Navigator: I Have a Legendary Exploration Log

[Sailing: Arrived at Mara Island along the known route, having sailed 730 nautical miles today - 1 Legendary Point]

[Exploration: First encounter with the extraordinary creature, the Greyfin Shark, and harvest corresponding materials - 10 Legendary Points]

[Battle: Slay the Greyfin Shark at the cost of two lives - 20 Legendary Points]

[Legendary Value: 30+31]

The legendary value gained from this voyage has been determined.

Chalice's eyes regained their focus as he gazed through the windshield at the massive island that was gradually becoming clearer in the distance.

While Simon Island at least has some rough but real administrative divisions such as a dock area, Maro Island has completely become a world of "boats".

As far as the eye could see, there was hardly a trace of a natural beach. The slightly flatter reefs and coastlines had all been leveled and filled in, densely carved out into compact docks and harbors.

It serves as a transportation hub for the surrounding islands.

The most obvious difference is that the lively scene on Saimen Island only comes after the boats return to port in the evening, which is similar to the relatively "quiet" crowds on Mara Island late at night.

The door is like a city.

Working through the night.

As the Returning Home ship slowed down, it gradually approached the harbor.

Countless masts and chimneys pierced the hazy sky.

Boats of all sizes weave through the waterway like schools of fish.

The rattling of anchor chains, the rumbling of turbines, and the rough shouts of sailors were carried to my ears by the salty sea breeze.

The old Cheryl didn't like crowds, and he still doesn't like partying with those drunkards who sing and dance when they're drunk.

But he really enjoyed watching these lively scenes.

This unrestrained, flamboyant, and vibrant revelry allows him to temporarily forget his troubles and worries, and enjoy the most primal relaxation and joy of being alone...

……

The whistle of the Homecoming ship cleared a path through the congested shipping lane.

With the mooring ropes secured to the mooring bollards on the shore, the weathered ship finally came to a steady stop at the berth.

Dock management personnel, carrying brochures, hurriedly boarded the ship via gangplank.

When he saw the black iron badge on Chalice's chest, his impatient expression instantly disappeared.

Although Mara Island receives thousands of ships every day, no more than one-tenth of them are navigators of the Black Iron rank or higher.

even so.

The numbers it reflects are also quite alarming.

This means that hundreds of extraordinary navigators arrive or depart from Maro Island every day.

The dock management staff had seen this many times, but they still had to maintain a certain level of respect to avoid offending any captain with an unpredictable temper.

The verification process went very smoothly.

"Thank you for your hard work, Captain Cherries."

The manager tore off the final payment receipt and handed it to Cherris, but his eyes couldn't help glancing at the things left on the deck.

Although the tarpaulin covered everything completely, you could still vaguely make out a few neatly arranged crates and a huge outline that reeked of blood.

The administrator swallowed hard. "That's... your loot?"

"Just a dim-witted greytip reef shark."

Chalice spoke in a flat tone, glanced at the receipt, and casually folded it in half before putting it in his pocket.

The administrator wisely refrained from asking further questions.

I've worked for quite a few years now.

How could he not have noticed that there were some illicit goods under the tarpaulin?

But... what does it have to do with me if I can't stand the light of day?

Even if there were no explicit prohibitions from above, and even if laws were issued ordering dock managers to strictly investigate smuggling, it wouldn't be worth the trouble of breaking ties with these reckless swindlers.

How much does it cost per month?

It's just a job, why work so hard?

Chalice watched the dock manager disembark, then turned to look at the sailors gathered in twos and threes on the deck.

The group of guys, who had just lost two of their companions, showed no trace of grief, not even a hint of lingering fear.

Fear is the most loyal friend of the lower-class sailors on the treacherous sea.

Only by maintaining fear can one avoid numbness and apathy, and thus survive certain unspeakable terrors.

But fear comes and goes quickly.

Sailors risked their lives at sea to earn lots of money, then go ashore and indulge in revelry at the tavern bar and on women's bellies.

When I first traveled through time.

Chalice looked down on this self-destructive behavior, but later he came to understand and empathize with these people who were living hand to mouth.

"First mate, maintain order, I'm going to get the money."

Wirtz clapped his hands, drawing the attention of the eager sailors from the captain's retreating figure to himself.

"Hey guys! Get ready! Line up!"

"The captain's about to hand out money! Stand still and behave yourselves. Anyone who disrupts order will have to go out into the sea to sober up first! Understand?!"

Upon hearing the words "pay out money," the sailors immediately began to chatter noisily but also lined up in an extremely orderly fashion.

"clear!"

"Alright, First Mate!"

……

Less than a minute.

As usual, Chalice carried a heavy leather trunk out of the captain's cabin, containing hundreds of silver coins as reserve funds.

Gold coins are too valuable.

Copper coins were too cheap.

Silver coins were considered the best medium for small to medium-sized transactions.

bang-

Chalice tossed the suitcase at his feet and looked up at the excited faces in front of him.

"We've run into a tough opponent on this voyage."

Chalice's voice wasn't loud, but it was clear enough to carry across the deck.

"Although we lost two brothers, the Homecoming ship did not sink, and you did not retreat in the face of battle. Therefore, you deserve this reward!"

He opened the suitcase and began distributing tasks according to work done.

"The base salary for this mission is one silver coin. In view of your composure and calmness in the face of the sharks, each of you will receive an additional silver coin as a bonus."

The sailors' breathing became heavy instantly.

Two silver coins!

That's two whole silver coins!

The route from Simon Island to Maro Island is one of the most popular.

There is no shortage of ships.

Naturally, there is no shortage of sailors who want to go to sea.

Routine transportation tasks.

The sailors' wages were at most six or seven hundred copper coins.

If the unscrupulous captain doesn't provide food and lodging, he'll deduct nearly a hundred copper coins from the bill.

Chalice would always pay with a silver coin, settling accounts on the spot without delay and sometimes even with extra bonuses.

Why is it that every time Cherries recruits someone, he doesn't need to give prior notice, and he can just let Wirtz go around and get a bunch of people to sign up voluntarily?

The reason is simple: they're willing to pay!

Since it's all about paying money to save your life, if you pay enough, you're not worried about finding someone willing to sell.

The sailors stepped forward one by one and accepted the small but somewhat heavy precious silver coin with both hands.

This is almost equivalent to the income of two trips by an ordinary cargo ship!

In this world where life is as cheap as grass, being able to follow a captain who is not only skilled at hunting extraordinary monsters but also kind enough to give money away is practically a blessing from the gods!

Send it to the end.

The sailors who received their money did not leave, but waited quietly for Chalice to announce the ownership of the last sum of money.

"Here are twenty silver coins, the pension for John and Tommy."

Chalice's gaze turned cold and solemn.

"As usual, I will have the first mate hand over this money to their families and tell them that they did not accidentally fall into the sea and go missing, nor did they die from their own stupidity."

"But stand with me, with everyone! To die like men fighting against extraordinary monsters! Not to cowardly drown in some trench!"