Alafa and his two companions were momentarily taken aback, exchanging a guarded look.
They were all cunning individuals and knew very well that normal weather changes couldn’t happen so fast, unless... it was the effect of some strong "Spell".
And the person capable of casting such a spell was not someone they could easily deal with.
Victoria saw the changing weather, was also startled, pursed her lips, and scanned the surroundings with her eyes.
Several hundred meters to the southwest, the sea surface broke open, and a gigantic sea turtle over ten meters long surfaced.
Spikes covered the head of the sea turtle, giving it a ferocious appearance, its eyes glinted with a strange purple-black color, and it swam rapidly towards the vicinity of the Queen Victoria.
Only then did everyone notice a man looking to be in his thirties standing on the turtle’s back, wearing a white robe, with a profound gaze.
The man stood on the turtle’s back, not in a hurry to speak but merely released a bit of his aura, causing the complexions of those around to change immediately. Because that aura was clearly stronger than Victoria, who had reached the Peak of Third-level Wizards, could that mean... a Level 4 Wizard?
Alafa was the most agitated as if he recognized the man; he looked at the man and said somewhat uncontrollably, "Ce... Cesar... Mr. Cesar? Is that you?"
The word "Mr." was obviously added hastily, but it wasn’t hard to see that he was very wary of the man.
Taking a deep breath, Alafa tentatively asked, "Mr. Cesar, you seem stronger than the last time I saw you, could it be... that you have broken through to Level 4 Wizard?"
The man called Cesar smiled slightly at Alafa’s words and replied, "It’s not so easy to make a breakthrough. A Level 4 Wizard is not like the rest. I am... just a little bit away, yes, a tiny bit."
"Of course," Cesar’s tone shifted again, "Even though I’m just a little short, I’m more than enough to deal with you three."
"Cesar... Mr. Cesar, you must be joking," Alafa forced a laugh after hearing this, with a somewhat stiff smile. Meanwhile, the elder Shamman and the burly man Takta kept grim faces, silent, their thoughts unknown.
Cesar looked at Alafa and said seriously, "No, I’m not joking. You know, my goal is the same as yours; I’ve come for the artifact onboard Queen Victoria. So, when I say deal with you, it’s not just talk. I might actually do it."
Alafa’s smile grew even stiffer as he dryly said, "If Mr. Cesar you truly want that artifact, we, of course, won’t compete with you. However, the current problem is that Lady Victoria doesn’t want to hand it over."
"Is that so?" Mr. Cesar replied, standing on the turtle’s back and turning to look at Victoria on the deck, he raised his voice, "Miss Victoria, do you truly intend to protect that item on your ship? Honestly, that item doesn’t have much to do with you, right? Why cling so firmly to it?"
Victoria blinked and responded to Cesar, "Honestly, up to now, I still do not know what precious item you all refer to on my ship, nor do I know why so many people would come for it."
"It’s understandable for Miss Victoria to be unaware, because that item doesn’t belong to the Queen Victoria; it just happens to be on Queen Victoria.
In other words, that item belongs to a certain passenger who traveled with the Queen Victoria. We all received news that the item was being transported to the Main Continent on Queen Victoria, which is why we specifically waited here."
Mr. Cesar pressed his lips together, looking seriously at Victoria, "Miss Victoria, in a sense, you and I are not in opposition. As long as you allow me to board the ship and find that item, I guarantee to leave immediately after taking it.
Actually, the whole misunderstanding stems from the owner of the item being too sly—he knew very well that the item was valuable and would be contested, yet he intentionally took Queen Victoria, hoping Miss Victoria, you would shield him from those after the item. I think you, Miss Victoria, should not be used by him. It would be better for everyone if you handed him over to us to deal with."
"Is that so?" Victoria said, "That’s your reasoning? You’re planning to rob someone of their item, yet calling the other person sly?"
"Well, actually... that item was also stolen by the person from somewhere else, that person isn’t as innocent as you imagine, Miss Victoria," Cesar said, "And that item is rather dangerous; it’s better off in my hands than theirs."
Victoria had no interest in listening anymore and waved her hand, "Enough! No matter what you say, I will not let you or anyone else board for a search, even if the item you want isn’t mine, but belongs to a passenger.
Since they have chosen to travel on the Queen Victoria, for the sake of the Blue Nightingale Alliance’s reputation, I must do everything possible to ensure their safe arrival at the destination. What happens to them upon arrival, whether they live or die, is none of my concern. But on this ship, unless they court death themselves, I will do everything in my power to prevent you from harming them."
"Must it be this way?" sighed Cesar, looking somewhat helplessly at Victoria.
"Absolutely," Victoria affirmed with a certain answer, her red hair fluttering in the wind like burning flames.
"But... you have to understand, Miss Victoria, I really didn’t want to fight you," Cesar said, "If we really fight, at least half the people on your ship will die. And all this for one person, for an item in one person’s possession. And this person has been hiding the truth all along, keeping you in the dark until just now. Is this choice really the right one?"
"Right or wrong, aren’t you, the attacker, the one causing it? I’m simply doing what I must, upholding the reputation of the Blue Nightingale Alliance. What, has your logic always been this confused, Mr. Cesar?" Victoria replied.
"I..." Cesar was at a loss for words.
After a moment of silence, Cesar took a deep breath and looked at Victoria, "Miss Victoria, how about this? I know you won’t easily submit, and I really don’t want to have a conflict over this, nor do I want to create enmity with the Blue Nightingale Alliance behind you. Let us have a duel.
You duel with me, and if you can last three rounds against me, I will no longer intervene in this matter. But if you can’t hold on and admit defeat, then you have to allow me to board and search for that item. How about it?"
Victoria considered Cesar’s words with flickering eyes, and after a long while, she nodded, "Alright, I agree!"
"Good. Then let’s, now... uh, start..." Cesar was speaking unhurriedly, but suddenly sped up his words because Victoria had already made her move.