Chapter Forty-Three: With What Shall I Tempt You, Little Crocodile? (Part Two)

Unexpectedly, my remark sparked a great inspiration in Graceful Melody: “Fishing it out, now that might actually be a good idea. Does anyone here know how to fish?”

“I do,” Feyin replied, producing her fishing rod from her magical backpack. As a competent chef, fishing was one of her essential skills for procuring ingredients.

“But…” Feyin hesitated, glancing at the rod in her hand, “what kind of bait should we use to catch a crocodile?”

The magician’s bait box held a dozen earthworms, a few red larvae, and some fragrant bugs. Perfectly adequate for ordinary fish, but to tempt the Whirlpool Giant Crocodile… Even if it fancied a change from its usual fare and wanted to try something new, it would be difficult for it to spot such creatures in the murky river water.

“This is indeed a problem…” Graceful Melody was momentarily stunned, unsure how to respond.

“Ah, clearly the best solution is to string you up as bait!” I felt I had discovered the truth.

“Why don’t you volunteer as bait yourself?” Graceful Melody retorted, refusing to comply.

“Because you look tender and fair—much more appetizing,” I answered with perfect logic.

“How do you know the crocodile doesn’t prefer someone robust and darker? Besides, you have more flesh on you than I do.” Graceful Melody stubbornly resisted.

…

While we argued noisily, Feyin suddenly noticed something crucial: “Wait, where’s Wild Goose Formation? Where did she go?”

Only at Feyin’s prompt did we realize that someone was missing from the riverbank. We searched all around, but the rocky walls were empty—no sign of anyone.

“She couldn’t have crossed to the other side, could she…” Graceful Melody’s face was filled with anxiety. No sooner had he spoken than he dashed along the cave wall toward the opposite bank.

“We should split up and search—she must be nearby,” Feyin suggested, pointing to my right as she turned left herself.

“Wild Goose Formation… Little Goose… Where are you…” We called her name, searching every possible hiding spot near the cave, but found no trace of her. After circling around, Feyin and I met again at separate points by the water.

“I didn’t find her. Did you?” Feyin asked me.

I shrugged helplessly.

There was only one place left unsearched. Feyin and I looked toward the water simultaneously.

“She couldn’t have…” I stammered.

“It’s possible,” Feyin answered gravely. From the beginning, the long-haired elven ranger had shown intense curiosity about the giant crocodile in the water. It was highly likely she had slipped into the river while we weren’t looking.

Feyin frowned at the river for a moment before biting her lip, making up her mind. “I’ll go in after her.”

“I’m going with you,” I said, resolute.

Just as we gathered our courage to plunge back into the river and confront the monstrous beast, the surface suddenly began to roil. Massive waves rolled outward from the center, heralding the imminent emergence of something enormous.

“It’s coming up!” Feyin shouted, pointing to the center of the river.

“Do you see Wild Goose Formation?” I craned my neck in anxious inquiry.

“No sign of her—how about you?” Feyin called loudly.

“None here either… huh?!” I was about to reply, when an unexpected scene rendered me speechless.

Wild Goose Formation, the long-haired elven girl, was now lying atop the snout of the Whirlpool Giant Crocodile, Ah-Stan, carrying the enormous flintlock left behind by the Minotaur hero. Together, they slowly surfaced. She seemed perfectly fine—not frightened at all. In fact, she giggled incessantly, caressing the crocodile’s rough skin affectionately.

“Hey, I brought up Little Croc!” Wild Goose Formation called out to us, leaning forward to scratch the crocodile’s chin. Ah-Stan seemed delighted by her touch, occasionally uttering low, contented growls, like a child basking in an elder’s affection. The bizarre sight left us utterly dumbfounded, our eyes nearly popping from their sockets.

“How did you do it!” I was almost ready to bow in reverence to this extraordinary elf girl.

“It was easy—I got in the water, swam over, blew my whistle, and it obeyed me,” she said. Taming the beast, in her account, sounded as effortless as picking an herb—perhaps even easier, since at least picking herbs requires you to find where they grow.

“That simple?” Feyin was so astonished she nearly swallowed her tongue.

“It really is that simple. What else did you expect?” Wild Goose Formation replied matter-of-factly.

A ferocious magical beast that had terrified us and left us clueless was so easily subdued by this peculiar elven girl. What vexed me most was that the crocodile seemed to enjoy the experience—just moments ago, it had nearly swallowed me whole.

It was simply unfair. Even if I wasn’t as pretty as Wild Goose Formation, surely the difference in treatment shouldn’t be so vast!

“By the way…” Feyin glanced around, curious, “where’s Graceful Melody? Where did he go?”

Splash!

No sooner had she spoken than a heavy splash came from the opposite bank.

It sounded suspiciously like a landlubber plunging headfirst into the water…

(I never imagined there would be so many noble souls who once tried to cross the beast-infested straits. I am not alone, truly I am not alone…

Also, I forgot something. I thought it would be released during the strong push, but the editor’s special reminder: release after the strong push!

Strong push… finished… then… release?

Sounds quite obedient.

Pure thoughts, pure thoughts, harmonious society, harmonious society, Amitabha, Amitabha, Infinite Heavenly Honor, Infinite Heavenly Honor…)