“What are you all doing here?” Luca was startled when he saw dozens of people gathered outside.
The group looked at each other in confusion. Shouldn’t you be the one asking us that?
They explained to Luca what had happened over the past few days, and only then did he understand the situation. Apparently, the commotion caused by his crafting of magic runes had been so intense that everyone had become worried about his safety.
“Sorry, I forgot to notify you all earlier.” Luca couldn’t help but smile wryly. After all, he hadn’t expected the disturbance to be so big.
“Has your strength increased again?” Sophia suddenly asked.
Her words made the others realize that Luca had indeed changed since they last saw him.
His appearance hadn’t changed, but his aura had. It was calm and unruffled yet vast and profound, as if he had merged with the very sea around them.
If one looked closely, they could spot a faint blue glow flickering in his eyes, barely noticeable but quickly dissipating.
“I’ve indeed made a breakthrough,” Luca replied with a smile, nodding. Not just any breakthrough, but one of considerable magnitude.
The newly acquired magic rune, Giant Whale of the Spirit Sea, could be said to be one of his strongest after the Solar God Pattern.
If he used the Spirit Sea Awakening that came with this rune, even a Star-level expert would find it difficult to compete with him now.
“Congratulations, Lord of the City,” Tark and the others said in a somewhat dispirited tone, feeling as if they’d lived several decades only to become mere dogs in comparison.
They had already seen Luca’s power before. Even Sky-level experts couldn’t resist his attacks. Now, with his strength increased again, they couldn’t even fathom how far Luca’s power had progressed.
Noticing their complex expressions, Luca didn’t mind. If his cultivation speed were like an ordinary person’s, then it would be he who felt like he had lived two lifetimes as a dog.
Luca then asked Tark, “Where are we now?”
“We’ve already left the dangerous sea zone. If we sail for another day, we should be able to reach Seaway City,” Tark replied.
Once they entered the safe shipping lanes, there would usually be no more danger. Luca gave a few more instructions about staying vigilant before heading back to his room to continue crafting magic runes.
According to the schedule of the Clinton Empire and the All-Beings Empire, by the time he finished sorting out the affairs in Seaway City, Marcel would likely have sent the magic ship and the Black Thorn over. Luca needed to prepare in advance.
However, the biggest problem now was not knowing in which sea region the Celestial Pearl was located. Searching for a pearl in the vast ocean was like trying to find a needle in a haystack.
So, once they returned, Luca would have to think about how to get precise information about the Celestial Pearl…
While he was lost in thought, a sudden knock on the door interrupted him.
He got up and opened the door, surprised to see the noble daughter, Marquis Ellie, standing outside, looking as graceful as ever. “Miss Ellie, is there something you need?” he asked, a little taken aback.
“Do you have a moment…” Ellie said, nervously twirling a strand of her long hair, unable to meet Luca’s gaze.
In a quiet voice, she added, “I’m feeling a bit unwell. I heard you’re a very skilled Witch Doctor, so I was hoping you could take a look at me.”
Of course, this was a lie. Ellie’s ancestors had been sailors. Although they no longer made a living on the seas, their maritime skills had been passed down through the generations. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have dared to venture out on an ocean expedition.
The real reason she was here was that she wanted to get closer to this young count. Experience new stories on empire
Luca spent all his time holed up in the captain’s quarters. Even meals were brought to him by Isaac and Gavin, so Ellie had no chance to see him. Feeling desperate, she had come up with this flimsy excuse.
“I’d be happy to help.” Luca didn’t think much of it but was somewhat puzzled as to when his medical skills had become so well-known.
Ellie’s face lit up with joy. “Thank you, Count Luca! Once we return, I’ll make sure my father properly rewards you.”
Hearing that, Luca smiled as well. He liked this straightforward girl.
Once inside the captain’s quarters, Ellie’s eyes began to wander around the room.
The room was filled with various items: navigational instruments, sea charts, compasses, and more. In addition, there were many books on the shelves, though they looked old and had clearly not been touched for a long time.
Luca motioned for Ellie to sit in a chair.
He then gathered a shimmering, deep blue witchcraft energy in his hands, enveloping her with it.
A moment later, he confirmed that she had only come for him.
As the magical energy dissipated, Luca helplessly remarked, “Miss Ellie, your body seems to be perfectly healthy. The discomfort you were feeling earlier was likely just seasickness.”
Ellie blinked, then said, “Could you make me a remedy for seasickness, Count Luca? Once we return to Seaway City, I’ll have my father properly reward you.”
Luca sighed, realizing that it wouldn’t be so easy to send her away. So, he decided to just go along with it. After all, it wouldn’t take much effort.
As he prepared the potion, they continued to chat, and it was during this conversation that Luca learned the real reason Ellie had come to the Western Sea.
“Farlenben? Isn’t that just a myth?” Luca said, somewhat surprised.
The young noblewoman didn’t seem foolish, so why would she believe such an intangible legend?
“Farlenben is real,” Ellie suddenly looked up, her face serious as she spoke. “My grandfather told me that he personally saw the ruins of Farlenben rise from the Sea of Mist.”
“It appeared alongside the full moon, and the rainbow-colored light bathed the entire Sea of Mist. Then, with the morning sun, it disappeared, and the sea’s followers played music to see it off.”
“My grandfather wouldn’t lie to me. Farlenben definitely exists.”
Luca didn’t argue. After all, with how vast the Western Sea was, it wouldn’t be surprising if a lost kingdom lay buried beneath the waves.
However, he suspected the legend was likely exaggerated. The so-called Farlenben was probably just a small kingdom swallowed by a tsunami, its story twisted over time into the myth Ellie believed in.
Neither of them pursued the topic further. Luca finished preparing the potion, bottled it up, and handed it to Ellie as he turned around. “If Miss Ellie ever gets bored again, feel free to come to the captain’s quarters.”
“Most of the time, I’m more than happy to chat with beautiful young ladies.”
The lie being exposed made Ellie’s face flush, and she felt her cheeks burning.
“Th-thank you,” she muttered, lowering her head as she quickly took the potion and hurried out of the captain’s quarters. However, she nearly collided with a striking figure on her way out.
“Sorry, sorry!” Ellie apologized quickly, not waiting for a response. She darted back to her room like a rabbit.
Luca glanced at the newcomer and said, “What brings you here, Senior Sophia?”
Sophia didn’t answer right away. Instead, she asked, “What did you do?”
“I didn’t do anything,” Luca replied as he tidied up the desk. “Miss Ellie was feeling seasick, so she came to me for a remedy.”
“I told her that if she wanted to chat, she could just come over, and then she ran off.”
Sophia’s lips twitched. “I’ve got some information about the Celestial Pearl’s location. See if you can track it down.”
“The Celestial Pearl’s location?” Luca’s eyes brightened. He had been worrying about this very issue.
“It’s not an exact location,” Sophia shook her head. “Zenobia has become quite cautious around me, and she’s stopped telling me much. All I know is that the Celestial Pearl is located in a black sea area within the Sea of Mist. She deliberately gave me this tidbit of information.”
“The Black Sea…” Luca sat back in his chair, furrowing his brows. The features of the Black Sea were quite distinct, and even in dangerous waters, he could likely find it in a few days.
But in the vast, unknown Sea of Mist, just this characteristic was still like trying to find a needle in a haystack.
No one knew just how large the eerie, mist-covered expanse of the Sea of Mist truly was. Unless he had a sea chart of the Sea of Mist, it would be nearly impossible for him to pinpoint the location of the Celestial Pearl.
A sea chart of the Sea of Mist…
Luca suddenly recalled what Ellie had said earlier.
If her grandfather had truly been to the Sea of Mist, then the Barnes family, to which Ellie belonged, might still have a sea chart of the Sea of Mist.
Once they returned, he could ask Marquis Gerald about it…
He made up his mind.
Sophia didn’t stay long. After sharing the news with him, she left the captain’s quarters.
“Hopefully, I can find that pearl soon,” Luca muttered, staring at the section of the Sea of Mist on the map, shrouded in fog. He sighed.
Although Sophia hadn’t shown much, Luca had keenly noticed the exhaustion in her eyes.
He knew that even with the restrictions in place, suppressing Zenobia had undoubtedly drained her significantly. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have been forced to trigger her Frost Divine Rank so late during her confrontation with Evans. He had to find the Celestial Pearl quickly to remove Zenobia from her body. If not, even if Sophia could hold on, she would eventually be corrupted by that evil god’s influence.
In addition to Sophia, Luca also needed to figure out a way to obtain the Soulgrass required for Fratis to regain her memories. Only then would the Dawn Force hidden within her be fully under Fratis’s control.
“And then there are the Ancient Gods,” Luca murmured as he took out his notebook and quill, jotting down the various matters he needed to address.
There hadn’t been any movement from the Ancient Gods for now, but the Via Empire would not simply let things go. They had specific information on the Celestial Pearl, but acquiring it would be no easy task.
As for the Blood King of the All-Beings Empire, Luca didn’t know what he was up to. But that was a problem for the Dragon Kings to worry about. As long as they didn’t come after him directly, Luca wasn’t inclined to get involved.
Then there was the real world. The game’s official arrival was only a few days away, and simply sealing off the Spatial Node of Black Mountain wasn’t enough. He needed to destroy more nodes to ensure that Celephais wouldn’t face the same fate as in his past life, where the monster horde devoured it as soon as the game arrived.
Moreover, he still needed to send resources to Donald, Sini, Susie, and the others to help them quickly raise their power. Only then would he be able to fully focus on the Ancient Gods and the Celestial Pearl.
Evelyn controlled the largest seasonal trading company in the entire Clinton Empire, and using her transportation channels would be the most convenient way.
On this matter, Luca felt it was necessary to make his intentions clear to Evelyn.
After all, as her loyal subordinate, he had fought and bled for the Western Sea. Surely, this Duke should show some appreciation.