Chapter 4: Family Background

  Five days later.

  After bidding farewell to Reed, the Qingyun continued to advance towards the Veronica Continent. Soon, the long voyage allowed everyone to taste the power of the sea.

  To put it simply, it's seasickness.

  After drifting at sea for several days, these guys who left the mainland for the first time were all tortured by severe seasickness and vomited until they were dizzy. In the past few days, almost everyone could only huddle in the cabin with a listless spirit.

  Even Bastet, who was usually in high spirits, had now become a sick cat, pitifully lying on the bed and meowing occasionally.

  There were only two exceptions, one of which was Rutz, the silent Bimonian who surprisingly adapted well to life at sea, saying it was because he had gotten used to being on boats when he was an adventurer.

  Another person, however, was quite astonishing - it was actually Ricket. This seemingly pampered guy had been eating and drinking as usual these days, living more happily than anyone else, in stark contrast to the many people who were struggling to survive, which really made one's jaw drop.

  That day, Raymond finally overcame some seasickness and left the cabin to go up on deck. A gust of fresh sea breeze blew in, making his dizzy head feel much clearer immediately.

  Recalling the unbearable experiences of the past few days, Raymond couldn't help but feel a lingering fear. Compared to the suffering of seasickness, he would rather return to the northern wilderness and fight Hakken for 300 rounds.

  Of course, this is just a thought. Raymond walked to the side of the ship, breathing in the salty air that came with the wind, and gazed out at the distance.

  The weather is extremely good, under the blue sky, the vast and endless ocean has light waves. The Qingyun with a full sail is slightly fluctuating with the waves, breaking through the waves at full speed, leaving a white trail on the emerald green sea surface.

  Compared to the endless northern wilderness, the sea has another kind of grand beauty. Raymond stared at the sea in a daze, as if he would be sucked into it entirely. In a trance, he seemed to have returned to when he was in the northern wilderness, lying in the desolate wildness for an entire afternoon, gazing up at the sky.

  This is truly an unprecedented experience, except...

  "Ugh... Uggghhh!"

  Suddenly, Raymond's stomach churned and he leaned over the ship's rail, vomiting violently.

  "People who get seasick should avoid staring at the sea for a long time. Some weak-willed guys might even jump in."

  Just as Raymond was about to faint from exhaustion, a voice came from behind him.

  Raymond pounded his stomach a few times, making sure nothing else was going to come up, before turning around and saying with a bitter smile: "Thanks, now I know."

  Rickett walked up to Raymond, his hands grasping the ship's rail, taking a deep breath: "Ah, what a nostalgic smell. I thought I'd never breathe in sea air again."

  "Have you really been out to sea before?" Raymond asked. This guy was indeed not on a sea boat for the first time.

  Ricket nodded: "Yes, I still remember that when I first took a boat to cross the sea, I almost lost my life. Compared to you, your adaptability is already very fast."

  "What, cross the sea?" Raymond was shocked: "Are you saying that..."

  "That's right, I've been to the continent of Veronica." Ricket turned his head and said calmly: "More accurately, I grew up there."

  "Are you... a Veronan?"

  Ricket shook his head: "No, I'm like you, a Mozhena."

  "How could it grow up in Veronica?"

  Ricket didn't answer, he just smiled: "Do you still remember that night in the valley when we exchanged identities? Actually I wasn't telling the truth, I used to be a noble."

  Before Raymond could speak, he added: "Have you ever heard of a place called Ramo?"

  Raymond shook his head.

  Ricket didn't seem surprised, he sighed: "Yes, it's been 20 years, I'm afraid even the once-famous Lord Balin has almost been forgotten by people, how can anyone remember this territory?"

  "Ramo Territory was once one of the most powerful territories in the Kingdom of Dinar, and the last lord, Kifa, was my grandfather. It's just that all of this happened 20 years ago."

  "I didn't expect Ricket to have such a background," Raymond couldn't help but ask, "What happened?"

  A hint of reminiscence appeared in Ricket's eyes: "20 years ago, my grandfather was accused of killing the beastman envoy who participated in the capital's celebration and was sentenced to death by hanging. After his death, our family's hereditary territory was also confiscated by the king, and since then, Dinar has never had the territory of Ramo again."

  "Are you from the continent of Veronica back then?"

  Riki nodded and said, "Yes, when the territory fell, I was just a child. Because of my grandfather's serious crimes, my family could no longer stand in our homeland, so my parents used their last remaining property to escape with their family to the Kingdom of Dirck in Veronika, where I grew up and completed my studies."

  "Then why did you come back to Dinar?" Raimon asked curiously.

  Ricket took a deep breath: "Originally, we could have lived a quiet life in Veronika under an assumed name. However, our parents couldn't accept this change and soon fell ill with grief, passing away one after another. After their death, I followed my parents' last wish and returned to Dinar, hoping that someday I can restore the family's former glory."

  Here is the translation:

  "Up to this point, Ricket shook his head and laughed: "But soon, I found out that it was actually an unattainable dream. To change from a noble to a commoner, all it takes is a royal decree, but to change from a commoner to a noble, it's harder than ascending to heaven. Haha...it's really hard to imagine that I once had such a foolish idea."

  Actually, if one really wants to talk about it, Raymond's experience of transforming from a prince to an ordinary person is more tortuous than Ricket's family history. But unlike Ricket who has been brooding, Raymond never felt lost because for him, being the beastman prince was just a heavy burden, far less free than he is now.

  Looking at Ricket's lifeless appearance, Raymond was about to find some comforting words when a gloomy voice suddenly came: "What's there to complain about? At least you still have a once glorious family. If I were like you, shouldn't I have killed myself long ago?"

  "Freddie?" Raymond and Ricky looked at the newcomer in surprise.

  After these days of torture on the ship, Freddy's originally pale face was even more deathly pale, with a pair of eyes filled with bloodshot, now stumbling and staggering towards this side.

  "What did you just say?" Ricket asked.

  Freddie looked at him mockingly: "I mean, you've already got a lot of things that people dream of, but you're still there complaining about your own misfortune. It's really ridiculous."

  Rickett was infuriated by his contemptuous attitude: "What do you mean? What's this 'dream come true' nonsense, my family has been down on its luck for 20 years, damn it!"

  "Someone who was once a noble and someone who has always been common, are already vastly different in the eyes of those high-and-mighty people."

  "But I..." Keita's words got stuck in his throat.

  Freddie's eyes blazed with anger, and he gritted his teeth: "My father runs a tavern called 'Big Chrysanthemum' in the royal capital. Although it's not bad for money, to those nobles, we're just inferior people. My only wish since childhood is to become a noble, and I've never stopped working hard for it, even if it means doing dirty deals."

  "After becoming the 'Hidden Thunder' official, I frantically investigated my family tree, hoping to find a noble relative in even the most remote bloodline. Unfortunately, it was just wishful thinking. So, in those guys' eyes, I will forever be a lowly person."

  "Up to this point, Freddy pointed at Rickett and said in a rage: "So, you, who have never even made the slightest effort, what qualifications do you have to complain about the injustice of fate? If you really want to restore your family's honor, then don't hesitate to climb up no matter the cost, even if your hands are stained with filth. But look at you, with conditions that make countless people envious, what have you done?"

  "Save it, kid."

  The last sentence, Freddy said in an extremely contemptuous tone, Rickett was stimulated to blush. He panted hastily, staring fiercely at the poisonous-tongued man, as if he would immediately pounce on him.

  As for the quarrel between the two, Raymond just watched silently and didn't say a word. For him who grew up in the imperial family, it was not the first time to see someone express their strong desire for power, so he knew very well that this desire was the indispensable spiritual food for some people, and they mostly had excellent talents.

  For example, these two in front of you...

  At this time, Rickert shook his head and said: "No, I absolutely do not agree with your theory. A person without principles is no different from a beast, even if I want to climb up, I will follow my own principles."

  This time Freddy didn't retort back at him, but just gave a disdainful cold laugh.

  No, it seems these two people are still different after all.

  "Alright, stop arguing. I just heard you say that your grandfather was executed for being accused of killing the Beastman Empire's messenger, what happened?"

  Before Ricket could speak, Freddy said: "I've heard of this too. 20 years ago at the capital's celebration, the beastman messenger was unexpectedly killed. Because of his noble identity, it caused a huge stir. In the end, the king declared that the murderer was Lord Kifa of Ramo and had him executed quickly, which calmed down the beastmen's discontent."

  He muttered to himself, "However, I've read some relevant materials. That matter was very strange. How the Beastman Envoy died and what motive Lord Ramo had are still unknown. I think that unlucky guy might have been made a scapegoat."

  Although Freddy's words insulted his ancestors, Ricky couldn't be bothered to argue with him. He said bitterly: "I think so too, because that matter really has too many doubts. However, who would care about it now?"

  "Hmph, nobles..."

  Hearing the two of them say this, Raymond couldn't help but become even more curious: "Right, who exactly was the dead beastman envoy that would cause the king to use a lord as a scapegoat?"

  "Hmm... I remember it was mentioned in the documents, because that year's royal capital celebration had too many big events. For example, the famous Lord of Lovell, also received his earldom at that celebration and began to rise to prominence." Freddie tapped his forehead lightly, recalling.

  "I remember the envoy who was killed, he seemed to be a prince of the werewolf tribe, the son of Verona, the leader of the werewolf tribe at that time."

  "Verona?" Raymond was stunned.

  But before Raymond could express sufficient surprise, Ricket continued: "There was another envoy at that time, um... I remember now, it was Princess Amada of the Bimon tribe, who is now the queen of the Beastman Empire. She was present when my grandfather was sentenced to death by hanging."

  "What!?" Raymond finally exclaimed.

  Suddenly, an incredibly absurd feeling surged in his heart. Could this... be called a coincidence of fate?

  "What's wrong?" Raymond's unusual reaction made Freddy and Ricky feel very strange.

  "No, nothing, I just didn't expect that the Beastman Queen had also been to the Imperial Capital." Raymon hastily covered up.

  The two did not expect anyone else. Fredy was just about to speak when he suddenly heard a loud, drawn-out voice from above shouting: "Lǜ... de!"

  At the top of the mast a sailor was pointing ahead and shouting at the top of his lungs.

  The three men turned their heads at the same time and saw that from the distant horizon, a line representing the land was gradually emerging.

  It's finally here.

  "Veronica Continent." Freddy's hand pressed against the ship's rail, gritting his teeth as he said, "There, I must become that damned noble!"

  "In Ricket's eyes, a complex expression also flashed: 'Father, mother, I'm back again. I hope that on this land, I can regain the family's former glory.'"

  Unlike the two who were lost in thought, looking at the growing land, Raymond's heart surged with a sense of grandeur: "Since we've already made up our minds, let's go all out."

  At this moment, a big wave came, and the Qingyun ship shook slightly with it.

  Raymond and Freddy turned pale at the same time, looked at each other, and rushed to the side of the boat, vomiting violently.

  "Whatever it is, just let me set foot on land alive first..."