…
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty … Mr. Sande Asuka has returned from the Swirling Sea! And … they seem to be in big trouble! "
The guard's sudden report made Roland pause for a moment. He had returned to his office after the meeting on expanding the industrial scale, intending to continue perfecting the blueprints that he was going to use next. However, this unexpected news completely interrupted his train of thought.
The so-called Sande Asuka was Thunder's alias.
"Where is he now?" Roland abruptly rose to his feet and asked.
"He's in the castle hall. He said he wants to see you immediately."
"Bring him in!" Roland ordered. "Also, ask the kitchen to prepare an afternoon tea."
"Yes, I'll do it right away." Sean turned around and quickly disappeared through the door.
"Should I inform Lightning?" Nightingale asked worriedly.
Roland shook his head and said, "Since he can come to the castle, he should be fine. Let's ask him about the situation first."
According to the date, Thunder had only been out to sea for a little more than half a year. Including the return journey, it only took him three months. Considering that they had stayed on the Shadow Islands for a while, the time spent on the road was even shorter. This was far less than the explorer's original plan. According to the explorer's original plan, this voyage would take at least one to one and a half years. If possible, Thunder even wanted to see what was at the end of the Swirling Sea and whether the continent he saw in the ruins was in the depths of the sea.
It was obvious that some unforeseen event had occurred that caused this expedition that had been prepared for a long time to end halfway.
Roland could not help but look out of the window.
"Could it be … related to the Bloody Moon?"
Soon, Thunder, who had changed his alias to Sande, was led into the office by the guard. It was obvious that he was really disheveled this time. He did not even have time to put on his fake beard, and the ostentatious feather decorations were almost gone. If Lightning saw him now, she would probably recognize him.
But at the very least, his entire body was still in perfect condition. To Roland, this was enough.
"Your Majesty, it's nice 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 happened? Since you've gathered the best navigators of the Fjords, I don't think an ordinary storm or tsunami would make you say that. "
"There are signs of storms and tsunamis, but there won't be thousands of Sea Ghosts." Thunder seemed to still have a lingering fear at this moment. "What's more, we will not only encounter Sea Ghosts, but even more terrifying monsters …"
Roland felt as if he could feel their despair as he listened to their narration. Countless Sea Ghosts swarmed the ships, their backs churning as if boiling the seawater, and the slower ships were mercilessly dragged into hell. And among the Sea Ghosts, there were terrifying ships of flesh and blood. The acid they spat could fall several kilometers away. Just a little bit of it would cause one's skin to split open. Even steel and wood could not resist this kind of corrosion. Even if they sailed at full speed, the expedition team could not widen the distance between the two sides …
"Sky-sea Realm …" His face was as gloomy as water.
"Your Majesty, what's that?" Thunder asked.
"It's what the demons call another civilization." Roland slowly told him the information that the demons were fighting on two fronts. The rib-like vault, the body of the ship made of flesh and organs, and the ability to float on the water like a ship and dive into the sea. These features were not much different from what he had seen in the relics of the gods.
"You mean, we've trespassed into their territory?"
"Maybe. Of course, we can't rule out the possibility that the appearance of the Bloody Moon made them more active and expanded their patrol range. "Roland changed the topic." What happened after that? How did the expedition team get out of danger? "
"In fact, it's not that we've shaken them off, but that they've had internal strife," Thunder said with a wry smile.
"Internal … strife?"
"Indeed. The enemies chased us day and night as if they never knew fatigue. By the time we approached the Sealine, we had lost more than half of our ships. Most of the sailors who were still alive were on the verge of collapse because they could not rest for a long time. Only the 'Snow Wind' you built still had energy to spare. After all, she didn't need to adjust the sails and course all the time. "
"Just when everyone was about to lose hope, a larger sea monster suddenly rushed out of the water and entangled one of the sea monsters. It looked like two flesh and blood monsters were biting each other. Although they were both monsters, the former was obviously stronger. The appendages and tentacles that extended from its body quickly tore the latter into pieces. After that, both the Sea Ghosts and the other sea monsters stopped chasing and surrounded the two as if they were stunned. We took the opportunity to cross the Sealine and escape back to the Fjords. "
Roland exhaled a long breath. "Fortunately, luck is on your side. It seems that the name of the ship is not in vain."
"Uh … the name of the ship?"
"No, it's nothing." He waved his hand. "What's your next plan?"
Thunder's face showed unprecedented fatigue. "To be honest, the loss of the ship is secondary. The expedition has scared most people out of their wits. Now the Fjords is filled with a strange atmosphere. The sailors who have been fighting on the sea all their lives now turn pale when they look at the east side of the sea. I guess no one will dare to board the ship to the Shadow Waters for a long time. "
Roland was silent. This wasn't surprising at all. Just as he had said, storms and tsunamis could be predicted ahead of time, and brave navigators would always be able to find a way to dance with them. However, this type of experience where one had no ability to resist and could only flee for their lives couldn't even be considered an adventure.
"The big Chambers of Commerce also asked me to tell you that they want to buy a piece of land in Graycastle at a high price as their preparatory shelter." Thunder sighed. "After all, no one knows whether they will come back or not. The sea has always been a natural stronghold for the Fjords people, but if the enemy can come and go freely in the sea, the whole Fjords Island is equivalent to an undefended empty city."
A year or two ago, he had planned to use the Fjords as the last stronghold for the survivors to live the rest of their lives after the defeat, but now the situation was completely reversed.
If he had just arrived in Border Town and had less than 300 Golden Dragons, this kind of deal would have been absolutely desirable. But now, paper money had begun to circulate in the territory, and the so-called "high price" was no longer an attractive condition.
"What do you think?"
"I say, if they want to establish a country within a country, they'd better give up as soon as possible," Thunder shrugged and said, "You'll never allow them to establish a new 'island' in Graycastle."
Roland laughed, thinking that Roland was indeed the most outstanding explorer in the Fjords. "If they just want to survive, rather than for the privilege accumulated over generations, Graycastle will always welcome them."
"I'll tell you the truth, Your Majesty."
"You must be exhausted from the voyage. I've prepared afternoon tea. You can take a hot bath first, and then tell me what you've seen and heard on the way. It'll take several days to repair the 'Snow Wind'. You can return to the Fjords after you've recovered your strength. "
"Thank you, Your Majesty," Thunder said with a hand on his chest.
Just as he was about to leave, Roland suddenly stopped him. "By the way, about Lightning … Are you still going to hide it?"
"I …" Thunder opened his mouth, but for a moment, he was speechless.
"You said you'd meet her after this expedition. Although this trip wasn't very successful, now that the Sky-sea Realm has occupied more than half of the sea, and the people of the Fjords are in a state of panic, you probably won't be able to explore for a long time." Roland held his chin and said, "I need people to fight the demons, and Lightning also wants to see her father alive. In that case, how about staying here after the trivial matters are settled?"
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