Chapter 380 Pritz Harbor
Just like when Angel arrived in Backlund three months ago, the busy platform was filled with thick fog, composed of the steam exhausted by the locomotive and the smog in Backlund itself. However, compared to the past, the pungent smell was less noticeable.
"Due to a lack of workers, half of the factories in the East District have already stopped operating, and the same is true in the docklands. Compared to the environmental protection bill that hasn't been passed yet, this is the fastest 'solution' to eliminating the smog."
Klein leaned close to Angel, whispering as he walked toward the steam train parked on the platform. His short black hair was neatly combed to the side, and he still wore his gold-rimmed glasses. However, he had used the Faceless Man's ability to adjust his facial features, making them thinner and more angular. The beard he had been growing for months had also disappeared, giving him the youthful, energetic look of his twenties.
"But they've increased wages, even double the minimum wage required by the recently signed bill. Look, many workers from nearby cities have already arrived in Backlund. In less than a week, all the factories will be back in operation."
Angel didn't know much about these things originally, but he had just been "educated" by Mr. Hanged Man at the Tarot Club a few days ago. He also had a companion who was very interested in current affairs, so he learned a lot of the latest news through observation and hearing.
The steam train they were about to board entered Backlund from the north and would continue south until it stopped at Pritz Harbor, which was the first stop for the two to "escape from Backlund."
The train stopped and the doors opened, and a huge crowd of people squeezed out of the carriage. These were people who had read about Backlund's labor shortage in the newspaper and had come to this big city to try their luck.
Don't be in a hurry, get off first and then get on... Angel thought silently in his heart, his eyes lingered briefly on faces full of expectation and hope, and suddenly locked onto two passengers, a man and a woman.
Through the black veil, she wasn't worried about being noticed by the other party, but she still quickly averted her gaze like a guilty thief, then turned her head to look at Klein beside her. Klein was also staring blankly in that direction. He didn't retract his gaze until this wave of passengers passed by and the conductor shouted loudly to the passengers who were getting on the train to prepare for ticket checking.
The sound of the two people's conversation still lingered in their ears.
"... Let's take a look at that apartment and go back this afternoon. It won't delay your exams. I've calculated that renting it now while the price is still low will be 20% cheaper than after the New Year..."
"...North District? Why does every city have a North District? Wouldn't it be better to continue living in the West District?"
"Unlike Tingen, the west district here is the wealthy area. The north district has the cathedral of the Goddess Church, and it's closer to your new school..."
The voices of a man and a woman talking gradually faded away. Angel looked at Klein with some concern, but Klein remained calm. He adjusted his hat, looked back, smiled slightly, and said,
"Let's go."
"Aren't you going to see them?"
Seeing Klein shake his head resolutely, Angel sighed, took out his ticket, lined up for inspection, and boarded the train to Pritz Harbor.
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Pritz Port is the largest and most important port in the Kingdom of Loen. Together with Enmat Port in the northeast, it undertakes more than two-thirds of the sea transportation tasks. Every day is the busiest day.
Angel and Klein took a one-hour steam train ride and arrived at the port city at noon. They used their new identities to find a remote hotel to stay temporarily.
Klein originally wanted to choose a double room, but after thinking for a moment, realizing that he would be staying here for two to three days, he hesitated and changed to two single rooms. This hesitation made Angel look at him sideways, wondering what he was thinking.
Fortunately, the hotel provided a lunch that was not very sumptuous at the time, but was very local in style, so Angel quickly forgot about the incident and enjoyed the nostalgic taste of fish and chips.
After lunch, taking advantage of the time when there were fewer people on the streets at noon, they took a carriage to the Pritz Harbor Ticketing Company in the White Rose District. It was an old three-story building that sold all passenger ship tickets departing from Pritz Harbor.
They thought there would be fewer people during this time, but when they entered the hall, they were dumbfounded. There were seven windows open for ticket sales in the spacious ticket hall, but there was a long queue in front of each window, and the longest queue even reached the door.
"I'll go check the ship information. You queue here." Klein said softly. After Angel nodded, he walked towards the notice board nearby.
The latter found a smaller team and stood at the end. He looked around and soon stopped at a notice posted on the wall.
"You can't urinate or defecate anywhere... Would anyone really do that in public?... You can't eat canned wolffish indoors... Are you worried that the smell will be too fragrant for a hungry person to endure?"
She guessed, but felt that she might be thinking in the wrong direction.
As the queue continued to shorten, Klein finally returned to her side, his expression somewhat troubled.
"Have you chosen?"
She inquired.
"There are three passenger ships bound for the Rorsted Archipelago on the 15th: the White Agate, the Saint Desius, and the Wavebreaker. I'm hesitating which one to choose," Klein explained, his gaze still fixed on the nearby notice board. "The Wavebreaker was converted from an unfinished warship from before the war. It's large, sturdy, and powerful, but the living conditions aren't great. I think I should choose between the first two."
"How do their prices compare?" This is the question Angel is most concerned about.
"The prices are about the same. First class is 35 pounds, second class is 10 pounds, and third class is 4 pounds. Except for first class which is a suite, all other cabins are single rooms."
"It'll cost 20 pounds for two people. I might as well just buy first-class tickets... and the Saint Decius sounds like it's named after a saint. Could it be a ship of the Church of Storms?"
"Ma'am, you have a keen eye. The Saint Desius is indeed as you said. From the captain to the sailors, they are all believers of the Lord of Storms. Of course, this is perfectly normal on the Five Seas, but it is also a cargo ship. If you two are going on a long journey, the White Agate would be a better choice."
A slightly exaggerated voice came from behind Angel. The two turned around and saw a middle-aged man in a black and white checkered uniform and a black soft hat holding a newly printed flyer with cursive words such as "White Agate, Your Home on the Sea" printed on it.
Did he meet a salesman? Judging from his uniform, he looked like a security guard at a ticketing company. Apparently, he also had a part-time job to earn some extra money… Angel nodded calmly and asked,
"What about the White Onyx? Does it have any advantages over other ships?"
"It looks like a sailing ship, but it's equipped with a steam engine. Its top speed is 16 knots, and many pirate ships can't catch up with it. What's more, its captain was once a boatswain in the Royal Navy, and he brought with him many experienced sailors. It has never been robbed by pirates!" Seeing Angel's interest, the guard began to introduce it at a very fast speed. "If you choose first-class, you can live in a suite with servants' rooms, enjoy the first-class exclusive restaurant with a sea view, have waiters who have received etiquette lessons and chefs with excellent cooking skills. Just like it says here, it's a home at sea..."
As he spoke, he shook the flyer in his hand.
"Do you know the captain?"
Klein, who was carefully studying the contents of the flyer, suddenly asked, causing the guard's face to stiffen slightly. After a moment, he replied with a wry smile:
"Before I retired, Captain Ireland was my superior, but don't worry, everything I say is true. Just now, a family of passengers returning to Bayam from Backlund listened to my introduction and bought tickets on the White Agate."
"Thank you, we'll think about it."
Angel "dissuaded" the salesman with a polite smile, then looked at Klein, waiting for his decision.
A first-class ticket offers better surroundings, service, and, what sounds like, better food, but it's £15 more expensive than two second-class tickets.
However, if you book a first-class cabin, it is equivalent to living together?
The thought suddenly flashed through her mind.
"We'll be spending a week at sea in the Rorsted Archipelago. Should we... choose first class?"
Klein, who was always calculating, hesitated for a moment and actually accepted the guard's offer.
Giving him a suspicious look, Angel went to the ticket window and booked a first-class suite on the White Onyx, departing the next morning.
"Canned wolffish? Haha, I just heard the guard at the ticket office mention it." On the way back, Klein heard Angel's question and explained with a chuckle, "It's a can of pickled fish from Feysac. The smell is very unique. It's said that if you open a can in the ticket office, everyone will run away within ten seconds."
It sounds like canned herrings. I actually thought it was a delicacy... Angel felt his stomach churning and quickly shook his head to get rid of the idea of biological weapons.
In the afternoon, they came to the seaside of Pritz Harbor and found a timber merchant near the dock. They customized some flammable wood that had not been waterproofed and a simple wooden frame.
Angel had deliberately set aside two days in Pritz Harbor in order to complete the promotion ceremony and take the potion to advance to Sequence 5 before boarding the ship and setting sail.
Today is a fine day, a perfect day for the stake.
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