Chapter 107: The Celebrity Effect

Chapter 107: The Celebrity Effect

Neptune walked through the streets, attracting attention wherever he went. His expression remained calm, as if he were oblivious to the countless gazes fixed upon him. Eventually, he found a decent inn.

"Welcome, hon "

The innkeeper started his usual greeting, but upon seeing Neptune, his words got stuck in his throat.

"Ho Honored gu guest…"

"Give me your best room," Neptune said directly, flicking a gold soul coin onto the counter.

"Y Yes, right away!"

The innkeeper, hands trembling, quickly presented the key to the finest room with the utmost respect. Neptune took it without another word and headed to his room.

It only took a few moments before news of the future Sea God Neptune staying at this inn spread across all of Hanhai City. In no time, the inn was completely booked, with people scrambling to stay there just to be closer to divinity. Some believed that simply breathing the same air as a future god could bring them good fortune. Superstition ran deep even among soul masters.

Despite the excitement, no one dared to disturb him. They all knew their place. A single mistake could leave a bad impression on someone of this caliber, and that was a risk no one wanted to take.

And so, Neptune passed the night in absolute peace.

The Next Morning.

He left the inn and headed into the city to purchase supplies for his sea voyage.

Countless eyes followed his every move, yet not a single person dared approach him. However, every shop he visited soon found itself blessed with booming business. Just having him as a customer was enough to turn a store into the most popular in all of Hanhai City permanently.

After calmly buying everything he needed and chartering a ship, Neptune returned to the inn.

The Next Day.

After waking up and packing his things, he left the inn.

The innkeeper watched his majestic figure disappear into the distance, feeling both honored and regretful. Honored that, as an ordinary man, he had the privilege of hosting the future Sea God. Regretful that Neptune was gone and would never return.

Little did Neptune know that after his departure, the inn was renamed "Divine Visit Inn", becoming Hanhai City's most famous landmark.

His former room? Permanently sealed off.

No one was allowed to stay in it ever again.

And yet, countless visitors flocked to the inn, eager to experience even a trace of the divine aura left behind by the future Sea God.

The closer a room was to his former chamber, the higher its price and the harder it was to book.

After leaving the inn, Neptune walked calmly through the city, exiting via the southern gate.

From there, he followed a broadly paved road built over coastal reefs, leading straight to the harbor.

This road was the only path to Hanhai City's main dock, making it vital for trade. Even though constructing roads over reefs was difficult, the city had spared no expense in maintaining it.

The harbor itself was massive, with at least twenty piers, each stretching hundreds of meters into the sea, docking hundreds of ships.

It was the gateway to maritime trade the starting and ending point for countless sea voyages and the economic backbone of Hanhai City.

Despite the dangers of powerful sea soul beasts, the ocean offered immense riches. The people of Hanhai City lived by the age old saying: "Live by the sea, thrive by the sea."

Even though many perished at the hands of sea soul beasts each year, the lure of wealth ensured that trade never stopped.

The land surrounding the city was mostly saline soil, unsuitable for farming. Their only real resource was the bounty of the ocean.

Neptune quickly found the ship he had rented the day before.

It was a brand new vessel, sleek and sturdy. The hull was painted iron gray, with red and white decorations on the deck.

It was said that painting ships in iron gray helped reduce sea soul beast attacks.

The ship was 80 meters long and over 35 meters wide, making it one of the largest vessels in the harbor.

A closer look revealed a thick layer of iron plating beneath the gray paint, reinforcing its hull.

Neptune had chosen this ship precisely for its size and defensive strength minimizing unnecessary trouble on the journey ahead.

"Your Excellency, welcome aboard the Riding Wind!"

A group of crew members, led by the captain, was already waiting for him at the dock. They hurriedly approached, their faces filled with flattery and eagerness.

"Everything is ready, I assume?" Neptune asked calmly, his demeanor kind yet authoritative.

"Of course! Everything is fully prepared!"

The captain, a muscular man in his forties, was a seasoned sailor experienced, strong, and in his prime. The rest of the crew were also capable soul masters, making this ship's overall quality exceptional.

"Please, Your Excellency, this way."

The captain gestured respectfully, inviting Neptune to board first.

Neptune didn't refuse, stepping forward onto the deck.

The moment he set foot on the ship, the ocean's powerful scent filled his senses.

The sea breeze howled, carrying a sharp chill it was deep autumn, after all.

Fortunately, the crew were all soul masters, their bodies naturally resistant to the cold. The chilly wind didn't bother them at all.

The Riding Wind had five levels.

The top four levels housed crew quarters and passenger rooms.The bottom level was used for storage.

As the paying customer, Neptune occupied the topmost deck, while the crew stayed below.

"Raise anchor! Set sail!"

With everything in order, the experienced captain gave the command.

The Riding Wind officially departed.

Neptune had personally drawn a sea chart for the captain, ensuring they followed the correct course.

Of course, he had never been to Sea God Island before but that wasn't a problem. He had used his system's search function to locate it, then sketched a map based on the maritime knowledge embedded in his persona.

It wasn't as detailed as a professional map, but it was accurate enough.

The weather was perfect, and the sea was calm.

Thanks to its large size, the Riding Wind glided smoothly over the waves.

Once they left the harbor, the captain adjusted the sails, picking up speed toward their destination.

The vastness of the ocean was something that no other landscape could compare to.

Until one truly set foot at sea, they could never understand its majesty.

The horizon stretched endlessly, where sky and water met.

By now, the sun had risen from the east, its golden light shimmering over the ocean's surface.

Neptune stood at the highest deck, gazing at the breathtaking seascape.

The sea breeze brushed against him.

Though it was chilly, it felt refreshing as if it were clearing his mind, bringing a sense of serenity.

(End of Chapter)

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