n

n

n

nHamunaptra, the city of the dead.

nThose words stung in Old Crow's mind.

nHe wanted to know what army was hidden there that didn't fear the pirate organization.

nThis guy did say that Hamunaptra was an ancient city that no one knew of, meaning that it was very hidden.

nBottom line, only members would know where it was.

nJust thinking about it made him itchy.

nThis could be a great discovery that could boost the pirates of the Morgs altogether.

nAt the same time, it was also too risky.

nBut, before they ever took action, they needed to send in spies to study the place and scope out any info... If they ever found this city called Hamunaptra.

nOf course, with this guy still alive, they would do everything to make him talk.

nHeh. Once they reached the pirate organization, they would hand him over to the torturers there, who had one of the most brutal methods in this world.

nIt wasn't just hype when people said that Morgany was superior in assassination techniques, skills and tortures.

nOld Crow Face didn't believe that they wouldn't be able to make this guy talk.

nJust as planned, he decided that they would stay for a bit in the city for a few days before heading back to the ship.

nThey only stayed to search thoroughly, just in case the boy was still here, which he highly doubted.

nThese people from the eye of Horus should be rushing off to send him out of Pyno as soon as possible.

nAgain, he didn't know the exact coastal region they might choose to depart from.

nBut the closest one was the same one that they had docked their pirate sh.i.p.s on.

nSo there was a higher chance that it was the same one.

nOf course, he knew he could be wrong.

nBut wasn't it better to try than to regret?

nThis, he decided that he would talk to 2 of the lead crewmates who were still searching for this guy's comrades that disappeared earlier on.

nHe would talk to them about everything, and the 3 of them would make a decision.

nOf course, he would advise that they leave at most, after 3 days of thoroughly searching for the boy.

nAfter they left, they would hand over the matter to the council members, who would continue the search, even covering up more space, throughout the neighbouring towns, villages and cities.

nThe search would continue for as long as it needed to go.

nIn fact, it would continue until news of the boy resurfaces again... Even if it took years.

nFor Old Crow Face, he felt it important to quickly take this assassin to headquarters as fast as he could.

nOf course, along the way, he would try using force to make the guy talk.

nBut no matter how much he used force, he had to be careful not to be excessive.

nPeople were more prone to illness and death on the seas.

nThe fact that water, food, medical health, and so many things were taken in moderate quantities... meant that they didn't have enough to spare.

nEven if they saw other pirate crews out there, everyone was very protective of their food.

nAfter all, some sh.i.p.s had to dock and patrol the same spot for months.

nThey could only leave when their replacements came.

nSo food, beverages... Mainly spring water in barrels, were treated like gold.

nThere were also dangers like facing crazy sea creatures, natural disasters and other chaotic things out there.

nThere was a case where a whirlpool appeared out of nowhere, allowing 34 pirate sh.i.p.s all at once.

nThe seas were as deadly and dangerous as ever.

nThat said, if one got I'll while at sea, he

/she was more likely to die than if they were on land.

nSo if he used too much force, this guy might die before he even got to Morgany.

nWith everything sorted out in his head, Old Crow turned to face the other pirates.

n

n

n

"Search him!

"

nInstantly, a few others came forth and patted Josh's body for any blades or hidden weapons.

nThey took away his dagger before finally holding him like a sacrifice.

nOne person held his left leg, another his right leg, right arm and finally his left arm.

nThey opened him up, with each of his limbs being carried by another person.

nRelying on a single person to carry him during this bad slippery weather was a recipe for sister.

nNot to talk of the fact that it would slow them down.

nSo they carried him thus.

n

"Alright. Let's head back and reunite with the rest.

"

nWith that, the pirates left the forest.

nJosh closed his eyes to rest a bit.

nWell. Everything went according to plan, and the bit was still safe.

nHopefully, they don't get discovered.

n.

nMeanwhile, back within the cave at the side of the cliff, the little boy's fever had finally come down a bit.

nDuring the long run, when Josh carried him, he had forcefully opened his eyes several times to see the person who had taken him away.

nHis emotions changed from fear to relief.

nLooking around the cave, he realized that he was properly taken care of, meaning whoever took him meant no harm.

nHe was sleeping in one of those new Baymardian sleeping bags, which worked as both a soft pillow and a blanket, keeping him warm up here at this high altitude.

nEven though he had been unconscious, he remembered and could even taste bits and pieces of soup in his mouth.

nIt looked like they fed him a broth to fill his belly.

nIt's just that he wasn't sure whether they were foe or not since the language they spoke was something foreign.

nRemembering his only guardian who died to save his life, the little boy couldn't help tearing up a bit.

nHe knew that in Deiferus, men never showed grief or shed tears, but because he had always been brought up to be distant from the Deifers, he and his guardian had a different way of thinking.

nUnlike the Deifer men who never shed tears, even in private... The 5-year-old him sniffed in pain, crying silently.

nHe wanted to avenge his uncle. But what could he do?

nHe was now alone, with no one to help him.

nAt times, he felt like giving up his life in this cruel world.

nHe didn't even know who his parents were.

nBut his uncle did tell him that he didn't have a father.

nSo the person who sent him here to protect him should be his mother. Meaning she was in danger somewhere.

nFor her sacrifice, he decided not to die but to save her.

nThe question now was, how should he go about it?

n

n