Even ordinary tier Half-Elves can live 180 to 250 years, far surpassing the short-lived humans.
"But it seems you’re indifferent to his high charisma?" the female sorcerer curiously asked.
"That’s because..." Laine deliberately teased.
"First of all, I’m not interested in men, and then... with such a beautiful lady by my side, how could I be captivated by an ordinary Half-Elf?" The Kingdom Knight fixed his gaze on the female sorcerer’s lovely face. Even in the deep winter, her radiant beauty did not fade, with skin like creamy jade, bright eyes, white teeth, and a smile like peach blossoms.
The woman said nothing, but her upturned lips and sparkling eyes betrayed her feelings.
"Of course, ultimately, I’m just not interested in men; the rest is inconsequential," Laine added one last line, causing the female sorcerer’s expression to sour immediately. "You could’ve kept that last part to yourself."
"Honesty is one of the eight virtues of a knight, my dear Teresa."
"Making a lady sad is not gentlemanly."
"Ha, whether I’m a knight or a gentleman doesn’t change based on your needs. Knight is my bone, gentleman is my flesh, inseparable yet requiring choice. Am I right?"
"Tsk tsk, a knight who likes to quibble?"
"A warlock who likes to ramble?"
Amidst their exchange, the journey quickly reached its end. They arrived at the port dock of Kaltenhaven.
In the deep winter, Laine observed a sea of white and blue sky. In this world, unless the temperature reached extreme lows, the sea rarely froze under the Sea God’s divine power. At the port dock, numerous fishing boats and a few passenger and merchant ships were moored. Fishermen, sailors, and dock guards and tax officers came and went. Seeing new arrivals, everyone crowded over, the poorly-dressed sailors and dockworkers looking to see if new job opportunities might arise. Among them, some wore only simple shirts in the cold as they diligently worked to support their families.
Many were dirty, with matted beards, and hair casually tied up. Seeing them swarm forward, the female sorcerer instinctively stepped back half a step. Laine, noticing this, stepped forward half a step to protect Teresa behind him.
Upon seeing the Knight’s Badge on Laine’s chest, the crowd instinctively retreated, except for one who seemed to be a leader, who stepped forward. "Lord Knight, is there any work you’d like us to take on?"
The port on the Continent, having developed over thousands of years or more, now had foremen among the dockworkers, which made things more convenient for Laine.
He inquired in detail about the visitor from that night. Seeing no work coming, the crowd dispersed, leaving only the foreman to answer the question. "Yes, my lord, two nights ago such a person did come to this dock. Just as you described, he was wearing an outdated outfit but with a difference. I remember he wore a face mask, not a high round hat, but a wide-brimmed rounded hat."
"He told us he was in a hurry because he had family in Marinburg who had fallen seriously ill, and he needed to rush back. So he immediately wanted a fast boat. It was already very late, and none of the ship captains at the dock wanted to go out to sea. We all felt something was off. Though he spoke of urgency, he didn’t seem in any hurry. I always felt he was smiling, like... excited," the foreman said oddly.
"Yes, but Lord Knight, you know, we’re just simple people, not understanding much. The fare for a fast boat from here to Marinburg usually costs three to five Gold Dinars. At the time, he asked the price, and several captains took the opportunity to ask for ten Gold Dinars. Do you know what happened next? That strange man actually took out fifteen Gold Dinars and picked the best and fastest boat, leaving the port just like that."
Urgent escape, huh? Laine and Teresa exchanged a glance, a faint understanding emerging between them.
"Anything else... what’s that sound?!" Laine was about to ask more when a slight rhythmic sound came from the ground.
"What is this noise?" Teresa immediately sensed it too. At this time, some seasoned fishermen and sailors also realized something was wrong. The tethered mules and geldings neighed incessantly, and a small dog couldn’t stop barking madly.
"This is... not good!" Laine instinctively looked towards the direction of the strange sound.
What he saw was the turbulent sea, with countless shadows moving beneath the waves.
"Teresa, fall back!" Laine quickly signaled the female sorcerer to retreat as her body had not yet recovered.
"Prepare for battle! Prepare for battle!"
"I command all soldiers at the dock to obey my orders as the White Wolf Knight!"
"Form ranks! Archers in front, swordsmen behind, prepare to meet the enemy!"