This dungeon has mushrooms growing on it.

Chapter 150, Page 149: Bella
Silver Sand Bay.

The territory of Grossa, one of the three giants of the Western Islands, was the center of the islands' slave trade.

A large ship without clear markings was currently anchored in the harbor of Silver Sand Bay, but this was not unusual.

Many people who come and go from this place are unwilling to reveal their identities, and hiding the signs on the ship that might expose their identities is not a particularly unusual practice.

However, no one else knew that there was a human hero on board this ship.

In a room on the second floor of the ship's deck, the blonde heroine Sophia was peering out the window through a gap in the curtains.

"I thought you wouldn't dock on such a large island."

The priest Samuel, standing nearby, respectfully replied, "Lady Sophia, the place we are going to next is an underground city located underwater. Some necessary items can only be purchased on large islands like this."

Sofia nodded, understanding what he meant.

You need to upgrade quietly and try not to attract attention.

Previously, shooting down some lost souls at the edge of the mist helped her reach her current level of 22, which was already her limit.

There are indeed more high-level and troublesome monsters in the mist, but entering the mist is too dangerous and is not even a consideration.

The new destination was chosen in an underground city called the Tide Sanctuary, which, as Samuel said, was located on the seabed.

Its unique location has led to the awkward situation of this underground city.

Despite the abundance of resources within, the extremely difficult entry requirements effectively deter most adventurers.

It wouldn't be wrong to call it the most remote underground city.

And that's exactly what they need, and Sofia has no objection to it.

Sofia's gaze swept across the dock outside.

The scorching sun baked the ground, and groups of slaves, dressed in rags and wrapped only in worn-out burlap, carried heavy goods under the whips of their overseers.

The piercing sound of whipping could be heard from time to time, even faintly audible from her side.

Another group of slaves was being driven, their chains dragging on the ground with a dull thud, as they boarded a slave ship moored on the shore, their destination unknown.

Gazing at this scene, Sophia suddenly spoke, her voice devoid of emotion: "Is the owner of this island also one of the humans I need to protect?"

This time, Samuel, unusually, did not answer her question immediately.

After a long while, the priest's voice came from behind her:
"Lady Sophia, I understand what you mean."

But unfortunately, yes.

At least for now.

The church, like other churches, opposed the slave trade.

But no matter how hostile the forces on the islands may be, at least for now, they are on the side of humanity as a whole.

Faced with a powerful empire, we have no choice but to unite all forces.

At least for now.

Sofia understood Samuel's meaning and could comprehend his reasons.

However, the scene below was still unbearable for her.

……

When the guards returned with the purchased items and the ship was ready to set sail, something unexpected happened.

"Seal off the dock! Everyone is stationary! All ships are prohibited from leaving port!"

A thunderous roar instantly ripped apart the port's clamor!

Accompanied by heavy footsteps and the clanging of armor, a massive figure, like a mountain of flesh, the Gold-ranked garrison commander of Silver Sand Bay Wharf, arrived menacingly with a large number of fully armed soldiers. The entire wharf fell into a deathly silence; the dockworkers froze in place, the merchants looked terrified, and the slaves huddled together in fear.

"Listen up, all of you! I am Oruk, the garrison commander of Silver Sand Bay! I am here on Lord Grossa's orders to hunt down the murderer of Lord Horn! That damned bastard is hiding on the docks, or on one of the ships!"

The Horn he mentioned was none other than Grossa's top confidant and secretary, and the number two figure in Silver Sand Bay!
The news of this man's death was like a bomb dropped on the docks, causing a wave of suppressed gasps.

"From this moment forward!" Oruk brandished his terrifying giant spiked club, slamming it heavily onto the stone slab, sending shards of stone flying. "All ships, cease loading and unloading immediately, and are prohibited from leaving port! Accept a thorough search, and anyone who dares to disobey will be killed without mercy! Not even a fly is allowed to escape!"

The soldiers pounced on the moored ships like hungry wolves, roughly driving away the crowds and forcibly boarding for inspection. The ship owners and sailors dared not speak out; faced with Grossa's rage and Oruk's ferocity, no one dared to provoke them at this moment.

Amid the chaos, Sofia's large, unmarked ship slowly raised its anchor chain, and the sailors began to methodically untie the mooring lines, preparing to set sail.

"Stop! Didn't you hear me?! You're not allowed to leave port! Submit for inspection!" Oruk's roar stopped the "sailors" who were retracting the gangplank.

The "sailor" stopped what he was doing, his hand silently resting on the hilt of his sword at his waist, his cold gaze piercing Oruk.

An invisible, suffocating sense of oppression instantly enveloped the garrison commander, causing his obese body to tense up involuntarily for a moment.

Master!

Alarm bells rang in Oruk's mind.

He forced a show of force, bringing up his backstage presence: "Lord Grossa is thoroughly investigating a wanted criminal! Do you intend to disobey his orders?"

The "sailor" on deck did not respond, but his eyes became even sharper, and his hand on the hilt of his sword remained as steady as a rock.

What made Oruk's heart sink even more was that seven or eight more figures silently appeared on the side of the ship, their gazes calmly falling on him.

Oruk's intuition screamed wildly—the sense of threat emanating from these people was not much weaker than that of the "sailor"!

What's going on with this ship?!
Just as he was caught in a dilemma, a middle-aged man dressed in dark casual clothes with a calm and composed demeanor appeared at the edge of the ship's deck.

He didn't even glance at Oruk, but simply made a concise and powerful gesture to the "sailors" on deck.

The "sailor" immediately understood, completely ignoring Oruk, who was blocking the front of the ship with a livid face, and cleanly and efficiently pulled the gangplank back.

With its sails billowing in the wind, the massive ship began to move slowly, calmly and irresistibly pushing aside the seawater in front of it.

"Damn it! Stop right there!" Oruk roared, raising his spiked club and bulging his arm muscles.

But in the end, the heavy weapon did not fall.

The middle-aged man at the edge of the ship's deck—the captain of the guard—did not deliberately release his aura, but Oruk's intuition, as a gold-level warrior, was frantically warning him:

If you smash it down, you'll die!

He will definitely die!

Oruk's face turned ashen, his obese body stiffening on the spot. He could only watch helplessly as the mysterious ship, with an almost indifferent and unquestionable air, rolled over his blockade and slowly sailed away from the chaotic Silver Sand Bay dock.

Coming to his senses, all he could do was roar in impotent rage at the departing ship, venting his fury on his men and the other unfortunate souls on the dock:
"Search! Keep searching! Every inch of deck! Every cargo container! Dig three feet into the ground and find the murderer! Seal off the entire port area! Anyone who disobeys will be killed!"

……

About half an hour after leaving the port, the ship was already deep in the shimmering sea.

A hand gripped the edge of the boat, and soon a soaking wet girl climbed aboard.

If Dylan were here, he would rush up and hug the girl, hug his daughter Bella whom he has been longing for.

However, all that stood before Bella were the captain of the guard who had been waiting for a long time, and Sophia, who was standing on the edge of the ship's deck, scrutinizing her.

Bella didn't seem surprised to be discovered. Her pupils gleamed with silver light as she tentatively asked, "You... are from the church?"

　The initial version did have many problems, so it was revised extensively.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)