Colin has so ambition.
He grew up in a remote mountain village far from the town, and even though he didn’t receive much education, he still developed the idea of stepping out of this small world and forging his way in the outside world.
Perhaps part of the reason lies in the immature mind of a young person, naive and tender, seeing only the bright future depicted by the minstrel and overlooking the possible hidden dangers in the outside world.
But regardless, he bravely took the first step.
Seizing the opportunity when an adventurer nad "Xia Nan" passed through the village, he went to the largest city in the surrounding area, "Suo Yu Bay," with him, seeking out his Uncle Paddy whom he hadn’t seen in many years.
His Uncle Paddy was very good to him.
Having worked in Suo Yu Bay for many years but remaining unmarried, he almost imdiately treated Colin as his own son after confirming his identity, buying him new clothes and arranging work, taking good care of him.
Colin even heard Uncle Paddy personally say that after spending a few years with him to beco familiar with the channels in town and establishing connections, he would pass on the "Salmon Roe" Grocery Store to him after retirent.
Perhaps to those gentlen in the White Cliff District, or to professional adventurers like Xia Nan, such a corner shop might not be much.
But for an outsider like Colin with a poor background, a fixed property inside Suo Yu Bay that can continuously generate inco is already the limit they can achieve through hard work, sothing countless ordinary people working diligently at the port, laundry, or stables have long dread of.
Colin is very grateful to his uncle for treating him this way, but to so extent, he feels that farming in the village and guarding the Grocery Store in Suo Yu Bay seems no different.
It’s just a more refined-looking cage.
Of course, he knows that his ideas are too naive and even laughable in many people’s eyes.
But after all, he’s just a teenager, deep down he still longs to beco a powerful adventurer like Mr. Xia Nan, even if he knows he has limited talent and fears death and combat... Having finally co to Suo Yu Bay, he can’t be an adventurer, but he must go to sea.
For this, his Uncle Paddy was exceptionally open-minded.
Knowing that every young person who cos to Suo Yu Bay is harboring so unrealistic fantasies about their future.
Only real setbacks can bring them back to reality.
So, using his connections in town over the years, he helped Colin get himself placed as an apprentice sailor on a cargo ship that was about to set sail.
The voyage was short, the route relatively safe, and there was hardly any danger.
Yet the boring and monotonous life at sea, along with the crew within the enclosed space forming a little society with mixed crowds, was enough to help him see reality.
Of course, Colin had no idea what he might face; presently, he was eagerly looking forward to the upcoming sea life, panting heavily and happily moving cargo up and down the gangway.
Until a familiar voice ca from behind.
"Mr. Xia Nan?" The young man’s expression was astonished as he looked at the adventurer walking towards him, clearly not expecting to see him in this place.
Soon, as if realizing sothing, he blinked and exclaid with joy:
"So, is it true that the adventurer the captain ntioned the other day, who’d just joined the ship to help escort the cargo, is you?"
During the many days of travel from the village to Suo Yu Bay, he surely knew of this black-haired adventurer’s strength, having long set him as his goal to strive for.
Now, unexpectedly finding an opportunity to interact with him, he was overjoyed, looking forward even more to this voyage.
Xia Nan nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping over the coarse linen clothing soaked in sweat on Colin and the heavy cargo at his feet. With so puzzlent, he asked:
"Why are you working at the dock? What about your Uncle Paddy?"
"Hehe, I asked him to help find a job as an apprentice sailor." Colin scratched his head a bit sheepishly, as if embarrassed to talk about his whims in front of Xia Nan. "I plan to work at sea for a while first to see how it goes."
On the way to Suo Yu Bay, Xia Nan had heard Colin express his longing for sea life, and seeing him becoming a sailor now wasn’t much of a surprise.
Only feeling it was quite a coincidence that they bumped into each other again, he chatted with him for a while.
Just as he was about to inquire about the captain Colin ntioned, a rough, hoarse male voice ca from the gangway.
"You two must be Mr. Xia Nan and Mr. Alton, right?"
Quickly descending the gangway was a middle-aged man around forty years old with dark skin.
His close-cropped hair and the wind and sun from years of sea voyages had made his appearance more weathered than that of ordinary people. His wide palms were covered in calluses, marks left from years of wrestling with ropes and the ship’s wheel.
Even though he was the captain and earned much more than regular sailors, he wasn’t wearing fancy clothes to reflect his status, but just a slightly loose short shirt, appearing simple yet lending his deanor more stability.
"Hello, I’m Gregory, captain of the ’Black Crow’." The middle-aged man proactively extended his hand to the two, showing his respect for Xia Nan and Alton, "I hope we have a pleasant cooperation ahead."
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