Lucian continued reading, with one final rule left:
"4. Pizzas in Ragunna City do not contain crownapple. crownapple pizza is not considered pizza."
"Never add crownapple or Gemberry to a pizza in a Ragunna City restaurant. This is extremely important!"
Lucian paused. "Reading through this, it feels like some kind of strange rulebook."
"crownapple are fruit, right? What's wrong with adding fruit to pizza?"
Aalto shuddered at the thought. "Here in the Black Shores, add whatever you want, but in Rinascita, you absolutely must not do that…"
Lucian shook his head slightly. "The people of Rinascita are too rigid. They don't understand innovation at all."
This rule reminded Lucian of pineapple pizza from his past life.
Abby chimed in, "Exactly! Unlike me, who can even eat Tacet Discords! A fruit pizza is nothing."
Aalto clapped his hands. "Alright, you now know you need to take the sea route to Rinascita."
"But because of recent Threnodian activity worldwide, most large ships have been borrowed by other members."
"So…"
A sleek, silver-white, rather petite boat emerged from the water nearby.
Lucian: "This is it?"
Aalto grinned. "Don't underestimate it. I haggled hard at the New Federation's World Expo to get this one."
"It's my personal treasure. I was even planning to introduce it in bulk to the Black Shores."
"Plus, doesn't it meet your need for a low-profile trip?"
Lucian shook his head. "You think my face can stay low-profile in Rinascita?"
Aalto rubbed his chin. "Fair point. Your face is probably already known in Rinascita."
"After all, Chixia's been hyping you up as the God of Universal Love."
"Want to give yourself a title like Imperator's?"
Seeing Lucian seriously considering it, Rover quickly made an 'X' with her hands.
"Stop right there! What if the people of Rinascita take it seriously?"
Aalto smirked. "I heard the people of Ragunna City see the Sentinel as an untouchable deity and even built a temple for her. They're incredibly devout…"
"Once you're there, make sure to follow the rules in the mission report and respect local customs…"
Temples, Sentinel statues…
If he could gain the faith of people in other regions, wouldn't his fame skyrocket?
He didn't need to be revered as a "deity" like the Sentinel.
Being hailed as Jinzhou's great hero, as he was in Jinzhou, would be enough.
Lucian's mind began to race. Rinascita had organizations like the Order of the Deep and numerous families—a perfect entry point…
Lucian took Rover's hand and stepped into the small boat.
After Aalto set the route, he rubbed his hands expectantly.
"Lord Lucian, about… my Shell Credits…"
Lucian beckoned. "Hand me your terminal."
Aalto's face lit up, and he quickly handed it over.
Lucian fiddled with the terminal for a moment before returning it.
Aalto checked it and saw an extra two million Shell Credits in his account!
"Wait, only two million Shell Credits?"
Lucian started the boat, coughing lightly. "That's a credit loan I applied for you through the Pioneer Association."
"As for why it's only two million, that's because your credit only qualifies for two million. It's not that I didn't want to give you more…"
As the boat sailed off, Aalto stood there, dumbfounded.
Did you just say… a credit loan?
I… I've been scammed again!?
From the departing boat, Lucian faintly heard Aalto's voice.
"Lucian, you &*%￥#…"
Rover lazily curled up in Lucian's arms, looking at the calm, blue sea and laughing. "Aalto's too pitiful."
Lucian lowered his head and kissed Rover's cheek. "I'll give the Shell Credits to Shorekeeper to pass on to Aalto. Don't worry."
The sunlight was perfect, and a gentle sea breeze brushed past, making them feel at ease.
Rover squinted, dozing lightly, while Abby yawned and said,
"I wonder how long this trip will take…"
Lucian mused, "The mission report said the sea between the Black Shores and Rinascita is called the Storm Sea."
"Though it's calm now, we might run into danger later…"
A few hours passed, and the group gradually became alert, intently watching the surrounding sea.
As Lucian had predicted, thick sea fog now enveloped them. A cold wind blew, sending chills down their spines, as if sea monsters were watching them from within the mist.
Visibility was extremely low, and Lucian joked,
"I'm not going to get kidnapped by Phrolova again, am I?"
Abby, trembling, clung to Lucian's sleeve. "Don't worry, as long as I hold onto you, she can't take you."
Feeling Abby's shaky little claws, Lucian asked, "Who's the one scared here?"
Rover's expression grew serious. "Do you hear something?"
The group fell silent, looking around. Beneath the water, faint black shadows darted quickly, but the fog obscured their view, making it impossible to see clearly.
A low, rhythmic hum reached their ears, weighing heavily on their hearts.
Abby's voice quivered. "This sea fog is so eerie, way scarier than Mt. Firmament…"
"And… I think I saw a huge shadow under the water…"
Lucian followed Abby's gaze and spotted a massive shadow rapidly approaching.
"…Watch out—"
Lucian quickly stuffed Abby back into the Tacet Mark and grabbed Rover's arm.
The next second, the small boat was flung into the air as a deep, resonant hum filled their ears.
A colossal beast, over ten meters long, burst through the waves—a giant whale covered in barnacles and ice crystals, its cry like that of a siren.
In the heat of the moment, Lucian reacted swiftly, transforming into Jué, carrying Rover on his back, and soaring into the sky.
In the blink of an eye, the whale sent the small boat flying before crashing back into the sea, stirring up wild waves.
Lucian looked closely and saw a distinct red glow flickering on the whale's tail fin.
"That's…"
Before Lucian could think further, the narwhal, undeterred, surged out of the water again. Its massive tail fin, like the palm of a deity, smashed Aalto's prized small boat to pieces.
"…Is that a Red Spider Lily?" Rover frowned.
Lucian: "…"
"Phrolova again? Realizing she can't beat us head-on, she's resorting to this now?"
Lucian drew the Mandala Flower, preparing to purify the controlled narwhal…
Meanwhile, a massive ship from the Troupe of Fools sailed by. Its captain, Brant, stared in shock at the majestic Jué in the sky above.
"Jinzhou's Sentinel has come to Rinascita!?"