The smell of this canned wolf-fish is really pungent… not just stinky, but disgusting… it's practically biochemical poison! Klein crouched in the corner and took more than ten seconds to recover.
In that instant, he had grossly underestimated the smell of the canned wolf-fish and failed to make the most effective countermeasure. He didn’t immediately use the “Paper Substitute” or create an invisible air tube to pretend he was breathing underwater.
Now, he finally realized how wise it was not to open a can of wolf-fish in a public place!
Phew… Klein exhaled, slowly stood up, picked up his luggage, and walked step by step toward the exit of the docks.
His first impression of the city called Nas was that the houses were mostly white and widely used stone materials. Second, although it wasn't too far north, the temperature was quite cold—even now in April, it was only a few degrees Celsius. Third, there were many whaling houses where massive white whales were dismembered into skin, meat, fat, bones, and “gray amber.”
The latter two were used for making crinolines for ball gowns and top-tier spices, respectively. Whether used as incense or added to perfumes, they were luxuries only nobles and wealthy people could enjoy.
As for the skin, meat, and fat of the white whale, they also had their uses: they could be made into clothes, food, and oil. In Nas and the Gargas Islands, cooking with white whale had formed a unique culture, with various methods and famous restaurants.
Klein passed one whaling house after another and saw carts loaded with separated fat heading toward a factory not far away emitting black smoke. It was an oil refinery typical of the Gargas style, where white whale fat would be refined into whale oil, bottled and barreled, becoming excellent fuel and the lifeblood of certain industries.
Very distinctive… Klein breathed out white mist and stood there watching for a while.
Leaving the port and entering the city, a cacophony of Feysac speech reached his ears.
Klein, who was fluent in ancient Feysac, the source of Northern Continental languages, had long been familiar with the speech of the northern barbarians. Hearing the noise, he turned his head and saw a group of tall, light-haired people carrying banners, parading through the streets.
The foremost banner clearly wrote their demands:
“Oppose the indiscriminate hunting of white whales; we need sustainable development!”
Pfft… Klein barely managed to keep his composure, immediately believing that the concept of “sustainable development” was 99 percent “invented” by Emperor Roselle.
Turning his gaze, he looked at the banners behind and understood the purpose of this march more clearly:
“Whale for survival, not for pleasure!”
“Humans are no more noble than white whales!”
“Greedy demons, leave Nas!”
At that moment, police in gray uniforms with shields, long forks, and batons blocked the progress of the march.
After a brief quarrel, the scene quickly turned violent.
Many young people in the march threw open cans of wolf-fish and bottles of spirits with cloth wicks set on fire. The police also stopped restraining themselves, pushing back, shielding and beating with batons.
Klein pinched his nose, watching the flames in the street. He noticed that many pedestrians were completely unfazed; aside from a few onlookers, the rest continued on their way to their destinations normally.
Seems this is a common occurrence in Nas… Do protests always turn into conflicts? Typical of the Feysac Empire… Klein muttered, detoured around this street, and casually found an inn to stay.
He still registered under the name Gehrman Sparrow, not at all worried that the information spread by the “Vice Admiral of Disease” Tracy would make the Church of the Evernight Goddess treat him as a “Faceless” person. Because he had no intention of seeking out mermaids who had become believers of the goddess along the whaling route; he intended to go straight to the dangerous area at the easternmost part of the Sonia Sea.
As for the safety issues in the Gargas Islands, he didn't need to worry. This was a colony of the Feysac Empire, and the only legal religious organization was the Church of the God of War, which was very hostile to the Church of the Evernight Goddess.
Klein had originally worried about encountering many “Faceless” here—to the point that going next door to enjoy a whale dish would meet seven or eight of them. But after careful thought, he rationally ruled out that possibility.
First, because Beyonders of the “Fortune Teller” pathway were rare to begin with. Above Sequence 8, Klein had only met three so far. Second, Sequence 6 Beyonders weren't common weeds; even here in the pirate paradise, those with bounties reaching 5,000 pounds were rare animals. Third, Faceless, once prepared, would take whaling ships to find mermaids—either to start believing in the goddess, sink to the bottom and become researchers, or be highly intelligent, seize the opportunity, successfully advance, and leave safely. They rarely stayed in the Gargas Islands for long.
In all of Nas, there are no more than two Faceless besides me… Klein adjusted his clothes, not in a hurry to contact the “Star Admiral” Cattleya. In a good mood, he went to the street and, based on what he had heard during his travels, started looking for food.
Raw white whale slices, fried whale steak, whale fat with skin, grilled whale meat… Klein, like a genuine traveler, visited three restaurants and tasted different foods.
Not bad, quite unique. The fishy smell wasn't too strong; instead, it stimulated the appetite… burp… Klein covered his mouth and went outside, noticing that the streetlights were sparse, but the light from the houses on both sides was bright, to some extent alleviating the night's darkness.
The cold wind blew in from the sea, causing Klein to raise his collar. The azure cufflink dimmed, embedded deeply in the wrist.
Compared to a ring, a cufflink better fit Gehrman Sparrow's persona, so Klein did not blame the “artisan” for unilaterally changing the requirement.
And the harmonica that had the ritual for summoning spirits from the Spirit World fixed on it perfectly matched Klein's intentions; it could be used for a year and a half, and was silver-white overall, exquisite and beautiful.
When he got the harmonica, Klein imagined a scene: a mad and powerful adventurer, on a quiet night under the deep moonlight, leaning on the ship's railing, playing a sad melody on the harmonica.
Unfortunately, this harmonica couldn't make a sound at all; it could only be used to summon Reinette Tinekerr.
Almost imperceptibly shaking his head, Klein walked steadily through the empty, cold streets of Nas and returned to the inn.
After adjusting his condition through sleep, he went to Gray Amber Street the next morning and entered a general store called “Frenzied Whale Dance.”
Glancing at the white-haired boss, who was a head taller than him, Klein tapped the counter with his finger and said in Feysac:
“Buy whale oil.”
The boss's face was full of wrinkles, but he wore only a jacket made of white whale skin; the light patterns had a strange beauty.
“How much?” The boss was drinking strong liquor in large gulps, not bothering with the messy arrangement of goods.