Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic

Chapter 314 Nursery Rhyme and 'Sea Return

He swept both the coins and banknotes under the counter, and the bartender glanced around nonchalantly. Seeing that no one was paying attention to the area, he then opened the bar's hinged flap to let the two in. Subsequently, he pushed open a back door, almost blended into the wall, and handed them each a mask as they prepared to enter:

"You know the rules here, watch out for your new companion."

"Understood."

Miss Princess whispered.

Behind the wall was also a tavern, almost identical to the outside in terms of decor and furnishings, except for the lack of conspicuous doors and windows and a somewhat smaller space with fewer patrons.

On the way here, Miss Princess had already mentioned that the back of the Seven Brooms Tavern was specifically used to host Circle Sorcerers and could only be accessed through an introduction by an acquaintance. Compared to the more function-specific Old John's Pawnshop, Black Raven Library, and Mr. Copus's Night Shop, the Seven Brooms Bar offered a wealth of functions.

Here, transactions of Spellcasting Materials, exchanges of book knowledge, sales of relics, and even gatherings of Circle Sorcerers could all be facilitated.

There were similar places in Tobesk, but none were particularly safe. Compared to the Northern Pearl, only in the freer atmosphere of Coldwater Port within the Dock Area could such a scale of Circle Sorcerers' gathering point exist.

Here, "freedom" referred not only to the relatively loose municipal management of Coldwater Port City's Dock Area but also to the area's chaos. As the most important port from the Old Continent's West Coast to the New World, Coldwater Port was completely different from Tobesk.

The owner behind this tavern was a local High Ring Sorcerer. Although Miss Princess did not know his name, a High Ring Sorcerer was intimidating enough to deter troublemakers here, so if Shard intended to have a steady trading route in Coldwater Port City, this tavern was quite suitable.

The sorcerers in the tavern mostly wore robes or relatively loose coats, gathering in groups of two or three at tables, conversing in low voices. There was also a bar here, behind which stood three men. Two were ordinary people, dressed as bartenders and wiping glasses, while the third was a bald, burly man in a sailor shirt with anchors tattooed on both arms—he was a Circle Sorcerer.

Miss Princess led Shard to the bar:

"I've brought a newcomer, he wants to become a regular here."

"One Pound."

The burly bartender said, looking up to size up Shard in a mask.

It was yet another new expense, but it was unavoidable. After paying, Shard received a red coin. The coin was an ordinary item, serving as a token for entering the sorcerers' gathering spot behind the bar, approximately two-thirds the size of a Gold Pound alloy coin, with no designs stamped on either side.

With this coin, Shard could freely access the sorcerers' gathering area behind the bar. Although the fee was a bit expensive, he believed it was worthwhile.

"Are you sure? I remember 'Sea Return' is a local nursery rhyme here in Coldwater Port."

"I just heard it mentioned, the Church should be aware of it too."

The blonde girl said, knowing Shard was not familiar with local nursery rhymes, she hummed softly:

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"The mermaid's song drifts over the harbor,

Even the blood-stained pirate ship lowers its sails.

Red waves rise in the ocean,

The beautiful girl walks towards the deep sea."

Although it was only a hum, Miss Princess's voice was exceedingly pleasant; she must have received professional musical training.

As for this nursery rhyme, it sounded like people describing mermaids appearing and beguiling pirates, a not uncommon type of rhyme in such a port city. But it reminded Shard of something he had seen this morning about "pirates" at Lemer's safe house.

The bartender sighed:

"Oh, I'd rather believe that this is truly a clue to resolving the curse. But, no matter how bad things get, it shouldn't reach the extent of evils like in Tobesk... "

He abruptly paused, then raised his hand to slap his own face:

"Ptui, ptui, ptui!"

Quite unhygienically, he spit several times into the bar counter, then he explained:

"People at sea believe that you absolutely shouldn't mention those dangerous things lightly. The more you talk about them, the more likely those dangerous things are to happen."

"Ridiculous superstition."

Miss Princess scoffed nonchalantly, but Shard quite appreciated this perspective.