Chapter 37: Choices Define Us
In the quiet of her room on the sixth floor of Ocean's Breath, Lia gently traced the dark, jagged scar on her face, her eyes fixed on the small crystal vial resting on the table. She stared at it for what felt like an eternity.
Then, suddenly, a soft, almost relieved smile crossed her lips. She picked up the vial, uncapped it, and without hesitation, poured the contents into her mouth.
A warmth spread through her body, a tingling sensation, especially around the scar on her face. It was as if something inside her was shifting. In her spiritual realm, the dark, swirling mist that had plagued her was rapidly dissipating. Moments later, the entire space was clear once again, and she felt as though a massive burden had been lifted from her shoulders.
She rose swiftly and walked to the mirror. There, tears welled in her eyes as she gazed at her reflection. Her skin was soft and radiant, and the grotesque black scar was gone.
[Contribution Points: 212 points]
When Ian visited the Alchemist Guild for the second time, he was met with a pleasant surprise.
Most of his contribution points came from the technology surrounding the propeller, the watertight compartments, and the wave-breaking plates, though a small portion was from the redemption of the "Magical Weapon Oil" experience book.
He hadn't expected the technologies related to the ship to be so valuable. Ian had underestimated the impact that upgrading a sailing ship could have on the entire Miracle Sea.
If given more time, the contributions would have been even greater. But with the points in hand, Ian was eager to spend them.
"Time to buy, buy, buy!"
He splurged on a 24-pound alchemical cannon for 30 points, and then ordered another one. He also grabbed the alchemical gunpowder formula for 30 points, and the crafting process for alchemical firearms at 120 points. He bought two long muskets and four short ones, along with the corresponding ammunition.
By the time Ian had spent all his contribution points, he was satisfied and left the guild, knowing that these purchases would serve him well. If he earned more points in the future, he could consider crafting magical gear, learning more about alchemist sequences, or even delving into witchcraft.
On his way back, Ian stopped by the Bounty Hunter Guild to place an order for a large batch of materials.
By the afternoon, the items he had ordered—cannons, materials, and more—started arriving at the tower.
Mirtal eagerly took one of the guns Ian handed him and rushed to the beach to test it out.
As Ian was organizing supplies and planning for their voyage, a storm was quietly brewing at the whale-hunting dock, not far from where they were.
Over 2,500 people were gathered, split into small groups organized by their respective ships. Most of them were standing across from Abigail, with captains like Warren behind her. On the other side, Abigail's group numbered less than six hundred.
Abigail's face darkened. The investigation he'd started on the Podria Navy had sickened him.
Bribery, supernatural temptations, seduction, gambling traps, emotional manipulation, blackmailing family members, and even persuading people from the same hometown—there was nothing they hadn't tried. The only thing they hadn't done was directly threaten him.
It was shocking to Abigail that all of this had been orchestrated by the very organization he'd always looked down upon—the Paradise Harbor Supernatural Affairs Bureau. The Navy funded it, and the Bureau provided the manpower.
The results, however, had been unexpectedly effective.
It seemed that human nature could not withstand such temptation.
Abigail glanced toward the other side of the dock, where the usually slack Paradise Harbor guard was now standing in perfect formation, observing the situation.
He sighed deeply. Even without the whale hunters, he was a Sequence 6 ocean warrior—did they really think so little of him?
Abigail stroked his graying beard, the anger that had flared within him dissipating. He chuckled bitterly to himself, "But I am getting old."
He couldn't help but wonder which high-ranking figure in Podria was behind this, pulling such a crude stunt without any regard for appearances.
First, Stormcape, then the major trading companies, and now him.
An old friend had once warned him not to forget the original purpose of the Whale Hunters—to survive, not to blindly expand. But as the organization grew, he had indeed become a little reckless. Especially after the Whale Hunters managed to hunt a Sequence 5 sea beast, their influence had even surpassed that of Podria's second fleet.
Abigail pulled his thoughts back. He knew his time in Paradise Harbor was running out.
He had said everything that needed to be said. He didn't want to appear pathetic or like someone who couldn't bear to lose.
With a sharp gesture, he ordered, "Life and death are fated! Disperse!"
The crowd let out a low cheer, unaware of their own ignorance. All they knew was that someone was standing in their way.
The Whale Hunters now had only one Level 4 ship, one Level 5 ship, and three Level 6 ships with no captains. It was likely that the buyers were already waiting aboard Ocean's Breath.
They hadn't thought to force an experienced, well-connected, and wealthy supernatural being into a corner. It was the vulnerable ones they feared—those who had nothing left to lose, those who would fight with everything.
"Damiel, Uma, prepare yourselves. We set sail the day after tomorrow. Anyone willing to leave can bring their families. If you don't want to go, no one will force you. Make sure you're paid in full," Abigail said.
Damiel and Uma nodded gravely before turning to leave.
The Whale Hunters were not limited to one base. Offshore, they had several, with Whale Hunter Island being their largest. Located over 2,000 nautical miles southwest of Paradise Island, far from the main shipping routes, the island had dense vegetation and only a small native tribe. Abigail had discovered the island while hunting sea beasts years ago. He had named it Whale Hunter Island and had developed it into a key base for the past few years.
Abigail's departure wasn't because he had given up, but because he understood the situation clearly. The Whale Hunters would no longer exist here.
Podria had poured most of its resources into the New World conquest, and Paradise Island was about to become a power vacuum. Podria would never tolerate a strong, hostile force staying on the island.
Sometimes, rejecting the face others give you meant you wouldn't get any face at all.
Abigail looked over at Lia one last time. She had put on the half-mask again, just like before, but this time, its meaning was different.
He stared blankly, remembering the girl he had once saved—was she 17 or 18 then? How quickly time had passed. The girl who had been cursed by the Sea Demon and could never set foot in the ocean was now grown.
Abigail had searched for a way to lift her curse, but it was in vain. The Seven Great Holy Churches, experts in dispelling curses, would never help a non-believer.
He had wanted her to let go of her hatred and obsession and return to a normal life. But instead, she had grown even more closed off.
Lia had once been the person Abigail worried about the most. But this morning, she had knocked on his door with a bright smile, her scar gone.
The girl who had once been broken had finally found her way again.
All Abigail could do was hope that her choice was the right one—she had suffered enough.