Women only affect my ability to spread the fire

Since they were talking about the Silver Peninsula, Russell asked, "Where is Morgana swimming towards now? Where is our next stop? Vitolos or Usedom?"

Rosaleen said, "Let's go to Usedom first. I've found my father, and I suppose Margaret is anxious to get home, too."

Margaret smiled bitterly and shook her head: "I don't know where we'll go next, and Morgana doesn't know either."

"Ah?" Russell was surprised. "What's going on?"

Margaret raised her hand and pointed at the gray sky. "The fog has covered the entire sky. Rosalyn's star map is completely useless. We have no way of identifying the direction."

After that, Margaret pointed to the vast ocean in the distance and said, "Morgana is used to swimming in warmer oceans. It's quite cold here, and she's not familiar with this area."

Margaret then spread her hands and said, "So, I told Morgana to just swim as far east as possible. As for whether she reaches Usedom, Occitania, or Vitolos first, that's up to fate."

Russell didn't like this uncertainty at all: "I'll find a way to use fire to disperse the gray fog, and then we can use the star map to determine the direction, right?"

Since the sword energy containing flames can destroy the source of the gray fog - the demons call it the source of wisdom - then it seems that the burning flames can also light up the sky.

Russell was convinced of this.

Russell did it right away and quickly climbed up the tall tower standing in the center of the castle.

Just as we had seen before, a huge drive gear was hovering on the central tower, making a constant, slow, frictional sound.

The rotation of the gears drives the crystal on the top of the tower, emitting dazzling beams of light, as if the eyes of the castle are watching the surroundings.

Russell was now certain that the prying eyes he had felt before came from these crystals and Francine, who was monitoring Morganna's entire back through these crystals.

The wooden "safe house" was a flaw deliberately designed by Renatus, where he had a backup plan to restrict Brochar.

Now that this wooden safe house has completed its mission, Russell does not want there to be a blind spot in the surveillance on Morganna's back, so Francine orders the mechanical puppets to dismantle the cabin.

Russell stood high on the top of the tower. He no longer looked at the mechanical puppets that were busy like ants, but raised his head to look at the gray sky.

Over the vast ocean, the fog looked a little thin.

Russell slashed a sword energy towards the sky, and the whistling flames flew straight into the sky, knocking a hole in the fog.

It seemed like it had been a long time since there was any news from the human world. The golden sunlight responded immediately, piercing through the clouds like a sharp sword, spreading down and shining on Russell's face, greeting the blue ocean after a long time.

The gray fog soon dispersed again, mending the gap that Russell had cut. The sky became gray again, and the ocean became dark again.

Despite this, Russell still smiled with satisfaction, because the gray fog over the ocean was very thin and did not require sharp sword energy to cut through.

So Russell turned his head again and looked at the tower under his feet.

This tower was designed to serve as a lighthouse, and it is unknown whether it was part of Renatus' plan to disguise Morgana as a floating island.

In the center of the magic crystals densely distributed around the top of the tower, there is a place for making a fire, and there is also a mechanical device that automatically adds fuel to the fire.

Unfortunately, these devices are of no use.

Russell recalled how he summoned the fire in his body when he slashed out with sword energy, and then ignited the soul fire at the top of the tower.

This took a lot of Russell's energy, and beads of sweat appeared on his forehead. Fortunately, the blazing flames did not disappoint Russell's expectations. It successfully drove away the gray fog, and the golden sunlight once again shone on Morganna's back.

"Now we can use the star map to determine the direction at night." Russell returned to the ground. "Also, be prepared for battle."

Rosalyn was originally beaming with joy, but after hearing Russell's words, she couldn't help but ask curiously, "Will you accept the challenge?"

"Yes, an island that can dispel the gray fog suddenly appeared on the sea. If I were a devil, I would definitely send troops to take a look. It depends on when those devils can notice this." Russell said.

Although Russell was ready for the battle, perhaps because demons were not willing to set foot in the ocean, Morgana swam all the way east, and the attack that Russell had been guarding against never came.

It wasn't until a few days later that Margaret came to inform Russell: "My Lord, I think we don't need to fight the demons for the time being. Morgana has already seen the coastline."

"The coastline? So we're heading in the right direction?"

"Yes, and not only that, Morgana also discovered the ruins of the port. I think we'll soon know where we are."

Hearing what Margaret said, Russell hesitated for a moment, but decided to temporarily turn off the lighthouse.

Russell originally wanted to test whether this lighthouse that could dispel the fog could attract attacks from demons.

However, he was also worried that he and his group would be entangled by demons when they went ashore to explore the abandoned port, and at the same time, the lighthouse would attract attacks from other demons, which would be a waste of time.

So Russell chose to turn off the lighthouse first, then he untied the Cornflower, asked Morganna to stop moving temporarily, and sailed the Cornflower towards the abandoned port.

Margaret's expression was clearly not pleasant. Standing on the decaying pier, she said, "This is Sunset Harbor, the westernmost port in the Kingdom of Usedom, and also its most prosperous port."

The port is in a state of disrepair.

There is no sign of prosperity at all. At this moment, it has been forgotten by the world, with only the sound of wind and waves whispering in the ears.

The ancient buildings have been dilapidated by the ravages of time, sea tides and gray fog. The stone walls are covered with vines and moss, as if telling an ancient and silent story.

The pier Russell and his companions stood on was already decaying, its wooden floor cracked and eroded by the sea breeze. Some of the massive pillars had collapsed, while the remaining ones tilted, as if they might follow the same fate as their predecessors at any moment.

In this abandoned port, there is no sign of life. Only seagulls circle in the sky, making lonely calls, as if searching for traces of the past prosperity.

Some old ships were abandoned on the beach, battered by wind and rain, and were in tatters. The paint on the hulls had peeled off, as if telling of the suffering they had endured.

Continuing to walk towards the port, there were rotten corpses and broken weapons everywhere. There was no doubt that this place had been invaded and destroyed by the demon army. A glorious trading center was wiped out from civilization.

Judging from the scattered weapons, armor and tattered flags, this place seemed to have fallen in an instant, and did not even last until the Knights arrived to provide assistance.

They didn't encounter any demons or lost souls in the port, so Russell and his party didn't encounter any battles. They returned to the castle in silence.

"Let's go, continue to head east. Kannos is not far to the east." Margaret said with a heavy heart.

After witnessing the tragic situation in Sunset Harbor, Margaret couldn't help but worry that her hometown would become like this.

"Don't worry, Margaret. There is a knight order in charge of Cannos." Russell comforted her gently.

"Well, yes, I'm fine, my Lord, thank you." Margaret forced a smile. She climbed up the lighthouse and looked eagerly towards the east, towards the direction of home.

The author says:

Author's words: Thanks to reader 1698855575 for the monthly ticket

Thanks for the tips and coins without nickname

Thanks to Bloodthirsty Bronze Bull for the reward

097 Return to Usedom

Unlike Sunset Port, which was completely reduced to ruins, Kanos Port disappeared without a trace. No matter how Morganna wandered along the coastline, she was unable to find any trace of the port city.

After staying up all night until dawn, Margaret's original anticipation and fear of returning home had disappeared, and she became anxious and depressed.

Russell tried to comfort her: "Maybe it's because visibility is too poor at night. Let's look carefully again tomorrow morning... Look, there's a small village over there. Why don't we go there and ask for information on the specific location of Cannos Port."

The sharp-eyed Russell saw a small village appearing on the coastline in the distance, so he quickly pointed there.

"Yes, my lord."

Seeing the village that seemed to emerge from the thick fog, Margaret's spirits lifted, and she couldn't wait to jog all the way to the Cornflower.

As they sailed towards the village, Margaret noticed that the village was bathed in morning light and not shrouded in gray fog like Sunset Harbor, which made her feel better again.

Russell and his three companions set foot on the land of the village, and the mountains in the distance were looming.

A thrush flew over the village, and the first morning bell rang from the direction of the church.

The whole village fell into a deep sleep in the morning light.

Even bathed in sunlight, the village's gloomy appearance could not be concealed.

Especially considering Margaret's fair skin and long golden hair, the village looked even more dejected.

Although after the morning bell rang, the sounds of people moving around in the village began to be heard one after another, it was hard to say that the village had truly "woken up" when one looked at their numb, tired, lost and dejected looks as they walked out of the rooms.

After the morning bells rang, a skinny old man finished his morning prayers, making the sign of the cross on his chest, and stood up from the ground. Behind him was a herd of cows. He was a shepherd.

The young son, who was following the old herdsman and kneeling on the ground and forced to pray less piously, breathed a sigh of relief when he saw his father stand up, and couldn't wait to get up.

There was still some light in the young herdsman's eyes, unlike the old herdsman's cloudy eyes, but he was as thin as his father.

The cows behind the old herdsman looked much stronger than he did. They were docile, standing quietly by the roadside and in the fields, chewing the yellowed grass still covered with morning dew.

After the old herdsman finished his morning prayers, he began to count the number of cattle: "One, two... ten, eleven..."

After counting the number of cattle, the old shepherd made the sign of the cross on his chest with satisfaction, thanking God for not letting the cattle get lost.

The young herdsman rode on a cow, blew his whistle, and called the herd to move forward.

The cattle moved obediently.

The old herdsman who fell behind grabbed a cow by the ears and said to it, "Today you will be separated from your calf. This is the last day you can see your calf. You might as well take a closer look at it."

The old herdsman's teeth are almost all gone, and he speaks with a lisp.

Unfortunately, even if the old herdsman spoke without leaking anything, the cow could not understand his words.

The cow just looked at the old herdsman calmly, then swung her tail and patted him to show affection, and then walked away, completely unaware of what was waiting for her.

"You, you are from the sea? Evil, devil!" The young herdsman was scared out of his wits.

He had just heard the purpose of Russell and his party's visit, and looked at the monster-like ship behind Russell - the Cornflower was not a very big ship, and the monster-like ship came from the imagination of young people - his legs went weak and he almost fell off the cow's back.

The cattle were much calmer than the young herdsmen. Since they were not urged by whips and whistles, they quietly lowered their heads and continued to chew the dry grass.

"Don't make a fuss, Mark! These are masters and ladies from the city, not demons!" The old shepherd hurried forward and scolded his son.

Then the old shepherd held his son Mark, and they both kowtowed to the ground. "I'm sorry, sir. My son is so ignorant and has never left Meldorf! He has never seen a ship, let alone a noble master like you. Please, for God's sake, forgive him!"

Russell didn't expect that the young herdsman would misunderstand him as a devil from the sea at the first sight, and then the old herdsman would force his son to perform this great ceremony. Both the overreaction and the excessive etiquette made him feel out of place.

"Please get up, old man." Russell helped the terrified herder and his son to their feet. "We're just here to ask for directions. How do I get to Cannos Port?"

"Canos Port?" The father and son looked at each other in confusion.

Then the old shepherd looked at the amiable Russell and suddenly began to tremble with fear. His legs couldn't help but go weak and he wanted to kneel down.

The old herdsman stammered, "I'm sorry, sir. I'm just a crude herdsman from the countryside! I don't know much! I don't know where the Port of Cannos you're talking about is."

If you don’t know, then you don’t know. Why are you so scared?

Russell was a little puzzled. He wanted to comfort the old herdsman with a few more kind words to soothe his anxiety.

But before Russell could speak, Margaret coldly scolded him: "If you don't know, get out!"

The old herdsman felt as if he had been pardoned. He crawled and rolled, thanked his confused son profusely, and ran away with him. He blew the whistle hurriedly with his toothless mouth, driving the cattle to follow him.

Margaret exhaled, shook her head, and explained to Russell, "My Lord, the nobles of Usedom always speak condescendingly to the common people, scolding and beating them at every turn. This is the only way to reassure the common people."

Is this the only way to reassure civilians?

Russell looked at Margaret in surprise.

"Only when nobles want to kill someone will they speak to them politely like you do. This is to abide by the doctrine that all lives are equal. The moment you take someone's life—look at that old herdsman, he's so scared that he's about to wet his pants."

Margaret's words were filled with disgust, and this disgust also contained her self-loathing for having to use this ancient custom. It seemed that she had many dissatisfactions with Usedom's customs and hypocritical doctrines.

This was the first time that Rosaline had come into contact with the grassroots people. As the eldest daughter of a wizard family, Rosaline was truly enlightened.

So she covered her mouth in surprise, but almost dropped Francine's soul box on the ground.

Rosalyn hurriedly whispered to comfort Francine, who was throwing a tantrum because she felt insecure and worried that her sister would abandon her.

Russell shook his head and stopped looking at Rosalyn, but turned to look at Margaret.

Now Russell was not at all surprised why Margaret had not been a religious person before.

Perhaps Margaret immersed herself in books and learning, went to the fields, and seriously studied animals, plants, and even minerals because she was tired of dealing with hypocritical and arrogant aristocrats.

At this moment, Margaret sighed softly, then laughed again. "This familiar feeling of disgust, for some reason, reassured me. I had been worried that we had taken the wrong path... Thank you, my Lord."

The country dialect, the common people who feared the nobles like tigers, the bad habits accumulated over hundreds of years of tradition, the hypocritical church and doctrine, all these familiar things made Margaret believe that she had returned to her hometown - Usedom, the country of knights.

Margaret's expression was very complicated. There was a smile on the corner of her mouth, but there was also a look of disgust that was hard to hide in her eyes, as well as a hint of nostalgia.

"Let's go to the church and ask the priest for directions to Port Canos." Margaret shook off her mixed feelings and prepared to take the next step.

"Although the priest stationed in this small village is likely only a low-ranking priest, we can ask him about the nearby noble estates or the headquarters of the Knights, and then visit the local dignitaries."

So Russell and his three companions, carrying a box, traveled through the small village.

A few strangers came to a closed and lifeless little village, which was big news.

Soon, the villagers of the entire village ran out of their houses regardless of the winter cold and secretly watched these "noble masters".

They were either scowling or indifferent, their expressions full of gloom. Even watching the rare entertainment activities of the nobles could not ease their expressions in the slightest.

The villagers' eyes shrank back, not daring to look Russell in the eye. When Russell's gaze swept over them, everyone lowered their heads in fear.

Russell shook his head, not expecting to find out anything from the herdsmen.