The Wizarding World's Forbidden Book Administrator

Chapter 230 The Direction of the Mist

Chapter 230 The Direction of the Mist

The ship has been at sea for half a month.

They should be able to reach the Weeping Gorge soon.

This was just a light two-masted sailboat with a low mast and small sails, so it wasn't very fast.

However, Aaron had very limited funds, and the fact that he was able to rent this boat to serve him was the result of his persistent persuasion.

He didn't mind misappropriating the Block Alliance's public funds, but the Alliance's money had just been almost entirely spent by him not long ago.

For the past few months, Aaron has been inquiring about talented people in various places.

As for their own, it's simply to expand the alliance's ranks.

He has compiled a list and selected some people who might be willing to join the alliance.

That money was used to establish contact with these guys and invite them to Draco Carson's interview.

After all, these people are located all over the country, and if we don't reimburse their travel expenses, they probably won't be willing to make the long journey.

In addition, the alliance's commissions seem to have decreased recently. After all, it has been operating on a small scale, and the demand in the lower-tier market will soon be exhausted.

It is estimated that the league will not see any improvement until Kendrick completes his mission.

With more money going out than coming in, the alliance's coffers are currently extremely empty.

If Aaron had more money at the moment, he could definitely save at least ten days.

However, Captain Hao Sui is quite experienced. Judging from his skill in commanding the ship, he probably made a living on deck since he was a child.

Besides Cathy and Natalie, Aaron brought one more person on board.

This man's name is François Lemaître, and he is a chef.

François was a chubby young man who described the couple who owned the inn on the street as his benefactors.

Ten years ago, when he was desperate, they took him in, taught him cooking, and let him work as a cook at a hotel.

François was always diligent and had no other desires.

Life may be ordinary, but it is quite fulfilling.

But a few weeks ago, a man learned that there were only three of them in the hotel, and he had a wicked idea.

He ambushed and killed the couple who owned the house, but spared François's life, apparently because he needed a cook to do his work.

François was timid by nature, and for a moment fear outweighed hatred.

He succumbed to the other party's tyranny and helped them poison the travelers who stayed at the hotel with food.

François didn't want to harm anyone, but he was equally afraid of dying.

After hearing François's story, Kessie said that he shouldn't have harmed other people's lives for his own survival.

Harriet said that while she could understand, she did not approve of François's choice.

Aaron naturally refrained from commenting; he was used to listening unless the other party asked him directly.

But François did not ask.

After François finished telling his story, he asked Aaron to take him along.

He said he had nowhere to go, and he overheard Aaron's conversation with the man in the kitchen. He thought the man was reasonable, so he wanted to follow Aaron.

Aaron asked him why he didn't continue working at the hotel.

He said the boss was dead and he could no longer live there.

Aaron told him that the hotel was still there.

François shook his head, saying he was afraid to talk to strangers and that he had used all his courage to plead with Aaron, as he could not run the hotel alone.

But this reason didn't convince Aaron, who rejected him on the spot.

However, Kathy pleaded for François, hoping that Aaron could take him along.

Kathy said he would hire François as his private chef.

Therefore, he hoped that Aaron would treat François as a retainer of Kethy and keep him by his side.

Aaron naturally wouldn't indulge Cathy, saying that he clearly had nothing now.

Kathy said she would definitely pay it back in the future.

This is just like his mother; Natalie always says she has to pay off her debts.

Henry, that blockhead, has caused Aaron a lot of trouble throughout his life.

His son also seemed to be causing Aaron just as much trouble.

Now that Henry is dead, Cathy has become Aaron's only memory of Henry.

Therefore, Aaron could not simply refuse Cathy's request.

Aaron eventually agreed.

If Kathy intends to spread benevolence and win people's hearts, Aaron would support her.

As for whether Cathy actually thought that way, Aaron didn't intend to ask.

In short, Kathy has gained another person who is willing to call him an adult.

Of course, François was indeed extremely weak, but his character was not bad, which was the fundamental reason why Aaron was willing to admit it.

Although François has a strong dependence on others, he knows how to be tactful and will not trouble others excessively.

Despite his obesity, he didn't hold Aaron's team back along the way.

She even offered to carry Aaron's bag, which Aaron was very pleased with, showing that she had some sense of propriety.

For the next two weeks, François got along quite well with Cathy and Harriet.

At this moment, Casey is telling Harriet about his time on the Two Gold Coins.

Cathy had told this story many times before, but this time, her feelings about it must be very different.

As Harriet listened, she intertwined her fingers with Cathy's.

It seems she wanted to tell Cathy that she was right beside him.

Aaron and François sat opposite them, listening.

"But I never called him father until the very end—" Casey looked at the floor with self-reproach, "If I hadn't sent him to save Natalie, he might not have died—it was my fault."

"Don't say that, Cathy. You just want to save your mother. How could a son be wrong to want to save his mother!"

Harriet, with tears in her eyes, hugged Cathy tightly.

Kathy slowly placed her hands on Harriet's back.

Watching the two embrace, François swallowed hard, then turned to Aaron with longing eyes.

Aaron also warned François: "Get out."

François immediately turned his head away and whistled.

Just then, Aaron felt a drop of water fall on him.

It's raining?

Captain Rivers approached: "Mr. Mosley, take these people to the cabin to take shelter from the rain. The rain clouds ahead are huge, and it probably won't stop anytime soon."

Aaron nodded and led the three of them down from the cabin.

Time on the ship was always long, and there were no books for Aaron to pass the time.

Kathy loves to share stories, and Aaron can tell that he enjoys being watched.

His story, however, was a rare pastime during this journey.

But he just mentioned being sad, so he probably won't be in the mood to tell any other stories for the time being.

The candlelight in the cabin was weak and flickering, and the floor was unusually damp from the rain, creating a very oppressive atmosphere.

Aaron said to François, "Tell me your own story."

.

"I?"

François turned his hand and pointed to his chin.

"Um."

"My life is boring, and I've already told you half of it."

"What about the first half?"

"My parents passed away one after the other while raising me until I was fifteen, and then I was taken in by adoptive parents. You all know the rest of the story."

After hearing this, Aaron couldn't help but complain:

"You're quite the storyteller."

"Huh?!" François looked flattered. "Really, Mr. Mosley, are you praising me?"

"Well—it's ironic."

François's face darkened, and he lowered his head in shame.

Aaron sighed, blaming himself for having too high expectations of the kid.

So I asked, "But from what you're saying, it seems you've never thought about what you want to do?"

"Hmm—" François nodded. "I've thought about it, but I haven't come up with a solution."

After listening, Aaron seemed to have found a direction for the conversation:

"So, what do you want to do most right now?"

"Huh? I didn't want to do it."

"Try to think about it: if you hadn't met us right now, what would you be doing?"

François pondered for a long time before answering:

"I don't know, I don't have any skills other than cooking a few dishes—"

Aaron nodded: "So, you'll continue being a chef?"

"Hmm—maybe," François's gaze drifted into the distance.

"So, what kind of chef do you want to be? For example, what level do you need to reach, or what dishes do you want to learn?"

François thought for a long time before answering:

"I have no ambition for these things, and I don't know what level is considered high."

"However, my adoptive father told me that the Far East has a complex and rigorous culinary system, as well as the world's most diverse range of dishes."

"There is no better place for a chef to hone their skills."

"So, you might go to the Far East to further your culinary skills?"

François pondered for a long time: "If given the chance, I think this would be a good choice, but these are all hypotheticals. I already have an owner, and I cannot leave because of personal pursuits."

Kathy said, "It's okay."

"Huh?" François was taken aback.

"Don't worry about me. Besides, I also want you to improve your skills," Cathy said. "I'm the lord of a large territory, and I don't want my personal chef to be a mediocre cook."

Hearing this, Aaron smiled with relief.

It seems that Casey has grown during this time.

He was able to see more issues from the perspective of the "Duke of the Plateau" and say things that were appropriate for his status.

And no longer just a little boy named Cathy.

François gave Kessie a grateful look: "Thank you, sir, you are very generous."

Kathy has learned how to hand out candy, but it's unclear whether he can hold the whip firmly.

Aaron thought that, given Cathy's personality, it was probably unlikely.

Regarding this, Cathy probably has no choice but to rely on Harriet.

Suddenly, Rivers entered the cabin and said to Aaron:

"I'm sorry, sir, this ship may arrive at the Weeping Fjord later than expected."

Aaron frowned: "Why?"

Rivers said, "It's winter, and then it suddenly starts raining. Do you know what that means?"

Aaron shook his head.

Just then, François suddenly interjected:

"I know!"

Everyone turned their gaze toward François.

François touched the bridge of his nose, coughed twice, and then said solemnly:

Potatoes spoil easily on rainy days after winter begins!

Aaron, Kathy, Harriet, Rivers:

Everyone simultaneously looked away from François, as if he had never existed in the first place.

Aaron said, "Mr. Rivers, just say it."

"It's fog!" Rivers said. "Fog is extremely common in this kind of weather, and now there's a thick fog over the surrounding waters. This ship has completely lost its way."

Aaron frowned. "Where's the compass? Surely your ship has one?"

"Lightning is striking everywhere in the sky, interfering with the compass's operation. The needle is swinging erratically, making it impossible to determine direction."

Rivers sighed.

"So we probably won't be able to sail toward our target area until the rain stops."

Upon hearing this, Aaron immediately got up and walked towards the deck.

At this moment, a large layer of water had accumulated on the deck, and the icy rainwater was rushing into the cabin.

Just as Rivers had predicted, the ship was shrouded in a thick rain and fog.

Lightning flashed and thunder roared all around, as if the end of the world had arrived.

In such circumstances, getting lost is quite normal.

Aaron asked Rivers, "How long will this take?"

"I don't know," Rivers shook his head. "It could take a day, or ten days. I was once trapped in a storm for half a month."

Ten days to half a month.

Aaron couldn't just watch his life slip away in vain; he wasn't even willing to wait half a day.

He nodded to Rivers and then walked to the stern.

Standing at the stern, I peered towards the bow.

Only the helmsman was at the helm on the bridge, and only a few sailors remained on the deck to control the sails.

At that moment, no one noticed Aaron.

Aaron faced the back of the ship and then gathered a ball of black power in his hand.

This is a curse.

He quickly completed the construction of the curse.

The curse materialized as a dark shadow, clinging to the deck of the ship.

Then, heading towards the left side of the ship, they climbed onto the surface of the sea, hugging the hull.

Then continue moving quickly forward in that direction.

Aaron knew that the direction was east.

Because the target of this curse was Kendrick.

Kendrick is on a mission in the Principality of Saints, which is located to the east of this area.

Although he felt a little bad for Kendrick, he only had diarrhea for one night, but it could save Aaron a few days of his life. Aaron could make it up to Kendrick later.

Aaron walked toward Rivers, who had remained on deck to give orders, and pointed to the starboard side, saying:

"Sir, this is the west."

Rivers chuckled dismissively. "Don't be ridiculous, Mr. Mosley. In this weather, nobody can tell which way is which."

Aaron didn't explain, he just repeated it:

"That's the west."

Rivers sighed, seemingly noticing how serious Aaron's attitude was.

"Who told you to be my employer—right helmsman."

"Full speed to right—"

A day later, Harriet stood on the deck and happily said to Aaron:

"Mr. Mosley, the sun is shining!"

Aaron nodded slightly, a smile on his face.

Just then, Rivers found Aaron.

His eyes widened, his face filled with disbelief:

"Sir, this is indeed the West! It's incredible, you're absolutely right! But judging from your tone at the time, you were definitely not just guessing."

"You don't know, sir, I have been sailing at sea for over forty years. Although I haven't achieved anything significant, I consider myself a fairly experienced captain."

"But even I am helpless against this kind of weather, yet you easily determined the right direction in the storm."

"Sir, please tell me, how did you do it? How did you overcome this problem that has stumped countless sea people?"

"My God, sir, who are you? Please tell me!"

Aaron simply smiled at Rivers' pleading expression.

But he smiled without saying a word.