APTnovel Chapter 146 The Eerie Sea Route
Chapter 146 The Eerie Sea Route
Chapter 146 The Eerie Sea Route
"Finding Natalie? That's exactly what I'm good at!"
Henry was sitting in the chair in front of the chart table, recalling what he had said to Casey when they parted, and he couldn't help but run his fingers through his long hair in frustration.
Is this something I'm good at?
Henry recalled events from over a decade ago when he left the library in search of Natalie.
However, after spending a year and a half, he not only failed to find Natalie, but also lost several wanted posters. He had no other information about Natalie and found himself in dire straits.
In the end, it was Natalie who took the initiative to find him, rescue him from danger, and buy his heart with only two gold coins.
Now, he went to find Natalie again, but found himself in the same predicament.
He had been wandering the gloomy sea for nearly three months, yet he had not found even a trace of Natalie.
Was he too late? Had Natalie already been taken away? Or perhaps she had met with some misfortune?
Henry shook his head vigorously, not daring to think any further.
He felt he wasn't qualified to say that because he was good at finding Natalie, but was it wrong for a father to want to show off in front of his son?
Henry couldn't find anyone to consult, perhaps some prostitutes had borne children for the men on the ship without their knowledge.
But without exception, none of them deserve to call themselves fathers.
Although Henry also felt unworthy, he didn't even dare to admit to Cathy that he was Cathy's father.
Cassius seemed to hate pirates, and he was also a duke. Henry didn't want Cassius to be disappointed and disheartened after learning her father's true identity, nor did he want his own identity to tarnish Cassius's status.
Even so, he was willing to fulfill his responsibilities as a father and do anything for Cathy.
Finding his mother for his son is simply a man's duty!
Of course, ever since Henry learned that Cathy was his son, he would imagine a hundred times a day the scene of Cathy calling him father.
Now it seems he may never hear that cry.
That's why he wanted to see it, at least to leave a reliable impression on Casey, right?
The prerequisite is that he can find and rescue Natalie for Cathy.
However, Henry's search for Natalie has now reached a stalemate.
Actually, when we first entered the gloomy sea, everything seemed normal.
However, as the ship continued to follow the clues northeastward, new problems arose.
In the frigid weather of the northern part of the gloomy sea, Henry barely managed to survive thanks to the "heating" system on the two gold coins.
But as the compass needle suddenly malfunctioned, Henry was unable to accurately determine the direction.
Furthermore, there are no fixed islands in this sea area, only icebergs floating around on the surface, making it difficult for the two gold coins to find a clear reference point.
This led to Henry, who had spent half his life sailing ships, losing his way at sea for the first time.
With food supplies running out, Henry had no choice but to temporarily leave the glacial sea, relying on the banner he had given the name "Comet".
Henry couldn't help but be anxious; every moment he found Natalie, the danger Natalie faced increased.
But that sea area was too strange, and even Henry didn't have a good strategy for dealing with it.
Even if he has clear clues, a map alone is not enough to find the treasure; he must be able to determine his location on the map in real time.
Completely at a loss, he could only anxiously watch time slip through his fingers.
Henry was tormented by a mixture of longing and worry for Natalie. "Knock knock,"
There were two knocks on the door, followed by Benson's voice.
"Boss, dinner is ready."
Henry pulled his hand out of his hair, stared at the door for a few seconds, and then said in a weary voice:
"I'm not hungry—"
"Boss, you haven't eaten all day," Benson said from outside the door. "Anyone would be hungry by now, boss."
You need to eat something.
Benson is just long-winded.
"I told you I wasn't hungry, so let the shrimp take my portion."
"I know you're worried about Cathy's mother, and I also know that Cathy is your son—"
Upon hearing this, Henry tensed up, his relaxed nerves instantly tightening and focusing intently on his brow.
But Benson then added:
"He is also my son, the same son as Victor and Cyril. Of course, Miko should treat Cassie as a brother, but boss, we all treat Cassie as family."
"Which pirate hasn't committed numerous sins in his life? Yet, which one hasn't deceived himself into believing that as long as he throws his body into the sea, the forgiving ocean will swallow up all the evil deeds he committed in his life, and still accept and guide him to the underwater palace?"
"The guilt will not disappear into thin air. Having been a pirate all my life, although I still harbor a glimmer of hope that I can go to the pirate palace, I no longer regard it as a pillar of my soul."
"But the appearance of Casey made me feel like I had a family member. God bless him, he was such a good boy. Even though we didn't spend much time together and our social statuses were so different, he was able to naturally blend in with us. Looking back now, it's really incredible."
"Boss, you know what? Even an underwater palace can't be my emotional support, but family can. He's like my family. Damn it, all my blood relatives must have died long ago, so he's my only support."
"Boss, I'd even take a knife for Cathy. If there's any chance I can do for Cathy, I'll do it without hesitation. Cathy's mother is in danger now, and my worry is no less than yours. I—"
Before Benson could finish speaking, Henry finally couldn't resist pushing open the door. He started chattering nonstop.
Officer Henry said to Benson, "You talk too much, Benson."
"Otherwise, how could I be considered 'talkative'?" Benson bowed deeply to Henry.
Henry walked past Benson, took a few steps forward, then suddenly stopped and said without turning around:
"You can treat Cathy as family, even as a son, but..."
"but?"
"But you must never think of yourself as the man who is his mother."
"Yes, sir!"
Henry didn't turn around, but he could imagine Benson grinning behind him.
He didn't want to see that kind of face, so he went straight to the cabin where the dinner was being held.
The deepest seat was always left empty for Henry, who would sit there without hesitation.
Victor filled a serving of food for Henry and placed it in front of him.
When he smelled the aroma of stewed mutton, his mouth watered and his stomach growled.
Yes, he was already hungry, but he was so worried that he couldn't even feel the hunger.
Henry picked up a spoon, stirred the chunks of mutton in the scalding hot soup, and began to eat heartily.
Halfway through the meal, Henry noticed that Micoe was staring intently at him.
After finishing his meal, Mico always liked to sit in his seat and daydream. He rarely stared at anyone unless it was something like, "Do you have something to say to me, Mico?"
"Yes," Mico nodded, "but Henry is still eating."
“Pirates have no table manners, Mico,” Henry said. “Go ahead and tell me.”
"Can Henry rescue Cathy's mother?"
Henry stopped chewing abruptly; he hadn't expected Miko to ask that question.
"Are you bothered by it?"
"Um."
Why?
"Because Cathy was very worried about her mother, and became depressed after learning that her mother had been arrested," Miko said. "Talking to Cathy made Miko happy, so Miko wanted Cathy to be happy too. If Cathy's mother could be rescued, Cathy would definitely be happy."
Henry was deeply moved, never expecting even Miko to say such things. He wanted to convey his firm resolve to Miko, but Victor, sitting next to Miko, spoke first:
"Don't worry, Miko, the master's affection for that kid is even deeper than ours."
"Really, Henry?"
Henry nodded: "I will save Natalie—"
Even if it means sacrificing everything I have.
"As for this matter, sir, we'll do as you say," Victor suddenly said.
"Oh?" Henry was somewhat surprised. "Didn't you say you weren't a pirate?"
“It’s not Casey either,” Victor said, tilting his nose, which was starting to show age spots. “Besides, he was a poor boy, while I’m a stubborn old man on my deathbed, having spent the rest of my life caught up in a bunch of pirates. I also want to do one or two good deeds before I die.”
Miko suddenly asked, "Victor, does Victor like Cassie too?"
Victor turned his head away: "It's not that I dislike it."
Henry smiled; that was quite a compliment.
The cabin was bustling with activity, filled with clinking glasses, lively conversation, and laughter.
Benson was naturally good at livening up the atmosphere, and his dirty jokes were always coming out one after another, making the pirates burst into laughter.
Henry couldn't help but worry that sooner or later, some of his sailors would die suddenly from a stitch in their side.
But Benson never forgot to come over and offer Henry a few drinks, which Henry naturally accepted with pleasure.
Knowing that all his close associates valued Casey so highly, Henry felt much better.
At that moment, Henry noticed that Cyril was standing there with his arms crossed, leaning against the comb bar at the other end of the table, listening to the gossip of the crowd.
His lips would curl into a smile at the pirates' jokes, but his eyes were always scanning Henry.
Henry immediately understood that Cyril wanted to speak to him privately.
So he quickly finished the mutton, then ate a sweet onion with the thick soup, and used beer to wash away the lingering taste in his mouth.
He left his seat and walked towards Cyril, giving him a subtle look, and Cyril quickly followed.
Once on deck, Henry asked:
"To my room?"
Cyril shook his head: "How about we go somewhere else, like Raven's Nest this time?"
Henry had no objection, and the two climbed up the comb pole and let the jellyfish on duty go to eat.
"What is it?" Henry asked bluntly.
But Cyril was in no hurry: "Chief, I've been following you for over half a year now, haven't I?"
Henry recalled for a moment: "I think so—it was really fast."
"Joachim was once considered the king of pirates, but if he were in the current era of fleets, he would seem somewhat less impressive. But he is my father."
"So you're saying the student surpasses the master," Cyril said. "Privately speaking, any one of the eight leaders now would definitely keep the kids on land up at night more than Joachim."
"The ship can't reach the shore, and the pirates can't scare the turkey," Henry said. "What are you trying to say, Cyril?"
"What I'm trying to say is that, even among the eight great leaders, the Navigator's name is undoubtedly the most renowned. In fact, some people may not know the eight great pirate leaders, but they have definitely heard of the Navigator."
The navigator, Henry thought, but not the navigator Henry.
Cyril continued, "I have been living under your spell for a long time, yet I still only knew rumors about who the Navigator was. But when I actually became a shrimp by your side, I found that you were completely different from the rumored Navigator."
"Take the crow's nest where I am now as an example. I often take on the role of a jellyfish, for a simple reason: I need to broaden my field of vision to train my eyesight. An archer's eyesight is even more important than arm strength."
"But, based on my observation, besides myself, you're the one doing the most work for the jellyfish. But leader, the octopus doesn't need to do the jellyfish's work, so what is your purpose?"
Henry answered honestly, "It's closer to the stars here."
"Stars?"
"It's nothing," Henry shook his head, "You can treat it as a belief."
"You see, Chief, a faith unlike any other, something never mentioned in any of the rumors,"
Cyril said,
The longer I stay by your side, the more unfathomable you become. Sometimes, I can't figure out what you're thinking at all, and I don't know what your purpose is—like right now.
"I'm going to save Natalie now," Henry said. "Isn't it obvious?"
“Of course, but—” Cyril narrowed his eyes, “why? What makes you so determined to rescue Cathy’s mother?”
Henry sensed the probing tone and instantly became alert:
"Isn't saving a friend a reason enough?"
Cyril smiled. "Chief, as I mentioned before, I went to school and studied some academic subjects. It's impossible that I hadn't heard of the name 'Laines.' The rightful rulers of the Laines Plateau are the Laines family, and Kathy is a duke."
Hearing this, Henry felt the weight on his belt.
He didn't have the axe on him, but that didn't matter; the entire two-gold-coin account was his weapon.
If Cyril shows any sign of being detrimental to Casey, Henry will decisively take Cyril's head.
Cyril still wore a faint smile, seemingly unaware of the seriousness of the situation. Perhaps he was aware of everything, but was confident that Henry wouldn't do anything to him.
"That girl named Natalie is Cathy's mother," Cyril continued. "So her identity must be extraordinary. But Chief, you say she's your friend. I'm very curious, how did the pirates become friends with someone like her?"
"Are you prying into my private affairs?" Henry deliberately revealed some hostility.
"No, no, Chief, I was merely stating my thoughts," Cyril waved his hands repeatedly. "More importantly, I want to ask, given the vast difference in your social standing, it's impossible for most people to guess that you know each other. Chief, how many people know about this relationship?"
"Not many, besides you few, you can count them on one hand," Henry raised an eyebrow. "Why are you asking this?"
“Since it’s not much, it must be an information gap,” Cyril said. “And information gaps are often a hidden but deadly weapon.”
"What do you mean?"
"Boss, you are the most famous pirate in the world. Benson is one of the eight great bosses, and I also have considerable seafaring experience. Miko is a first-rate helmsman, but unfortunately, he can't sail the ship right now."
Cyril's smile gradually revealed a hint of excitement.
"But even without Miko, there probably isn't a longship with a more luxurious crew than the Two Gold Coins. However, if even the Two Gold Coins can get lost at sea, what about other ships?"
"Are you saying that the people who kidnapped Natalie also failed to find their destination?"
"The probability is not small," Cyril said. "Assuming that's the case, they are unlikely to try to stay at sea; they will come back to shore sooner or later to resupply."
Henry thought for a moment, then asked in return:
"Take advantage of the situation and attack?"
Cyril shook his head: "No one on the Two Gold Coins knows what their captain looks like, let alone who those people are. Chief, it's normal that you can't think of my idea. I've said it before, I used to be a smuggler, and this is the perfect time to use smuggling thinking."
What is a smuggling mentality?
Cyril replied:
"Smugglers deserve to have their hands and feet cut off, but those who buy and sell goods from smugglers are also breaking the law, and the local lords will not let them off easily."
"And their homes in the territory are the baggage in their hearts. Once something happens, it is difficult to escape in time. Therefore, no idiot would take the initiative to announce that he wants to smuggle goods."
"Therefore, smugglers usually have to find a way to avoid the lord's eyes and spread the word of their arrival, so that lords who want to smuggle goods will come to them."
"Even if the lord discovers them by chance, the smugglers have no ties here, so they can set sail immediately or ride off to avoid being caught."
After hearing this description of smuggling, Henry immediately realized the biggest problem:
"Some kind of channel? Hmph! Such channels are hard to find."
"Absolutely right, Chief. Smugglers have racked their brains over this, and the most common method is undoubtedly..."
Cyril paused for a moment.
"code word!"
Henry understood what the code was, or rather, the slang. Pirates had their own slang, and Henry knew it by heart.
Henry knew nothing about the slang used by smugglers, but he understood that Cyril wasn't there to teach him.
After a short pause, Cyril continued:
"By communicating through coded language, smugglers can even conduct smuggling negotiations in front of lords, ensuring those noblemen are completely unaware of what's happening. And the essence of coded language is information asymmetry!"
At this point, Henry finally realized:
"Are you trying to convey a message to them through something only Natalie and I know?"
“That’s right,” Cyril nodded. “Compared to searching aimlessly in coastal ports, finding a way to get them to leave you clues will undoubtedly make the whole thing several times simpler.”
"Moreover, Cathy's mother is currently a prisoner and may have to endure severe torture. But she doesn't know you're looking for her, and I'm afraid she won't be able to hold on and will give up early."
"Chief, the greatness of humanity lies in its ability to draw strength from even the faintest hope. As long as she knows you are looking for her, she will surely be able to hold on longer, buying you considerable time."
Natalie was stronger than Cyril had imagined, but Henry couldn't deny that Cyril's assessment had some merit:
"And you just asked how many people know about my relationship with Natalie—"
"This is your secret code with Natalie."
Cyril smiled slyly, just like a fox. Are all smugglers this cunning?
Henry asked, "What's the specific plan?"
"As I just mentioned, those ships will almost certainly dock at the ports on the north coast of the kingdom," Cyril said. "All we need to do is spread the word about your gloomy sea and make it widely known in all the ports."
"No one knows that you know Cathy's mother, so naturally no one will keep this news from Cathy's mother, and no one will increase their surveillance of her because of your arrival."
Henry chuckled softly. If Cyril was a fox, then he was now a wolf, his thirst for blood enough to make him pounce on any lamb without hesitation.
Cyril's method of disseminating information was the same as Henry's view of the lamb:
How is it spread?
"Chief, I call you chief, but what exactly is your chief?"
"pirate!"
Henry felt a sudden realization dawn on him and blurted out, "Pirates only ever do one thing."
"plunder!"
"Ha, indeed, Chief, it's truly delightful to talk to intelligent people!" Cyril said with a laugh. "And in this world, it's not surprising that ships are plundered; if you want to be infamous, plunder is the only way."
".—The port!" Henry took the answer.
Cyril nodded.
He carefully considered Cyril's plan and found it feasible, hence his follow-up question:
"Do you already have a plan in mind regarding which port to attack?"
"Among the coastal regions in the north of the kingdom, the Lorraine Plain undoubtedly has the greatest influence. Attacking the ports of the plain would certainly be the most effective strategy, but..."
"but?"
Cyril nodded: "I've heard that those who offend the lord there never have a good ending. I overheard a rumor that they would develop black spots on their skin, then suffer repeated tragedies, and eventually die bleeding from all seven orifices."
Upon hearing this description, Henry took a deep breath.
He had seen this kind of death before. Back then, when he was following three freedom fighters on the curator's orders, he witnessed them die in this way.
The person responsible for this tragic situation, however, is ultimately just a rumor. After what happened to you, Chief, I firmly believe that rumors are absolutely unreliable—
"—No!" Henry interrupted Cyril, "Don't offend the lord there, and Cyril, I advise you not to do it again."
Cyril's expression turned serious in an instant: "Chief, do you know something?"
"Stop asking, Cyril. Give me other options."
Cyril nodded and then said:
"The bottom port, located in the Avery Desert, is the largest port on the north coast of the kingdom. Heading to Palace Bay is undoubtedly a good choice, but it requires going around the Arnold Tundra, which will be a long voyage."
"Do we have that time?"
"Obviously not," Cyril shrugged. "The population density of Griffith Plains is too low. The closest places to us are Capello Forest and Vera Wetlands."
Upon hearing the name "Capello," Henry immediately remembered that it was Madame Aurélie's surname, so there was nothing to worry about:
"Vera Wetlands".
"As you command, Chief."
Cyril's sense of balance was astonishing; standing atop the swaying crow's nest, he managed to loosen the railing and stand firmly, offering Henry a standard and elegant curtsy.
Is it that he is particular about etiquette, or that he is familiar enough with the current situation?
"I will go down and relay your order to the helmsman to change course."
After Cyril finished speaking, he was about to leave the raven's nest, but Henry called him back:
"etc."
"What's wrong, Chief?"
Why are you so concerned?
"Hmm? Is there something wrong with a shrimp offering advice to an octopus?"
"There's nothing wrong with it, it's just—"
Henry stared intently at Cyril's expression; his eyes seemed to shoot forth a sharp light, like stars in the night.
"Helping Cathy isn't in your best interest, is it? You wouldn't be suggesting that you like Cathy, would you?"
"He privately taught Casey archery; he could be considered my student, but..."
Cyril raised an eyebrow. "Chief, you're right."
People with a background in smuggling are not likely to easily open up their emotions to others.
"So what's your reasoning?"
"Because you care about this matter far too much."
Cyril said,
"Chief, I've always felt that you and I are kindred spirits. You treat your subordinates very well, and you're like brothers with Benson. But I can see that if necessary, you would kill Benson without hesitation, and the same goes for others."
"But your attitude towards Casey is not like that. I sense that you seem willing to give your life for him. I am very confused. Have I misjudged you?"
"So these days I've been observing you more closely, and I've concluded that you and I are definitely the same kind of people. This makes me even more curious about what kind of person is worth all this trouble for."
Henry touched the railing with both hands.
Cyril is very intelligent and has exceptional skills. Without Cyril's help, the two gold coin ships might not have made it this far.
But even now, Henry cannot completely trust Cyril.
He did integrate into the team quickly, but that also means he could leave at any time.
When this journey is over, Cyril will leave the Two Gold Coins, taking with him a wealth of intelligence about the ship and Henry, making it a potential threat to Henry.
Henry suspected that Cyril must have begun to speculate about the relationship between Henry and Natalie, and even discovered that Cathy was Henry's son.
How to deal with Cyril was now on Henry's mind.
However, for the time being, he has not discovered any ulterior motives in Cyril's heart, and besides, Cyril is indeed an indispensable and capable assistant to him for the time being:
"Then observe carefully, Cyril, though you may not see her."
"That's a real shame," Cyril said with a helpless shrug, "but just the anticipation is enough to dampen my enthusiasm."
Henry nodded slightly, and Cyril left.
He looked up and saw his black cross flag fluttering atop the mast, bathed in the starlight.
He was the benefactor of the stars, yet he loved the sunrise and sunset, simply because they bore Natalie's colors. For Natalie, Henry was willing to betray the stars, betray God, betray the sea god, and betray all faith.
The ship turned.
This time, Henry will cause quite a stir for Natalie.
The wind was favorable, and within two days, the two gold coins arrived at the navel harbor of the Vila Wetlands.
According to Cyril, this is the largest port in the wetlands.
Henry stood at the bow of the ship, gazing at the rapidly expanding seaside city.
Cyril and Benson stood on either side of Henry.
"Plunder the port—" Henry muttered, "It's been a long time since I've done that."
"Ha, boss, I'm good at this," Benson said proudly. "You can put me in charge later."
Henry didn't want to get off the ship either: "Hmm."
"Making a quick buck to replenish the ship's funds is certainly no problem, but, Chief," Cyril reminded him, "don't forget your purpose. You must make a big enough commotion so that everyone in the entire northern kingdom knows about this."
Henry glanced at Cyril, then looked straight ahead and asked:
Have you ever seen a lion in the sea?
Cyril asked with a puzzled tone, "Sea lions? Chief, you mean sea lions?"
"Although sea lions are called the lions of the sea, they are ultimately just big fish with fangs," Henry smiled. "I'm talking about the real lions of the sea."
No sound came, but Henry was certain that Cyril was shaking his head.
A strong wind blew from the north, and Henry's long hair fluttered forward.
The two gold coin ships sped forward and soon arrived near the Navel Port.
This distance is sufficient for those in port to clearly see the flags of the two gold coin ships.
Henry placed his hand on the bow of the ship and then channeled his strength.
"—"
"Aww!"
A roar like that of a lion erupted from the ship.
The lion's roar was so deep and resonant that it seemed to come from the mouth of a lion the same size as the two gold coins.
The deafening sound was more terrifying than thunder, and Henry's own eardrums were almost ruptured.
This earth-shattering roar would definitely reach the ears of everyone in the city and terrify them!
Henry only withdrew his power when he realized that even the shrimps on his own ship were so frightened by the terrifying roar that their legs went weak and they collapsed to the ground.
Turning his head, he saw Cyril leaning against the railing, his body hunched over with his ears covered.
Henry pulled Cyril's arm several times before Cyril finally let go.
Seeing Cyril's still-shaken expression, Henry chuckled and asked:
"Cyril, now you've left enough of an unforgettable impression on the city's inhabitants, haven't you?"
Cyril trembled, his eyes wide with fear, as he tried to curtsy to Henry.
Cyril, who had been walking on the crow's nest as if it were flat ground, now needed to hold onto the railing to keep his balance.
He bowed to Henry with a curtsy: "You raging sea lion, chieftain, this will be a nightmare for all the people of the North."
Henry turned his head toward Benson with satisfaction, Benson was equally terrified and at a loss for words.
He slapped Benson hard on the shoulder, and Benson jumped up from the deck.
"What's wrong, boss? What happened?"
"It's your turn, Benson. Look, the docks are right in front of us."
Benson came to his senses and seemed to realize that it was Henry who had just acted, and gradually calmed down.
He drew his exquisite rapier from his waist, shouted, and led his men off the ship to plunder.
"Remember to spread the word that this was a feat accomplished by navigator Henry Gijano Panza, piloting the Two Gold Coins!"
Henry gave Benson these specific instructions before he disembarked.
Soon, thick smoke rose from all over the port.
See, Henry smiled. Benson is still useful.
Henry wasn't idle either; he observed the situation at the port.
The port was indeed quite large, with more than a dozen warships moored at the dock.
However, the lord seemed to have been too careless, not expecting that pirates would dare to attack the port, and none of the warships were ready to set sail.
Perfect, this gives Henry plenty of time.
The looting lasted less than half an hour before Benson returned with his men.
The purpose of this plunder was to gain fame, so the main activity was arson, which was the shortest part of the plundering process.
Henry sailed away before the defenders could put up a full resistance.
However, although the looting did not last long, the dozens of fires set off must have caused considerable damage to the port.
This will inevitably create a major event, which will quickly spread through the various ports of the North.
After completing his plundering plan, Henry did not sit idly by and wait for his doom.
The purpose of this action was to let Natalie know that he was looking for her, in order to maintain Natalie's belief in continuing.
However, we cannot place all our hopes on finding Natalie.
He still had to find the mermaid's hiding place.
After resting for about half a month, Henry once again sailed the Two Gold Coins in an attempt to conquer the northern part of the Gloomy Sea.
The further north you go, the more complicated it becomes than just getting lost.
Huge ice floes float everywhere at sea. If a ship accidentally hits one, causing damage to its hull, it will inevitably sink in the icy sea.
And now, Miko can't pilot the boat...
Henry could only trust himself.
Braving the harsh sea wind that whips up icy sand, he stood on the bridge, gripping the deck tightly in his hand.
The needle continued to spin erratically, and Henry couldn't tell which way it was going.
Damn it, if that's the case, how did the person who left this information find the mermaid?
Henry's hands were almost frozen, but his right thumb and forefinger were tightly gripping the clue.
The wind blew the note forward and backward, but Henry had to continue studying the words on it.
The most crucial part is written like this:
"A gloomy sea route, Mermaid Bay."
That's far too general.
Henry felt he could not go any further; it was too cold, and he had to turn back.
Just then, Cyril came to his side.
Henry said, "Keep that note safe; my hands are frozen."
Cyril plucked the note from Henry's fingertips, read it through, and then read aloud the last paragraph:
"A gloomy sea route, Mermaid Bay—."
Henry noticed that Cyril had a meaningful expression on his face after reading it.
Henry asked, "What came to mind?"
"Chief, how much do you know about the frozen continent?"
"I have absolutely no idea."
"On the frozen continent, there is a festival called the Night of Gloom."
"A spooky night? What kind of festival is that?"
"To commemorate the coldest day of the year," Cyril replied, "so that I may be protected from the cold."
"Around when?"
"I guess it'll only take one or two days—"
As soon as Cyril finished speaking, Henry seemed to hear a crackling sound.
Henry asked, "Listen, Cyril! What did you hear?"
Cyril closed his eyes, then frowned and nodded:
"It sounds like ice forming."
At that moment, Henry noticed that the sea surface seemed to be reflecting light.
Cyril had good eyesight, so Henry asked:
"Cyril, open your eyes and see what's happening at sea."
A moment later: "Oh my god—"
"What's wrong?"
"The sea has frozen over."
Cyril said in a trembling voice, not knowing whether it was from the cold or from being too shocked.
"as well as-"
"And what?"
"And a narrow waterway, where peas dwell on the ice."