"Your Majesty, the Queen, we are about to set sail!"
"Our destination is the royal port of the Kingdom of Summer."
At the port of White Kingdom, a beautiful flower ship set sail.
Today the weather was clear, with a cloudless sky, and the sunlight fell on the sea, glinting like gold.
The wind was strong, filling the sails.
On the ship, the Sailors sang sea shanties, their hearts surging with excitement.
They knew that Her Majesty, the Queen, was going to meet the King of the neighboring Kingdom of Summer.
The two countries were going to discuss maritime navigation and trade.
The Sailors had long heard that when the ships of the Kingdom of Summer sailed on the sea, they could hire Merfolk from the Sea Kingdom as guides, easily avoiding storms, undercurrents, and reefs.
Even if a ship was accidentally shipwrecked, the crew members from the Kingdom of Summer could be rescued by the Merfolk and escape disaster.
Such good fortune made other coastal countries on the Western Continent envious. As Sailors who made their living at sea, they naturally longed for this even more.
If the Queen's meeting with the Kingdom of Summer went smoothly this time, White Kingdom's ships would also have hope of receiving guidance and protection from the Merfolk of the Sea Kingdom in the future!
This summit, which could change the fate of both countries, was naturally planned by Lord Rhine before his departure—this great Magician was also a friend of the Kingdom of Summer.
Soon after the ship set off, a figure restlessly ran around on the deck.
"So excited, so excited, is this the sea? So blue, so much water!"
A young child scurried around on the deck, looking as if he had never seen the world, attracting everyone's attention.
"Stop running around, Pinocchio, get some rest. When we reach the Kingdom of Summer, you still have to perform a puppet show."
A few Soldiers caught Pinocchio, who was dashing across the deck—they grabbed Pinocchio's long nose, and the puppet could no longer run around.
"Let me go, I want to see the sea. This is my first time on a boat!" Pinocchio wailed.
At this moment, Pinocchio, who turned his head in struggle, unexpectedly discovered that among the Soldiers accompanying the ship, one was quite short and out of place with the others.
"Why is he so short? Are there such short Soldiers?" Pinocchio wondered.
However, as a puppet lacking common sense, Pinocchio didn't care about this matter and dismissed it the next second.
After a while, a fog rose on the sea.
The fog grew thicker and heavier.
"Strange, Your Majesty, the Queen. When we first set sail, the sky was clear and cloudless, but now there's a heavy fog."
"Sailing in such heavy fog, no one knows what might happen."
The Sailors reported the situation to the Queen in the cabin.
"No need to worry, keep going."
The Queen said calmly, waving her hand to dismiss the Sailors.
So it came after all?
The Queen looked up at the increasingly dense fog outside the window, remembering Lord Rhine's instructions and plan before his departure, and the Magician's promise.
"I want to capture the Eastern Witch. The specific plan requires your cooperation, Your Majesty, the Queen…"
Beside her, the particularly short Soldier Pinocchio had seen earlier, kept his small hand on the sword at his waist, guarding the Queen's side.
"Don't worry, Your Majesty," the short Soldier said, "After today, you and White Kingdom will both be safe."
Having said that, the short Soldier turned his gaze out the window, towards the thick, pale fog behind the flower ship.
His gaze was incredibly sharp, as if it could penetrate the thick fog and glimpse the hunters lurking behind the vast white mist.
…
Deep within the thick fog.
One Engedorn Warship after another, like falcons waiting to catch their prey, silently followed behind White Kingdom's flower ship, maintaining their distance.
The dense fog concealed their tracks.
On these Warships, and on the Sailors and warriors, all flags and symbols representing En De had been removed.
The great hunt they were about to undertake today was, in name, unrelated to that great empire.
"The fog is getting thicker."
"That Eastern Witch from Oz has, as agreed, completed the weather-influencing ritual and summoned a sea fog thick enough to cover the entire sea area."
"The target has approached the designated sea area. It is expected to arrive in an hour."
"Warriors of En De, prepare yourselves. The hunt will begin in an hour!"
The captain loudly ordered the Soldiers.
In the dense white fog, Warriors of En De simultaneously raised their bayonets, shouting loudly and singing the empire's military anthem.
One black, thick cannon after another was set up, as Soldiers carried heavy cannonballs, walking on the swaying deck.
"For the Empire!"
The majestic and powerful military anthem echoed in the ethereal clouds, and the clanging metal sounds of cannons being set up and cannonballs colliding served as the accompaniment to this grand song.
In such an exhilarating atmosphere, no one noticed:
As the Engedorn Warships monitored their prey like lurking vipers, beneath the Warships, in the deep blue sea, there were also creatures monitoring them in the same way.
…
Beneath the deep blue seawater.
Several Merfolk scouts raised their heads, looking at the huge, swaying black shadows on the sea surface—this was how Engedorn Warships appeared from underwater.
"Everything is going smoothly, the plan is proceeding as usual!"
The Merfolk officer looked at the reflection of the Warships, which resembled ferocious beasts, and said calmly, without any surprise.
Behind these Merfolk Soldiers, an ancient figure gradually emerged in the phosphorescent blue seawater.
Her seaweed-like green hair floated in the water:
"Witch Society, the time has come for me to settle things with you!"
…
Lord Rhine and Aurora rode their horses leisurely through the forest. A team of Soldiers escorted them on both sides.
A beautiful bird flew from afar.
Seeing the bird, Lord Rhine's lips curved into a subtle smile, and he extended his hand.
The bird obediently landed on Lord Rhine's arm.
The bird chirped at the young wizard, as if saying something.
Lord Rhine also extended his hand, gently stroking the bird's soft feathers, and then took out some food from his pocket to feed the bird.
Soon after, the bird, full and satisfied, sang a joyful song and flew away.
Beside him, Aurora, on horseback, lowered her voice and softly asked Lord Rhine:
"How is it, Lord Rhine?"
"Everything is going smoothly, just follow the plan," Lord Rhine said calmly.
Upon hearing the Magician's assurance, the worry on Aurora's face dissipated, and she nodded in relief.
Just then, a horse whinny came from the front of the procession.
The entire escort team accompanying Lord Rhine and Aurora out of the country stopped.
"Who's in front? Don't block the middle of the road!"
The Soldiers at the front reprimanded the man blocking the road, who was wearing a dark cloak and had his face obscured by a hood.
"Apologies, apologies. I merely wish to visit the Magician of White Kingdom—the great Magician, Lord Rhine."
The man said with a chuckle, his head bowed.
"This…"
The Soldier at the front didn't know whether to agree or not for a moment.