The invisible Silent Mermaid kept moving with an unnatural grace. The chaos of the pirate battle receded. Becoming a distant memory on the horizon.
The crew had settled down after the earlier skirmish. The adrenaline had worn off. Replaced by a quiet satisfaction.
The stars hung heavy above them. Unblinking witnesses to their journey.
Their course was set for Crescent Island. Their first designated stop on the Myriad Island Archipelago expedition. And they reached Crescent Island late that night.
The light from the twin moons barely pierced the heavy cloud cover. Casting the island in deep shadow. Only a faint cluster of lights on the distant shore indicated human habitation. Crescent Town.
Jack had no intention of docking the Silent Mermaid directly. A ghost ship, no matter how harmless it was, tended to cause widespread panic. That was not conducive to their mission.
"Moby!" Jack used the ship's communication system. Addressing the one currently in the control room. "Deactivate cloak. Now!"
"Invisibility cloak, deactivated." Moby's voice responded immediately.
The Silent Mermaid shimmered. The ethereal, translucent energy blanket that had rendered it invisible rippled, then disappeared. The ghost ship appeared in normal sight.
Jack nodded. He needed the ship to be visible for the next action. Activating the function not inherent to the original [Eldritch Ghost Ship].
It was a modification he added manually. Connecting Reina's illusion with his [Mysterious Anomaly] power. Using ancient runes and his fairy guide as the activation link.
"Camouflage protocol, Rune..." Jack instructed. Looking at the mechanical fairy nearby.
Rune immediately responded. Her glow shifted from peaceful white to a steady, concentrated purple. The ethereal aura surrounding the Silent Mermaid flickered. Then solidified.
The skeletal mast, spectral rigging, tattered mast, blazing hull... They all blurred, then reformed into something else entirely. In its place, where the ghostly ship had been, now floated a seemingly ordinary single-mast sloop.
Its sails were furled. Its paintwork appeared weathered. And a subtle creaking sound emanated from its wooden structure.
The silently wailing mermaid figurehead had transformed. It was still a mermaid, but this one was smiling. The ship's name on its stern had also changed into... 'Ocean Wanderer'.
Yet, even with the perfectly visualized illusion, an unsettling quality of the ghost ship lingered. The air around the fabricated sloop felt colder. Heavier. The shadows it cast seemed deeper than they should be.
It looked like a regular ship, but it felt… wrong. It was a detail only someone hypersensitive to the transcendent might notice. Or a seasoned sailor with a lifetime of experience. Jack hadn't managed to handle that yet. But for now, this was enough.
"Good job, Rune." Jack complimented.
Rune immediately pulsed in happy, bright yellow color.
"Drop the anchor. We'll wait until morning." Jack announced to the crew, who had gathered on the deck to observe the transformation. "No sense in startling the locals in the dead of night. Everyone, make sure to get some rest. We'll be making landfall after dawn."
...
The next morning...
The sun broke through the clouds with a golden intensity. Washing over the sleepy port of Crescent Town. The 'Ocean Wanderer' drifted lazily towards the main dock. Its fabricated creaks sounded quite natural in the morning light.
Argust Osprey stood at the helm. Guiding the ship with practiced ease. Bringing it alongside a weathered wooden quay without a hitch.
"Bell! Ned!" Jack called out. "You two stay with the ship. Keep watch. The rest of us will head into town. We'll change the watch shift this evening."
Bell and Ned nodded. Their faces were stoic. They were indeed perfectly disciplined guards. Moby, the third guard, would accompany the Baroness.
Jack, a man of towering build, made his way down the gangplank. He didn't choose to wear anything that could identify his role as the ship's captain. He didn't need that. His usual mercenary's leather outfit was comfortable and convenient enough for him.
Reina followed after him. Her long black hair was tied in a simple ponytail. Rune, the tiny fairy, hovered near her shoulder.
After them, Baroness Artheim, accompanied by Moby, also made her way down the gangplank. Leon Drake and Chloe Chase followed closely. Their eyes were scanning the surroundings with professional curiosity. The four of them chose to move to a different direction than Jack and Reina.
Barnaby, Mirella, and the healer siblings, Serene and Autumn, also stepped down. They looked around with mild apprehension.
Argust Osprey and Don Donson brought up the rear. They were moving directly to the market. Clearly more interested in the prospect of fresh provisions than anything else.
...
Crescent Town was a curious blend of old and new. The air was heavy with the scent of brine and damp earth. It was also tinged with coal smoke.
Horse-drawn carriages clattered over cobblestone streets. Their iron-shod wheels were echoing. The architecture was reminiscent of a European town during the Exploration Age. Timber-framed houses. Bustling market squares. And stout stone buildings with tiled roofs.
But amidst the traditional buildings and bustling market stalls, taller brick structures with smoking chimneys pierced the skyline. Factories... They were smaller than those Jack had seen in Lonestone and Sapphire City though.
And, here and there, steam engines hummed in regular pattern. Their rhythmic pulsations were a counterpoint to the distant cries of gulls and the calls of street vendors.
Jack observed it all. His mind cataloging details. The town possessed the architectural charm of a European port town during the Age of Exploration. Yet, the scattered steam-powered machinery hinted at the encroaching Industrial Revolution. A wave that had clearly touched this island, but not yet engulfed it.
"A peculiar place." Reina murmured. Her hand slipped into Jack's. "It feels… caught between eras."
"Indeed, Love." Jack replied. "Progress here seems selective. Not a full embrace, but a cautious sampling. Interesting."
Rune darted ahead. Her blue glow momentarily brightened as she zipped past a stall selling exotic fruits. She seemed fascinated by everything. Her tiny form was like a blur of light. Fortunately, she was practically invisible to any non-transcendent.
Jack had activated his [Eyes of Judgement] several times to check the surrounding. And, other than his crew members, he hadn't seen any transcendent individuals so far. This place didn't seem to have many transcendent beings.
...
Jack, Reina, and Rune spent the morning exploring the town. They ventured into the busier sections. Jack's [Eyes of Judgement] occasionally scanned the streets. Noting the energy signatures of the townsfolk.
He got the same result every time. All of them were ordinary. He detected faint, latent transcendent potential in a few individuals though. Nothing overtly special or powerful. But it was enough to confirm that even here, the supernatural phenomena might exist.
They passed by a clock tower. Its gears were audibly grinding, an evidence to steam-powered precision. A few shops displayed intricate mechanisms. Small steam-run toys, or tools.
Yet, just a block away, a blacksmith forged iron with hammer and anvil. His brawny arms were working to the rhythm of antiquity. The contrast was... stark.
"The economy here seems to thrive on fishing and a bit of manufacturing." Jack noted. Observing the docks where fishing trawlers unloaded their catch. Many of them were retrofitted with rudimentary steam engines.
"And definitely... trade." He added afterward. "Given its location, this place is likely a stopover point for sea routes."
Reina pointed to a bustling tavern. "Perhaps we should gather some information there later, Dear."
"A good suggestion, Love. Let's keep exploring for now."
They continued their walk. Jack was soaking in the atmosphere. Filing away every detail. The people were robust. Tanned by the sun and sea. Their faces were etched with hard work. They were wary of strangers but not openly hostile.
Jack bought some local fruit for Reina. A vibrant crimson berry she found surprisingly sweet.
Rune sampled a tiny piece although she didn't need to eat at all. Her glow pulsed bright yellow with delight.
By late afternoon, after having acquired some fresh supplies and a general feel for Crescent Town, the group returned to the 'sloop'. Bell and Ned reported no incidents. The illusion held perfectly.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, the crew gathered for dinner. Don Donson managed to whip up a hearty stew for them.
It was during this meal that Leon Drake addressed the table.
"Captain, I've made some inquiries in town." Leon began. "There's talk of a major event coming up. A grand auction, two days from now. They say it's going to feature relics and treasures from the New Continent."
Jack paused his movement. The term 'New Continent' immediately caught his attention.
In his previous life, on his original Earth, it referred to the Americas. Here, in this reborn world, the New Continent was a vast landmass to the east. Across the Great Ocean. It was known to be rich in exotic resources and ancient, extinct civilizations. It was this world's equivalent of Asia. A land of forgotten empires and mysterious power.
"New Continent, you say?" Baroness Artheim's eyes narrowed slightly. A calculating glint appeared within them. "That is indeed interesting. Their artifacts are often… unique."
"Precisely." Leon confirmed. "The buzz in the taverns suggests some truly rare finds. I even overheard some chatter that a few items might be transcendent artifacts. High-value stuff, not your common antique."
Argust Osprey chimed in. "If they truly hail from the deeper regions of the New Continent, their mystical properties could be considerable. Much of that land's magic is entirely alien to our own. Based on different principles and energies."
Jack nodded slowly. This was exactly the kind of pursuit that aligned with his broader goals.
"Baroness..." Jack said. Turning to Baroness Artheim. "What are your thoughts?"
"My thoughts, Captain..." The baroness replied. Meeting his gaze directly. "... are that such an opportunity should not be missed. Even if the items prove to be mundane, waiting two days in this island for the auction should still be acceptable."
"Alright!" Jack stated simply. "We will stay in Crescent Town until the auction. Let's arrange for accommodation ashore for those who wish it, starting tomorrow. Leon! Please, make sure some of us would have a place in that auction."
"Understood!" Leon simply replied.
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