Return and Daily Life

Afterward, under the command of First Mate Perry, the sailors each returned to their duties and began cleaning up the battlefield.

The damage to the Silver Wing from the Sea Monster's attack was not severe. After simple repairs, they used a net to drag the Ramming Conch's corpse behind the ship and resumed normal sailing.

Sea monsters are naturally extraordinary materials. When conditions allow, no one can easily discard them. Fortunately, this encounter happened near the coast; if they had captured it in the deep sea, they would only have been able to harvest some core materials, which would be far less valuable than the entire corpse.

Although the Silver Wing suffered considerable losses, the corpse of this Sea Monster alone was enough to justify the cost, more than enough to pay for the pensions of the fallen and the rewards for the survivors.

With such a large catch, continuing the rest of the patrol was difficult, and the presence of the Sea Monster was not something that could be easily exposed to ordinary people. Thus, Gell gave the order to return to port directly.

Splash...

As the Sea Monster died, the mist on the sea surface gradually dissipated. The Silver Wing cut a beautiful arc across the water, veering onto a less-trafficked shipping lane, and set course for home at full speed.

On the deck.

"Let's go, Ensign Evan, you should get some rest. I'll let you try our ship's specialty at lunch; it's a rare delicacy," First Mate Perry said, patting Evan's shoulder mysteriously.

The camaraderie forged in battle, coupled with Captain Gell's noticeably different attitude, caused the First Mate, usually known for his strict and unapproachable demeanor, to act out of character and speak kindly to Evan.

"Really? I'm looking forward to it!" Evan wouldn't miss an opportunity to better integrate into the group.

Indeed.

Later, at the celebration banquet prepared for the victory, in addition to the high-quality ingredients already stored on the ship, fresh sea fish caught locally were served. The chef also brought a mysterious covered dish to each table.

This was the specialty delicacy the First Mate had mentioned, rarely seen elsewhere.

Evan curiously lifted the metal cover in front of him.

A sizable piece of snow-white, tender meat was soaking in a yellowish broth, accompanied by a few slices of green vegetables. A peculiar aroma wafted out, making his mouth water and his appetite soar.

It turned out to be a "Sea Monster Feast" made from the Sea Monster's tentacles. Not only was it delicious with a crisp texture, but it also possessed a magical effect that could slightly enhance one's physique.

The old sailors were unfazed; they had enjoyed such meals once or twice a year when they were on Fourth-Rate Ships. Even on Fifth-Rate Ships, their rations were better than others. However, Evan and Gary, who were seeing this for the first time, devoured it with gusto.

Feeling a subtle warmth coursing through his body.

Evan even fantasized that if he could eat this meat every day, he might quickly reach the limits of a mortal.

A moment's thought told him this was impossible. Sea monsters were rulers of the sea and apex predators. While it was understandable to fight desperately if they encountered one, deliberately hunting them would be akin to seeking death.

However, eating it once or twice was no more effective than corresponding auxiliary potions; it was merely a slight improvement, satisfying the taste buds.

Even so, Evan finished his portion at the fastest speed, leaving not a single scrap behind.

Sitting at the officers' exclusive wine table, while they were all slightly tipsy and in high spirits, chatting animatedly, Evan curiously inquired about the old officers' experiences in the deep sea.

Everyone had witnessed Evan's performance today; he alone had severed three of the Sea Monster's tentacles, saving at least a dozen crew members. Regardless of any special relationship with the Captain, he had earned the approval of most of them.

"You've asked the right person; I was the first to venture the seas with Captain Gell." Navigator Telius had drunk quite a bit, his eyes already hazy with intoxication.

"Young man, you must remember, there are many giant beasts in the sea, but not all of them harbor hatred towards humans.

Having both shells and tentacles is the characteristic of Sea Monsters under the Sea Monster Mother. Their hatred for humans is instinctual and cannot be changed. However, there are still many other types of wild sea monsters.

To these wild sea monsters, humans are no different from other creatures. With the right methods, they can even be tamed, much like hunting dogs."

As he spoke, Telius cut a large piece of white sea monster meat, dipped it in sauce, and stuffed it into his mouth, taking a large gulp of rum and letting out a hearty burp.

"Furthermore, the brave Navigator here tells you from his experience that powerful sea monsters share one common trait: they are all delicious!" Boatswain Chris teased him, seeing Telius indulging in food and drink.

The table erupted in laughter.

"Life was better when we were sailing the outer seas on Fourth-Rate Warships. These small species of sea monsters could be sent to the seabed with a single volley, no need for the Captain to personally intervene?"

The Gunner took a sip of amber-colored rum, sighing with emotion.

"I say, if we could tame and enslave a large wild sea monster, our lives would be... tsk tsk..." The Helmsman also joined in, seemingly tired of sailing smaller vessels and eager to experience being a Sea Monster Knight.

"Dream on! You don't need anything else; just one large sea monster would be enough to compete for a Quasi-Legendary Battleship!"

The group jeered, mocking the Helmsman's unrealistic ambition.

Unlike small species like the Ramming Conch, which could be killed by a single person with a specially made harpoon, every large sea monster possessed the ability to destroy a battleship on its own (without powerful extraordinary individuals on board).

Even decades ago, the Sirius Kingdom, a dominant power among the maritime nations, boasted when they first deployed battleships, their ultimate weapons: "The only things in this world that can resist a battleship are another battleship and... large sea monsters!"

Large sea monsters were terrifying creatures whose length was at least comparable to a First-Rate Battleship. With the power of such a monster, combined with human command, the combat effectiveness would be far greater than a simple one plus one equals two.

While they might not reach the level of "Legendary Battleships," the ultimate weapons used by maritime nations to guard their kingdoms, they could certainly surpass First-Rate Ships and reach the Quasi-Legendary tier.

This meant that a combination of humans and a large sea monster would be powerful enough to crush over ninety percent of human ships on the seas. Truly terrifying...

Evan did not interrupt. While he devoured various delicacies, vigorously satisfying his increasingly voracious appetite due to his knightly training, he listened intently to the officers' conversation.

Besides some common knowledge about sea monsters, he gradually gained an understanding of the strength of the ship's officers.

On the sea, individual strength was insignificant, but this did not include peak-level extraordinary individuals. In fact, according to the job appointment regulations of the Faletis Kingdom, every battleship captain should at least be an Extraordinary Knight!

This was the final safeguard, ensuring warships could overcome harsh natural environments and deep-sea monsters.

An extraordinary captain, paired with a varying number of Apprentice Knights (equivalent to Captain-rank officers) and a large number of ordinary sailors, would utilize the ship's cannons and various weapons to collectively form the overall combat power of a warship.

The officers present were no exception. They were all qualified to practice the true Extraordinary Swordsmanship, the "Faletis Sabre Art," but due to age, aptitude, or lack of interest, few had managed to surpass ordinary people to a significant degree.

After all, at their age, remaining in the rank of Captain meant most had reached the peak of their careers and had long since abandoned their Extraordinary Paths, often placing their hopes on the next generation.

Among them, Uncle Gell, as the Captain, was the undisputed powerhouse, a formidable existence at the peak of Formal Knight. Furthermore, Naval Headquarters had regulations: military officers of the martial faction who wished to be promoted to field-grade officers must possess the rank of Formal Knight, excluding civilian roles.

First Mate Perry could be considered one. Although he hadn't reached the Formal Knight rank yet, his level shouldn't be too low. Another was Boatswain Chris, who led the Assault Team and was the main force in boarding battles. Evan felt Chris's physical fitness was superior to Gary's, but likely not as good as his own.

However, in terms of development potential, both of them were far too lacking.

First Mate Perry was already over thirty years old. His physical fitness was mostly a result of enduring the years, and he had almost no chance of advancing to Formal Knight.

Boatswain Chris's situation was slightly better, but if he couldn't attempt a breakthrough within two years, he might never have another chance.

With such potential, let alone comparing them to Evan, they were far inferior even to Gary.

Theoretically, as a former member of a Fourth-Rate Battleship, a Captain's capabilities shouldn't be this limited.

From their conversations, Evan unexpectedly learned that there was originally another Knight-level existence on the Fourth-Rate Ship, which was the crew's confidence. However, everyone was tight-lipped about this former colleague, and it was unknown whether he had sacrificed his life or been transferred.

Given their shallow acquaintance, Evan pondered for a moment and didn't press further.

"Come, let's keep drinking!"

"Ensign Evan, welcome to our Silver Wing."

"With Ensign Evan's skills, you'll be the new powerhouse of the Silver Wing from now on."

The celebration banquet allowed Evan to fully integrate into this new group.

The return journey was much faster than patrolling. However, the Silver Wing's destination was not Gabreid's Naval Port, but a hidden island outside the port that was not on the normal shipping routes.

After handing over the corpse of the Ramming Conch to the Navy stationed on the island, the officers and crew of the Silver Wing received substantial merits and bonuses. This would serve as proof for promoting their military rank and exchanging training methods and various cultivation resources.

With Evan's outstanding performance, he naturally received his share.

Evan estimated that with just one more exploit like this, he could meet the standards for regularization without slowly accumulating years, becoming a Captain like the Boatswain and First Mate, who were martial officers.

Upon returning to the Naval Port and reporting the Sea Monster incident, the Silver Wing received additional commendations. A week after their last docking, the crew was granted another three days of leave.

After a thrilling battle with a Sea Monster, the crew couldn't wait to go to the bustling Gabreid to relax and indulge.

Evan, however, frowned slightly because Uncle Gell had been summoned alone by the Third Fleet Command. He felt that the Sea Monster's intrusion into nearby waters to attack merchant ships was not that simple and there might be hidden reasons behind it.

However, these matters were not his concern for now. Instead, another small matter was pressing.

Only those who had spent a long time drifting at sea could appreciate the beauty of standing on solid ground, not worrying about the bed board flipping over while sleeping, not worrying about ink bottles tipping over at any moment, not worrying about...

Perhaps he would get used to this life at sea in the future, but clearly, solid ground was more appealing now. If there was also a large salad with various seasonal fruits and vegetables, it would satisfy his craving for vegetables.

Considering he would be in Gabreid for a long time, Evan felt it was necessary to solve his accommodation problem on shore. He couldn't possibly stay in a hotel every time they docked, could he?

Renting a house, as a place for him to live on shore for what might be a long time, became Evan's primary goal.

He called Gary, and the two of them disembarked from the Silver Wing and began to wander around Gabreid. It was then that he realized he had been in Gabreid for several months but had never had the chance to visit the city.

"Come and see, special fruits brought back from the Southern Continent!"

"Look, how perfectly this exquisite piece of patterned cloth suits you, beautiful lady!"

"Selling glass mirrors! In the Royal Capital, a glass mirror costs one Silver Bull, but I'm selling it for only ninety Copper Ful, just ninety!"

As expected of a renowned trade hub, any commodity you could imagine, whether from the civilized world or distant colonies, could be found here.

In addition to large-scale trade, various small and large markets were exceptionally prosperous due to the abundant foot traffic. Fruits, vegetables, accessories, clothing, etc., despite having the common drawback of being slightly disorganized for this era, were full of life.

It was refreshing for someone who had grown accustomed to the monotonous sight of seawater.

"Gary, what kind of house do you think we should look for?"

"Hmm... a cheap one?"

"Cough, cough, cough..." Evan was speechless. He knew this guy wouldn't have any reliable suggestions.

"Rent isn't an issue; leave it to me." Evan understood Gary's family situation. He had many siblings and likely wanted to save his salary to send home to subsidize the family.

Evan himself wasn't short of money now. The spoils from capturing the Blood Anchor and the two thousand Gold Notes from handling the ship were still in his pocket.

Two thousand Gold Notes were a considerable sum no matter where they were.

With developed trade, housing agencies were naturally abundant. Finding a seemingly decent agency, the two of them followed a young clerk and embarked on a half-day tour of Gabreid.

The unscrupulous merchants of this world had not yet extended their claws into the real estate sector, and there was no housing speculation. Even in a bustling port city like Gabreid, housing prices were not very high, and renting was even cheaper.

The location didn't matter much, as they spent most of their time on the ship and didn't have to worry about commuting every morning.

From high-end apartments in bustling areas to luxurious villas in the suburbs, and ordinary residences in the common districts... After touring almost half the city, they finally found a satisfactory place near the seaside.

"Not bad, this is it!"