A Day in the Life of Steven

A gentle sea breeze swept through Port Nyanzaru, and the sound of waves crashing against the rocks could be heard in the distance.

The port bustled with people, merchant ships laden with cargo docked nearby, and occasionally squads of fully armed, expressionless Guard patrolled by, causing passing merchants to respectfully give way. Occasionally, one could spot the legendary Drow, though they weren't as Evil as portrayed in tales; they merely appeared somewhat cold and aloof, seemingly indifferent to everyone. These Drow were quite strict in enforcing the law, and attempts to bribe the other Guard seemed to have little effect on them.

Steven Hogg jumped off the deck, landed, touched his money pouch, and then looked towards the Raging Waves Tavern on the south side of the harbor.

This is a tavern run by a priest from the Temple of the Sea.

On the other side of the dock was the more luxurious Golden Crown Inn, the best place in Port Nyanzaru to spend money, with the most expensive wines and the most beautiful maids. However, Steven was just an ordinary pirate; he couldn't afford to go to such places. He would occasionally have a few rums at the Raging Waves Tavern. Now that he had a family, he naturally needed to be more careful with his money. So, after thinking it over, he turned around and headed towards Port Nyanzaru.

"Never mind."

Steven muttered to himself, declining his companion's invitation to spend the night at the tavern. As he returned to his quarters, he thought to himself, "Now is the time to spend money. I've saved up enough for three hundred Gold Daler."

"That's enough to buy a piece of land in the city."

"I heard it's not very safe on the mainland lately, so I'll bring her and the child over here in a while."

Thinking of this, a happy smile involuntarily appeared on Steven's face.

He's not young anymore.

Stephen is 35 years old this year, which is considered quite old among pirates. As a human, Steven feels that his physical strength and energy have declined significantly since turning 30. Although he possesses Tier 2 strength and has considerable combat experience, time waits for no one, and Aging is inevitable in middle age, even for advanced professionals. In his last battle with Pirate King Asroder, Steven was stabbed in the abdomen and lost a lot of blood. Although he has recovered now, he still has some hidden injuries.

Steven had been adrift at sea for a very long time.

Years of life-and-death battles had long since worn him down, so he planned to apply to join the City Guard after handing over this mission.

Find a more stable job.

Throughout Steven's not-so-short pirate career, he served under many pirate captains, but none of them filled him with the same hope for the future as Lord Soren.

Order.

Everything in Port Nyanzaru was well-organized because of its strict Order. Although the law was not yet fully established, the rules set by Lord Soren were strictly enforced. Anyone who challenged the rules was ruthlessly crushed. In all his years, Steven had never seen any pirate Boss manage his unruly pirates as well as Lord Soren. Although some processes were bloody and Cruelty, that was a minor issue.

Once they get used to the Order established by Soren, they will find that life is not as bad as it used to be.

You don't have to worry about getting robbed of everything while drunk and ending up in some stinking ditch, nor do you have to worry about your wealth ending up in someone else's hands after a desperate fight.

Effort should be rewarded.

In Port Nyanzaru, any job can provide a livelihood; even the lowest Slave can gain freedom through hard work and live a decent life in Port Nyanzaru.

What reason did Steven have not to believe he would have a better future than those freed Slave?

"That's about enough money."

A paved road ran from the port directly to the Port Nyanzaru. The well-maintained road was regularly repaired. Steven, having received little formal education, found even slightly complex calculations difficult. Although he had recently been spending money to learn literacy and Steven, his age made it increasingly challenging. He was now forced to count on his fingers as he hurried along, thinking, "With my past achievements, I should be able to buy land south of Port Nyanzaru at the best possible price."

"That should be enough to buy about fifteen acres, right?" (Note: This is roughly equivalent to an acre, with one acre being about six mu in modern terms.)

"These lands have all been cultivated by Slave. Judging from the crops, this year should yield a good harvest. After buying the land, we can spend some money to buy two Slave from Shipwreck Bay to cultivate it. Even when we get old, we can still live a good life."

"Once we get the land deed, we'll bring her and the child over."

"Then spend some money to hire a pastor to hold the wedding. Hehe!"

Steven smiled a somewhat simple and honest smile, which softened the rather menacing scar on his left cheek, making it look less frightening.

He has a lover.

She used to be a prostitute in Shipwreck Bay. Her husband, a sailor, had died in a shipwreck. After his death, she struggled to raise her two children alone, but it was incredibly difficult for a woman to support two young children. Finally, she made a desperate decision and started a brothel, supporting her two kids by selling her body. That's when she met Steven, a pirate who looked fierce but was unusually gentle with her.

After crippling a drunkard who slept with a woman and refused to pay, Steven started dating her.

She was a very gentle woman.

She wasn't particularly beautiful, spoke in a soft voice, and was around twenty-six or twenty-seven years old. She had a slightly thick waist, fair skin, a gentle personality, was good at housework, and kept the room spotless. She had a large bottom, clearly a woman capable of bearing children. As for her past involvement in prostitution, Steven didn't care much. A woman who could steel herself to engage in such a business to support her children only inspired his deepest respect.

He was nothing more than a pirate.

Saying his hands were covered in blood is a bit of an exaggeration, but the number of people who died at his hands was definitely not small.

There were damned bastards, and there were innocent people too.

Occasionally, he would go to the temple to confess his sins, and once he even cried like a child in her arms.

Maybe I've just become more soft-hearted as I get older.

During his mission to escort cargo to the Shipwreck Bay, Steven encountered a young thief. In the past, he would have crippled the boy's hand. But this time, seeing the boy's emaciated appearance, he couldn't help but think of his two close friends. He not only let the thief go but also tossed him a few Silver Daler.

Because life was tough and the business was clandestine, the older of the two boys who were in a relationship with her had also done some sneaky things back then.

That thirteen-year-old child only has eight fingers.

Steven was tired.

He's not young anymore. In a few more years he'll be forty.

When a man reaches forty, he can only rely on his rich experience to fight for his future, and he wants to change to a more stable life.

There was a woman.

There is a group of lively children.

A stable job, a peaceful home.

Years of drifting on the sea have forged him into a true man, capable of fighting bravely and fearlessly in battle, but this does not mean he desires to live a life of constant uncertainty.

He was a little different from other pirates. Perhaps others would only begin to crave all of this when they reached his age.

The city gates of Port Nyanzaru appeared ahead.

Stephen quickened his pace, hurrying towards his base. He had his own house, though it was just a small brick house. But it was, after all, property he had earned with his life. However, he spent most of his time at the base, because the house was empty, and it was more convenient to stay there. He would consider moving in after he brought the woman over.

"We also need to buy some furniture."

Steven pondered this to himself, a knowing look spreading across his face. "Heh heh. There are three rooms; maybe I should buy a bigger bed."

At this moment.

A commotion arose at the city gate of Port Nyanzaru.

Then a large Pteranodon emerged, much larger than an ox, with a rope around its neck. It seemed to be being led by someone, but this was obscured. The Pteranodon strutted forward arrogantly, not even glancing at the guards around it. Once outside the city gate, it eagerly flapped its Dragon Wing, kicking up a cloud of dust.

"Alright! Alright!"

"Stop fooling around Little Black! I'll let you go out to play now!"

A clear, childlike voice came from behind. Although he still couldn't see anyone, Steven's expression immediately turned serious. He quickly bowed, knelt on one knee, and said, "Young Miss!"

This is Port Nyanzaru treasure.

Her status in Port Nyanzaru was practically that of a princess; everyone knew that Lord Soren valued her more than his own life.

Call!

The Pteranodon's silhouette took to the air.

Then, Vivian, dressed in a black princess dress, appeared before Steven at the city gate. The little girl didn't even notice Steven kneeling to her side. After releasing the Pteranodon's rope, she clapped her hands lightly and said in a cheerful voice, "Come on! Lulu! I'll take you fishing today!..."

The petite Catgirl lit up with happiness upon hearing this, and she nodded vigorously, saying, "Meow!... Catch fish!... Lulu wants to eat grilled fish!..."

Under the sunlight.

Vivian led the little Catgirl toward the beach, and Stephen quickly stood up and hurried toward the camp.

He still needs to complete the task handover today.

Battle after battle.

Time and again, desperate battles.

Bloodshed, Slaughter, and death—in this Cruelty and merciless struggle for survival, Port Nyanzaru finally stood tall on this Overseas Islands.

Soren changed more than just Vivian's Destiny.

This vibrant city has changed the Destiny of many.

Vivian finally had a stable environment to grow up in, and could live the life that someone her age should have in her spare time.

hapiness.

Carefree.

Live like a child, after all, she is only nine years old.

And Soren.

He will continue his Slaughter spree, driven by both promise and duty.

...(To be continued~^~)