucial. I’m the Second Officer now; you have to listen to me.”

Pasha lowered his head, filled with curiosity about the outside world. Yet he had never left Istania, the ship being the only place he felt safe. ”Luo Hao sir, th-thank you, but the ship...”

”Let Xiangzi stay and watch the ship,” Luo Hao replied, ”anyway, he’s utterly uninteresting.”