Chapter Text 正文开始
“That’s the last of them.”
“搞定，最后一个。”
Hongjoong glances over after removing his sword from the ribs of another pirate, noting both the disheveled and bloody state of Wooyoung who breathes heavily, kicking over a fallen body with the tilt of his head. His eyes move from Wooyoung to the rest of the ship and bodies that have scattered across the deck. He sees the members of his crew all across, Mingi cringing at the dead bodies while Yeosang pokes through them, no doubt searching for something of value.
洪中从一个海盗的肋骨里拔出剑，回头瞥了一眼，看到宇荣衣衫不整，浑身血污，正呼哧呼哧地喘着粗气，一脚踢开一具尸体，脑袋微微一歪。他的目光从宇荣身上移开，扫视着整个甲板上横七竖八的尸体。他的船员们都在忙碌着，旼琦对这些死尸感到一阵阵恶寒，而如星则在尸体堆里翻来翻去，毫无疑问是在搜寻值钱的东西。
San is piling the bodies along with Jongho while Yunho wipes his blade with the shirt of the soldier he’d slain.
伞和钟浩正在把尸体堆积起来，而润浩则用他干掉的那个士兵的衬衫擦拭着他的刀刃。
His crew was small—the smallest in the sea he supposes, but one of his men was worth a hundred of someone else's. He never worried much that they wouldn’t make it out of a battle alive, and time after time again they prove themselves to Hongjoong and it never fails to make him smile.
他的船员人数很少——他估计是海上人数最少的，但他手下一个就能顶别人一百个。他从不担心他们能不能活着从战斗中脱身，而他们一次又一次地向洪中证明了自己，这总是能让他露出微笑。
“Raid the ship. We need supplies and whatever they know about the trident.” Hongjoong instructs and the crew nods, dispersing to follow their captain’s orders as Wooyoung approaches the older man.
“抄家伙，上船！咱们得补给，还得搞清楚他们知道多少关于三叉戟的事。” 洪中（Hongjoong）一声令下，船员们纷纷点头，四散开来，执行船长的命令。宇英（Wooyoung）走到他身边。
“Don’t you think we should consider another way of getting information on the trident?” Wooyoung questions, tucking his daggers back into his waistband and shirt. Hongjoong purses his lips with a glance towards his master at arms.
“你不觉得我们应该考虑其他方法来获取关于三叉戟的情报吗？” 宇英问道，一边把匕首插回腰带和衬衫里。 洪中瞥了一眼他的武器主管，抿了抿嘴。
“Do you have a problem with what we are doing now?” Hongjoong questions, and they both know that its a genuine question, not something Hongjoong would ask to trap the man by any means. Wooyoung shakes his head, regardless.
“你对我们现在的做法有什么意见吗？” 洪中问道。他们都知道，这是一个真心实意的问题，洪中绝不是想以此来算计他。 宇英摇了摇头，尽管如此。
“I just think it’s not very efficient. We’ve raided five ships so far and they all barely knew anything, let alone something helpful.” Wooyoung answers honestly, glancing at the fallen bodies that he wonders they could’ve prevented. Well, it’s not like he felt remorse for the dead crew since they were known to traffic humans, as far as to traffic young children.
“我只是觉得这效率太低了。咱们都抄了五艘船了，结果他们屁都不知道，更别提什么有用的情报了。” 禹英实话实说，目光扫过地上的尸体，心里琢磨着是不是本来可以避免这场面的。当然，他对这些死掉的船员也没什么好内疚的，毕竟他们可是人贩子，甚至还拐卖儿童呢。
“It’s put us ahead of many, though.” Wooyoung nods at Hongjoong's words.
“这话倒也没错，至少让我们领先不少人了。” 佑荣点点头，赞同弘中的说法。
“But not at the top.” Wooyoung notes and Hongjoong sighs with a nod, acknowledging that yes, they may have jumped ahead in the race to control the sea, but he was still not at the top. His crew had fame on the seas, don’t get him wrong. By far, they were likely the most feared crew due to their elusiveness and the small numbers they carry that still seems to be more than enough to leave sunk ships in their wake. However, it seemed like they were on a pointless chase for a treasure they know nothing about now.
“但还不是顶尖。” 禹英一语道破，弘中叹了口气，点点头，承认他们的确在争夺海洋控制权的竞赛中领先了一步，但他仍然不是最顶尖的。 他的船员们在海上名声显赫，这一点毋庸置疑。 毫无疑问，他们可能是最令人畏惧的船员，因为他们行踪不定，而且人数不多，但似乎已经足够在他们身后留下沉没的船只。 然而，现在看来，他们似乎在徒劳地追逐着他们一无所知的宝藏。
"We still have to get ahead of Chris.” Wooyoung adds and Hongjoong nods once again with a hum.
“我们还得赶在 Chris 前面。” 禹英补充道，弘中再次哼了一声，点了点头。
“And we will. We just need something that will give us the edge. I’m not sure what they know or have, but they are by far the closest to finding the trident.” Hongjoong speaks with determination, never known for giving up at any point in time even if it seems that he should. Chris’ crew, a bunch of stray kids and misfits–an odd combination of people that occupied the Oddinary ship. Despite their odd match, they still worked perfectly with each other and, with ease, got ahead of the crew they just ended. Hongjoong’s not sure how he’ll go about getting ahead of them, as raiding them would not be a smart option due to their own fire power that matches his crew’s. However, he knows he’ll get ahead somehow.
“我们会的，只是需要一些能让我们占上风的东西。我不确定他们掌握了多少情报，或者有什么底牌，但他们绝对是最接近找到三叉戟的。” 洪中语气坚定地说着，他这个人向来如此，就算看起来该放弃了，他也绝不认输。Chris 的船员，一群走失的小孩和怪咖——一群稀奇古怪的人聚在了 “Oddinary” 号上。 尽管他们搭配起来很奇怪，但彼此配合得天衣无缝，轻轻松松就超越了刚刚被他们打败的那伙人。至于要怎么才能超越现在这伙人，洪中心里也没底，硬碰硬地去打劫肯定不是明智之举，毕竟他们的火力跟自己这边不相上下。不过，他知道自己总会有办法的。
“Whatever they know or have is keeping them on the top, instead of us.” Wooyoung frowns with a sigh before Yunho is peeking out his head from the cabin he had been searching in.
“不管他们知道什么，或者有什么好东西，都让他们占尽了上风，而不是我们。” 佑荣皱着眉头叹了口气，这时允浩从他一直在搜索的船舱里探出了头。
“I might’ve found something that will put us ahead.” Both Hongjoong and Wooyoung raise their brows before following Yunho into the cabin where there were scattered papers and a surprising amount of people fallen inside. Perhaps protecting whatever information Yunho had just discovered.
“我可能找到什么能让我们领先一步的东西了。” 弘中和佑荣都挑了挑眉，然后跟着允浩进了小房间。只见里面散落着纸张，还七倒八歪地躺着不少人，看来是为了保护允浩刚发现的秘密情报。
“Remember how we were saying their movements were strange? Heading toward abandoned waters?” Yunho asks, glancing back at Hongjoong and Wooyoung who nod.
“还记得咱们之前说他们行动诡异吗？直奔那片废弃水域去的？” 允浩问道，回头看了眼弘中和佑荣，两人都点了点头。
“We thought they were trying to hide, foolishly.” Wooyoung answers and Yunho hums.
“我们还傻乎乎地以为他们想躲起来呢。” 佑荣答道，允浩轻声附和。
“It might not have been as foolish as we thought.” Hongjoong’s head tilts slightly, eyes falling where Yunho’s hands pushed forward a journal and pointed towards a page full of words in a foreign language.
“或许，事情不像我们想的那么蠢。” 洪中微微歪头，目光落在了允浩推到他面前的笔记本上，允浩的手正指着一页写满了外语的文字。
“You found a book we can’t read?” Wooyoung asks with sarcasm, glancing up at Yunho who rolls his eyes.
“你找到一本咱们都看不懂的书？” 禹英带着几分嘲讽的语气问道，抬头看了眼翻着白眼的允浩。
“ Seireness .” Yunho says, finger tapping at the written word he just spoke.
“Seireness。” 允浩念叨着，手指轻轻点着他刚说出的这个词。
“Which is…?” Hongjoong questions and Yunho frowns.
“哪个是……？” 洪中带着疑问的语气问，允浩则皱起了眉头。
“How do you not—” Yunho sighs, “It’s the language of the sea? C’mon how are you guys pirates and not at least know this word?” Yunho whines in complaint and Wooyoung shrugs.
“你们怎么会不知道——” 允浩叹了口气，“这可是海上的行话啊？ 拜托，你们可是海盗，怎么着也该懂这个词吧？” 允浩不满地抱怨着，雨伞（Wooyoung）耸了耸肩，表示无辜。
"I’m not a nerd.” Yunho scowls at Wooyoung and sighs before closing the book and scouring through the other papers on the desk before he finds one and puts it in front of the two pirates.
“我才不是书呆子。” 允浩朝佑荣皱了皱眉头，叹了口气，合上手里的书。接着，他开始在桌上的其他文件中翻找，找到一份后，放在了两个海盗面前。
They stare, eyes widening slightly at the drawing depicted on it before Wooyoung begins to laugh and shake his head.
他们俩都瞪大了眼睛，盯着画上的内容，然后宇英就忍不住笑了出来，一边摇头一边笑。
“They’re going after a siren?” Wooyoung laughs, amused by the stupidity of the crew, “They’re all gone.”
“他们居然去追美人鱼？”伍勇笑着，觉得这群人真是傻，“她们都已经走了。”
Yunho shrugs with a sigh, “I’m not sure. This drawing is new—not old.”
允浩耸耸肩，叹了口气，“我不太确定。这幅画是新的——不是旧的。”
Wooyoung skeptically raises his brows, “So what if someone decided to draw a siren on a paper? Doesn’t mean they still exist.”
“就算有人心血来潮在纸上画了个海妖，那又能说明啥？难不成画了就真有海妖了？” 佑荣挑了挑眉，带着几分不相信地反问道。
“Do we know where they are heading?” Hongjoong asks, finger tracing over the white of the tail that the person drew. Yunho nods, handing Hongjoong a map that this time, was clearly old and ragged by the frail nature of it and the rips along its edges. Its ink had begun to fade. There’s markings on only a minor part of it, indicating that the crew had been making plans to sail to that part of the globe. The rough etchings in the map are enough to tell Hongjoong exactly where they were heading.
“咱们知道他们要去哪儿吗？” 弘中问道，手指轻轻摩挲着那人画在纸上的白色尾巴。 允浩点点头，递给弘中一张地图。这张地图一看就有些年头了，脆弱不堪，边缘也撕裂了，墨迹都开始褪色。 地图上只有一小部分被标记过，表明船员们一直在计划着驶向那个地方。 地图上粗略的蚀刻足以让弘中准确地判断出他们要去的地方。
“Then we sail to the Ebon Sea.” Hongjoong determines, glancing at the ancient map that would guide them to the ancient, believed extinct, creatures that might get them ahead in finding the trident. He’s not sure how, but if this crew was going after a siren, then so would he.
“那么，我们就航向黑曜海。”洪仲坚定地说，目光落在那张古老的地图上，这张地图将引导他们找到传说中已经灭绝的生物，或许能够帮助他们找到三叉戟。他不太确定具体该怎么做，但如果这支船员要去追寻美人鱼，他也绝不会退缩。
“You don’t actually believe they still exist, do you?” Wooyoung asks with concern and Hongjoong shrugs.
“你不会真觉得……他们还存在吧？” 佑荣带着几分担忧问道，弘中只是耸了耸肩。
“I think that regardless, what better place to hide clues on the trident that tames the ocean than in the sea that can’t be tamed?” Hongjoong asks rhetorically and Wooyoung looks reluctant but nods. The Ebon Sea was full of ancient creatures that no one dared face due to the violent and murderous nature of them all. One of them being sirens.
“我觉得，不管怎么说，要藏匿能够驯服海洋的三叉戟的线索，还有比这片无法驯服的大海更好的地方吗？” 弘中反问道。佑荣看起来有些犹豫，但还是点了点头。“黑檀海”里充满了古老的生物，它们天性凶残嗜血，没人敢轻易招惹。其中就包括……海妖。
“Head back to the ship, I’ll gather the rest of us. Gather as much as you can on this…siren.” Hongjoong orders and Yunho and Wooyoung nod, and the captain heads out, calling out that they are heading back. Slowly, his crew appears from the depths of the ship as Yunho and Wooyoung are exiting the cabin with a chest, presumably full of treasure and the papers they needed for their next destination.
“你们先回船上，我去把其他人召集起来。尽可能多地搜集关于……海妖的情报。” 弘中吩咐道。允浩和佑荣点点头，船长便动身离开了，喊着他们要返航了。很快，他的船员们就从船舱深处陆陆续续地冒了出来，而允浩和佑荣也正扛着一个箱子走出船舱，想必里面装满了财宝，以及他们前往下一个目的地所需的各种文件。
San looks over, eyes widening slightly, “Did you score a chest of gems or something?”
圣祐瞥了一眼，眼睛微微睁大，“你这是抢了一箱宝石回来？”
Wooyoung casts him a wink, “Only the most precious.”
佑荣朝他眨眨眼，语气带着暧昧，“只抢到最珍贵的宝贝。”
San’s lips curl and he nods before walking towards the shifting wooden board connecting their ship to the one they just raided.
杬梨嘴角弯起，点点头，然后朝着连接两艘船的、摇摇晃晃的木板走去，他们刚刚洗劫了那艘船。
“Watch out, the cats might just steal when you’re not looking.” Jongho mutters under his breath as he walks by Hongjoong who chuckles. He doesn’t doubt that Wooyoung and San might swipe some of the hidden goods in the chest when they think Hongjoong isn’t looking, but he doesn’t care much for the treasure inside, but much more for the books and journals leading him towards the trident.
“都小心点儿，那群小猫崽子没准儿啥时候就下手偷东西了。” 钟浩压低声音嘟囔了一句，从弘中身边走过，弘中轻笑一声。 他毫不怀疑，只要弘中稍不留神， 宇英和 伞 绝对会偷偷摸摸地从箱子里顺走一些藏起来的好东西。不过他对箱子里的那些财宝倒是不怎么上心，他更在意的，是那些能指引他找到三叉戟的书籍和日志。
Yeosang glances at the chest before walking onto their ship silently. Hongjoong doesn’t doubt the man is curious about the items inside. If there was any thief Hongjoong was most worried about, it wasn’t the trouble duo of Wooyoung and San—it was Yeosang. So much more calculated and silent. It’s why Hongjoong recruited him in the first place.
耀桑在船舱前瞥了一眼箱子，然后默默走上了他们的船。洪钟并不怀疑这家伙对里面的物品感到好奇。如果说洪钟最担心的盗贼，不是那对麻烦的组合——伍勇和善，而是耀桑。耀桑更沉着、更安静。这也是洪钟当初招募他的原因。
He looks around, noting that his head count was off by one and looks back onto his ship to recount, noting that yes, he really had only counted five heads.
他环顾四周，注意到头数少了一个，回过身来在船上再数了一遍，确认自己果然只数了五个人。
“Where’s Mingi?” He asks, looking around and the others look around, not sure either.
“敏基在哪？”他问道，四周的人也跟着看了看，大家都不太确定。
“He’s probably messing around with the swords somewhere.” Yeosang comments, turning away from the deck and Hongjoong lets out a breathy laugh, recalling the time they had found Mingi pretending to fight someone with the sword they had been tasked to find in exchange for the map leading them to the trident.
“他可能还在某处摆弄剑。”耀桑评论道，转过身离开甲板。洪钟忍不住笑了，想起他们曾经找到敏基假装和人打斗的情景，那把剑正是他们为了得到指向三叉戟的地图而去寻找的。
“I’ll find him—prepare to set sail as soon as we’re back.” Hongjoong calls back, getting affirmation from his crew that they heard him before he wanders the ship to find his missing crewmate.
“我会找到他的——一回来就准备起航。”洪钟回应道，得到船员们的确认后，他便在船上四处寻找失踪的同伴。
He first checks the cabins that he knew held any sort of treasure because everyone in his crew was always easily swayed by it, but he isn’t able to find the gunner. He leaves the top deck, heading to the cabins below that were usually dedicated to prisoners and the excess crew members that some pirate crews didn’t really need but kept to ensure a large number. Hongjoong cringes at the state of the lower deck, covered in scattered filth and reeking with a horrid scent that he doesn’t want to think about. He places the sleeve of his shirt to his nose as he walks through, calling out Mingi’s name. He’s relieved when he hears Mingi call back.
他先检查了那些藏有宝贝的船舱，因为他的船员们总是很容易被那些东西蛊惑。但他没能找到炮手。他离开了上层甲板，前往下层的船舱，那里通常是关押囚犯和多余船员的地方——有些海盗船队其实并不需要那么多船员，但为了撑场面还是会留着。洪中对下层甲板的状况感到厌恶，这里到处都是散落的污物，散发着可怕的气味，他简直不想去想那是什么。他用袖子捂住鼻子，一边走一边喊着闵琦的名字。当他听到闵琦回应时，他松了一口气。
“Let’s get back to the ship, it reeks here.” Hongjoong says, eyes looking around the floor and nearly gagging when he sees one of the causes of the horrible scent. Pirates were certainly not known for their cleanliness, he knows that, but this level made Hongjoong wish he didn’t have the sense of smell.
“咱们赶紧回船上吧，这儿味儿太冲了。” 弘中说着，眼睛四处扫视着地面，当他看到一个散发这可怕气味的罪魁祸首时，差点没忍住干呕出来。他知道，海盗们肯定不是以干净著称的，但眼前这脏乱的程度，真让弘中恨不得自己没有嗅觉。
“No…you should probably…” Mingi trails off distantly and Hongjoong groans, not sure that there's anything too important that he should be seeing here but regardless, he walks towards the back of the ship, where he’s sure Mingi is. He thinks he’s heading towards the prison and perhaps, they had a prisoner Hongjoong wouldn’t mind keeping.
“别…你可能还是应该…” 闵基的声音渐渐飘远，洪中忍不住咕哝一声，虽然不确定这里有什么非看不可的，但他还是朝着船尾走去，他确定闵基就在那儿。他猜自己大概是要去监狱那边，也许他们抓了个洪中很想留下的“囚犯”也说不定。
“Mingi, what could be so impor–” Hongjoong starts when he walks into the part of the ship he thinks is the prison but stops abruptly at Mingi staring at the prison before him. Hongjoong blinks, eyes wide as he stares. He walks slowly, standing beside Mingi as the horrible scent begins to drift to the back of his mind at the creature he stared at.
“闵基，什么事这么重——” 洪仲基一边说着，一边走进他以为是船上监狱的地方，但看到闵基盯着眼前的监狱时，他突然停住了。洪仲基眨了眨眼，睁大了眼睛盯着。他慢慢地走着，站在闵基旁边，当他盯着那个生物时，一股可怕的气味开始飘到他的脑海深处。
“A sea nymph?” Hongjoong furrows his brows, surprised to see one caught in the brig of a pirate ship. He thought they were slippery creatures but somehow, this measly crew had managed to catch one.
“海之仙女？” 洪仲愣了愣，眉毛都皱起来了，没想到居然在海盗船的禁闭舱里看到一个。 他还以为她们都滑不溜手呢，结果这帮没用的家伙居然真抓到一只。
It’s bound with rope at its wrists and ankles, its mouth gagged with cloth. The long hair of the nymph covers its frail body. This nymph was in the form of a young girl, large eyes the size of apples and skin tinted a dark blue. Hongjoong’s seen a few nymphs in his lifetime and he furrows his brows when he begins to recognize the one before him.
它的手腕和脚踝都被绳子紧紧捆住，嘴里还塞着布。那仙女的长发遮盖着她纤弱的身体。这仙女幻化成一个年轻女孩的模样，有着苹果般大的眼睛，皮肤泛着深蓝色。洪仲一生中见过不少仙女，当他开始认出眼前的这位时，眉头紧锁了起来。
“Calypso?” “卡吕普索？”
She blinks at him, a similar recognition falling onto her features and she gleams. He opens the prison with the shot of his pistol, breaking the padlock, and moves to help the nymph, removing her gag as she coughs slightly. He cuts the rope around her wrist and feet quickly and the nymph thanks him immediately.
她眨了眨眼，脸上也浮现出和他一样的了然，瞬间容光焕发。他抬手一枪，打破牢笼上的挂锁，打开了这囚禁她的牢笼，然后连忙过去帮那仙女，摘掉她嘴上的塞口物，她这才微微咳嗽了几声。他迅速割断她手腕和脚踝上的绳子，那仙女立刻向他道谢。
“What happened?” He questions. Calypso was, despite her form as a young girl, over many centuries old. A spirit of the sea that aided Hongjoong’s mother when she gave birth to Hongjoong at sea. She was practically family to Hongjoong.
“出什么事了？” 他问道。卡吕普索虽然外表是个小女孩，但实际上已经活了几个世纪。她是海洋的精灵，当年洪中的母亲在海上生下洪中时，她还帮了忙。从某种意义上来说，她几乎就是洪中的家人。
“These pirates—they wanted to know about Neptune’s Trident.” She spits out with a thick foreign accent and Hongjoong frowns. She looks at Hongjoong and she catches on quickly, not surprised.
“那些海盗——他们想打听海王星的三叉戟。” 她带着浓重的外国口音啐了一口，洪中皱起了眉头。她看着洪中，很快就明白了，并不感到惊讶。
“And you want to know too.” She sighs, attempting to stand up and waving off the hand Hongjoong offers to help her up.
“你也想知道，是吧。” 她叹了口气，试图站起来，挥开了洪中伸过来想扶她的手。
“You pirates never settle.” She mumbles as she walks out of the brig and Hongjoong follows her, glancing back at Mingi to make sure he was following.
“你们这些海盗，就没个安分的时候。” 她嘟囔着，走出了牢房。洪中跟在她身后，回头瞥了眼旼琦，确认他也跟了上来。
“The sea is restless. So am I.” Hongjoong says and she clicks her tongue, glancing back at Hongjoong who grins.
“这海浪真够不安分的，就跟我现在的心情一样。” 弘中说着，她咂了下舌，回头看了眼弘中，而他只是咧嘴一笑。
“You are not the sea, boy.” She reminds him and Hongjoong sighs at her words. Despite being born at sea and spending his life on the water, she would never see him as someone of the sea. As someone who belongs to the sea, always answering its calls to him.
“你又不是海，小鬼。” 她提醒他，洪中听了这话叹了口气。即便他生于海上，一生都与水为伴，她也永远不会把他看作是属于大海的人。一个真正属于海洋，永远回应大海召唤的人。
“So, will you help me, o’ wise nymph?” She scowls, clicking her tongue at him before stopping atop the deck of the ship she had been held prisoner in. She looks at the fallen bodies and purses her lips.
“所以，你到底帮不帮我啊，我的智慧女神？” 她皱着眉头，不耐烦地咂了下舌头，这才停在她之前被囚禁的船的甲板上。 扫了眼地上横七竖八的尸体，她撅起了嘴。
“More spirits for the sea. Great.” She grumbles and kicks the arm of one of the bodies. Hongjoong always found it amusing how she had the spirit of a wise, old, and grumpy woman yet presented herself as a child.
“又给大海添冤魂了，真棒。” 她嘟囔着，一脚踢在其中一具尸体的胳膊上。洪仲基总觉得有趣，她明明住着一个饱经沧桑、又臭又硬的老灵魂，却偏偏要装出一副稚气未脱的样子。
“I’ll only help you to an extent.” She glances at Hongjoong who grins in earnest.
“我会帮你，但也有个限度。”她瞥了一眼满脸诚意微笑的洪俊。
“Then please, after you.” He gestures to the wooden plank between his ship, the Black Mist, and the one that was wrecked and sinking. She looks ahead, not surprised by the gaping stares of the crew on Hongjoong’s ship. She mumbles something in her native tongue before walking up the plank.
“那你先请咯。” 他做了个手势，示意她走过连接着“黑雾号”和他船之间那块木板——对面那艘船已经残破不堪，眼看就要沉了。她目不斜视，径直往前走，似乎早就料到洪仲号上的船员会那样目瞪口呆地盯着她看。她用自己的母语咕哝了一句什么，然后便踏上了木板。
“You know it?” Mingi murmurs to Hongjoong who laughs.
“你也知道他？” 旼琦低声嘟囔着问洪仲，洪仲听了笑了出来。
“Family friend.” He says simply as he pats Mingi on the back. The gunner pouts at the hit, mumbling that he “hit too hard” as he walks up the plank after the nymph. With a final glance at the sinking boat and dead bodies of the crew he raided, he walks up the plank and onto his ship.
“算是发小吧。” 他轻描淡写地说着，拍了拍旼琦的后背。 炮手旼琦吃痛地撅起了嘴，小声抱怨着他“下手太重”，然后跟在那个水仙身后，走上了跳板。 临上船前，他最后看了一眼那艘正在下沉的船只，以及船上被他洗劫一空的船员尸体，这才走上跳板，回到了自己的船上。
Hongjoong’s not surprised when he’s greeted by silence on his ship, everyone staring at the nymph in awe and wonder because no one had seen one before, regardless if they’d aided Hongjoong in speaking with one.
洪仲一点也不惊讶，他的船上静悄悄的，所有人都目瞪口呆地盯着那个水仙，充满了敬畏和好奇，毕竟谁也没见过这种生物，即使他们曾经协助洪仲与水仙交流过。
Wooyoung is the first to stutter out a question, “Is that–”
宇荣第一个结结巴巴地问出了口：“这...这是——”
“A nymph. Get used to it.” The nymph huffs out and it makes Hongjoong chuckles from behind her as her crew looks at him in shock.
“一个水仙。都给我习惯一下。” 那水仙没好气地哼了一声，引得洪仲在她身后轻声发笑，而他的船员们则震惊地看着他。
“Aren’t you like—a thousand years old? Why do you look like a child?” Mingi blurts, not known for his conversational skills and the nymph stands still in shock at the question, glancing to Hongjoong in disbelief as the captain shrugs. He catches Jongho elbowing the gunner at the question he blurted out. The nymph sighs, disregarding Mingi’s question as she walks to the rail of the ship, “I don’t have much time, boy.”
“我说，你是不是…都活了一千年了？怎么还长得像个小屁孩？” Mingi 这家伙向来不会好好说话，一张嘴就得罪人。那仙女听了这话，当场愣住，难以置信地看了眼 Hongjoong，而船长只是耸耸肩，表示自己也无能为力。Mingi 胳膊肘挨了 Jongho 一下，显然是在怪他哪壶不开提哪壶。仙女叹了口气，直接无视了 Mingi 的问题，走到船舷边，语气淡淡地说：“我时间不多，小子。”
Hongjoong nods, but before he follows to speak to the nymph, he addresses his crew.
洪仲点点头，但在去找那个水泽仙女搭话之前，他先跟自己的船员们交代了几句。
“Set sail for the Ebon Sea. Take your time, we’re not in a rush to make it to the deadliest sea. Yunho, work on that journal.” Yunho nods and they disperse, moving to their positions as their ship creaks as it’s pulled away from the shipwreck they left behind.
“扬帆起航，目标黑檀海。都别急，咱们又不是赶着去那片最凶险的海域送死。”洪中盯了眼允浩，“允浩，把航海日志整理好。” 允浩点点头，众人便散开，各自就位，船身发出吱呀声，缓缓驶离他们抛在身后的那艘残骸。
Hongjoong walks to the nymph who shuts her eyes as the cool breeze of the approaching evening hits her face.
洪中走到那个海 nymph 身边，傍晚凉爽的微风拂过她的脸颊，她舒服地闭上了眼睛。
“Ebon Sea?” She opens one eye to peak at Hongjoong who nods, “Do you have a death wish?”
“黑檀海？” 她睁开一只眼睛，偷偷瞄了洪中一眼，洪中点了点头。“你是想寻死吗？”
Hongjoong chuckles softly, looking down at her, “Perhaps.”
洪中轻声笑了笑，低头看着她，“也许吧。”
“What are you hoping to find there?” She asks curiously and Hongjoong’s tongue darts between his lips with a sigh.
“你希望在那里找到什么？” 她好奇地问道，洪中叹了口气，舌尖舔了舔嘴唇。
“A siren.” The nymph’s eyes widened as if sirens weren’t the only creatures that dwelled in that sea.
“一个 siren。” 海 nymph 瞪大了眼睛，好像那片海里除了 siren 之外，就没别的恐怖生物了似的。
“Are you stupid?” She asks, honestly believing that the captain before her had the imaginary hopes to survive such a sea, “You’ll be dead before you can hope to lure a siren in.” She shakes her head, beginning to find the wild idea amusing as she laughs.
“你是蠢货吗？” 她问，真心相信眼前的船长竟然还抱有不切实际的幻想，妄想在这种海域生存，“等你引诱到海妖，坟头草都三尺高了。” 她摇摇头，开始觉得这个疯狂的想法很有趣，忍不住笑了出来。
“Then what? The siren’s connected to Neptune’s Trident somehow .” Hongjoong says, feeling as if he were at the end of his journey with this trident. He was so frustrated with the lack of clues he had to follow now. The only thing he had to pursue was a siren. Calypso sighs, staring at Hongjoong.
“然后呢？海妖和海王的三叉戟之间肯定有什么联系。” 洪中说道，感觉自己握着这把三叉戟的旅程已经走到了尽头。他现在能追踪的线索实在太少了，简直要崩溃了。他唯一能做的，就是去寻找海妖。卡吕普索叹了口气，凝视着洪中。
“Boy, you need to give up this Trident. It’s a fool’s treasure.” She says determinedly and Hongjoong shakes his head with a small grin.
“我说，你赶紧把这破 Trident 扔了吧，那就是个坑人的玩意儿。” 她语气坚定地说着，洪中却只是摇摇头，带着一丝无奈的笑意。
“C’mon, you know me. You know my mother.” He says and she scowls, not happy with the idea of his and his mother’s life-or-death decisions.
“得了吧，你了解我的。你也认识我妈。” 他说道，她皱起了眉头，显然不太乐意他和他妈来决定这种生死攸关的大事。
“I know.” She sighs, “I don’t want to see you again as a spirit. It’s why I’ll help you.” Hongjoong looks at her, eyes wide in surprise. Although she were close with Hongjoong, it was still the same old “nothing without a price.” And yet, she seems to want to offer Hongjoong something, even without anything in return.
“我知道。”她叹了口气，“我可不想再以幽灵的形态见到你。所以我才会帮你。” 洪中睁大了眼睛，满脸惊讶地看着她。虽然他和她关系亲密，但她骨子里还是那个“无利不起早”的家伙。可现在，她竟然好像想主动帮他，连一丝回报都不求。
“You will?” She nods.
“真的？” 她点点头，眼神里带着一丝期待。
“Don’t go to the Ebon Sea. It’s a myth that sirens reside there. What truly lurks there is the dead.” She explains and Hongjoong blinks slowly.
“别去黑檀海。什么海妖住在那里，都是瞎扯淡。那里真正盘踞着的，是死人。” 她解释道，洪中眨了眨眼，似乎有些难以置信。
“The dead?” He repeats and she looks at him with disdain.
“死人？” 他重复了一遍，她不屑地瞥了他一眼。
“Listen boy, or you’ll miss what you need to know.” She says and he nods, urging her to continue, “Go to the Neveah Sea. When night falls, have your ship anchored far off and send out one small boat with only you on it, no lights. You won’t find any caves they dwell in. They live deep below, deeper than any creature. But they are lone creatures, you’ll find only one that might approach you.” She explains and Hongjoong listens intently, making sure he misses and overlooks nothing. He knew nothing about sirens and he was speaking to a sea nymph–a spirit of the sea. She would know much more than any book or human could tell him. Her word was more valuable than the word of an explorer from many years ago who likely knew nothing about the creature they wrote about.
“听着，小家伙，不然你可要错过关键信息了。” 她说着，洪中连忙点头，催促她继续。“去内维亚海。入夜后，把你的船远远地抛锚，然后派出一艘小船，只能你一个人在上面，不要开灯。你找不到他们居住的洞穴。他们住在极深的海底，比任何生物都要深。但他们是孤独的生物，你只会找到一个可能接近你。” 她解释道，洪中聚精会神地听着，确保自己没有遗漏任何细节。他对海妖一无所知，而他现在正在和一位海之仙女——海洋的精灵——交谈。她知道的比任何书籍或人类能告诉他的都要多。她的话比多年前一位探险家的只言片语更有价值，毕竟那些探险家可能对他们所描述的生物一无所知。
“You want a siren with scales as white as snow. So pure.” She says, looking at Hongjoong who nods and he begins to recall the drawings of the siren with white hair and scales he had found on the ship.
“你想要一个有着雪一样白的鳞片的塞壬，要那种纯洁无瑕的。” 她说道，同时看向洪中，洪中点了点头，脑海里浮现出他在船上找到的那些素描，画中的塞壬有着雪白的头发和鳞片。
“I…we found the captain’s stash on the sirens and there was a new drawing of the siren you’re saying. Scales as white as snow.” He tells her and she nods with a sigh, eyes becoming sad as she looks over the ocean and the setting sun.
“我…我们在海妖号上找到了船长的私藏，里面有张新画，画的就是你说的那个海妖。鳞片白得像雪一样。” 他对她说道，她叹了口气，点点头，目光变得忧伤，眺望着大海和正在落下的夕阳。
“I had to tell them. They used the Code of Nymphs against me.” She frowns and it makes Hongjoong frown too. Nymphs were bound to an oath, explaining that should someone give up a spirit to the sea, someone with a pure heart, the nymph would, in return, offer the knowledge they possessed. He never wanted anything bad to happen to her, and although she would remain more powerful than Hongjoong could ever be, he still wished he would have protected her better.
“我不得不告诉他们。他们对我用了**Nymphs**的法则。” 她皱起了眉头，弘中也跟着皱眉。**Nymphs**会受到誓言的约束，这意味着如果有人将一个灵魂献给大海，一个拥有纯洁心灵的灵魂，那么**Nymphs**会反过来提供她们所拥有的知识。他从没想过会发生什么对她不利的事情，虽然她仍然会比弘中强大得多，但他仍然希望自己能更好地保护她。
“You’re too caring to be a pirate, boy.” She glances at him and he has a sense that she knew what he was thinking, “You cannot be caring when capturing this siren.” She says sternly and Hongjoong nods firmly. He knows this. Siren’s weren’t creatures that people thought extinct for no reason. No one has lived to tell the tale of sirens—no one able to tell anyone what they might look like up close. One slip up and Hongjoong might find himself the next meal of a siren.
“就你这婆婆妈妈的性格，当海盗可不行，小子。” 她瞥了他一眼，他感觉她好像看穿了他的心思， “抓捕海妖的时候，可不能心慈手软。” 她严厉地说，弘中坚定地点点头。他明白这个道理。海妖可不是无缘无故被人认为已经灭绝的生物。从来没有人活着讲述过海妖的故事——没人能告诉别人近距离观察海妖会是什么样子。稍有不慎，弘中可能就会成为海妖的下一顿美餐。
“I’ll give you this.” She presents her hand fisted and her hand unfurls slowly to reveal a necklace with a calico shell dangling on it and pearls laced into the string of the necklace.
“这个给你。” 她攥紧拳头，慢慢地展开手，一条项链静静地躺在她的掌心，一个玳瑁色的贝壳垂在下面，珍珠点缀在项链的绳子上，闪着温润的光泽。
He takes the necklace with gentle hands, looking at it carefully before he looks back up at the nymph, “A necklace?”
他伸出双手，小心翼翼地接过项链，仔细端详了一番，然后抬起头，望向那水泽仙女，带着一丝疑惑问道：“一条项链？”
“The siren you want will come to you. When it does, hold the shell and whisper these words—do not forget them and do not mumble—” she warns and Hongjoong listens, hoping his memory won’t betray him when he meets the siren, "'canticum ad me pertinent.'”
“你心心念念的那个海妖会出现的。到那时，握紧贝壳，轻声念出这些话——千万别忘了，也别含糊不清——” 她警告道。弘中聚精会神地听着，生怕和海妖相遇时，自己的记性会掉链子，“'canticum ad me pertinent'。”
“‘Canticum ad me pertinent ?’” Hongjoong repeats to make sure he had heard right. He isn’t sure what the words mean, presumably in the ancient tongue of the sea.
“‘Canticum ad me pertinent？’”，洪中重复着这句话，想确认自己没听错。他不确定这句话的意思，估计是某种古老的海之语言。
The nymph looks ahead, the sun nearly completely set, “Good. I must go. Do not forget anything I told you, boy.” She lifts herself on the rail of the ship, standing tall and above Hongjoong who calls out to her.
那仙女望着前方，夕阳几乎完全落下， “很好。我必须走了。别忘了我对你说的一切，孩子。” 她撑着船舷站起身，身姿高挑，俯视着向她呼喊的洪中。
“What does it mean?!” He asks and she laughs, looking down at him with a smile.
“什么意思嘛！” 他追问，她吃吃地笑起来，低头看他，眉眼弯弯的，带着一丝捉摸不透的笑意。
“I can’t tell you everything, boy.” She cackles before jumping into the waters below, gliding through the water at superhuman speeds before she’s gone completely and Hongjoong sighs, grinning softly as he shakes his head.
“有些事，我可不能全告诉你，小家伙。” 她咯咯一笑，纵身跃入水中，身手矫健地在水里穿梭，速度快得简直不像人类，转眼间就消失得无影无踪。洪中叹了口气，无奈地摇摇头，脸上却挂着一丝宠溺的笑容。
He thumbs the seashell of the necklace she gave him, looking down at it with curiosity. He isn’t sure what the meaning of it was, nor what holding it and saying the words she gave him would do in capturing a siren, but he trusts her. So, he turns, calling out to his crew.
他用拇指摩挲着她送给他的贝壳项链，低下头，带着一丝好奇细细打量。他并不确定这贝壳到底有什么含义，也不知道拿着它，念着她教给他的那些词，能不能真的抓住海妖，但他选择相信她。于是，他转过身，对着他的船员们喊道。
“Turn sails. We’re sailing to the Neveah Sea.”
“升帆！我们要驶向 Neveah 海域了。”