An hour later.
In the port, aboard a three-masted ship flying the flag of the Kingdom of Fulton.
The conference room inside the ship was brightly lit.
Earl Caladia, the battlefield commander of the Kingdom of Fulton for this operation, summoned a meeting. Amidst the sound of knuckles rapping on the table:
"That's the situation. This time, less than ten rioters broke through the quarantine zone. They have now fled into the Fulton Mountains, which are teeming with wild beasts.
"What do you think we should do?"
As his voice fell, an officer spoke with a gloomy gaze:
"Judging by the grenade tactics used this time, it should be the same group that routed the Volgala Kingdom's Dalami unit last night."
"No one knows if they still have grenades. So, we can only call back to the Kingdom and ask the security forces to seal off the few paths near our border."
At this moment, another officer spoke up:
"Intelligence says that during our soldiers' interception, one rioter did not die on the spot and was captured by us.
"He begged for mercy and said his Amber Lead Syndrome had been cured.
"After examination by the soldiers on the border line, that prisoner indeed did not have the pale white symptoms of Amber Lead Syndrome on his body.
"That means the group that escaped has also been cured of Amber Lead Syndrome. Should we issue a Kingdom Wanted Order for those escapees?"
Earl Caladia chuckled lightly:
"Sealing the border is unnecessary; no need for such trouble. Amber Lead Syndrome isn't contagious anyway.
"As for the wanted order! We can do that. Tell the men below to say to the prisoner, 'If you want to live, draw the faces of those people.'
"As long as they become wanted criminals, they won't flee into our country's territory.
"This way, they are just some small characters, no need for us to waste too much manpower and resources.
"After this incident, the toughest 'bone' in Flevance must have disappeared. Send the main force to land!
"We can't let the other three parties snatch the last sweet cake here."
"Mmh, I understand. I'll have the men below handle it. What about the prisoner afterwards?"
"Doesn't our country have a silver mine that needs manpower all year round?"
Caladia smiled.
Instantly, the man understood.
---
Time turned.
The sky brightened slightly.
7:30 AM.
Deep in the Fulton Mountains.
In a dense, quiet forest.
Beside a stream flowing through the forest, Merlin and Yol stopped.
Panting slightly to calm his breathing, Merlin looked around. In this deep mountain forest, even if there were pursuers behind, they wouldn't catch up for a while.
Yol put Lami down, took off her backpack, took out a thermos, and handed it to Merlin:
"Drink some water first!"
Merlin took the water bottle and looked at Yol in surprise. At this moment, Yol blinked, puzzled: "What's wrong?"
Merlin was secretly amazed seeing her not panting at all: "Aren't you tired?"
Merlin himself had good endurance because he was equipped with the [Lynx].
Unscrewing the cap, Merlin took a sip to moisten his throat, then handed the bottle to Yol.
Yol took it and also drank a mouthful, then pursed her lips and laughed:
"Don't you know? I've been strong since I was little, and because of that, my stamina is also very abundant.
"For a distance like this, I wouldn't feel too tired even if I did another round trip."
Saying this, she handed the water bottle to Lami, rubbed her head, and said gently:
"Lami, drink some water too!"
"Mmh, thank you, Sister Yol." Lami took it obediently and drank in big gulps.
At this time, Eric and the other three, who had fallen a hundred meters behind, caught up, panting heavily. As soon as they arrived, they supported themselves with hands on knees, gasping for breath.
After recovering for a while, Eric looked at Merlin and Yol with admiration:
"Are we still running? Where are we going next?"
Hearing this, Merlin looked at him calmly and said:
"Along the way, I've been keeping an eye behind us, and I haven't noticed any signs of pursuers.
"Which means we are safe now."
At this point, Eric's eyes flashed. Thinking of what Merlin said before departure, he hesitated:
"Then do we split up now?"
Merlin smiled: "Sure! Since you said so, Brother, let's part ways here!"
Eric's eye twitched. This sounded like Merlin couldn't wait to part ways.
He opened his mouth but swallowed his words, smiling bitterly:
"Alright then, let's part ways here! I hope we can meet again in the future.
"I'll treat you to a drink then."
Merlin nodded, but then glanced at his left thigh and pondered for two seconds:
"Are you injured?"
Surprise appeared in Eric's eyes, and he nodded repeatedly. "Grazed by a stray bullet."
Merlin said: "Then let me help you one last time!"
Hearing this, Eric immediately said gratefully: "Then thank you, Boss Merlin."
Soon, Merlin "cured" him.
As his wound healed, Eric asked hesitantly:
"What are your plans for the future?"
As soon as these words came out,
Merlin fell silent.
Yol beside him glanced at Merlin, then also fell silent.
After a brief silence, Merlin chuckled softly: "I haven't thought about it yet."
Eric mused: "We are all homeless people now. Do you want to go with the flow of the times and become pirates together?
"You be the captain, and I'll be your sailor?"
As his words came out, the three men who followed him also looked expectant.
However, at this time.
Merlin fell silent again. Seeing this, Eric felt helpless in his heart. It seemed he was silently rejected. He immediately smiled:
"Then we'll meet again someday."
Merlin nodded: "We'll meet again."
Eric led the three men with him and quickly disappeared into the forest.
Merlin watched them walk away.
At this time, Yol asked softly:
"Do you hate pirates?"
Merlin looked at her, then said equally softly:
"This era is called the Great Pirate Era. Some say the sea is full of various adventures and romance.
"And countless riches.
"Devil Fruits, known as the treasures of the sea, are also widely circulated on the sea.
"However, those who can conquer the sea are the strong. And I am just an ordinary weakling now. Am I qualified?"
Because of the fusion and collision of memories from two lives, different outlooks on life and values caused two different perceptions of the current world.
In summary, he was lost.
In Flevance, because his life was threatened, Merlin had to make himself extremely ruthless. But now that he had escaped, Merlin began to reflect on himself.
On one hand, it was the survival-of-the-fittest mindset instilled by his father since childhood.
On the other hand, it was the mindset of harmonious coexistence from his past life.
But soon, Merlin suppressed the complex thoughts in his mind. Survival of the fittest or harmonious coexistence, these were things he could only think about after his own safety was guaranteed.
And to ensure his personal safety in this world, he had to become strong.
And the [Equipment Slot] could help him become strong step by step.
At this time.
Yol's gaze shifted slightly. She shook her head gently at Merlin: "You are not weak. Without you this time, Lami and I wouldn't have survived."
Speaking of this, Yol smiled with her eyes: "Hey! Merlin, we are all homeless people. If you become a pirate in the future, take me with you!"
Merlin looked up at her, seeing the seriousness in her eyes, a helpless smile appeared at the corner of his mouth:
"Being a pirate isn't a respectable profession. 99% of those who become pirates are bad guys. Once you become a pirate, you have to face challenges from the Navy, peers, and all kinds of others.
"Living with your head on your belt isn't just a saying.
"Such a future will be very dangerous."
Yol nodded gently: "I believe you won't become that kind of bad guy who slaughters wantonly and commits all kinds of crimes.
"As for various dangers?
"Living in this world, we face various dangers every moment. I just chose a lifestyle where the road will be very rugged."
Merlin was somewhat surprised. He didn't expect Yol to have such a perception.
Indeed, one shouldn't underestimate others.
This world was no longer a fantasy world, but a real world with living people and things.
"Okay." Merlin agreed softly.
A smile appeared at the corner of Yol's mouth.
At this time,
Lami looked up at Merlin and then at Yol, her small face also serious:
"And Lami too. Lami wants to be a pirate with Big Brother and Big Sister.
"Lami only has you guys now."
Even if Lami didn't want to admit it, deep down she knew that her brother Law might have stayed in Flevance forever.
Hearing her words, Merlin laughed out loud and patted her head with his right hand:
"We'll talk about the future later."
Lami pouted immediately, looking at Merlin like an abandoned kitten, then looked at Yol coquettishly:
"Sister Yol..."
Yol rubbed her head but didn't speak. She was very conflicted. She didn't want Lami to become a pirate, but she didn't feel safe leaving her alone somewhere else.
Yol was conflicted, while Merlin looked at the stream a few meters away.
It was flowing water, clear to the bottom. Water plants and stones could be seen floating and sinking at the bottom. Merlin thought for a moment:
"Let's follow the stream to the source. When it gets hot, let's wash up.
"We haven't bathed for several days, and we smell."
As Merlin's words fell, the two females' faces twisted instantly. They looked down at themselves and nodded repeatedly.
"Okay, let's go quickly!"
Yol said hurriedly.
Hearing about taking a bath, she felt like bugs were crawling all over her body, itching unbearably. She couldn't wait anymore.
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