Gaeldo had volunteered to be the temporary cook. He was the sort of person who couldn't sit still.
Ian hadn't assigned specific duties to Luca and the others yet. None of them had spent much time at sea, so they might not be able to adapt.
Ian left the choice up to them. They could return to land. The Sea of Miracles had several large islands that had been developed for years, with relatively stable living conditions and no jurisdiction under the Poldoria Kingdom. They could live there without any problems.
Of course, they could also stay. But if they chose to, they would have to follow Ian's rules to the letter.
As soon as they had set sail, Ian had spoken frankly with them. Deciding his companions' futures without asking their opinions simply wasn't in his nature.
On this peaceful starry night, the bright moonlight spread across the shimmering sea like a silver ribbon. The stars twinkled faintly, as if countless diamonds were scattered across the deep night sky.
It was the third day since they had set sail. Since Ian had deliberately strayed from the main route, the voyage had been calm so far.
The Leviathan was cruising at ten knots, heading straight for Paradise Island.
Paradise Island was the nearest large supply point south of Storm Cape. After giving it some thought, Ian had decided to head there first.
Unlike Storm Cape, Paradise Island was large, with numerous harbors and landing sites. There were several landing sites near the tower where Ian had once lived. As long as the water was deep enough, even a few reefs wouldn't pose a problem for the Leviathan.
Paradise Island was divided among several different powers, and they didn't strictly police small-scale smuggling.
Ian could simply find a secluded spot,