Navigator: I Have a Legendary Exploration Log

Two o'clock in the morning.

The harbor shore.

The hustle and bustle in the latter half of the night is concentrated in taverns and brothels.

As evening fell, the once bustling harbor was reduced to the unfortunate guards who had drawn patrol tickets and the occasional night-time ship returning to port.

A squad of guards in red shirts and black trousers, carrying Mauser bolt-action rifles on their shoulders, trotted past with unsteady steps, casting curious glances at a group of assembled crew members.

"Captain, where are they going in the middle of the night?"

"Shh! Shut your mouth!"

The squad leader, walking beside the ranks, snapped, "They can go wherever they want! We should patrol, why are you so concerned? What's it to you?!"

So the guards continued their patrols, and the crew remained in formation.

Well water does not interfere with river water.

There was no communication.

As they approached the street corner, the squad leader subtly turned his head and glanced at the group of spirited sailors out of the corner of his eye.

Once the group had completely disappeared from sight, he murmured, barely able to contain his curiosity, "That's really rare..."

"Exactly!"

The soldier who had spoken rashly earlier chimed in, "If I hadn't not heard of any exploration ships docking here recently, I would have thought some famous adventurer was about to open up a new sea route!"

"Going out to sea in the middle of the night, I really don't know what they were thinking..."

"You! If you can't speak properly, just shut up!"

The captain reprimanded his brother-in-law with a helpless expression.

"Your sister used her connections to get you into the guard so you could learn more and not comment on everything you see all day long."

"If you ever run into a powerful figure with a bad temper, this military uniform won't protect you! Nor will it protect me!"

"Okay, brother-in-law..."

"Who's your brother-in-law here?"

The patrol captain, his face stern, rebuked, "Use your official title when you're on duty!"

"Yes, Lieutenant!"

……

"I've already explained the danger and importance of this mission to you when I contacted you before."

Chalice calmly surveyed the crowd. "You all arrived at the agreed time, so you must have been well-prepared."

"But according to my rules, I still have to emphasize this."

"The specific objectives of the mission are still confidential and will be revealed after we set sail. All I can say is that the target I'm hunting this time is very dangerous, but the reward is also very generous."

"My reputation speaks for itself. Those who dare to go will receive five times the reward; if they unfortunately perish, the compensation will also be five times the amount. I guarantee I will personally deliver it to your family and ensure they are not deprived of this money."

"But... my standards are also very high. Not only can they not hold me back, but they absolutely cannot fail me at crucial moments! If anyone messes things up for me, don't blame me for being ruthless!"

That's all.

He clapped his hands. "That's all I have to say. If you back out now, you still have a chance. Those who dare to go, get on the ship. We'll set sail in ten minutes."

No one left.

All twenty-eight men, some strong and muscular, stared intently at Chalice.

For these people who make a living at sea.

Death is not scary.

Poverty is what's truly terrifying!

The black-haired captain was quite well-known on Simon Island.

After all, being able to complete every mission on the spot already surpasses many captains.

They frequently give out bonuses and always provide compensation.

These two points made him a representative of a good employer that sailors talked about fondly during their leisure time.

Now Captain Cherry has come knocking, offering five times his usual pay.

The difficulty of the task is self-evident.

But they showed no fear whatsoever!

Isn't life meant to be fought for?

These temporarily recruited veteran sailors not only did not back down, but some were even secretly planning to risk their lives for money at the critical moment!

The long hours at sea have taken a toll on their bodies and minds, and in a few more years, their condition will likely decline drastically.

When no captain wants them, these guys who only know how to go to sea will have no choice but to burn out their last breaths in the factory.

Some people are not even willing to work in factories and can only do odd jobs or beg on the street.

Rather than die such a miserable death, it's better to sell your life for a good price while it still has some value...

……

Chalice had no idea what these people were thinking.

Even if I knew, I didn't care much.

He was used to seeing people down on their luck.

If Sartre hadn't taken him in out of pity back then, Cherries, who couldn't even speak properly, would probably have rotted away in some stinking ditch long ago.

The Return Home ship welcomed another group of crew members aboard.

The brand-new ships carried an almost entirely new fleet.

Chalice climbed the gangway and went to the cockpit.

"Cough...cough!"

His voice was transmitted throughout the ship via communication channels.

"Everyone! Check your positions! Report back once you're sure! The Homecoming will depart in seven minutes!"

Apart from Eddie, who has been promoted to first mate.

This time, there were several more young people on the Return Home train.

They are young Wright, the shipwright, who is the troublesome son that old Wright talks about.

Sartre asked old Wright for a favor, and the latter took the opportunity to send his son on the ship home, fulfilling the young man's desire to go to sea.

In this regard.

Chalice was pleased with the outcome.

The fully upgraded engine room is not something Max can handle by himself.

Therefore, he specifically asked Chai Lisi for help to form a marine engineering team.

So, through his connections with the Truth Society, Cherries found two mechanical engineering students who were doing their internships.

Unlike students like Isabel who specialize in research, they are more focused on application, that is, professional skills.

The former accounts for only 10% of the students at Glen University.

The latter accounts for nearly 90%.

They are also considered talented individuals.

But it's not considered precious.

They served as chief engineer and second engineer, respectively.

Chalice glanced at the clock, then took out his pocket watch to check the time.

"Ready to set sail! Hard to port! Slow progress!"

Sizzle... Whoosh!

The searchlights shone bright beams of light!

The magnificent turbines emitted a steady tremor, and the Homecoming, having untied its anchor ropes, glided gracefully into the night.

Chalice was deeply moved, but his expression remained calm.

The sailors bustling on deck could hardly contain their excitement.

Although the captain hadn't said it explicitly, those who had never eaten pork or seen a pig run had at least smelled the fishy odor.

There was a huge, dark cannon on the bow, along with heavy harpoons and ropes fixed in a storage box next to it.

Just by thinking about it, you know they're definitely going to pull off something big!

It's highly likely they were hunting some kind of large sea monster, possibly that damned whale!

Just bring back one... just one!

As is customary.

Having been exposed to something makes you proficient; having practiced it makes you an expert!

Besides the compensation given by Chalice.

They could also add a record of "skilled/proficient in whaling skills, having successfully hunted..." to their resumes, and might even get lucky and find a job on a whaling ship.

Chalice watched as the beam of light tore through the darkness ahead.

The natural light in this world is not bright.

Whether it's the sun during the day or the red moon at night.

The celestial bodies that should be radiating light and heat are as dim as a faulty light bulb, barely providing illumination, but like ambient lighting, they can only create an atmosphere.

So much so that after two and a half years of sailing day and night, exposed to wind and sun, Chalice's skin actually became a bit whiter than before.

However, his pale, thin cheeks and lips tinged with a dark purple made Chalice wonder whether his health had improved or deteriorated...

But it's alright.

Since becoming an Extraordinary, Chalice's mental state and complexion have improved significantly.

As long as he continues to transform, he is not afraid of dying suddenly due to the depletion of his vitality.

The crimson moonlight enveloped the shimmering sea, and the dark green waves were resolutely cleaved by the Returning Home ship, turning into white foam and being left far behind.

Following the directions on the nautical chart, Chalice headed towards the sea area recorded in the data.

The reason for setting sail at dawn is to maximize the chances of catching giant whales that like to surface for air in the early morning.

If all goes well.

They can return by evening, or even afternoon.

I hope everything goes well...

……