Duke could only smile helplessly, unfazed.
After all, he couldn’t expect any goodwill from Earl Hardy, and if it weren’t for him, Vivian wouldn’t be joining him in this sea venture.
The farewell didn’t last long, as the surrounding sailors quickly finished unloading the cargo. Those who went to the port to replenish supplies also returned, and it was time to set sail again.
This ship, named the Eclipse, used Ruijin Port as a temporary stop along the way, not spending much time there, with only a tiny amount of cargo to unload.
Their main purpose in stopping here was to replenish supplies. Food and fresh water were essentials that could never be in excess.
Whenever there was a chance, they would try to stock up on as much food and water as possible.
After Duke and Vivian boarded the ship, they were greeted by the navigator named Botton, who was a slender man seemingly well-cultured, quite unlike the robust sailors’ demeanor.
"Your quarters are on the first deck; I’ll take you there," the navigator said as he led the way.
Duke and Vivian attracted many gazes, sparking curiosity in some.
Both of them were clad in full armor, an uncommon sight aboard the ship.
Duke felt it fortunate that Vivian was in armor; otherwise, she might have faced some trouble on the ship.
The ship was mostly populated by men; even among the passengers, there were hardly any women.
After heading below the deck, Duke had to walk with his head lowered, unable to stand straight.
Being about 1.85 meters tall, the cabin’s height was too low for him.
Duke and Vivian shared a room with a bed on each side, the room measuring a mere ten square meters, leaving little space after the two single beds were in place.
There were no windows in the room, and ventilation was poor. Staying too long in such an environment might make anyone sick.
And this was just on the first deck; conditions only worsened further below, where most sailors lived.
Feeling the blanket on the bed, Duke found it damp, and some places even moldy.
Vivian’s was the same, leaving them helpless, so they decided to sun them while they still had daylight outside.
They hadn’t considered this earlier; otherwise, they would have bought their own blankets before boarding.
Fortunately, they both were in excellent physical condition, so sleeping without a blanket wasn’t an issue.
The ship’s dining room was also on the first deck, reserved only for passengers. Sailors ate elsewhere, distinct from passenger areas.
Upon entering the dining room, Duke and Vivian found it spacious and tidy, with food organized in baskets and wooden barrels.
There was a decent variety, including smoked meats, fruits, and breads, even several barrels of beer.
These all required separate payment and weren’t cheap, but Duke and Vivian’s gold coins were more than sufficient.
There were already a few people eating in the dining room, dressed in various styles, clearly from different regions.
Duke and Vivian kept a low profile, saying little, and took some bread, smoked meat, and fruits back to their room.
A man in a black robe passing by cast a glance at Duke’s ring and Vivian’s red glove, smiled but said nothing.
Duke and Vivian noticed his gaze and felt a suffocating pressure as it brushed over them.
It was only after he walked away that the feeling gradually dissipated.
The black-robed man didn’t intentionally exude malice, but instinctively caused a sense of tension.
For Vivian, who was already a Great Knight, to feel such a threat indicated the terrifying power of the black-robed man.
Duke realized that, as he expected, the ship concealed many unknown forces. Past experiences no longer applied, and he needed to maintain awe and respect for anybody and anything.
...
The days at sea were rather dull. Duke and Vivian spent their time in the room, silently practicing their Breathing Technique to accumulate strength.
When they felt stifled, they would go up to the deck for air.
Initially impressed by the sea’s beauty, the novelty soon wore off after half a month, with the endless blue sky, white clouds, and azure sea growing monotonous.
During this period, Duke noticed several people carrying demonized items, mostly young men and women, all wary of each other.
Unaware of the magic power of each other’s demonized possessions, they were all very cautious.
Duke’s defensive type was relatively benign, while Vivian’s red glove was extremely dangerous; one might not even know how they died.
In the dead of night, Duke continued practicing the Breathing Technique in the room, while Vivian lay asleep nearby.
[Giant Whale Breathing Technique: LV8 (1523/3000)]
He still carried the Giant Whale Secret Potion, perfect for passing the time with little else to do on the ship.
At this pace, it would only take about ten more days to elevate the Breathing Technique to the ninth level, allowing him to successfully reach the Great Knight Realm.
Vivian’s recent tests had uncovered many ways to release Fighting Spirit, providing a good defense against magic powers.
Knowing this, Duke was even more eager to advance to the Great Knight, boosting his means of self-defense.
The Eclipse sailed on even at night, a faint engine hum heard below, its power source unknown.
Duke discovered the ship was built from an unknown, very hard wood, likely necessary to support the vessel’s weight.
He secretly tested it with the Black Sword, which could only leave scratches on it without Fighting Spirit.
Then, suddenly, Duke heard a song, its source outside in the sea, its melody long and mournful.
Vivian immediately sat upright, her legs, clad in white stockings, crossed in concentration.
"What’s with the song?" Duke asked.
Vivian replied, "It’s probably the Sea Race. I’ve read legends of hearing such songs from them while sailing."
"Sea Race..." Duke knew almost nothing about them, unaware of the possible consequences of encountering them.
In legends Vivian read, ships meeting the Sea Race came to no good end.
As the song’s presence grew, the Eclipse gradually came to a halt, hurried footsteps heard within the cabin, suggesting lots of activity on deck.