Chapter 749

Chapter 14: The Conclusion

The night was thick and dark.

As the moonlight gradually dimmed, the torches at Wanstern Harbor’s dock were still flickering, and the clamor could be heard from the high walls of the port city far away.

On the deck of the merchant ship “Calivere” docked at the harbor, the sailing master and the boatswain helped the injured and unconscious captain back from the tower. After returning, there was more commotion as they passed through the cursing crowd and descended to the deck. They entered the captain’s cabin while arguing with the knight commander who had come along.

Soon after, the first mate, second mate, ship’s doctor, and others who had rushed over also followed them inside. Meanwhile, the unrest outside continued, with members of the merchant guild and the Sixth Knight Order boarding the ship, staying in the captain’s cabin for a short while before hastily leaving.

This situation persisted until late at night. Once everyone emerged from the captain’s cabin, the knights guarding the ship quickly received orders to let go. Only then did the people’s anxiety and anger gradually subside.

A gentle night breeze brushed over the deck. The knights on guard duty began to leave the ship one by one. Finally, the “Calivere” could begin unloading its cargo. The accompanying servants carried boxes of goods to the dock warehouse. The travelers fled as if pursued, quickly dispersing with the crowd. They left the dock heading for the port city, unsure if they could find suitable lodging at this hour.

“Damn, what bad luck…”

Several crew members cursed as they came out of the cabin and onto the deck. One spat loudly, “But fortunately, nothing major happened. The captain broke a rib, but he won’t die… Those few who were injured by the knights weren’t seriously hurt… Those bastards showed some humanity and held back…”

These words were spoken without restraint. A nearby person immediately looked around cautiously and then lowered his voice to advise, “Shh, lower your voice… Be careful not to cause more trouble for the merchant ship…”

Someone else added, “Did you see that knight commander of the Sixth Knight Order? His face when he left… Tsk tsk, he might use this opportunity to give us more trouble…”

“For now, everyone should be cautious, especially keeping their mouths shut.”

The muscular man leading the group spoke seriously, “None of you know anything about what happened at the tower. Don’t go around talking in the city…”

“Don’t worry, Boatswain, we understand…”

“Let me tell you, you’re always worrying too much…”

They walked from the stern to the side of the ship, exchanged a few more words, and then each went about their duties. Only the Boatswain remained alone, stepping to the bow and standing by the railing, gazing into the distant night sky and the lights of the city for a long time.

He sighed deeply, “Life… is unpredictable…”

His voice seemed to convey both regret and relief.

For him, for the entire “Calivere” merchant ship, and all its crew, tonight was a night of narrowly escaping disaster.

Since stepping out of the tower, Boatswain had been thinking about these things.

In a daze, he returned to the ship, sent the captain to rest, and did not join the first mate and second mate in discussing matters with the Sixth Knight Order. Instead, he stayed in his cabin for a long time, reflecting on the events at the tower.

The young girl he had seemingly rescued, who never revealed her face, displayed a decisiveness and power beyond belief. Her extraordinary combat skills and the ability to kill several knights within seconds, lifting Commander Rodris and flying through the air, were scenes he had only ever imagined in legends.

—But such a girl, truly, was saved by someone like him, an ordinary person.

Boatswain was just an ordinary person.

Powerful heretics, righteous church knights…

To him, these legendary figures were like stories that seemed distant and unreachable. He had never thought he would meet someone truly at the pinnacle of human achievement — in Boatswain’s world, the most formidable person he knew was the ship’s guard captain, a fearless warrior with the talent of fire order.

Even though the guard captain’s talent paled in comparison to those of more powerful and famous individuals, it was enough to make Boatswain envious.

Tonight, however, he witnessed something far beyond imagination.

Like the legendary heroes in stories.

The girl he had saved displayed a level of power that was terrifying.

Recalling the scene, it was still vivid in his mind, as if he had experienced weightlessness — Commander Rodris, whom Boatswain had only partially known, was clearly not someone to be trifled with. The Legion Commander of the Sixth Knight Order was a figure whose slightest movement could shake the entire Southern Coast.

Yet, in front of this girl, even he couldn’t land a single blow.

The renowned technique “Razor Wind,” which could cleave waves and strike fear into enemies, was effortlessly stopped by her two fingers.

Worse still…

She could fly…

At that moment, Boatswain was almost in a daze, unable to distinguish reality from fantasy. When he finally regained his senses, the knights outside had already rushed in. Everyone inside appeared bewildered, unsure of what was happening, and in chaos, they shouted frantically. Just as another conflict seemed imminent, the girl suddenly burst through the roof, carrying Commander Rodris, and reappeared in their sight.

She casually tossed Commander Rodris to the ground. When Boatswain saw the mighty man again, his right hand was broken, his nose was fractured, and his mouth was torn open, bleeding profusely. Struggling to get up, he wobbled and could hardly stand.

It was as if a toothless, mangy dog.

Afterwards, things proceeded smoothly.

The so-called “merchant council” had originally coerced the merchants and ships present into signing unfavorable agreements under the threat of violence and authority. However, before these agreements could be implemented, they underwent their first revision. The terms remained largely the same, but the girl seemed uninterested in getting involved deeply. Some of the additional conditions, however, were no longer as harsh.

Payment of ship taxes was still unavoidable.

But after some bargaining, under the girl’s watchful eye, the merchant guild and the Sixth Knight Order reached a reluctant agreement. The bank agreed to extend the payment deadline for ship taxes in installments and waive interest for three years, thus providing a temporary reprieve for ships traveling between the East Continent.

Boatswain naturally understood that this outcome was due to the girl he had brought aboard.

As for what the girl and Commander Rodris said to each other in the night sky, only she and the commander himself knew — Rodris seemed determined to suppress the matter, perhaps for the sake of his reputation or due to more complex reasons…

After a brief discussion, he hurriedly left the meeting and withdrew all knights near the tower, rushing directly to the city cathedral.

Later, the girl bid him farewell.