Chapter 41: Time to Collect the Interest

Even though Lia had witnessed some of the extraordinary qualities of Leviathan earlier, she still couldn't hold back her emotions.

A sailing ship requires a large crew. Aside from the captain, first mate, second mate, third mate, gunner, and sail master, there are also many sailors, combat personnel, gunners, carpenters, cooks, and more. A class-six ship typically has a crew of around 180 people.

Ian grinned, gently tapping the wall of the room. "Leviathan, come out and say hello."

Ian wasn't going to hide the fact that Leviathan was a magical creature, and it would be hard to keep it a secret anyway. Revealing it would serve to intimidate any potential threats. However, he would try to keep the creature's spatial abilities a secret.

A pair of tiny, bean-sized eyes appeared on the wall, and a powerful wave of spiritual energy spread out, sending a friendly message to Lia.

The energy itself wasn't overwhelmingly strong, but its sheer volume was so immense that, even though it was gentle, it still gave Lia a sense of intense pressure and suffocation. This was characteristic of magical creatures— the larger the creature, the greater the scale of its spiritual energy.

"It's called Leviathan. It's a magical creature in the form of a warship, and we're inside it."

Lia calmed down a bit at that. She looked at the eyes and said, "Hello, Leviathan."

The eyes blinked, giving a greeting before Leviathan "disappeared" again.

This was Ian's explicit instruction—to minimize communication with any creatures other than himself, maintaining an air of aloofness and mystery.

Ian spoke softly, "Lia, our destination is Storm's End, and we expect to arrive in five or six days. You just boarded the ship, so take some time to settle in and rest. I'll have Mirtha inform you when lunch is ready."

Ian thought Lia needed some quiet time. After he finished speaking, he placed a key on the table and left the room.

...

"Mirtha—" Ian waved toward Mirtha, who was near the bow.

Mirtha quickly jumped down from the forecastle and ran along the deck, his steps steady despite the ship's motion. "Captain."

"Mirtha, from now on, you'll be the ship's gunner. You'll be in charge of all firearms, cannons, gunpowder, and ammunition. Any future gunners will also report to you."

Mirtha's extraordinary profession was that of a marksman. He wasn't particularly skilled in hand-to-hand combat, but he was excellent at ranged attacks, making him a perfect fit for the role.

Mirtha's face lit up with excitement. Since becoming extraordinary, his confidence had grown significantly. His grin now stretched from ear to ear. "Understood, Captain."

Unlike other crew members who might have sworn to perform well, Ian knew Mirtha would give his all. It was like watching someone escape an endless abyss and finally step into the light, finding a sense of purpose in life. He was now full of energy and enthusiasm every day.

Ian patted his arm. "If you have any questions, feel free to ask me or Lia. Go ahead and get to work."

Ignoring Mirtha's excited movements, Ian gazed out at the sea. Paradise Island was slowly fading into the distance, and there were hardly any sails visible in the northern waters.

Ian had intentionally charted a course that veered northwest, and with the various kingdoms focused on vying for control of the new continent, many merchant ships, warships, and resources had been seized all at once. It would take some time for this route to become busy again.

Looking up, Ian saw the sun high in the sky, its reflection on the water shimmering across the deck. The weather was perfect, but that was good for Ian alone— for other sailing warships, no wind meant no speed.

Ian started preparing lunch: roast meat, white bread with honey and vegetable sandwiches, mushroom soup, fresh fruit, wine, coffee, and tea.

The fresh fruits, vegetables, and meat wouldn't last long, so they had to be eaten first. Afterward, it would be dried meat and fish.

As for why there was no roasted fish, after eating nothing but seafood for a month, with all the dishes and utensils smelling of fish, Ian was thoroughly sick of it.

While preparing the meal, Ian deliberately called Mirtha over to teach him how to roast meat, make sandwiches, cook vegetable soup, and brew tea.

Having grown up without much access to good food, Mirtha had no skills in the kitchen, so it would take time before he could be of much help. But Ian figured it was good to get him started, so at least he could manage when Ian was busy.

When the meal was ready, Ian placed it on the large table in the crew's mess hall and had Mirtha go call Lia.

With a little time to settle in, Lia visibly relaxed.

Ian smiled, "Try my cooking. It's actually the first time I've ever made a meal."

In his mind, he thought, "Well, not the first time, really."

Lia, who had been constantly surprised by this enigmatic man, couldn't help but think, "This impulsive decision may very well be the biggest turning point of my life."

Originally, Lia had agreed to help Ian out of gratitude for a short time, but after a series of pleasant surprises, her sense of security and hope for the future grew stronger. By now, her mindset had completely shifted.

Ian sat at the head of the long table, with Lia to his left and Mirtha to his right.

Ian raised his glass, feeling the need to say something to mark the moment:

"Today is a day worth remembering. It's the first voyage of Leviathan, and the first time the entire crew sits together. This is the beginning of a legendary journey. Let's toast to Leviathan, and to all of us, may our dreams come true and our journey be smooth. Cheers!"

"Cheers!" "Cheers!"

The toast might have been a bit awkward, but the sincerity in their eyes was clear. Mirtha and Lia exchanged glances, both filled with anticipation.

"Let's eat," Ian said, picking up his fork.

"Hmm... it's pretty good," Lia said, surprised. "Can you really make something this good the first time?"

She was tempted to take over the cooking herself, but now, she realized that her limited skills would only embarrass her.

Mirtha, on the other hand, kept nodding in approval as he chewed.

"If it's not enough, let me know, and I'll increase the portions. There's fresh fruit and drinks in the kitchen, you can help yourselves."

The kitchen was attached to the dining area, and it was stocked with a separate pantry of supplies.

...

The group ate and chatted casually, and the atmosphere became much more relaxed.

"Have you taken care of the Whale Hunters?" Ian asked.

Lia paused briefly before answering, "Everything's sorted. We sold off the Breath of the Ocean and the extra ships. The Navy offered a fair price..."

Lia said "fair," but there was an unmistakable edge to her tone.

Ian sensed something. "What's Captain Abigail's plan? Is she just going to leave it at that?"

Lia sighed, not hiding anything from Ian:

"The Captain was deeply affected by the situation. Given the circumstances, she had to lay low for now. But leaving means no more threats from the Navy. The sea is vast, and anything can happen. No one can remain invincible forever..."

Ian poured himself some tea, as coffee wasn't to his taste.

"I've got a bit of a history with the Navy too. There may be conflict at Storm's End, so be prepared mentally."

He wasn't going to hide the details from them, since he would need their help for the journey ahead. He continued:

"I'm from Storm's End. A month ago, Blackbeard's pirates attacked it, and I barely escaped. This attack was a setup by the Podelia nobility working with Blackbeard."

Ian finished his tea and looked at the two of them, who were now intently listening.

"The main goal is to get my family back, and if we get the chance, collect some interest!"