Unable to repay my student loans, I had no choice but to work part-time as a demon hunter.

Gordon weighed the options.

This is a complex task.

If Ningning is released, someone else will take over the fate of this big, fat white fish. Her life, death, joys, and sorrows will have nothing to do with Gordon, and the villain who killed Linlin will no longer have anything to do with Gordon.

By taking Ningning away, Gordon will have the opportunity to find and kill the Fish King with her, learn how to make spiritual weapons, and collect information about higher-level transcendent beings from her.

If Gao Deng lets Ningning go, he might have fewer problems...

But when you look back on this in the future, you will definitely regret it.

Ningning believed that a master would protect her.

"So," Gordon took a deep breath, "this is my first assignment as a formal investigator?"

"Yes, this matter involves our country's foreign relations, our relationship with the gods, and even the emperor's will: to kill the Fish King."

"Before September? You're overestimating us. We haven't even caught a glimpse of what's going on yet."

"Our mission is to make it possible. Are you willing to accept that?"

"I'll take it." Gordon nodded vigorously.

He felt that his fate was intertwined with Ningning's, and now he was trying to find a way to protect Ningning and figure out what she wanted to do, what she could do, and whether she was capable of doing it.

"What's a good starting point?" Elizabeth asked with concern.

Gordon organized his thoughts.

"Her goal is to destroy the Fishing King, and we also want to kill the Fishing King; our goals are aligned. She needs a safe haven, clean water, and plenty of fish, which we can provide. In return, she is willing to offer her mysterious crafts and even powerful combat abilities. Therefore, we don't need to restrict her too much. As long as she understands that staying with us is better than running away or being turned into an elixir of immortality, she will naturally come to help."

"Okay." Elizabeth noted Gordon's thoughts. "Then, you'll be the person primarily responsible for this foreign woman."

She issued a check to Gordon.

200 gold pounds.

The payer is the Elizabethan Charitable Foundation, and the project is named "International Exchange and Placement of Special Personnel".

"Good." Gordon received money from Elizabeth for the first time that he didn't have to pay back, and his impression of the generous minister improved even more. "The Empire values ​​not only science, but also diplomacy."

"Don't forget, university underground water tanks are unsafe."

"Yes, yes, I've been thinking about it. A warehouse won't do, and a regular residence won't do either. She needs a lot of water, and she also needs armor and weaponry..." Gordon looked at Elizabeth for a moment, and the answer gradually became clear. He then said without hesitation, "—I want a warship!"

warship!

Elizabeth was silent for a moment.

:

"I'm a researcher, how can I not have my own research vessel?" Gordon said matter-of-factly.

Gordon thought it made more and more sense, and continued:

"Professor Winslow certainly didn't always dissect things at the university when he was young. The anatomical atlas of the Otherworldly was definitely not something he cobbled together. He may have seen more overseas Otherworldly beings than many military officers have seen ports."

Elizabeth looked at Gordon and couldn't help but think of the past.

Yes.

Professor Noah Winslow once sailed across the ocean aboard the Hound, observing the different changes that occurred when the same batch of demon eggs were taken to different islands in the Malaya Islands. He dissected whales in the Southern Ocean, saw giant serpents reaching into the clouds off the coast of Bharat, excavated fossils of many extinct creatures on the continent of New Albion, discovered ocean shells in the mountains, and found silicified ancient trees underground...

The rock formations will rise, the oceans will become mountains, life will evolve, and the world will shape aliens in various forms.

These observations eventually led to groundbreaking works such as "Natural History of the Source" and "Anatomy of the Otherworldly Demons".

Winslow also confirmed the role of spiritual environment in shaping demons through his travels around the world.

It has now become a universally acknowledged truth, but few remember how many erroneous beliefs people held before that.

"Then, the Hound." Elizabeth opened a file and handed it to Gordon. "You can use the Hound; Professor Winslow used it before."

Gordon flipped through the files.

It can sail at sea and navigate inland waterways, and it has the armor and firepower that an ironclad warship should have. Inside, there are even cabins for raising aquatic demons, which is almost exactly the kind of residence Ningning needs, and it is also very suitable as a legacy for Gordon.

"Excellent, excellent!" Gordon was very pleased.

"However, it is, after all, a third-class ironclad warship belonging to the Navy. You can take the project documents and negotiate with the FitzRoy family. Duke William FitzRoy is now the First Lord of the Admiralty, and the HMS Hound's release requires their approval." Elizabeth issued the documents.

Gordon felt somewhat invigorated.

Research vessel!

Ironclad warship!

It's the Hound that Professor Winslow used.

The FitzRoy family had visited him earlier, and he was still wearing the naval lieutenant commander's armor they had given him, clearly indicating that they had always intended to establish a long-term relationship with Gordon.

Gordon felt that this was an opportunity not to be missed.

If he goes to sea under the guise of scientific research, he can not only explore the outside world, take Charlotte out to play, and let Ningning experience the ocean, but also help himself cultivate the "Tide of Destiny".

He could already imagine what it would be like on the high seas.

"I understand. I'll get that ship and then win Ningning's heart," Gordon promised.

:

"?" Elizabeth looked at Gordon for a while.

Gao Dengjue was indeed very generous to him.

Zooming in, I observed Kang Kaiqing's face, thinking about when I could visit her to provide her with some maintenance services; she would surely be very happy.

……

Oak Riverbank.

The FitzRoy family’s mansion, “Voyage Palace,” is built along the river. The main building is made of elegant light gray stone, and the side facing the Blackwater River features a large dock with several quasi-military warships moored in private berths.

Naval officers, colonial agents, captains of overseas expeditions, and shipyard workers came and went from time to time, and documents and invitations poured in like water. Servants faced the bowing and scraping visitors with arrogance.

Cecilia FitzRoy is having a headache in the collection room of her mansion.

In front of her were all sorts of so-called "overseas treasures" that her brother Anthony had bought back.

"I'm saying this one last time, you can't waste any more money on these things, brother! They're obviously fake," Cecilia complained.

Anthony leaned back on the sofa, a cigar dangling from his lips. He wore a white shirt, his dark brown hair combed back, and while his facial features were still quite handsome, they were utterly empty, hollowed out by wine and women.

As a naval captain and a source energy user, his numerous bad habits caused his sister Cecilia great distress.

"How could they be fake? They were all sold to me by friends I've known for ten years," Anthony said dismissively.

"You've known him for ten years, but that doesn't mean he only lied to you once. How could everything he has be extremely ancient, unique in the world, and irreplaceable if you miss it?"

"He always sells me good stuff when he comes back from the southern continent."

You always think the worst of people.

"You always think too highly of those fair-weather friends," Cecilia complained.

She didn't like arguing with her brother, but she also couldn't stand watching him continue to transfer the family's money to so-called friends of dubious origin.

Anthony, a rich and confident fool, is increasingly becoming a top customer for scammers.

Just then, the butler entered the collection room and humbly greeted Anthony and Cecilia.

"The Crimson Alchemist Gordon Vick has arrived." He bowed slightly.

Crimson Alchemist!

Upon hearing this, Anthony was overjoyed and put down the cigar beside him.

Since the Summer Ceremony, the FitzRoy family has held Gordon in high regard.

As one of the nine major families deeply involved in the navy and the storms of the sea, they often collect all sorts of unfamiliar source materials, alien creations, and strange treasures from overseas, but they are very lacking in the occult knowledge and identification ability to match them, and therefore often suffer losses.

:

If they could recruit a young talent like Gordon as a supporter of the family, it would undoubtedly help them gain a foothold in the next wave of development.

"Looks like my dear sister has finally caught a big fish!"

"No!" Cecilia's expression changed drastically.

"He doesn't even know me, so who could he be visiting for?" Anthony smiled.

"He probably has something important to do."

"A young man visiting a single woman is usually considered a serious matter. I knew you were much more attractive than Charlotte Monford!"

"No, please don't say that!" Cecilia exclaimed in surprise, quickly grabbing Anthony's sleeve. "Especially don't say that in front of Gordon or Charlotte."

Cecilia's biggest dream is to see Gordon and Charlotte live happily ever after, and she has no intention of getting involved herself.

If Charlotte misunderstands anything, Cecilia will be in big trouble!

……

The extravagantly luxurious gates of the Far Voyage Palace opened.

Gordon looked up and felt as if he had entered an elegant naval fortress.

Several maids immediately came to greet him, led away his anger, and took Gordon's cane and coat, their attitude extremely attentive.

"Welcome to the FitzRoy family."

The butler personally led the way, guiding Gordon through a corridor painted with images of ships, grand naval battles, and portraits of family officers throughout the ages.

Less than a minute later, Gordon saw a young officer hurrying toward him, acting as if they were old friends.

Cecilia followed beside her brother, wearing a light blue short skirt, her hair carefully combed, a white top hat with a blue ribbon, and shiny loafers. Her face still showed the helplessness she had just experienced after arguing with her brother.

"Mr. Vic, welcome to the Far Voyage Palace." Cecilia bowed to Gordon.

"My sister has mentioned you so many times—your talent! Your future! Your genius! Come on in, come on in, have some wine first, and try my cigar."

Anthony planned to take Gordon for a bath, play a couple of rounds of cards, and then find two young girls to play a couple of rounds with, so that they could quickly establish the kind of friendship that upper-class men should have.

"Is there anything we can do to help you?" Cecilia interrupted promptly.

"I would like to borrow the Hound."

: