Chapter 265 - 265 122

Words : 1363 Updated : Sep 29th, 2025

265: 122. Sailing 265: 122. Sailing The buildings on Sugard Mountain rose and fell in succession, giving Lu Li his first full view of Belfast. Compared to a normal city, this city, built along the mountain and spreading across it, indeed presented a view both shocking and bustling. As the sailboat moved away from Rhodest Port, the full view of Belfast gradually disappeared into the foggy rain lines. Lu Li stood at the stern deck, quietly watching the now barely visible behind. The sea surface left behind two spreading lines of white traces. “Everyone feels a bit out of place on their first sea voyage, just like leaving home,” said Captain Harvey, standing half a step behind Lu Li, his mouth curving into a smile. He held down his wide captain’s hat with one hand to prevent it from being blown away by the sea breeze. Perhaps from frequent encounters with investigators, the demeanor of this fishing boat captain conveyed that of an adventurer—unpolished, cheerful, and easygoing. He wasn’t Alliance personnel, but like Old Pique from the laundry, he maintained certain cooperative relations with the three major organizations. Lu Li turned away from the view, turning around with a calmness that somewhat surprised Captain Harvey and asked, “Where is my equipment?” “It’s been delivered to your room, follow me,” led Captain Harvey. The cabin area reserved for crew and cargo also accommodated investigators like Lu Li, granting him privileges similar to those of the captain. His temporary room was on the uppermost deck, adjacent to the Captain’s Cabin. It offered a broad view, and the matte brown-red wooden paneling lent a warm, home-like feel to it. The walls were adorned with moose head trophies and obscure portraits, with dim light seeping into the room from outside the window. If not for the boundless sea outside and the wavering floor beneath, the place would resemble a bedroom in a noble’s mansion even more. “Your belongings are on the bed. If you feel seasick, you can find me in the Captain’s Cabin or at the helm,” said Captain Harvey. Without further disturbance, Captain Harvey stepped out to the doorway and closed the room door behind him. He then called a sailor to guard the door, ready to obey Lu Li’s commands. In the corner lay a soft, luxurious bed where Lu Li’s equipment was arranged. Before boarding, Tesla had informed Lu Li about the uses of these items – if they were damaged, he could spend a small part of his contribution at the base to replace them; if that was inconvenient, he could also switch them at a merchant’s. Merchants actually served as an alternative logistical department. The items laid out on the bed included: a black wrist strap called the Nikola Counter, which emits a continuous giggling sound when objects that lower Sanity Value are nearby. The faster the Sanity Value decreases, the more urgent the sound becomes, acting as an alert to danger. A black cape-style raincoat, generally more useful than an umbrella, especially at sea to keep oneself dry from rain and seawater. Spirit-Calling Gun and a small box of silver-plated bullets, designated offensive Homogeneous Items by Lu Li, which are less useful in close combat at sea. It can serve as a replacement for another Spirit-Calling Gun—and subsequently sold to a merchant after use. A flashlight, similar in design to the small model accompanying the Bird Beak Mask, can run for 4 hours on a full battery. Its interior is engraved with ancient Enchantment, so its use is not limited to providing light; it can also uncover hidden presences around, though not as vast as the Spirit-Calling Gun’s range, but advantageous in its lack of adverse effects. Plus, Lu Li now had two flashlights. An oil lamp, just an ordinary waterproof one with an in-built flint, was capable of auto-ignition. An Amulet, made of an unknown crude black stone; it appeared rough with an irregular five-pointed star and a strange, eye-like symbol at the center carved into the black circle, which somewhat effectively fends off anomalous approaches. However, Tesla advised not to rely on it too much, suggesting to regard it merely as an ornament. It could provide a false sense of security, much like how drinking hot water could momentarily soothe a stomach ache. These items were prepared by the investigator organization for Apprentice Investigators. The raincoat, Spirit-Calling Gun, and oil lamp could vary according to different situations. Lu Li first picked up the Amulet; the rough surface of the black stone slightly frictioned against his fingertips. He wore it around his neck, tucking it under his shirt, where its cool touch slightly revived his senses. Lu Li placed the oil lamp beside the foot of the bed, stuffed the Spirit-Calling Gun along with its holster under the pillow, split the bullets into two halves placing them in his coat and pants pockets respectively, and casually placed the raincoat on the dining table. After organizing those items, Lu Li locked the door, hung his woolen coat on the rack, and laid down on the big bed that was emitting a scent of pine resin. It wasn’t even eleven in the morning yet, and he needed to rest up in order to cope with the potential troubles of the evening, seasickness, and boredom. It was a pity he had to leave in a hurry, otherwise he could have waited for the trader to deliver the newspaper that cost 100 Shillings. ... Anna stared blankly at the tender shoots in the flowerpot, her eyes not blinking. She couldn’t distinguish whether these were shoots of a flower, a tree sapling, a vegetable, or just weeds. As she gazed absentmindedly, sounds came from behind the door. Anna looked back to see that a newspaper had been pushed through the slot at the bottom of the wooden door, followed by the sound of footsteps moving away. The trader seemed to know that Lu Li was no longer at home. ... For the older sailors, 120 nautical miles was like stepping out the front door and taking a few steps. During normal times in the deep sea, even schooners ten meters long dared to sail distances much farther than this. 100 nautical miles was less than half the length of the Ailen Peninsula; on the map, it seemed like they had just stepped out the front door. Now, however, distances over 70 nautical miles were akin to not being able to return before dark for most fishing boats, equating to danger. Thus, their range of operation was just within fifty nautical miles near Rhodest Port. Lu Li’s consciousness gradually sank into the soft bed, and in a state of half sleep, the sound of the waves outside and the rocking below never stopped. At one moment, a burst of excited shouting came from the deck above, apparently the sailors had captured a rare large fish. After some time, a knock on the door woke Lu Li from his light sleep. “Sir, we’ve just caught a Silverback Fish, Captain Rowe invites you to come over,” “Understood,” Lu Li responded. The color of the sky outside the window had grown darker than before he slept, and the clock fixed to the dining table showed the current time: 4:38 PM. Lu Li sat up, put on his woolen coat, and opened the door. The sea breeze in the corridor brought a chill, along with a fragrance that made one’s stomach rumble. Lu Li walked into the captain’s cabin, where Captain Rowe, First Mate Louis, and the second mate were seated by the dining table. A fish weighing at least five pounds was being cooked in a pot on the dining table, and spices were liberally scattered on the surface of the fish soup, the source of the delectable aroma. Captain Rowe and the second mate eagerly invited Lu Li to sit down and eat. “Where are we now?” Lu Li asked as he took a seat at the dining table without refusing. First Mate Louis answered, “We just passed Devil’s Reef, less than 20 nautical miles away from Disc Reef.”

Chapter 265 - 265 122

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