Departure

With a roar of steam, the Leviathan finally took its first step under Sarah's command.

"Did the Siren get the message? Don't fall behind on this long journey!" Sarah was worried about the Siren's speed.

"Don't worry, Captain. The departure message was sent half an hour ago."

"Although this ship has a large fuel reserve, it can't withstand the consumption of full-speed travel. The engine group is maintained at a lower power."

"The ship can move because we've weighed anchor and the sails are fully unfurled. The wind direction is good now."

The wind direction is good? Could it be because there are Yordles on the ship?

How much does this world love Yordles? Ato grumbled indignantly.

The two ships, one large and one small, sailed one after the other. They adjusted their course and traveled across the boundless sea, heading straight for Wuji Village in Ionia.

Wuji Village is located on a smaller island on the west side of Ionia, and it's where Ryze and the Yordles will disembark.

Afterward, they will sail northwest to Freljord, the coldest and most primitive land on Valoran.

"Once we reach Wuji Village, you can exchange some cold-weather clothing with the locals. The temperature in the northern lands can really kill people if you don't take precautions beforehand."

After saying that, Ato realized, do I need cold-weather clothing? I still don't know the specific changes the Demonic Sword of the Dark has brought to my body. Hmm, I'll ask the Old Man about it when we get back.

Perhaps it was because they were favored by nature, but the group not only had a tailwind the entire way, consumed very little fuel, and didn't encounter a single attack from sea monsters!

The mischievous Four Little Ones couldn't stay still, and the trouble they caused gave Sarah a headache.

Thus, on the tenth day of their journey, the two ships finally entered the waters near Ionia.

The small island where Wuji Village is located is named Baruo. They were currently resting about 50 nautical miles from Baruo Island.

"An unforgettable journey." Ryze stood with the Yordles and nodded to Sarah in greeting. "We fought side by side, enjoyed the scenery along the way, and most importantly, you've found your true self again."

"This is all thanks to your and Mr. Ato's guidance," Sarah nodded slightly.

"Mr. Ryze, I don't know what kind of past you carry, but I believe we have become friends, and friends can face difficulties together."

"Of course, we are friends. If I encounter any problems, I won't forget to tell you."

Ryze made a casting gesture, and a phantom portal appeared before him.

He reached inside and rummaged for a while, actually pulling out a huge gold bar, no, a giant gold brick! It looked about the size of a normal person's forearm!

"This is..." The crewmates who had come to see them off stared with wide eyes.

"This is my and their ship fare, as well as compensation for the damage they caused these past few days..."

Ryze showed no desire for wealth in his eyes: "I found this by chance while searching for something in a mountain. I don't know if it's enough..."

"Enough, absolutely enough..." Sarah didn't stand on ceremony, as maintaining two ships incurred considerable expenses. She reached out and took the "Gold Brick."

The solid weight startled her. This might be fifty pounds!

Gold was the absolute hard currency in Bilgewater. Exchanging it for Silver Serpent Coins would even fetch a high premium!

Ryze breathed a sigh of relief, then looked at Ato with a complex expression.

"One day in the future, I hope that when the world faces annihilation, you won't just be a bystander. This world needs more heroes."

"That's exactly what I've been doing," Ato replied casually, thinking to himself that Ryze was indeed constantly concerned about the world's safety.

As for the hidden locations of the World Runes, he had already told Ryze.

"Then I'll entrust the world to you. Everyone, farewell, until we meet again."

Ryze changed his hand gestures, and a rotating magic circle formed beneath Ryze and the Yordles. He intended to use Warp Magic to travel to the "Siren," two hundred meters away.

"Goodbye Sarah, goodbye Raven, goodbye Big Monster..." Lulu waved her little hands, bidding farewell to everyone she had met on the ship.

With a flash of white light, the one tall figure and four short ones vanished from the "Leviathan."

Sarah felt a sense of loss: "This past month has been more exciting than my entire life before."

Ato clasped his hands behind his head, his thoughts wandering aimlessly.

In the Magic Nullifying Stone Forest beneath Demacia, a yellow World Rune was preserved.

Hundreds of years ago, Ryze had hidden the green and blue World Runes in Shurima and Ionia. Coupled with the information Ato provided about the red rune, Ryze now possessed four World Runes, with only the whereabouts of Cyan Inspiration remaining unknown.

"Alright Sarah, Ryze has left, and I'll be leaving soon too. After I disembark, you'll return to your life as a bounty hunter and pirate."

Ato had approached Runeterra with a carefree attitude towards all the characters he encountered, which was why he could communicate normally with Sarah.

If not for this, for Ato, who had just transmigrated, facing a beautiful red-haired girl would have made him stammer uncontrollably.

Now, his perception of this world had changed—Aatrox, Sarah, Ryze, Raven, the Yordles...

They weren't just characters from a game, but people with distinct personalities.

"Mr. Ato, perhaps the next time we meet, I'll be the new king of Bilgewater."

Sarah said with a half-joking tone. She still felt that the past month's experiences were incredibly surreal, as if nothing was insurmountable as long as Ato was by her side.

"You will succeed. When you return to Bilgewater, find the whereabouts of these two people; it will help you defeat Gangplank."

Ato took out a piece of paper from his pocket and handed it to Sarah.

"Twisted Fate, Graves..." Sarah looked at the contents of the paper. "I don't know them, but I'll keep an eye out."

Mr. Ato's friends? The people he knew must be extraordinary... Sarah silently noted down the two names.

When the moon hung in the sky, the "Siren" reappeared in everyone's sight.

"Set sail!"

Sarah withdrew her gaze and steered the two ships toward their next destination.