A Hospital in Another World? Chapter 1023: Black Flags on the Horizon, Are Pirates Coming?!
Previously on A Hospital in Another World?...
Aishe Moon Song neither agreed nor immediately refused Garrett Nordmark's request. She expressed a desire to visit the research institute first, to see the situation there and decide whether she could help and to what extent.
For now, they needed to continue their journey to the "Flint and Jasmine" adventurer supply shop at the port to visit the Jasmine couple. Their kin was, of course, the most important; the research task could wait a day or two. After all, the entire research institute of necromancers could handle things for a bit longer.
Garrett asked Aishe Moon Song for the names and tribes of the people she wanted to save. Then, he sent an alchemy bird to the research institute, instructing them to improve the treatment of those people. At the very least, he hoped they wouldn't die before he returned!
The elven forest ranger watched the whole time with a smile, without stopping them or making any additional requests. That night, while camping, she went into the forest several times and brought back various foods:
Birds, small animals, large snakes, roots, fruits, mushrooms, leaves, and wild fruits for seasoning, and large leaves for wrapping food...
She started a fire and set up a clay pot. She plucked the birds, cleaned out the innards, stuffed the edible parts, eggs, mushrooms, and some wild fruits into the birds' cavities, wrapped them in leaves, and buried them in wet soil beside the fire;
She skinned, cut, and drained the blood of the small animals, and roasted the meat strips over the fire, sprinkling them with salt and dry leaves;
She threw starchy roots into the clay pot, along with beans from the bushes and chopped snake meat, to simmer into a thick soup...
"Wow, Sister Moon Song, you're amazing!" Cirilla exclaimed, holding a large bowl and eating without lifting her head. She mumbled her admiration while eating:
"I didn't know there was so much delicious food in the jungle! Just a cut on this tree trunk, and there's sweet water! These sour and astringent fruits, when dripped on the meat, smell so good! Just a little digging in the mud, and you can find fragrant and sticky tubers!""Of course!"
Aishe Moon Song raised her head proudly:
"I've been guarding the Bountiful Forest for over a hundred years! I can gather anything edible, tasty, or useful for seasoning with my eyes closed! How about that?"
She looked at Garrett with bright eyes:
"Little Garrett, want to come with me to the Bountiful Forest? Nature's children can only develop best by being close to nature and feeling it! Staying with humans will slow your advancement!"
Garrett chuckled. The Bountiful Forest? Does that place have conditions for building hospitals, laboratories, or gathering researchers?
No, it would slow my advancement! If my teacher hadn't said that reaching levels 9 and 10 requires traveling widely and broadening one's horizons, I wouldn't have stayed in the Eagle God’s Kingdom for months!
Cirilla chuckled. Enter the Bountiful Forest? Garrett? He doesn't even dare step off the road in this shallow jungle; how could he walk a mile a day in the Bountiful Forest?
Bernard glanced at them, silently tore off a bird leg, and stuffed it whole into his mouth.
Slow down his advancement?
Since becoming Garrett's follower, he had watched Garrett advance from level 1 to 2, 3... to 10! While others might take three to five years, or even ten if unlucky or untalented, Garrett advanced more than one level per year...
"We'll see, we'll see..."
Garrett mumbled in response. Aishe Moon Song smiled and didn't push him:
Young ones, if they haven't undergone jungle training, would be afraid of the forest; she understood. The guidance should be gradual, after all, as a senior, she had enough patience to train her kin...
Ah, it’s tough for those raised among humans, with no elder to guide them; they don’t even know how to navigate the forest. At this level, if he ever visits the Elven Island, the old-timers would consider him an oddity!
With this mindset, when they set off the next day, Aishe Moon Song intentionally or unintentionally introduced Garrett and his group to some jungle basics. What water is drinkable, what water is not;
What trees are suitable for camping, and which should be avoided;
How to catch birds, snakes, and animals for food, how to distinguish edible mushrooms from poisonous ones...
Talking and chatting along the way, they walked for most of the day until the salty sea breeze hit their faces. Aishe Moon Song took a deep breath of the sea breeze and smiled:
"We're here! Little Garrett, where is that Mrs. Jasmine you mentioned? Let’s hurry over!"
Garrett stood still on the hilltop, gazing into the distance. On the shimmering sea, two or three ships were furling their sails, slowing down, and entering the port. But far on the horizon, a high black flag was flying!
Pirates?
He cast an "Eagle Eye" spell on himself, straining to see. However, the ship with the black sail was too far away. Despite standing on tiptoe and squinting, he couldn't see clearly.
Aishe Moon Song noticed his unusual behavior and turned back:
"Little Garrett, what's wrong?"
"Sister Moon Song, look over there—" Garrett tried to show her:
"On that very distant ship, is that a black flag?"
"Let me see..." The elven forest ranger pressed one hand on Garrett's shoulder, stood on tiptoe, and shaded her eyes with the other hand, trying hard to see. After a moment, she clicked her tongue:
"Still too low, can't see clearly. Hold on!"
She leaped and disappeared from their sight. Garrett followed the sound and saw the forest ranger climbing a tall tree faster and more agile than a monkey.
Soon, she stood at the top of the tree. The seemingly soft and fragile tree top bore her weight steadily, swaying in the wind without losing balance.
After a while, she jumped down, sliding along the trunk:
"It is a black flag. But—there's no skull or other scary marks. Even if it's a pirate ship, it might not be a big one?"
"Anyway, we should hurry over." Garrett said with a serious face. He summoned three Phantom Steeds with a wave of his hand and mounted one. Bernard jumped onto his Silver Moon Deer, and they galloped towards the port:
To the Mage Tower!
To report to the mage on duty!
When there might be enemies, only the Mage Tower could respond quickly and appropriately!
The duty mage, a level 10, was not surprised by the news and thanked Garrett with a smile. He adjusted the Mage Tower's defenses and pointed it out to Garrett:
"Don't worry, we saw it too. If that pirate ship follows the rules, fine. If not, they'll regret it!"
Seeing the mage's confidence, Garrett refrained from offering his help with the defense and left for the "Flint and Jasmine" adventurer supply shop:
"Uncle Hawthorn! Sister Jasmine! There's a pirate ship outside; be careful!"
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