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One month later, Ur set out.
The Northern Sea lay a considerable distance from the Kingdom of Fiore. The sea itself was vast beyond measure, and searching for anything in the open ocean was notoriously difficult. From the very beginning, Ur and Pasfield had prepared for a long campaign.
It took them more than half a month just to travel from the kingdom to the docks of the Northern Sea.
The moment they arrived, the temperature dropped noticeably. It didn't bother Ur much, but Pasfield had no choice except to layer several more coats over himself.
"The Northern Sea is close to the northern continent," Pasfield explained, white mist curling from his breath. "Cold air currents from up north frequently sweep through. Sometimes the temperature drops so sharply that even the sea freezes."
They boarded the vessel in advance, a massive seafaring ship at least a hundred meters long. Aside from Ur and Pasfield, the ship carried an entire hunter guild hired by Pasfield, the Turtle King's Shield.
Compared to the mainland, the ocean hid countless rare beasts and priceless treasures. Because of that, a large number of hunter guilds gathered around the Northern River Sea. They called themselves "Hunters of the Sea."
On land, such hunters might restrain themselves under national laws or the authority of the Magic Council. But once out on the open sea, especially when treasure was involved, there was little they wouldn't dare to do.
That was why Pasfield had hired an entire guild for this voyage. He had even brought a family vessel armed with cannons, the Dori XVII, to minimize the risk of accidents along the way.
"Yo! Mr. Pasfield, everything's ready here. We can set sail anytime." No sooner had Ur and Pasfield stepped aboard than a bearded man strode toward them, greeting Pasfield with hearty confidence.
"Thank you, Guild Master Bich. Let's depart immediately," Pasfield replied with a nod of appreciation.
"Understood." The bearded man turned to leave, though not before casting a curious glance at Ur.
Once he was gone, Pasfield said quietly, "That was Bich Fard, guild master of the Turtle King's Shield. For now, he's in charge of the Dori XVII. He's an excellent navigator."
Though Pasfield didn't spare his praise, Ur could tell he hadn't fully trusted Bich yet. Otherwise, he wouldn't have deliberately concealed Ur's true identity.
Among hunter guilds, Turtle King's Shield had a relatively good reputation. But compared to inland mage guilds, these so-called Sea Hunters naturally invited caution.
As long as they didn't know Ur's true identity or strength, even if they harbored other intentions, he could suppress the entire guild in an instant.
The two headed toward the upper deck of the ship's tower. Along the way, quite a few eyes followed Ur; the unfamiliar face had clearly piqued their curiosity.
"Master, you've returned." As soon as they entered the top level, an elder man in a tailcoat, his white hair meticulously combed, stepped forward and bowed politely to Pasfield.
"Ah, Jangsen, I'm back. This is the helper I hired Lord Ur, the Dragon Slayer," Pasfield introduced.
Then he turned to Ur. "This is my butler, Jangsen. He's been with me since childhood."
"Thank you for your assistance, Lord Ur." Jangsen bowed deeply.
"No need for formalities, sir." Ur was generally courteous to the elder; respecting age was practically ingrained in him.
Besides, from Ur's perception alone, Jangsen was no ordinary butler. The magic power emanating from him, along with the quiet authority in his bearing, spoke volumes about his strength.
So this is the foundation of true nobility, Ur thought.
After spending considerable time with Pasfield, he had come to understand the Dori family better. They were not reckless nouveau riche flaunting wealth. They were a commercial dynasty with a long and storied history.
In other words, families like the Dori's stood on equal footing with the aristocracy of this world.
"Would you care for something to drink? Master? Lord Ur?" Jangsen asked.
"The usual. A glass of Blood Demon."
"I'll have iced water. Thank you." Ur never drunk alcohol while on a mission. Even if the liquor in this world was relatively mild, he saw no reason to take unnecessary risks.
Soon, their drinks arrived, accompanied by several plates of delicate pastries.
Pasfield "Blood Demon" was, in truth, a red wine. Yet it carried a faint trace of magic. Judging by its aroma, it must have been the mysterious wine brewed with the so-called Azure Water.
He had to admit. The fragrance was extraordinary. Rich and full-bodied, yet touched with a light, refreshing sweetness that lingered in the air. Seated on a genuine leather sofa stuffed with exotic beast fur, gazing at the rolling sea beyond the window, and breathing in the scent of wine, Ur couldn't help but scorn the decadent life of the aristocracy.
They were here on an important mission.
Yet if someone claimed they were simply on holiday, he might have believed it.
As it turned out, Pasfield's preparations were wise. The sheer presence of the Dori XVII was intimidating. Over the course of several days at sea, they encountered numerous ships belonging to Sea Hunters, but each chose to steer clear.
Their search efficiency improved greatly.
However, on the fifth day, that calm was finally broken.
"Mr. Pasfield, there's a damaged ship ahead. I believe we should prepare for combat." Guild Master Bich suddenly appeared on the top deck, his expression grave.
"You mean they might try to seize our vessel?" Pasfield frowned. He and Ur had noticed the wreck earlier but hadn't paid it much attention. Now, prompted by Bich's warning, both understood the implication.
"Not might," Bich said flatly. "They definitely will. I've already inspected the ship. It's more than half destroyed. If nothing changes, they won't make it back to land. And our men found members of the hunter guild Seaweed Blade aboard."
The sea breeze carried a sudden chill.
The tranquility of the past few days had come to an end.
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