Beneath the azure sky, waves gently lapped at the white sandy beach.
A row of Magic Airships was docked at Kui Island Dock. Their sails had all been furled, while the Half-Elf crew worked hard to scrub the decks.
Other crew members carried supplies into the cabins, and the entire operation proceeded in an orderly fashion.
Connected to the dock was a shipyard on the beach.
Several repaired Magic Airships lay beached on the shore. They did not need a high tide to return to sea; as long as all their Floating Devices were activated, these fully restored Magic Airships could be sent back into the water.
They had been beached only so a few more coats of paint could be applied to their hulls...
The Imperial Merchants and crew imprisoned on Kui Island were currently dressed in linen robes, with sunscarves wrapped around their heads. Carrying paint buckets in their hands, they painted the bottoms of those Magic Airships.
The weather was scorching. Although sea breezes blew in, the sun shone straight down upon them, baking their bodies as though they were inside an enormous oven.
The Imperial Merchants and crew crouched beneath the ships, avoiding the direct sunlight...
When they saw a Magic Airship descend from the sky, they did not pay much attention at first. Nearly ten Magic Airships had docked at Kui Island Dock over the past two days, so they had grown accustomed to the sight.
It was only when they noticed the number on the airship's bow that an empire crew member cried out:
"It's Magic Airship No. 3. Boss Roy might be aboard..."
Another empire crew member chimed in:
"I'd bet he's on it. No. 3 and No. 4 went out together this time. No. 4 came back three days early, and now