I Have a Sailing Game

Chapter 547 - 317: Mother Tree Mountain, Papua

After being lifted high by Rogel.

The originally "temperamental Master Artisan" instantly revealed his true self, hugging the wall beside him and crying out loudly.

"Hmm?"

His words took Rogel by surprise.

With his strength, he naturally sensed something hidden within the wall next to him.

However, he only thought it might be a mouse or a pet.

He didn’t expect the truth to be like this.

Swoosh...

Upon hearing the fake Papua’s cry, the betrayed Papua couldn’t continue hiding. He had to push open the wall mechanism, coming out with an expression of helplessness.

"Sir, my name is Papua. I can help you fix this pointer, but please spare Pik’s life."

The small-statured figure spoke.

Rogel looked at him and was somewhat surprised.

No, perhaps it should be... her.

"Elf-dwarf hybrid?"

Rogel put down the impersonating master, easily seeing through her lineage.

"Yes."

Papua nodded. Her stature was petite, her skin somewhat dark, her figure well-defined, but her appearance was far from ideal...

"I am a hybrid of elf and dwarf. Because people don’t accept an ’anomaly’ like me, I can only hide and have Pik help me cover up my identity. Please forgive me."

Papua spoke quite helplessly, telling the truth.

Rogel walked all the way inside.

The guild’s guards could not detect his presence.

However, upon seeing the fake Papua, Rogel "persuaded him nicely," agreeing to repair the pointer, but asked Rogel to leave the room...

Thinking he was up to something, Rogel resorted to physical exchange, which led to the current situation...

And now it seems.

The reason he asked Rogel to leave the room was only to keep Papua’s true identity undiscovered.

"... "

Rogel silently put Pik down.

"... Sorry, I thought you were causing trouble."

Upon hearing Rogel’s apology.

The tall human Pik felt even more aggrieved and upset.

"Sir, I’ll help you repair this demon pointer, and if you need money, we can provide it. We just beg you not to disclose this matter..."

"We just want to survive..."

"Please!"

Saying this, Pik and Papua bowed deeply to Rogel.

"Understood, I won’t say a word."

Rogel nodded.

Upon hearing Rogel’s words, Papua felt a wave of relief.

"Alright, I’ll immediately help you repair the pointer."

With that, Papua beckoned Pik to start working.

Rogel walked to a corner of the forge room, quietly observing.

[By watching the Master Artisan at work, you have gained artisan experience.]

[With the bonus from the special skill "Wheel of Knowledge," your artisan experience has greatly increased.]

[Your artisan skill level has risen...]

Rogel’s notification bar began to echo skill upgrade prompts once again.

However, he wasn’t concerned about this.

Artisan skills elevate rapidly, contributing little to his improvement.

The skill’s utility lies primarily in battles among low-tier Extraordinaries, or crafting some useful gadgets... Wait!

Rogel suddenly seemed to recall something.

After contemplating for a moment, he focused his sight on Papua and Pik in front of him.

"Papua, where are you from?"

Upon hearing Rogel’s inquiry.

While mixing repair materials, Papua nodded, sighed, and said: "I don’t know... I was found by my grandfather, raised on a deserted island at the boundary of the Sea of Confession. Pik is my fellow villager."

As expected.

Rogel slightly nodded.

If Papua knew her origins, she definitely wouldn’t stay here.

"Is it only the Mother Goddess Church that sees you as an anomaly?"

Rogel continued to ask.

"No." Papua shook her head: "The churches within the Sea of Confession mostly have this attitude."

The three continued to chat for a while.

During this period, Rogel learned that, within the Sea of Confession, there is indeed such a hidden group.

They are called anomalies.

It’s essentially a term for non-mainstream races.

Within the Sea of Confession, the dominant race is humans, so other races are naturally anomalies.

But, in such vast waters, some "accidents" are bound to occur.

Existences like Papua exemplify such "accidents."

And this kind of existence isn’t regarded as human within the Sea of Confession.

Because collecting civilian Faith through acts of "scapegoating" is the church’s most commonly used tactic.

Previously, they targeted anomalies.

Now they target Extraordinaries.

Ultimately, as long as conflicts arise followed by judgments and the burning of specific groups, a large number of ignorant people will believe in the church.

An age-old craft.

Although the attention on anomalies is minimal, they are naturally unwelcome.

Moreover, based on human nature.

Most anomalies have two outcomes.

If considered attractive, they become playthings.

If considered ugly, they end up on the pyre.

For someone like Papua... both outcomes are possible, given some pervert enjoyment of such peculiar tastes.

In any case, Papua’s only option in the Sea of Confession is to hide.

If not for having Pik—such a trusted childhood friend—Papua might not know her fate now...

"Hmm..." Rogel listened and pondered briefly before saying: "Perhaps you could live in the Black Tide Secret Society; a skilled race like yours should be well-regarded."

"Black Tide Secret Society?" Papua paused her work momentarily: "I’ve heard of it—it seems to be a newly emerging church. Is there anything special about it?"

"Equal treatment." Rogel replied.

Upon hearing this, Papua was momentarily silent: "..."

These four words resonated within her heart.

"Even Magic Potion Extraordinaries can be accepted there, so other races should also be accepted, right?"

Rogel stroked his chin, seemingly making an objective assessment.

"Really?" Papua’s friend Pik, somewhat excited, said: "If that’s true, Papua can reveal her true self and enjoy the honor of a Master Artisan!"

But Papua calmly tugged Pik’s small arm, refraining from speaking.

Clearly, she didn’t believe Rogel’s words.

It’s understandable.

Rogel was someone she met for the first time, and the initial impression wasn’t particularly good, so she couldn’t extend much trust to him.

She might even leave here with Pik after Rogel departs.

Rogel naturally foresaw some of her thoughts.

Yet he didn’t plan to give up persuading Papua.

"Speaking of the wonders, such a new church forced the Kizi Church to cede territory for peace..."

"I assume the Black Tide Secret Society isn’t likely to be easily eliminated..."

Rogel added some objective comments and then refrained from saying more.

Papua seemed deeply engrossed in her work, not responding to his words, so it was unclear if she was listening.

Soon, Papua handed Rogel a finely crafted pointer.

[You have received: Demon Pointer ×1.]

"Thank you."

Rogel took the pointer and prepared to leave.

Papua hurriedly called him, offering some money.

Rogel shook his head in refusal: "No need, I’ll keep your secret safe."

With that, he left.

The guards continued to ignore him.

Returning to the room, Papua began to ponder.

"He mentioned that Black Tide Secret Society might be good." Pik stroked his chin, then sighed: "But it’s unfortunate; we can’t take the guild with us and leave."

"No." Papua spoke, calm and said: "In some time, we will leave here."

"Why?" Pik asked, surprised, and scratched his head in bafflement.

"That person is strange, can’t trust him."

Papua said.

The long history of fleeing has made her unable to trust anyone.

"Alright... where will we go?"

Pik scratched his head and asked.

After a moment of silence, Papua spoke: "We’ll first go to a gathering point..."