Translator: CinderTL
Roland narrowed his eyes, his relaxed body tensing again.
But when he glanced at Lor's movements, he slowly lowered his guard.
"Lord Jiaxiu!"
Lor, who had been bandaging his wounds, abruptly ripped off the bandage and strode forward in three quick steps, straightening his back and speaking in a deep voice.
"This subordinate has failed. Please punish me, Lord."
"It's of no consequence."
The black-robed man addressed as Jashu waved his hand gently, his hoarse voice calm and steady.
"The demonic beasts that attacked this time were extraordinary. It wasn't your fault. Is Lord Morningstar still safe?"
"That Lord has remained in the mid-deck and hasn't appeared."
"Understood. Continue with the cleanup."
After speaking, Jashu walked forward and stopped before the luxurious cabin door at the rear of the deck.
He raised his hand and tapped lightly on the door. Three crisp knocks later, the door slowly opened, revealing a hazy figure.
"Lord Morningstar, I offer my deepest apologies."
Jashu bowed deeply, his respectful tone tinged with a hint of fear.
The ensuing conversation grew quieter, and even Roland, straining to listen, could only make out fragments of words.
"Morning Star, tsk tsk..."
Galvis, who had been silent until now, suddenly clicked his tongue, a hint of mockery in his voice.
"Mr. Roland, I never expected us to be sailing with such a great figure. What luck, eh?"
Roland turned his head and asked in a low voice, "Do you know this person named Morning Star?"
"Of course," Galvis replied, lifting his chin slightly to indicate the figure behind the cabin door. "But allow me to correct you on one point. That isn't a human, but a noble high elf."
A faint smile played on his lips as he continued with a hint of mockery, "Just like the human world's nobles who pride themselves on their lineage, the elven race also divides itself by blood purity: high elves, low elves, and..."
The poet shrugged, his voice light and airy as if discussing a trivial matter. "Half-elves like myself."
Pausing, he glanced toward the cabin and lowered his voice slightly. "And the surname 'Morning Star' isn't one any elf can claim. It represents the most ancient and noble bloodline among the high elves."
"As for Lord Jiaxiu..." Without waiting for Roland to respond, Galvis continued, "He's likely a member of the Shadow Veil Organization from the River Domain Nations. But..." He suddenly frowned, a note of doubt creeping into his voice. "Sending only one person to guard such an important figure seems rather... overconfident."
Realizing Galvis was somewhat verbose, Roland didn't interrupt but let his thoughts wander.
He'd heard of the Shadow Veil Organization before. Avril had mentioned she was a probationary member.
Given Avril's status as an apprentice ranger, it was clear that the organization's full members were all powerful individuals with extraordinary abilities.
But Jashu's fighting style just now...
Recalling his movements on the sea surface—those lightning-fast, almost invisible maneuvers—Roland frowned.
This was completely different from the open, sweeping combat styles of Knights Gondar and Beckham.
"This warrior is definitely not following the path of a knight."
Roland glanced thoughtfully at the poet beside him.
It seemed the common extraordinary professions Bronson had mentioned—knights, rangers, barbarians—were just the tip of the iceberg in this world.
Pushing aside his scattered thoughts, Roland returned to the original topic.
"So, Mr. Galvis..."
He pointed to the fishman corpses strewn across the deck.
"These demonic beasts were after the high elf?"
"Most likely."
Having confirmed this, Roland shook his head slightly, nodded to the poet, and turned to leave.
After calming the frightened Bronson, Roland was about to return to his cabin when he noticed a brown-haired figure persistently following him.
"Mr. Galvis."
Roland stopped and turned around with a sigh.
"Is there something else you need?"
Though the man was likely a transcendent professional, Roland wanted to avoid unnecessary trouble and preferred to keep their interactions to a minimum.
"Didn't I just say?"
Galvis had already slung his harp over his back and, at some point, produced paper and a pen. His eyes gleamed as he stared at Roland.
"Mr. Roland, you are the legendary protagonist I've been searching for! Could you please share your heroic deeds with me? Don't worry," he added with a confident flourish. "After my artistic embellishment, your fame will resound throughout the entire Faen Continent!"
"I'm sorry," Roland replied coldly, unimpressed by the poet's dramatic performance. "I don't need that kind of fame."
He turned to close the door, but the expected sound of it shutting never came.
One of Galvis' boots was stuck in the door crack.
Peering through the narrow gap, Galvis flashed a flattering smile.
"Please, Mr. Roland! This is an assignment from my teacher. Have mercy and help me out!"
"By the way, judging by your appearance, you're not from the River Domain Nations, are you? Do you know anything about the giant dragon that appeared in the Golden Valley Kingdom? Were you there at the time?"
Hearing this, Roland slowly released the doorknob.
It wasn't a sudden surge of kindness that made him consider helping Galvis with his so-called assignment.
Rather, when Galvis mentioned the giant dragon, Roland noticed that his eyes lacked the usual panic or curiosity one would expect. Instead, they held an unnatural calm.
This composure piqued Roland's interest.
"Mr. Galvis," he said, opening the door and walking directly to a wooden chair in the room to sit down. "Judging by your reaction, you seem to know quite a bit about giant dragons?"
"Of course!"
Seeing Roland's attitude soften, Galvis immediately followed him into the room. As he sat down opposite Roland, his cloak billowed in a gentle breeze.
"But..."
The frivolous poet scratched his head awkwardly.
"Because I'm a half-elf, I haven't read many ancient texts of the Elven race. But I believe that with the information I already have, I should be able to trade a few adventure stories with you... so..."
Noticing the probing look in Roland's eyes, he leaned forward, elbows resting on his knees, adopting a confiding posture.
"This is a good deal, isn't it?"
"After all, you're unlikely to find anyone else who knows as much about dragons as I do."
Roland didn't respond immediately. His long fingers tapped lightly on the wooden chair armrest, producing a dull thud.
Galvis was right.
Among Bronson's several chests of ancient texts, the records of dragons were only scattered fragments, as if someone had deliberately erased the traces.
Ever since the harrowing encounter in Mist Creek Town, the shadow of the giant dragon had clung to Roland's heart like a malignant tumor.
Its overwhelming strength, before which even transcendents were like ants, forced him to proceed with caution.
As the saying goes, "Know your enemy and know yourself, and in a hundred battles, you will never be defeated."
While understanding the giant dragon's information might not guarantee Roland victory against such an ancient creature, it was far better than groping blindly in the mist.
Every scattered clue could become the key to survival under the dragon's shadow.
"Indeed, a fair trade," Roland finally spoke, leaning back in his chair with a slight creak.
"So..."
He raised his eyes, his gaze sharp as a blade.
"Mr. Galvis, why don't you reveal your cards first?"
Seeing Roland finally agree to his request, Galvis slowly exhaled, then began to recount the information he had gathered about the giant dragon.
"According to the most ancient records of the elven race, while dragons possess near-eternal lifespans and power capable of shaking the heavens and earth, their reproduction is extremely difficult. It's rare for a hatchling to be born even once a century."
"More notably, each dragon's birth seems inextricably linked to the will of a deity, much like..."
His voice gradually deepened.
"Just like the giant dragon that appeared in the Golden Valley Kingdom. Since its appearance, the concentration of Magic Element across the continent has increased significantly. Based on my deductions, that dragon must be connected to a deity who governs Magic Element."
"Wait."
Roland interrupted Galvis, frowning. "Can you sense Magic Element too?"
"Of course."
Galvis nodded gently. "Unlike you humans, for elves, sensing Magic Element is as natural as breathing."
Noticing Roland's increasingly serious expression, Galvis suddenly smiled.
"But my friend, there's no need to be so tense." He made a calming gesture. "Dragons are notoriously arrogant and almost lazy. As long as you don't provoke them, these colossal beings would rather slumber in their territories for a century or two."
As he spoke, Galvis winked playfully.
"After all, in their eyes, the petty squabbles of us mortals are probably less important than a good dream. Of course..."
The poet's tone suddenly shifted, becoming somber.
"There are always exceptions. As far as I know, in ancient times, there was a wicked giant dragon..."
The story that followed was less intelligence and more a thrilling epic of legend.
Especially after Galvis's characteristic embellishment, it became even more grand and sweeping.
As he spoke vividly, the ship sailed smoothly across the azure sea.
The rest of the journey was remarkably uneventful, with calm seas and no further incidents.
Until one morning, on the horizon where the sea met the misty sky, the faint outline of a town emerged, like a watercolor painting slowly coming into focus.
As they drew closer, the docks, towers, and winding streets gradually sharpened into view.
Roland stood on the deck, the sea wind caressing his face.
The River Domain Nations had finally arrived.
Now, he was only one step away from the Knight's Breathing Technique he had longed for.
(End of the Chapter)
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