...
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty... Mr. Sander. Flying Bird is back from the Whirlpool Sea! And... they seem to have encountered big trouble!"
The guard's sudden report made Roland pause slightly. After finishing the meeting on expanding the industrial scale, he returned to his office, intending to continue perfecting the drawings he would use next. This unexpected news completely interrupted his train of thought.
The so-called Sander. Flying Bird is Thunder's alias.
"Where is he now?" Roland stood up abruptly and asked.
"In the castle hall, he said he hopes to see you immediately."
"Quick, bring him in!" he ordered, "And ask the kitchen to prepare an extra afternoon tea."
"Yes, I'll do it right away." Sean turned around and quickly disappeared at the door.
Nightingale said with some worry, "Should I go and inform Lightning?"
Roland shook his head, "Since he can come to the castle, he shouldn't have encountered any major problems himself. Let's ask about the situation first."
According to the date, Thunder has been out to sea for only a little over half a year. Counting the return trip, he only sailed for three months. Considering that they also stayed in the Shadow Islands for a while, the time spent on the road was even shorter. This is far lower than the explorer's original plan. According to his idea, this voyage would take at least a year to a year and a half. If possible, Thunder even wanted to see what was at the end of the Whirlpool Sea, and whether the continent seen in the ruins was in the depths of the sea.
Obviously, some kind of change that was beyond human control occurred, which led to the premature end of this long-prepared expedition.
Roland couldn't help but look out the window.
Could it be... related to the Red Moon as well?
Thunder, disguised as Sander, quickly entered the office under the guidance of the guard. It could be seen that he had returned in a very disheveled state. He didn't even have time to put on his fake beard, and there were very few of the flamboyant feather decorations left. If Lightning saw him now, she would most likely recognize him.
But at least, he was still intact. For Roland, that was enough.
"Your Majesty, I am very happy to see you again—" Thunder put his hand on his chest and bowed, "I almost thought I would never come back."
Roland personally poured him a glass of cold and delicious Chaos Drink, "What exactly happened? Since you gathered the most outstanding navigators from the Fjords, I don't think ordinary storms or tsunamis would make you say this."
"Storms and tsunamis have omens, but tens of millions of Sea Ghosts don't," Thunder seemed to still have lingering fears at this moment, "What's more, what we encountered was not only Sea Ghosts, but also that more terrifying monster..."
Listening to his account, Roland seemed to feel the despair they felt at the time. Countless Sea Ghosts swarmed towards the fleet, and the churning backs seemed to make the sea boil. The slower sailboats would be ruthlessly dragged into hell. And mixed in with the Sea Ghosts were terrifying Flesh Ships. The acid they spewed could land several kilometers away. Even a little bit would cause the skin to crack and the flesh to tear. Steel and wood could not resist this corrosion. Even at full speed, the expedition team could not widen the distance between the two sides...
"The Sky-Sea Realm..." he said with a solemn face.
"Your Majesty, what is that?" Thunder asked.
"The devils' name for another civilization," Roland slowly told him about the devils' two-line combat report. The rib-like arches, the flesh and organs that made up the hull, which could float on the water like a sea ship and dive into the sea, these characteristics were very similar to what he saw in the God's Relics.
"You mean, we broke into their territory?"
"Perhaps. Of course, it is also possible that the appearance of the Red Moon made them more active, thereby expanding their patrol range." Roland changed the subject, "What happened next? How did the expedition fleet escape from danger?"
"In fact, it wasn't that we got rid of their pursuit, but that they had internal strife." Thunder said with a wry smile.
"Internal... strife?"
"Indeed, the enemy's pursuit was relentless, as if they never knew fatigue. By the time we approached the coastline, we had lost more than half of our ships. Most
The sailors who were still alive were also close to collapse because they couldn't rest for a long time. Only the Snow Wind, which you built, still had energy - after all, she doesn't need to adjust her sails and course at any time."
"Just when everyone was about to despair, an even larger sea monster suddenly rushed out of the water and entangled one of the sea monsters. The scene looked like two flesh monsters were biting each other. Although they were both monsters, the former was obviously stronger. The sub-limbs and tentacles extending from its body quickly tore the latter to pieces. After that, whether it was the Sea Ghosts or other sea monsters, they all stopped chasing, and surrounded the two like they were stunned. Only then did we take the opportunity to cross the coastline and escape back to the Fjords."
Such a thing actually happened. Roland let out a long breath, "Fortunately, luck was on your side. It seems that this ship name was not given in vain."
"Uh... ship name?"
"No, it's nothing," he waved his hand, "What are your plans next?"
A kind of unprecedented exhaustion appeared on Thunder's face, "To be honest, the loss of the sea ships is secondary. This expedition has scared most people out of their wits. Now a strange atmosphere permeates the Fjords. Those sailors who have struggled in the sea all their lives now turn pale when they look towards the eastern sea. I estimate that for a long time, no one will dare to board a ship to the Shadow Sea."
Roland was silent. This was not unexpected. As he said, storms and tsunamis can be predicted in advance, and brave navigators can always find a way to dance with them, but this experience of having no resistance and only being able to escape desperately can no longer be called an adventure at all.
"Those big chambers of commerce have also asked me to tell you that they hope to offer a high price to buy a piece of land in Graycastle as their reserve shelter." Thunder sighed, "After all, no one knows whether they will make a comeback - the sea has always been a natural barrier in the eyes of the Fjords, but if the enemy can come and go freely in the sea, the entire Fjord Island is equivalent to an undefended empty city."
Plans really can't keep up with changes. A year or two ago, he was still planning to use the Fjords as the last stronghold for survivors to spend the rest of their lives after the defeat, but now the situation has completely reversed.
If it were when he first arrived in Border Town, when all his possessions were less than three hundred gold royals, this kind of transaction would definitely be welcome, but now, paper money has begun to circulate in the territory, and the so-called "high price" is no longer an attractive condition.
"What do you think?"
"I said if you are thinking of building a country within a country, you should give up as soon as possible." Thunder shrugged, "You will never allow them to build a new 'archipelago' in Graycastle."
Roland laughed. He deserved to be the most outstanding explorer in the Fjords, "If you just want to survive, not for the privileges accumulated over generations, Graycastle will always welcome them."
"I will tell you the truth, Your Majesty."
"This voyage must have been exhausting. I have prepared afternoon tea. You can take a hot bath first, and then talk to me about what you saw along the way. It will also take several days to repair the Snow Wind. It's not too late to return to the Fjords after you recover your energy."
"Then I'll trouble you." Thunder put his hand on his chest.
Just as he was about to leave, Roland suddenly stopped him, "By the way, Lightning's matter... are you still planning to hide it?"
"I..." Thunder opened his mouth, speechless for a moment.
"You said that you would recognize her after this expedition is over. Although this trip was not too successful, now that the Sky-Sea Realm has occupied most of the ocean and the Fjords are in a state of panic, I think you will have no risks to explore for a long time." Roland supported his chin and said, "And I need manpower to fight the devils, and Lightning also hopes to see her father still alive in the world - in that case, how about staying after the trivial matters are over?"
Thunder was silent for a few seconds before lowering his head, "I will consider it... Your Majesty."