Departure

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

"Has the Siren received the message? It's a long journey, so make sure they don't fall behind!" Sarah was worried about the Siren's speed.

"Don't worry, Captain. We sent word half an hour ago."

"Although this ship has plenty of fuel, it can't withstand the drain of traveling at full speed. The engine will be kept at a lower power."

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

Favorable wind? Could it be because there were Yordles aboard?

Just how much did this world love Yordles? Ato grumbled indignantly.

The two ships, one large and one small, sailed one behind the other across the boundless Vast Sea, heading straight for Wuji Village in Ionia.

Wuji Village was on a small island off the western coast of Ionia. It was also where Ryze and the Yordles would disembark.

After that, they would sail northwest to Freljord, the coldest and most untamed nation on the Valoran continent.

"Once we reach Wuji Village, we can trade with the locals for some warm clothes. Without proper protection, the cold in the Northlands can really kill you."

As soon as Ato finished speaking, he realized, Do I even need cold-weather clothes? I still don't know exactly how the Demonic Sword of the Dark has changed my body. Hmm, I'll ask the old thing when I get back.

Perhaps it really was because they were nature's darlings: the wind stayed at their backs the entire way, they barely used any fuel, and they didn't encounter a single sea monster!

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

And so, on the tenth day of their voyage, the two ships finally entered the waters near Ionia.

The island where Wuji Village was located was called Baruo. They were currently about fifty nautical miles from Baruo Island, taking a break.

"It's been an unforgettable journey." Ryze stood beside the Yordles and nodded to Sarah. "We fought side by side and enjoyed the scenery along the way. Most importantly, you found your way back to yourself."

"I have you and Mr. Ato to thank for that." Sarah dipped her head slightly.

"Mr. Ryze, I don't know what burdens your past holds, but I believe we've become friends. And friends can face difficulties together."

"Of course we're friends. If I run into trouble, I won't forget to tell you."

Ryze made a spellcasting gesture, and a hazy little doorway appeared in front of him.

He reached inside and rummaged around for a while, then pulled out a huge gold bar—no, a gold brick! It looked about as big as an ordinary person's forearm!

"What's that..." The sailors there to see them off stared at it, their eyes wide.

"This is payment for me and the others' passage, along with compensation for the damage they've caused over the past few days..."

There wasn't a trace of longing for wealth in Ryze's eyes. "I happened upon it while searching for something in a mountain. I don't know if it's enough..."

"It's enough. More than enough..." Sarah didn't refuse. Maintaining two ships came with hefty expenses, after all. She reached out and took the gold brick.

The solid weight in her hands startled her. It had to weigh fifty pounds!

Gold was hard currency in Bilgewater, and it would fetch a hefty premium when exchanged for Silver Serpent Coins!

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

"One day, if the world faces utter destruction, I hope you won't stand by and watch. This world needs more heroes."

"That's what I've been doing all along." Ato readily agreed, thinking, Ryze really is always worrying about the world's safety.

As for where the World Runes were hidden, he had already told Ryze.

"Then I'll leave the world in your hands. Farewell, everyone. Until we meet again."

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

"Goodbye, Sarah. Goodbye, Raven. Goodbye, big monster..." Lulu waved her little hand, bidding farewell to everyone she had met aboard the ship.

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

Sarah felt a little bereft. "That one month has been more exciting than everything I've experienced in the past twenty-odd years."

Ato laced his hands behind his head, his thoughts drifting aimlessly.

Beneath Demacia lay the Magic Nullifying Stone Forest, where a yellow World Rune was kept.

Hundreds of years ago, Ryze had hidden the green and blue World Runes in Shurima and Ionia. And now, with the news about the red rune that Ato had given him, Ryze had four World Runes in his possession. Only Cyan Inspiration remained unaccounted for.

"All right, Sarah. Ryze has left, and I'll be leaving soon, too. Once I get off the ship, you'll return to your life as a bounty hunter and pirate."

When Ato had first arrived in Runeterra, he'd treated everyone he met like characters in a game, which was why he'd been able to talk to Sarah normally.

If he hadn't, the newly arrived Ato would have been tongue-tied in front of a beautiful red-haired girl.

But now his understanding of this world had changed—Aatrox, Sarah, Ryze, Raven, the Yordles...

They weren't just characters in a game. They were people with their own personalities.

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

Sarah said it half-jokingly. She still found the past month's experiences hard to believe. It seemed that as long as Ato was by her side, there was no problem they couldn't solve.

"You'll succeed. Once you're back in Bilgewater, look for these two. They'll help you take down Gangplank."

Ato pulled a slip of paper from his coat and handed it to Sarah.

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

Are they Mr. Ato's friends? Anyone he knows must be someone important... Sarah silently memorized the two names.

When the moon rose in the sky, the Siren reappeared in sight.

"Set sail!"

Sarah turned her gaze away and sent the two ships toward their next destination.