The reason Xia Nan chose the "Three-Legged Sea Dog" as his temporary residence in Barracuda Bay was, on one hand, because the food at the tavern was indeed excellent; the seafood-style creamy mushroom soup, in particular, was exactly to his liking.
On the other hand, and more importantly, he hoped to obtain some intelligence regarding "Algae-Scale" Dodd from the tavern owner, Hera, to help him find the key to the 【Dreamweave Corridor】.
At this moment, the sudden incident at the "Golden Cod" casino had been perfectly resolved following the meeting between Alton and Xia Nan.
Knowing that the halfling had not come to Barracuda Bay to cause trouble for her casino, but that it was purely a result of coincidence and personal interest, Hera couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief as she began to introduce the relevant information about "Algae-Scale."
"Dodd started out as an adventurer in Barracuda Bay; you should already know that."
Xia Nan nodded slightly. He already had a general understanding of "Algae-Scale" through the information provided by the Association.
He knew that the man had not been a vicious pirate from the start, but had only become wanted after plundering a royal merchant ship.
"I've heard some rumors. I can't guarantee their accuracy, so just take them as a bit of fun."
"An insider revealed that before Dodd attacked that merchant ship, he already knew of its official status as a vessel of the Servia Kingdom, rather than it being an unintentional act as some claim."
"He went specifically for that ship."
"To some extent, the fact that Dodd had completed the transfer of wealth and fleet supplies several months in advance serves as evidence for this."
Hera took a gulp of chilled ale. As her seaweed-green locks swayed, the crystalline liquid trailed down from the corner of her mouth, passing over her slender neck and delicate collarbone before disappearing into the depths of her shirt.
After the trip to the casino, her attitude toward Xia Nan had silently shifted.
From initial strangeness and probing, she had gradually come to view him as someone with whom she could deepen a cooperative relationship.
"As for Dodd's specific combat style and the combat techniques he has exposed in the past, I will compile them into a written document and have someone deliver it to your room the night after tomorrow."
"Then I'll trouble you," Xia Nan replied with a sincere tone.
In his search for the key to the 【Dreamweave Corridor】, should he need to engage in combat with "Algae-Scale," this intelligence would provide him with a great deal of convenience—at the very least, he wouldn't go into battle without knowing whether the opponent was a close-quarters brawler or a long-range spellcaster.
"However, you'd better treat this information as a reference only; don't rely on it too heavily," Hera reminded him, brushing a stray lock of hair behind her ear. "After all, this information was collected many years ago, back when he was still working in the adventurer business."
"So much time has passed since then; there may have been changes. The timeliness might be quite poor."
Picking up on the subtext in her words, Xia Nan's brow furrowed instinctively.
"You mean... he has had very little contact with the outside world in recent years?"
"Dodd's personality leans toward being cautious and conservative," Hera nodded and answered. "In fact, after he attacked the merchant ship and became wanted by the Kingdom, he basically stopped appearing in public."
"Leading his fleet, he usually hides in the depths of the archipelago, occasionally coming out to pull off a job. He never leaves prisoners; survivors are very few."
"Aside from the members of his own pirate fleet, no one knows the location of Dodd's base."
*That's going to be troublesome,* Xia Nan thought to himself.
The 【Dreamweave Corridor】 itself provided an exaggerated function for increasing combat technique proficiency, making the secrecy of this item second only to his identity as a "transmigrator" and his attribute panel.
Unless absolutely necessary, he would never reveal the existence of the 【Dreamweave Corridor】 to anyone.
Precisely because of this, whenever Xia Nan searched for information, he tried his best to steer the clues toward "Algae-Scale" Dodd, or at most add "Lyle Morton," but he never mentioned the strange, silver-white metal object left behind by that scion of the Morton family mentioned in the notes.
If the key to the 【Dreamweave Corridor】 was indeed in Dodd's hands, the man—lacking the main body—would have no means to activate the device and likely wouldn't know its purpose; at most, he would keep it in a warehouse as a collectible.
In this situation, Xia Nan could only play along and obtain the key without the other party noticing. Otherwise, exposing his purpose directly would only arouse suspicion and increase the possibility of the 【Dreamweave Corridor】's information leaking.
Furthermore, it would be best to communicate face-to-face; every intermediary added between the two of them only increased the likelihood of unforeseen variables.
But all of this would be empty talk if he didn't even know where "Algae-Scale" Dodd was.
No matter how thorough the preparation, if he couldn't find the man, he couldn't make progress.
"However... it's not as if there's absolutely no way to find him."
Pausing slightly, a flash of cunning flickered in Hera's emerald eyes before she spoke again.
She stared directly at Xia Nan across the table, seemingly wanting to capture any change in expression on his face.
There was no malice; it was simply a small psychological tug-of-war used during negotiations to seize the initiative.
However, Xia Nan rarely revealed his inner emotions in front of strangers, and his increasingly strengthened physical constitution had further enhanced his control over his facial muscles.
Even though his heart did indeed flutter due to the sudden turn in the conversation, there was not a single ripple of change on his face; he remained cold and calm.
Hera, who had hoped to see a different side of this young adventurer, couldn't help but feel disappointed.
Pouting slightly with a hint of boredom, she continued
"Most of the time, Dodd and his fleet hide in their nest. Unless an outsider has the precise coordinates of their base, it's basically impossible to find them in the depths of the archipelago."
"But that doesn't mean Dodd will stay in his stronghold forever, never stepping foot outside for the rest of his life."
Gazing into those pitch-black eyes across the table, Hera's lips parted, and she slowly uttered three words
"The Sea-Rhyme Festival."
*The Sea-Rhyme Festival?* Xia Nan repeated in his mind.
He had, of course, heard the name.
Back when he was still in Rivervalley Town preparing for this journey, he had already researched this regional festival, which occurred every three years and was perhaps the most important event in the Southern Archipelago.
The festival originated in ancient times when a "Tide-Chant Saint" was born in the Southern Archipelago, capable of communicating with the ocean through soul-singing. Through her songs, she calmed storms, guided fish shoals, and healed the sick, establishing immense prestige in the surrounding waters. She became almost a god of the mortal world, a saint of the great ocean.
Perhaps humans had extracted too many natural resources through this saint, or perhaps the faith accumulated over time had aroused the jealousy of certain existences.
A massive and terrifying catastrophe descended from the heavens; houses were destroyed by surging waves, and islands were swallowed by the raging sea. The people of the Southern Archipelago suffered immense hardship.
Knowing that the key to breaking the deadlock lay with her, the "Tide-Chant Saint" resolutely sacrificed her own life to appease the wrath of the gods, making the waters around the Southern Archipelago calmer and easier to navigate, ensuring bountiful harvests every year.
To commemorate this noble and respected saint, the residents of the Southern Archipelago spontaneously began to sing the beautiful melodies that had once protected them amidst storms and waves and communicated with the ocean on the anniversary of her passing.
Thus, the prototype of the "Sea-Rhyme Festival" was formed.
Now, after countless years of evolution, the triennial "Sea-Rhyme Festival" had become the largest festival in the Southern Archipelago. The customs had evolved from simple chanting into more convenient, widely accessible, and celebratory activities.
These included, but were not limited to, "Flower Boat Parades," "Singer Competitions," and "Scale-Seeking Nights"...
The "Moon-Tide Feast" was one of the most famous of these evolved customs.
On the day of the Sea-Rhyme Festival, people would often set a grand feast with ingredients sourced entirely from the ocean, inviting friends and family to gather and share.
Some smaller islands with outstanding economic strength would even host a grand banquet sufficient for all the islanders to celebrate the arrival of the festival.
"In the Outer Sea Archipelago, the 'Moon-Tide Feast' is still practiced today, and the scale of the events is even larger."
But similarly, because of the countless fugitives and villains hiding within the archipelago, the nature of this custom had changed among certain groups after blending with the local background.
Every three years, the organizers would invite a large number of "big shots" who possessed sufficient prestige and power at sea to gather on a pre-selected island, the specific location of which changed every year.
Under the guise of the festival, they would exchange information, trade channels, and warm their relationships.
And Xia Nan's target, "Algae-Scale" Dodd, was naturally one of the invitees.
Moreover, in all these years, he had never been absent.
"In that case, as long as I can get to the venue of this 'Moon-Tide Feast,' I'll definitely be able to see Dodd?"
After hearing Hera's introduction, Xia Nan's heart stirred, and he sought confirmation.
"Of course!" A smile played on the woman's lips as she tilted her head back for another sip of ale. "Whether you want to make your move directly at the banquet or follow them back to their nest depends on your own skill and choice."
"But from what you're saying, this banquet Dodd attends should be invitation-only, right?"
"Without an invitation, wouldn't I not even know the specific location of the event?"
Xia Nan keenly realized the difficulty in the plan and instinctively looked at the charming tavern owner before him.
Seeing her expression, he knew that since she had brought it up, she must have a solution.
He said no more, shifting from active questioning to passive waiting, simply gazing at Hera and waiting for her to speak.
Sure enough, facing Xia Nan's calm gaze, Hera—who was once again trying to pull at his emotions through the conversation—realized that her intentions had been noticed by this young adventurer.
She shook her head with a light laugh, no longer keeping him in suspense.
She raised her right hand toward Xia Nan, extending her index and middle fingers in a "V" sign.
"There are two ways to attend this 'Moon-Tide Feast' located in the depths of the archipelago."
It sounded complex and high-end.
But in reality, it was very simple.
The first way was to gain sufficient prestige and fame within the Southern Archipelago region, including Barracuda Bay.
The attendees were already a mixed bag; it didn't matter if the fame came from being an adventurer or a pirate.
When your strength was sufficient, when you possessed the value to establish relationships and open channels, and when your deeds were famous enough to travel across the vast sea to the ears of the organizers...
Naturally, you would receive an invitation.
Simply put, one had to become a "figure of renown" in these waters.
As for exactly how much fame was required, after questioning Hera in detail, Xia Nan had a rough estimate in his mind.
Roughly similar to "Grey Sword's" notoriety in Rivervalley Town?
Not everyone necessarily knew him, and those who had heard of him didn't need to know what "Grey Sword" looked like or the specific deeds behind the name.
But as long as someone was deeply involved in the adventurer profession, had a habit of digging for intel in taverns, and wanted to become a "veteran" in the industry, they would have certainly heard the name mentioned by others.
For Xia Nan, gaining such fame in the Southern Archipelago was not impossible, but it certainly wasn't simple.
His rise to fame in Rivervalley Town had been due, on one hand, to outstanding performances in several commissions collaborating with other adventurers; on the other hand, he had used figures like "Gap-Tooth," who had some local reputation, as stepping stones to eventually achieve a qualitative change and earn his title.
To achieve the same effect in Barracuda Bay would require a certain amount of planning.
And planning itself required Xia Nan to have a thorough understanding of the local environment and prominent figures.
This was not something that could be completed in a short time; it required time.
"As for the second way..."
Hera looked at the black-haired youth across the table with interest, a glimmer flashing in her emerald eyes.
"Find someone with the qualification to attend and have them take you along."
Those who could attend the "Moon-Tide Feast" were all renowned "big shots" of the region. Whether for security reasons or for the sake of prestige and face, they basically never traveled alone.
Bringing a few subordinates was the most normal thing in the world.
To some extent, if one truly wanted to quickly obtain the qualification to attend the "Moon-Tide Feast" without any foundation of fame, this method could be considered a shortcut.
But similarly, compared to the first option, although Xia Nan possessed a certain level of strength and was willing to pay a price to achieve his goal...
He was, after all, a stranger in a strange land, a foreigner who had only just arrived in Barracuda Bay.
He had no channels.
Today was his first day in Barracuda Bay; the number of people he knew could be counted on one hand.
Mar from the Association could be ruled out first; this was a matter outside of official business, and she was just an ordinary person with neither the ability nor the obligation to participate.
Colin went without saying. Although his uncle Paddy had operated locally for many years, seeing the distressed state of that grocery store—which looked as if it were about to go bankrupt at any moment—he clearly lacked the qualification to attend the banquet.
Alton... he could ask him in a bit.
And then there was...
As if realizing something, Xia Nan's brow arched slightly.
Those pitch-black eyes shifted toward Hera, who wore a smile on her lips.
"Oh? So... you can take me?"
(End of Chapter)