Chapter 29: Return Voyage and Routine

Subsequently, under First Mate Perry's command, the sailors each performed their duties and began to clean the battlefield.

The damage to the Silver Wings from the Sea Monster attack was not severe. After a simple repair, they towed the body of the Impact Sea Shell with nets behind the ship and resumed normal sailing.

Sea Monsters are inherently Extraordinary Materials; when feasible, no one can easily discard them. Fortunately, this was near the coast; if caught in the open sea, only a portion of core materials could be harvested, which could never match the value of an entire corpse.

Although the Silver Wings suffered significant losses, just the corpse of this Sea Monster was enough to compensate. Whether for paying the bereaved families of the deceased or rewarding the survivors, it was more than sufficient.

Carrying such a massive burden, it became difficult to continue the remaining patrol work. Moreover, the presence of the Sea Monster was inconvenient to expose to ordinary people, so Gel decisively ordered a direct return.

Swoosh...

As the Sea Monster died, the mist over the sea gradually dissipated. Silver Wings drew a beautiful curve across the sea surface, veered onto a faster trade route with fewer ships, and returned at full speed.

On the deck.

"Come on, Sub-Lieutenant Aiven, go rest for a while. At lunch, I'll let you taste the specialties aboard our ship, a rare delicacy." First Mate Perry patted Aiven's shoulder and spoke mysteriously.

Along with the camaraderie from fighting side by side and the noticeably different attitude of Captain Gel, the usually severe and nonchalant First Mate became unexpectedly affable towards Aiven.

"Is that so? I'm really looking forward to it!" Aiven naturally wouldn't miss the opportunity to better integrate into the crew.

Indeed.

Later, at the victory banquet prepared following the battle, besides the high-quality ingredients originally stocked on board and freshly caught sea fish, the chef also brought a mysterious platter covered by a dome to each table.

This was the rare specialty dish mentioned by the First Mate.

Aiven curiously opened the metallic dome in front of him.

A piece of sizable, snow-white tender meat soaked in ginger-yellow sauce, paired with some green vegetables. An exotic aroma filled the air, causing one's mouth to water, whetting the appetite.

It was actually a "Sea Monster Feast" made from a Sea Monster's tentacle, not only delicious and crisp in texture but also had the magical effect of slightly enhancing one's constitution.

The veteran sailors didn't think much of it, having previously enjoyed it once or twice a year aboard Level 3 Battleships and even having better rations than others on Level 5 Battleships, but it was a feast for first-timers like Aiven and Gary.

Feeling the subtle warmth surging within their bodies,

Aiven even fantasized that if he could eat this every day, he should quickly reach the limits of a mortal!

However, on second thought, he knew it was impossible. Sea Monsters are the rulers of the sea and top predators. To fight one by chance is understandable, but specifically hunting them would truly be tempting fate.

Though just eating a meal or two, Sea Monster meat is not more effective than corresponding supplementary potions, counting as better than nothing, merely satisfying the taste buds.

Even so, Aiven quickly finished his portion, leaving no leftovers.

Seated at a table exclusive to officers, with everyone slightly drunk and in high spirits, as they started chatting about everything.

Aiven began to curiously ask the experienced officers about their past adventures in the deep sea.

Everyone had seen Aiven's performance today; he alone cut off three Sea Monster tentacles and saved at least a dozen crew members. Regardless of any special relationship with the Captain, he already earned the recognition of most of them.

"Asking me, you've asked the right person. I'm the earliest to follow Captain's adventures at sea." Chief Navigator Teles had drunk quite a bit, his eyes slightly hazy.

"Young man, you must remember, many Giant Beasts exist in the sea, but not all bear malice toward humans.

Shells and tentacles together are the features of the Sea Monsters under the Mother of Sea Monsters; they instinctively hate humans, unchanged, but there are many other kinds of wild Sea Monsters.

To these wild Sea Monsters, humans are no different from other creatures. If you have the means, you could even tame them like hunting dogs."

At this point, Teles forked a large piece of pure white Sea Monster meat drenched in sauce into his mouth and took a big swig of rum, belching loudly.

"Moreover, the courageous Chief Navigator will tell you, strong Sea Monsters share a common trait—they all taste great!" Seeing Teles indulge in wine and food, Boatswain Chris joked.

The table erupted in laughter.

"I must say, those days of sailing Level 3 Battleships on the high seas were better. Such small species of Sea Monsters only needed one full volley to end up to the ocean floor, needing no intervention from the Captain!"

The Gunpowder Chief sipped amber rum, somewhat nostalgic.

"I say, when will we capture and enslave a giant wild Sea Monster, then our days will be..." The Helmsman chimed in excitedly, looking forward to indulging his Sea Monster Knight fantasy.

"You're dreaming! No need for anything else, capturing such a giant Sea Monster would qualify for a Quasi-Legendary Battleship, wouldn't it?"

The crowd continued to jeer, mocking the Helmsman's unrealistic notions.

Different from small species like Impact Sea Shells that can be killed solo with a specially made harpoon, every giant species of Sea Monster has the ability to destroy a Battleship on its own (without strong Extraordinary individuals on board).

Even decades ago, when the Sea Power Kingdom's Overlord Hilus Kingdom first launched Battleships into the sea, they boasted, "In this world, only another Battleship and... giant species Sea Monster can resist a Battleship!"

Giant species Sea Monsters are terrifying creatures with a body length exceeding Level 1 Battleships. The power of such monsters combined with human command results in combat effectiveness that can't simply be described as one plus one greater than two.

Though not reaching the level of the Sea Power Countries' country-controlling killers, the "Legendary Battleship," it does exceed Level 1 Battleships, achieving Quasi-Legendary status without issue.

This means the combination of humans and giant species Sea Monsters is already enough to crush over ninety percent of human ships on the sea, a terrifying thought.....

Aiven did not interrupt, while stuffing himself with various gourmet foods, trying to satisfy his increasingly exaggerated appetite due to his Knight training, and attentively listening to the officers' conversations.

Besides some common knowledge about Sea Monsters, he gradually gained insight into the strength of the ship's officers.

On the sea, individual power is minuscule, but this doesn't include Peak Level Extraordinary individuals. Based on the Phaletis Kingdom's employment requirements, every warship captain must at least be an Extraordinary Knight!

This constitutes the final military guarantee against harsh natural environments and deep-sea monsters for the warships.

The Extraordinary Captain, partnered with a varying number of Apprentice Knights (corresponding to Captain Officers) and a large number of regular sailors for support, forms the overall combat strength of a warship using shipborne artillery and various weapons.

The officers present were naturally no exception. They all had the qualification to practice genuine Extraordinary Swordsmanship, the "Phaletis Saber Technique." However, due to either age, aptitude, or lack of interest, very few managed to surpass ordinary people and reach a certain level.

After all, staying in the position of a Captain at their age, most had already reached the peak of their career path, having long given up on their Extraordinary Path, often pinning their hopes on the next generation.

Among them, Uncle Gel, as the Captain, was undoubtedly the main force in terms of combat power, a powerful existence at the Official Knight Peak. Moreover, it's stipulated by the Navy Department that Martial Arts Faction officers must hold the Official Knight Tier to be promoted to School-Level Officer, except for civilian positions.

Perry, the First Mate, was considered one, although he hadn't yet reached the Official Knight Tier, his level was not considered low. The other was Chris, the Boatswain leading the main boarding combat team. Aiven felt Chris's physique was stronger than Gary's, but probably inferior to his own.

However, in terms of development potential, both of them were already lagging far behind.

The First Mate Perry was already over thirty years old, and his physique had mostly been sustained through the years, with almost no possibility of advancing to an Official Knight.

The situation for the Boatswain Chris was slightly better, but if he couldn't attempt a breakthrough within two years, he might never have the chance again.

Such aptitude was far inferior not only to Aiven but even to Gary.

Theoretically, being a member of the former Level 3 Battleship, the ability of a Captain Officer shouldn't be this limited.

Through their chatter, Aiven unexpectedly learned that there was originally another Knight Level presence on the Level 3 Battleship, which was the real confidence of the Level 3 Battleship crew. However, everyone was very secretive about this former colleague, whether he was sacrificed or transferred was unknown.

Making shallow conversations about deep topics, after pondering for a moment, Aiven didn't ask further.

"Come, let's continue drinking!"

"Sub-Lieutenant Aiven, welcome aboard our Silver Wings."

"With Sub-Lieutenant Aiven's skills, you'll be the new pillar of strength for Silver Wings in the future."

A celebration banquet thoroughly integrated Aiven into this new group.

...

The speed of returning home was much faster than when patrolling. However, the destination of the Silver Wings was not the navy port of Gabred, but a hidden island not on the normal route.

After handing over the corpse of the Impact Sea Shell to the navy stationed on the island, the officers and crew of the Silver Wings all received substantial merits and bonuses. These would be proofs for future rank promotions, exchange of training methods, and various cultivation resources.

Given Aiven's outstanding performance, he naturally received his share.

Aiven estimated that with just one more event like this, he could reach the standards for official promotion without slowly enduring through seniority, becoming a Captain rank like the Martial Arts Faction officers such as the First Mate and Boatswain.

Upon returning to the navy port and reporting the sea monster incident, the Silver Wings received additional commendations, and the crew, who had only docked a week prior, were granted another three days of shore leave.

After the thrilling sea monster battle, the crew couldn't wait to indulge and relax in the bustling hub of Gabred.

Aiven, however, frowned slightly as Uncle Gel was called away by the Third Fleet Command alone. He felt that the sea monster suddenly attacking near the coast and assailing merchant ships wasn't so simple, and there might be hidden truths behind it.

However, these matters were not for him to worry about at the moment. Instead, another small matter was pressing.

Only those who have been drifting at sea for a long time can truly appreciate the beauty of solid ground, not having to worry about being tossed off their beds or ink bottles tipping over while sleeping...

Perhaps he'll become accustomed to life at sea in the future, but for now, solid land was more appealing. And if there was a salad with a large serving of various seasonal fruits and vegetables to satisfy his craving for greens, all the better.

Given that he'll have to stay in Gabred for a long time, Aiven thought it necessary to solve his accommodation issue onshore. He couldn't keep staying in hotels every time they docked, could he?

Renting an apartment, as a potential long-term place of residence onshore, became Aiven's primary goal.

Bringing Gary along, the two disembarked from the Silver Wings and started exploring around Gabred. It was then he realized, although he had been in Gabred for several months, he hadn't had the chance to actually tour the city.

"Come and see, specialty fruits brought back from the Southern Continent!"

"Look at this exquisite piece of fabric, how suitable for you, beautiful lady!"

"Selling glass mirrors. A glass mirror in the Royal Capital sells for one Silver Bull. I only sell it for ninety copper fuer coins, just ninety!"

True to its reputation as a renowned trading hub, you could find any goods imaginable from both the civilized world and distant colonies here.

Besides large-scale trade, the continuous flow of people also made the various markets flourish. Fruits, vegetables, accessories, clothing, although somewhat disorderly as was common in this era, were full of life.

Satisfying to those grown bored with the monotony of the seawater scenery.

"Gary, what kind of house do you think we should look for?"

"Hmm... something cheap?"

"Cough cough cough..." Aiven was speechless for a moment, knowing this guy wouldn't have any reliable suggestions.

"Rent isn't an issue, leave that to me." Aiven understood Gary's family situation, with quite a few siblings, and he probably wanted to save his salary to send home and support his family.

Aiven himself wasn't short on money at the moment, still having the spoils from capturing the Blood Anchor and the two thousand gold notes from selling the ship.

Two thousand gold notes would be considered a fortune anywhere.

With flourishing trade, real estate agencies were naturally plentiful. Picking an agency that appeared decent, the two began a half-day tour of Gabred with a young assistant.

The black-hearted merchants of the Otherworld hadn't yet extended their claws into real estate, and without property speculation, even in a relatively prosperous port city like Gabred, housing prices weren't very high, making renting even cheaper.

The location didn't matter much either, as most of the time they would be at sea and wouldn't have to consider commuting every morning.

From high-end apartments in bustling areas to luxurious villas in the suburbs, to ordinary residential houses in civilian areas... After touring almost half of the city, nearly a full exploration of Gabred, they finally found a satisfactory place near the seafront.

"Great, this is it!"