Above the Sword Coast, the weather was fine.
Under normal circumstances, this would have been an exceptionally pleasant day for sailors. Amid the second mate's laughing curses, they could scrub the decks that were practically about to grow mushrooms, and in their spare time, even eat an orange—noticeably improving bleeding gums and that weakness in the knees.
Yet at this moment, the reinforcements Luskan had yearned and prayed for were facing an unprecedented predicament as well.
They, universally acknowledged as the strongest naval force along the entire Sword Coast, were being led around by the nose like dogs.
"Shameless Northlanders!"
As one of the Five High Marshals and the overall commander ordered to reinforce Luskan, Tai'er Wood watched the Water-Drawing City fleet sail as freely as it pleased ahead of them, refusing to meet them head-on. With one slap, he snapped the railing at the ship's side.
He ground his teeth in hatred, yet there was nothing he could do.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Columns of water erupted skyward from time to time amid Luskan's ship formations. Luskan's archers, ballistae, and magic were intercepting attacks from beneath the sea.
They had encountered many troublesome big fish!
Those damned Northlanders had actually strapped large quantities of alchemical explosives capable of detonating underwater to the bellies of tuna and swordfish. And by some unknown method, they could remotely control these explosive fish, crazed as madmen, to keep attacking them.
These fish swam noticeably faster than them in the deep sea. And underwater, hindered by the crushing pressure of the sea and the resistance of the medium, their limited means of attack could not inflict effective damage upon—or provide effective defense against—these fish. They had no choice but to disengage stealth mode, surface at top speed, and intercept them there.
Even though they knew