Cathulhu Online, MUNYA!

Chapter 80 – Cat Dad's New Enemy

Xiaomao looked back and noticed that they were flying away from the pirates.

"Your fiancé is the MVP here, munya!"

The corners of Shepherd's mouth curved up to a faint smile, but his eyes still gazed forward. He was still concerned about the landing. He glanced at Magdalene.

The fairy gave Shepherd a thumbs up, saying that there was nothing to worry about.

A few seconds later, the flying tree boat descended and crash-landed on the surface of the sea. Its bubble barrier served as a cushion, softening the impact and protecting the tree ship parts.

The ship's durability decreased by 30%, and its health bar was blinking in red.

Xiaomao gazed at his fishing boat's HP bar and was on the verge of crying. He forgot for a moment that he had more gold coins and cash to buy a thousand brand new fishing boats.

"My boat! My first boat! I haven't played with it yet, but it's already ruined, munya!"

Shepherd dryly smiled and glanced at Magdalene. The fairy, on the other hand, pouted and snorted as if she was annoyed.

DING

<Magdalene has borrowed Shepherd's Mana.>

RUMBLE

The fishing boat trembled. The tree boat expanded again. Before, the fishing boat had a small tree growing on top of the deck, and the hull was made from tree trunks. But now, tree roots extended to the sides, and the tree on the deck grew taller.

<Magdalene runs out of mana. She needs rest.>

The fairy slip into Shepherd's shirt and fell asleep inside like a kangaroo's baby. Shepherd's face was also pale as his MP was depleted as well.

Noticing the conditions of his subordinates, Xiaomao's expression turned ugly.

"Are you out of MP potions, munya?"

Shepherd nodded. He had used all of them during his free time to increase his spell mastery, and most of his pocket money was spent on mana potions as well.

Xiaomao sighed and opened a trade menu. He gave Shepherd all his MP potions in his inventory.

"I can always buy premium potions and elixirs if there's an emergency. Use those for yourself and your girlfriend, munya. After you're done, let's head southwest and move along the shore to find a place to rest, munya."

Shepherd was delighted. He bowed to Xiaomao and immediately chugged the potions. He also gave some to Magdalene. Then, he resumed the helmsman's duty, driving the boat southwest.

.

10 minutes later, Torrent's ship arrived at the coordinate where Xiaomao and others had landed earlier. However, he couldn't find the fishing boat anywhere.

The skeleton pirated scanned around with his one-eye binocular telescope. As the pirate kept on searching for Xiaomao, he noticed a trail of tree leaves on the surface of the sea.

Torrent clattered his jaws as if he was laughing. He pointed his boney finger in the direction of the tree leaves. Underwater, ten ghost ships phased through the seawater like ethereal submarines, following the trail of the fishing boat.

.

The northwestern peninsula of the continent was the home of fishermen, Bit City. The Fisherman Town was 50 kilometers west of Seaside Town, but it also housed a military port here.

A caravel of the town guards anchored at the military port, intimidating pirates in the area. A hundred medium and small fishing boats were busy dragging their fishing nets and minded their businesses in the sea near the city.

However, the town was not a trade hub. It was a private fishing territory of the merchant guild, which was in charge of the empire's commerce. All fish that the guild gathered here would be transferred to their empire's factories or shipped to their affiliated restaurants and shops.

When Xiaomao's ship approach the town, the town guards rushed to the port while some sailors boarded their caravel, preparing for combat. The fishermen also glared at the crews on the strange boat as if Xiaomao was intruding on their turf.

Xiaomao's group ignored the glare of the local people. They docked at the port.

As soon as Xiaomao's fishing boat docked, the town guards rushed toward them.

The NPC guard captain, Comet, was a level 100 NPC with a grey name and red borders, indicating that they could attack players if they were provoked. He stood in front of his colleagues and waited for Xiaomao and the crews to come out of the ship.

When Xiaomao and others got on the port, Comet bellowed, "This port is the private property of the Merchant Guild. Docking at this port is violating the country's law, and the violators will be fined! The fine is 1,000,000 gold coins per ship, and all crews will be put to prison!"

Xiaomao scoffed at Comet, "This is an emergency, munya. We're running away from a pirate fleet! If you arrest innocent sailors, I'll report this to the emperor, munya!"

Comet narrowed his eyes. He thought of arresting Xiaomao and his crews and handing them over to the merchant guild's security office.

Before Comet could order his men to arrest Xiaomao and others, one of the guards rushed to the captain and whispered. He also showed a copy of a pamphlet to Comet.

The guard captain looked at the pamphlet and stared at Xiaomao's face before he glanced at the catopus' golden name.

"Are you, by chance, Xiaomao?" Asked Comet.

"That's me, munya!"

"What are you doing here? The emperor is looking for you!"

"I'm heading to Siren City, but my ship is intercepted by a pirate fleet, munya! My ship is damaged, and my crews are injured. We need to repair our ship and recuperate. We also don't know if the pirates are still chasing after us, munya!"

"What?! What didn't you tell me this earlier!?"

Comet's name no longer had red borders. His name color lightened, but it remained grey as he was not Xiaomao's ally.

"You dementia prick! I already told you that we're fleeing from a pirate fleet, munya! Are you deaf!?"

"…"

Comet glanced at the strange tree fishing boat. He frowned at the strange tree on the deck, which was unusual for a boat.

Currently, the ship's HP bar was half emptied. Traces of hull damage were visible, but the tree trunks on the hull made it hard to notice. Fortunately, Comet was familiar with ships, and he managed to detect the traces of battle.

"I guess, you're speaking the truth."

"Obviously, munya!"

"I see. Where did you last see the pirates? Where are they?"

"Northeast of here, munya!"

"Come with me. We'll talk to our guild's branch manager."

Comet gestured for Xiaomao and his crew to follow him. The latter looked at each other and walked toward the Bit City.

.

As the Bit City was a restricted area, no player loitered here. Moreover, all NPCs had a grey name as they were not as friendly as the other local people in other towns.

Xiaomao, Lucky, and Shepherd glanced at the people and noticed that they were secretly holding a weapon. Moreover, the level of the local people was absurdly high as 75 was their lowest level. Everybody looked like elite mercenaries instead of merchants, craftsmen, or fishermen.

Comet guided Xiaomao to the largest mansion in the middle of the city. After passing the checkpoint at the main gate, a stone road led them straight toward the mansion in the middle of a wide flower garden.

Xiaomao frowned. He didn't know about this place, but he had seen a palace on YouTube before the regression. This place had a bigger garden than the Royal Palace in Siren City.

As they walked further, Xiaomao noticed a side building. Another small road led to the humble extension of the mansion, but that side was not maintained properly. Grasses were too tall, and tree leaves covered the majority of the stone road.

Xiaomao pointed at the neglected extended house.

"What is that house, munya?"

Comet scoffed, "That house used to belong to a heretic family."

"Heretic family, munya?"

"They worshiped a monster god," Comet stopped his feet and glanced at Xiaomao. He furrowed his brows, and his grey name changed to red.

DING

<Comet hates nosy catopuses. Current Hatred: 3 Stars.>

'Motherhumper! You racist bastard!'

Xiaomao was frustrated. Comet reminded him of racist NPCs and the discrimination against monster races in the game.

Further in the game story, local NPCs would be separated into several factions. One of them was a branch of Pangu Church's followers, who discriminated against demi-humans and monster races. They believed in human supremacy and promoted slavery.

However, they were the only faction who openly waged war against a certain monster god, who was the ally of Chaos Demon Goddess Chang'e.

Xiaomao couldn't remember the god's name as he didn't play a major role in the story as Chang'e, Tlaloc, and Pangu's fame overshadowed the other gods. Still, Xiaomao believed that he had seen or read about many minor gods somewhere before.

"Who was the god's name, munya?"

"Why do you want to know a heretic's god?!"

"So that I won't follow that god, munya."

"… As if I believe you."

Comet gave Xiaomao a meaningful look for a moment. He turned around and continued to lead the group toward the mansion, refusing to disclose the god's name. However, he emitted a red aura around his body.

DING

<Comet swears to kill you whenever he has a chance. Current Hatred: 5 Stars!>

<Warning! Comet has marked you as his nemesis!>

'What the heck is wrong with him?!'