freenovelworld Chapter 96 Enchantment Theory
Chapter 96 Enchantment Theory
Chapter 96 Enchantment Theory
The palm wood windows open outwards, letting in moonlight and starlight.
A writing desk sits under the window, but it is empty.
There is only a stone eagle sculpture on the table, bathed in the light of the stars and moon.
A magic circle shimmering with blue light adheres to the surface of the stone carving.
The array flashed faster and faster, and Henry's breathing became more and more rapid as he stared intently at the sculpture.
Ultimately, the magic circle shattered, and Henry's enchanting attempt still could not escape the fate of failure.
Faced with this result, Henry could only let out a heavy sigh and shake his head helplessly.
He then took out the book and studied its contents carefully.
Henry had read this passage thousands of times.
He believed he had long since fully understood everything mentioned above, yet his attempts at consciousness enchantment remained unsuccessful.
Henry was certain that his steps and operations had not gone wrong, but what exactly caused his failure?
He couldn't help but wonder if the contents of the book were truly accurate.
Or, did the stargazers deliberately conceal a certain step?
Following this line of thought, Henry believed it was highly likely.
If the Stargazer's theory is wrong, and consciousness enchantment is impossible, this part of the book wouldn't even be recorded.
At least in Henry's view, the stargazer in the book possesses the integrity and pride of a scholar.
Even if this research was so important to him that his assistants were determined to document it anyway, they should have explained the conclusions and even the reasons for its failure, rather than leaving it to mislead future generations.
Just like research on "self-immolation," stargazers may be ashamed to talk about it, but they can readily admit their failure.
His assistant was equally responsible for recording the stargazers' attitudes as well.
But if he is right, then as the curator said, this magical technology will surely bring about major changes to the early human era.
But the curator said that there has never been a similar event in history.
In other words, this technology failed to be promoted and popularized.
This does not conform to the general logic of how events unfold; scholars cannot give up the pursuit of recognition from others.
The only explanation Henry could think of was that stargazers didn't want the theory to spread.
The reason why a stargazer might have this idea is likely that he has discovered some huge drawback or hidden danger in this technology, making him prefer to have his theory rendered meaningless.
Therefore, the theories and methods in Henry's possession are likely not complete or correct.
But if this is indeed the truth, what kind of drawbacks or hidden dangers would make him go to the trouble of concealing or even modifying key parts of the theory?
What exactly is the missing or incorrect part?
Henry couldn't reach a conclusion yet, but he understood that continuing to try things haphazardly was just a waste of time and energy.
To break through this bottleneck, Henry must first clarify these questions.
"Gurgle~"
His stomach growled, alerting him to a slight hunger, so he closed the book and decided to get something to eat.
Walking along the dirt road on Spade Island, Henry soon arrived at the tavern.
Although it was late at night, the tavern was still bustling with activity.
Taverns in pirate territory never close.
Whether it's day or night, there are always drunkards looking to drown their sorrows, snapping silver coins at the bar.
If refused, they would risk their lives for a sip of wine.
But no matter how noisy the crowd was, they would all bow to Henry as soon as he entered.
With Henry giving a slight nod, the pirates continued, and the tavern returned to its lively atmosphere.
Henry sat down at the bar, and the owner, with a thick, yellow and white beard, came forward:
"What would you like, Chief?"
"Just a glass of fruit wine, and some food."
The boss nodded and immediately ordered his subordinates to prepare.
A moment later, Henry received a glass of orange liqueur, some dark bread, three sausages, and a few roasted turnips.
Pirates are always carefree; after all, if they knew to think about tomorrow, who would want to be a pirate?
Therefore, they are able to enjoy themselves and indulge themselves in the moment.
But Henry was clearly not eligible for it.
At this moment, however, his expression was somber, making him seem out of place amidst the joyful atmosphere around him.
He just wanted to finish his midnight snack as quickly as possible, then return to his cabin to continue studying the forbidden books.
Just as Henry was about to finish eating, someone suddenly called out to him:
"Boss!"
Henry glanced at him; it was Benson.
"Why are you here?"
"I was planning to sponsor a poor prostitute, but when I heard you were drinking here, I hurriedly pulled up my pants, which were already half off, and rushed over."
"A good night like this is rare, Benson, you should stay there."
Henry popped the last turnip into his mouth, its crisp texture bringing the meal to a perfect close.
"Women are always available, boss, but opportunities to drink and chat with you have become increasingly rare lately."
"There will be plenty of opportunities, you can come to me anytime," Henry rinsed his mouth with orange liqueur, "but you'd rather neglect your manhood."
"That means you've wanted to talk to me for a while now. So, Benson, what's up?"
"I can't hide it from you, boss," Benson nodded, "It's about Goddess Island."
Upon hearing this, Henry looked around and wiped his mouth clean with a handkerchief.
"Benson, want to take a walk with me?"
"Absolutely delighted!"
The two arrived at the beach, stepped onto the sand, and enjoyed the sea breeze and the night.
Henry stretched his shoulders and turned to Benson, saying:
"You've had too many ears just now. What do you want to say? Let's get started."
"Yes, boss."
Benson followed behind Henry, bowing slightly.
"Goddess Island is giving us less and less of its share, yet pirates who once relied on the Clown Islands are constantly coming to join them."
"Boss, this means they've embezzled our money!"
Upon hearing this, Henry calmly replied:
"We did sign a contract, but if even pirates were willing to keep their promises, then everyone in the world would surely be a gentleman."
"But if this continues, we'll only get less and less money, and in the end, we might not get a single penny!"
"I told you long ago that I helped them not for the gold, and the reason I still asked them for a considerable share was to keep them from seeing my true purpose."
Benson took two steps forward, coming to Henry's side and slightly in front:
"But boss, the pirate alliance has held Goddess Island for almost two years. If those righteous people really intended to make a move, a naval battle should have broken out long ago. However, there's been no movement at all!"
“Nothing better, Benson,” Henry said. “Just like I analyzed before, Goddess Island didn’t have the energy to mess with the Clown Islands before those good guys reclaimed it. And just because the good guys didn’t make a move doesn’t mean they didn’t have any ideas.”
Benson frowned upon hearing this: "Boss, what do you mean by that?"
"Those noble lords are often the most petty and narrow-minded people. They cannot be content to watch the pirates divide up their wealth. They must have long planned to remove Goddess Island as a thorn in their side, but they just haven't made up their minds yet."
"Determination? What kind of determination do we need!" Benson said, puzzled.
"When we first established our fleet, it was at the call of the Kingdom of Judian that the various lords united, since we had entered their territorial waters."
Henry saw a smooth stone and sat down on it.
"But the Sea of Despair has no master. Even the Sinclair family has no influence here, so it's difficult for the fleets of the major righteous factions to unite. Benson, how many ships have those six families mobilized to gather around Goddess Island?"
Benson blurted out, "More than a hundred."
"Back then, we only had a handful of ships, and the Allied Forces still managed to let us escape. That incomplete victory must have made those decent people more cautious. Now, facing more pirate ships, they will surely gather more strength, and that will take a lot of time."
"But—boss, how long will it take?"
Henry shrugged:
"How would I know? But it's definitely not a short time, it's several years. If he's been planning this since two years ago, it might have happened within the last two or three years, or maybe they're waiting for some opportunity."
"Hmm—." Benson pondered, "But the appearance of Goddess Island has reduced our profits, and I'm worried that those six leaders aren't satisfied with this. After all, the location of the Clown Islands is better, and I fear they're eyeing us with their greedy eyes. Before our righteous men can act, these pirates might strike first."
Henry glanced at Benson, smiled, shook his head, and then asked casually:
"Benson, how many years have we been in the Sea of Despair?"
"Fourteen years, boss."
"Yes, fourteen years. That's not a short time; I'm already forty."
Henry shook his head.
"However, Benson, we have spent fourteen years and still do not understand why the Corrupted Sea exists, nor do we even know the upper limit of its danger."
"But we are the group that knows it best, boss, even better than the decent guys."
"I can't say for sure, but those six leaders, having only been here for two years, certainly haven't thoroughly investigated that area."
Henry said,
"The Scorching Heart Islands, relying on the pericardial atoll, are still impregnable by even a hundred ships. But the islands in the Sea of Despair are surrounded by corrupted waters. If we do not understand them and rashly assemble a fleet for an expedition, those evils and monsters will surely make them pay the price for their blindness."
The tide surged onto the shore and stopped just an inch in front of Henry's toes.
Benson seemed to be staring at the tide as well, remaining silent for a long time until the tide receded, at which point he spoke again:
"Maybe you're right, boss, but as long as you've thought everything through, I think it should be fine."
Henry turned his head, gazed at Benson for a moment, and then smiled:
"However, Benson, since you've brought this up, why don't you send a ship to protest to those leaders about the reduced share?"
"Huh? Boss, didn't you say you didn't care about gold?"
"I really don't care."
Henry smiled, his expression cunning like a fox. "Besides, I know they will definitely turn a deaf ear to our demands."
"If that's the case, then why bother—"
"...The purpose is simple, Benson," Henry said, "to have an excuse so that when they are besieged by the righteous allied forces in the future, they can ask us for ship support and we will have a good reason to refuse."
"Yes, boss, I'll take care of it," Benson nodded.
"Alright, Benson," Henry stood up, "Relax, it's not a big deal. On the way back, let's talk about something interesting."
Ah—
Benson caught up again, thought for a moment, and then spoke.
"Victor's been hiring a lot of waitresses lately, hehe, those girls are all—"
Let's change the subject.
"Oh! Sorry, boss, I forgot you've been here all along—cough cough!" Benson cleared his throat. "Well, I heard about the Weeping Canyon..."
Ghost ships have been spotted recently.
Upon hearing this, Henry stopped in his tracks:
"What about authenticity?"
"It's probably true; many ships have brought this message."
"When did this happen?"
"It will probably take two or three months."
"Hahaha! I get it!" Henry suddenly threw his head back and laughed.
"Hmm? Boss, what's wrong?"
"Benson, do you miss the old days?"
"Every moment, boss!"
"Then throw away your captain's hat and wait for me on my Two Gold Coins tomorrow morning."
"What are you doing?"
"I need a qualified first mate."
Benson immediately threw his tricorn hat into the sea, knelt on one knee in front of Henry, and the hem of his jazz uniform trailed on the ground.
Henry then immediately returned to his cabin.
He quickly flipped through "Stars, Moon, Night, and Enchantment," applying his conjectures to the theories that had previously puzzled him.
That's right! Henry couldn't help but grin; that's probably it!
In the past, when Henry enchanted items to give them extraordinary powers, he might fail, but he always succeeded.
But why can't we give it consciousness?
The answer may be simpler than you think, because consciousness is not power.
The enchantment of the stargazer is merely a bridge between objects and stars; the power originates from the stars.
However, while the stars may provide power, they seem unable to create a completely new consciousness.
To successfully imbue an object with consciousness, a complete consciousness must be prepared in advance.
To completely imprison one's consciousness within objects is tantamount to enslavement.
Perhaps it is for this reason that stargazers cannot convince themselves that the theory should not have been developed, or at least should not have been widely applied.
That's why he kept this crucial step a secret, and didn't even tell his assistant.
Although these were all Henry's guesses, he felt that perhaps this was the truth!
When Henry heard the word "ghost," he immediately thought that consciousness might exist outside the body, which is why he made those guesses.
To successfully enchant, you must prepare a complete consciousness!
But Henry doesn't know how to separate his consciousness from his body, which is currently his biggest obstacle.
And aren't ghosts the perfect material for him to complete his enchanting magic?
Therefore, he immediately decided to set sail to find the ghost ship and capture a ghost!
The next morning, Henry sailed the two gold coins to Plum Blossom Island.
From afar, he saw a huge ship stranded on the shore.
That ship was larger than any of Henry's ships, and it was covered in wounds.
The ship capsized, leaving a huge gash on its side.
Some claim that the crack must have been caused by lightning.
But Henry knew that those marks were made by a supernatural rhinoceros that had materialized.
This ship is the Black Goat.
It was once the king of the sea, but more than a decade ago, it could no longer gallop.
Now it lies peacefully by the sea, a place that should have been its grave...
At the bottom of the rift, it was widened and a double-leaf door was installed.
The huge sign above the door features a goat and a set of plates.
This place has been transformed into a Black Goat Restaurant.
Henry pushed open the door and entered. The maids Benson had mentioned the night before immediately surrounded him, asking what he needed.
Henry, who had been celibate for many years, was now experiencing a heart-pounding frenzy, but he still pushed them away:
"I'm here to see your boss. Bring him over."
The woman said, "Our boss isn't someone just anyone can meet—"
"He's no ordinary person."
One of the pirates, who was relaxing in the restaurant, suddenly stood up and tipped his hat to Henry.
Henry recognized the man; he was one of Henry's octopuses, named Cyril, and he was said to be an excellent archer.
Cyril turned to the woman and introduced her:
"This man is the original owner of this black goat, the ruler of the Clown Islands, the head of the talkative Benson gang, the boss of the spies, the discoverer of the New World, one of the eight famous leaders of the seas, the guide of all pirates, the son of the legendary pirate Joachim, the navigator Henry!"
Even Henry felt a bit overwhelmed by such a long title.
The waitress was so frightened that she turned pale and immediately apologized for her earlier rudeness.
He immediately promised to bring his boss along.
"Thank you, Cyril," Henry nodded to him.
"Oh! Chief, since you remember the name of such a nobody as myself," Cyril bowed deeply.
"I remember all the outstanding people," Henry said.
"It is my honor to have your approval," Cyril smiled. "However, please don't blame that girl. They have only been on the island for a short time, so it's normal that they don't know you."
"I doubt many of the other girls on the island know me either," Henry said. "However, your manner of speaking doesn't sound like that of a pirate."
"I had a few years of schooling when I was young, Chief, you might not believe it, but I even got a recommendation letter from a comprehensive university. Unfortunately, my family was too poor to afford the tuition. Otherwise, I might be a scholar now, instead of—oh! I'm still a scholar now, only my studies are gold and women!"
"Hahaha!"
Henry was amused by Cyril's humor; he quite liked the man.
"But with your eloquence, you should be able to get along anywhere. How did you end up becoming a pirate?"
"Ever since I missed the chance to go to university, I've vowed to become incredibly wealthy, so I chose a profession that makes a lot of money."
Cyril spread his hands, recounting his helpless past.
"I never intended to become a pirate. Instead, I became a smuggler and made a considerable fortune. However, I was resented by the lord and later faced a double attack from both military aircraft and pirates."
"Staying unchanged leads only to death. Joining a warship means either being hanged, imprisoned, or serving time. I'd rather be a pirate; at least I'd have gold and women to study."
"Haha!" Henry laughed again.
Just as he was about to say something, a distant call interrupted him:
"master!"
An old man with a long, white beard walked towards him and opened his arms.
Henry hugged him: "It's been months, Victor."
"Sir, you stay on the island every day, but you never come to see us or have a chat with us."
"You should be the one doing this to me, Victor. I am the master of the Clown Islands, and I am very busy."
"Busy? You mean you go fishing every day in that little boat I built for you?"
As Victor spoke, he rolled his eyes at Henry.
"Come on, sir, I'm the one who's really busy. I have a large restaurant to run. Sir, did you need me for something?"
"Hmm, where's my captain's cabin?"
"That's our bedroom now, sir, let's talk there."
The two arrived at the captain's cabin of the Black Goat, a place Henry hadn't been to in many years.
Victor added a lot of furniture, changed the layout quite a bit, and even laid out a carpet.
"Doesn't it feel like coming home, sir?"
“I have a new home, Victor,” Henry replied.
"Yes, the Two Gold Coins is a fine ship, but—" Victor looked at Henry, "Sir, we've been wanting to ask you, why did you choose this name?"
Henry immediately changed the subject, as if deliberately bringing up a sore spot:
"I called you here because it's related to the two gold coin accounts."
"What is it?"
"I want you to board the Two Gold Coins, just like you did back then, to be my personal shipwright, and to offer me advice when necessary."
Victor immediately shook his head and frowned, saying:
"Sir, you know we're not pirates."
"You can board my ship as an advisor, just like you did back then."
"It wasn't our choice back then either."
"So I'm giving you this Black Goat as compensation," Henry said, patting the wall.
"And it's now just a pile of wreckage, but—it doesn't matter, we've put it to use anyway. But, sir, do you have another Black Goat now?"
"I can build you a new ship," Henry replied.
“No ship is obligated to board the Black Goat,” Victor said. “Besides, sir, you are now a renowned pirate, with plenty of men willing to risk their lives for you. Why choose us?”
"To be honest, I don't really need you to command a fleet, but this time," Henry narrowed his eyes, "the Two Gold Coins will be sailing alone."
"Huh? Where are you going?"
"For something important, you can think of it as—taking a risk."
"Oh!" Victor chuckled twice. "Master, I'm an old man now, and you're not as young as you used to be, master."
Adventure is a formidable enemy for people our age.
Henry stepped forward and grabbed Victor's shoulder:
"Listen, Victor, we've been too comfortable for too long, and it's been a long time since we've sailed alone, so this is going to be very dangerous."
"Then don't go, sir."
"I have to go."
Henry's eyes were solemn and resolute.
"To recapture that feeling, I need a tacit partner. You, Miko, and Benson will be going too. Even though you keep saying you're not a pirate and don't want to be one, don't you feel a surge of passion when you recall our past experiences?"
Victor remained silent for a long time. He broke free from Henry's hands and paced back and forth in the captain's cabin.
Finally, he sat down on the edge of the bed:
"I can't deny it, sir, I remember telling you more than ten years ago that we were willing to witness your legend—"
"...That-."
"But, sir, that was more than ten years ago. Now we're almost sixty, we're old, we can't take any more hardship. You yourself said it's a dangerous journey."
Looking at Victor's loose skin and wrinkled face, Henry felt a little sad.
Time flies, years pass swiftly, and time is merciless; no one can live forever.
Indeed, at Viktor's age, it is not appropriate for him to continue doing this kind of thing.
Besides, his ambitions lay elsewhere.
Henry walked over and patted him on the shoulder twice:
"I see."
"I'm sorry, sir."
Henry nodded slightly and then left.
They went to the lower deck and then pushed open the door to exit.
Standing outside the restaurant, gazing at the monster that had once fought alongside him across the seas, Henry knew he really shouldn't push it any further...
He was the same.
Henry sighed, turned his head, and saw Cyril.
Cyril removed his hat again in greeting: "We meet again, Chief."
"You haven't left yet?"
"I was just about to leave when I saw you," Cyril said. "Looks like the talk went well, you came down so quickly."
Henry smiled and shook his head: "Defeat is often more devastating than victory."
"Haha, I second that."
Looking at Cyril before him, he hesitated for a moment, then asked:
"Cyril, were you an octopus from the very beginning?"
"In the first few years of smuggling, not quite, but if we're only talking about a pirate career, yes, boss."
"So, have you ever thought about being a shrimp sometimes?"
"Hmm? Chief, what makes you say that?"
"I want to do something, and I need the assistance of outstanding people."
"Is there gold?"
"No, at least, I can't guarantee it," Henry shook his head.
"So what?"
Henry thought for a moment: "Interesting."
"Hahaha," Cyril laughed, "you are far more interesting than I thought, Chief."
"Shall we come, Cyril?"
"Hmm—." Cyril sighed deeply, "Since it's an invitation from the Navigator, Chief, how can I refuse?"
With that, Cyril gave Henry a standard curtsy.
Henry couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.
Although Victor didn't come, Cyril is probably a good assistant, so his trip wasn't in vain.
Cyril said he needed to settle his ship, and Henry understood and gave him half a day.
In the afternoon, Cyril finally boarded the Two Gold Coins.
When he saw Benson, he couldn't help but exclaim:
"The talkative Benson is here too, leaders. Could it be that I've gotten myself involved in a rather unusual incident this time?"
Benson shrugged. "Get used to it, Cyril. The boss's pirate career has been built on a series of legends."
Henry did not respond, but simply leaned on the railing, quietly watching the Black Goat perched on the shore.
Henry's purpose for this voyage was clear: to capture a ghost.
The ghost ship appears in the Weeping Gorge.
If a fleet of such size were to appear near a ghost ship, it might be discovered in advance, allowing the ghost ship to escape.
Moreover, the Weeping Gorge is narrow and long, making it easy for the fleet to be discovered by ships of righteous people, leading to their expulsion or encirclement.
Henry was certainly good at escaping, and he might not be unable to win, but he didn't want to waste time on that.
If we miss the chance to catch up with the ghost ship because of this, it would be even more of a loss.
And it's very likely that Henry's family wasn't the only one eyeing the ghost ship.
Two or three months have passed since the ghost ship appeared, and Henry has already lost at the starting line; he must race against time.
If Henry also has to accommodate the massive fleet, it will undoubtedly slow him down even further.
Moreover, Henry also needed to keep his fleet around the Clown Islands.
If the islands are weakened, those righteous people or the six leaders of Goddess Island might take advantage of the situation.
Therefore, sailing alone and keeping a low profile is undoubtedly Henry's best option at present.
Operating as a single ship often means that there are no other ships to provide support, and all emergencies must be dealt with by the two Gold Coins alone.
Therefore, Henry needs more reliable helpers who can offer him advice and correct his mistakes when needed.
Unfortunately, Viktor ultimately did not agree to participate in this operation.
Based on their past tacit understanding and Victor's superb craftsmanship, his presence will surely make this voyage much more efficient.
Forget it, there's no point in thinking about it.
Victor was not a pirate, and Henry did not want to "kidnap" him a second time.
Besides, Victor is indeed old, what more can Henry ask of him?
"throat.
Henry sighed and straightened up.
It was getting late, and Cyril had boarded the ship. Henry then decided to order the ship to depart.
Henry turned around and froze on the spot.
Viktor, with his white beard, was standing in front of him.
Viktor bent down and placed the two wooden crates he was carrying onto the wooden plank of the driver's platform:
"We haven't used these tools in a long time, so we don't know if they're still working properly."
Benson stepped forward and grabbed Victor's shoulder:
"Hey! Old buddy! I knew you'd come. And let me tell you, if there wasn't a single person on board who could argue, I wouldn't even have a chance to say anything."
Cyril nodded to Viktor: "Please take care of me from now on, Boss Viktor."
Even Miko, for the first time ever, turned his head and shouted:
"Victor!"
"What are you doing! One by one—"
Victor shoved Benson aside, then turned to Henry.
He took a step forward and curtsied deeply:
"master-"
Henry raised an eyebrow: "Didn't you say you were too old to handle any more stress?"
"Well—I'm not so old that I can't move. If I really got to that point, I'd rather hang myself."
Victor scratched his head.
"This ship needs an advisor, but there's no better shipwright in the Clown Islands than me—."
"...and there's no shipwright older than you," the talkative Benson chimed in.
Victor glared at Benson and continued:
"If this ship is also scrapped, we don't want someone else to get a free ride. We're thinking of opening a branch called 'Two Gold Coins Restaurant'."
"I think it's pretty good."
"Then you'll definitely go bankrupt," Cyril joked. "Two gold coins? Not many people can afford that."
Viktor's face turned bright red, and then he took a deep breath.
He faced Henry and lowered his head:
"Besides, sir, we have witnessed your past deeds, but we don't want to miss out on the rest. We'll say it again: we are not pirates, and we look down on pirates, but, sir, only you are someone we are willing to bow down to."
Looking at Victor's thinning hair, Henry simply smiled and shook his head, placing his hand on Victor's shoulder before whispering:
"Welcome back, Victor!"
Henry stepped forward and shouted:
"Set off!"
Benson ordered someone to turn the anchor winch.
Victor directed the raising of the sails.
Cyril climbed onto the crow's nest.
Miko gripped the cockpit handles tightly with both hands.
Henry stood at the bow of the Two Gold Coins ship, fiddling with the two gold coins in his hand.
The two huge bronze plates at the bow of the ship, when illuminated by the sunlight, resemble a pair of bright, clear eyes.
It seems to see through everything, all the ghosts and illusions.