Ball of Nothing

Chapter 594: Sea Hand Malik

"You're not going?" Pocky couldn't help but ask in worry when the kid and the strange magician human stayed behind.

After a delicious meal, the trio drew lots to decide who would defeat the tree ent. It was Truen who won, and Bob couldn't help but be a little suspicious of the results. Truen could have rigged it, seeing how the wood elf proposed the idea. Zero pouted but didn't suspect a thing and wished his best friend good luck.

"Don't beat it up too badly!" Zero yelled. "We need all the wood it has!"

Bob shook his head and forcefully hugged the cuddly sea otter. "Don't worry, It's time for a nap. In the meantime, I think my master has some questions for you."

Indeed, Zero has been waiting for this chance to intero- to interview the famous shipwright. That glint in his eyes made Pocky want to run. He half-regretted agreeing to travel with this strange party.

"Is it true that you can build a ship that sinks? We're looking to visit Indra Seagloo. The werebeasts said that only the Sea Hand brothers can create such a vessel! Many years ago, you and your brother built King Gaon a battleship to fight the sea monsters. It's a pity that the Kraken smashed it. I would have loved to see if it was mightier than the invention of gnomes."

Pocky didn't know what to do as Zero talked about what he saw in Derby Desert. It didn't matter how insane the stories coming from Zero's mouth sounded. The sea otter werebeast thought that this strange magician wasn't lying. In fact, the adventures he had been on reignited the flame in Pocky's heart.

"Have you seen the sea in all these countries?" he asked eagerly. "Tell me, you've travelled almost all of the world. Do you think the world is flat or round?"

Zero blinked and grinned. "What do you think?"

Bob wasn't interested in philosophical discussions and snored away with Pocky in his arms. That didn't deter the shipwright from sharing his thoughts.

"I believe it is flat," Pocky declared firmly. "The edges of the world are at the sea. We can see all of the lands, but after the sun goes down by the edge of the sea, it never comes back. Instead, a new sun is born on the other side of the sky at the opposite edge of this world."

It was an interesting discussion, and honestly, for the people who have never flown in the skies or tried to swim across the ocean, the world might appear flat. Zero saw it all from Heaven, so he knew that wasn't the case. Yet, he wasn't just going to tell Pocky. He wanted to know what Docky thought. How did someone who had never flown the skies or swam the oceans understand that the world was round?"

According to Pocky, his brother had a different gift. It was only when the two brothers worked together that they became able to carry on their master's legacy as the Sea Hand.

"Our master was a gift shipwright who once sailed the world and learned its secrets. Malik was half merfolk and half werebeast. Master Malik didn't speak much of his origins when he was alive. But there were stories saying his parents were a werebeast sea otter and a beautiful sea folk. Due to differences in their families, the couple eloped to build a village of their own in the wilderness. My older brother Docky learned the art of navigation and design from Master Malik, and I learned engineering to make my brother's design come true."

Hearing that Pocky's master was half merfolk, Zero wondered if these shipwrights knew anything related to Indra Seagloo's location.

With a frown, Pocky admitted that he didn't know much about it. However, he quickly added that if Zero escorted him back to the village safely, his brother might be able to help.

"Docky is good at navigation. With my observation notes about the sea, he could plot a chart of Indra Seagloo's movements and location."

When Zero heard that, he became slightly confused. Initially, Truen and Zero thought that Indra Seagloo was a very hidden location deep under the sea. However, Pocky's information and the werebeasts from Lycantopia's story made them wonder if there was more to it. Could Indra Seagloo be a huge underwater ship or city? It sounded as if the location of this country wasn't fixed.

"Can I just confirm what you meant earlier? Indra Seagloo travels?"

Pocky looked at Zero oddly. "You haven't heard? Some of Indra Seagloo' residents can be considered the ancestors of certain werebeasts. At the same time, many descendants of Indra Seagloo are relatives of the old faes from Mystic Meadows. Think of the merfolks like a hybrid between faes and werebeasts. The only reason why Indra Seagloo is feared is because of their curse."

Zero blinked. They were cursed?

Pocky shook his head at Zero's confusion. "You don't know? Even when you're such a well-travelled adventurer?"

The doctor looked away and sulked. "I grew up in Endow Hill. There isn't much contact with the outside world until recently."

Pocky looked at the youthful human and laughed. He laughed and laughed so hard that tears rolled down his cheeks. Bob, who was napping, woke up with a start as the sea otter in his arms showed no signs of stopping as if he finally lost it.

Zero put up his hands innocently when Bob gave his master a questioning look. They stared at the shipwright helplessly until Pocky calmed down.

"I honestly thought you would be older. I guess I was wrong. Alright, young man. Let me tell you what I know about Indra Seagloo as thanks for rescuing me."

"In one of the salvaged documents you took from me, there should be a calendar marking out dates and sightings. I've been observing the sea for a very long time. One thing I can be sure about, Indra Seagloo is an underwater civilisation that moves. We don't know why it moves because nobody who went underwater ever resurfaced. Occasionally, we will hear and see Queen Leah's activities. However, nobody can predict where Indra Seagloo was going to show up next. This is why many merchants are afraid to use the sea to trade. Even if Indra Seagloo doesn't pass by their sea routes, pirates, sea thugs, and sea monsters are difficult to deal with."

In the mindscape, Wii and Mii brought the sea observation charts out. Indeed, Pocky's observations were very detailed, and the fairy assistants attempted to make sense out of it.

"Do you think we can find Indra Seagloo by analysing the pattern?" Wii asked, and Mii grimaced. Even if they could, it would take a very long time.

Zero wanted to ask more about this magnificent underwater world created by merfolks. However, a dreadful sound coming from the swampland got everyone's attention. The horrible scream told them that Truen had finally started his battle against the dark tree ent.

Pocky shivered while Bob grinned widely. "Master! Shall we hurry to see the show?" he asked.

The shipwright paled visibly, and Zero nodded in excitement. He was eager to see his best friend in action. Truen was mostly a pacifist. Hence, Zero wouldn't miss the chance to watch the archer go all out on precious material.