We agreed to set sail, so you'd become the ruler of the deep sea?

Chapter 285 The Mist Arrives
Have I traveled back in time again?

After hearing the waiter's words, Xia En also had the same question in his mind.

But he quickly made his judgment.

No, that's not the case.

Although the Diamond Starship in this space is exceptionally new, the people on board look exactly like living, breathing humans.

But this fake sea and sky is itself the biggest flaw!

In Xia En's guess, this space, like the copy of the ascension ritual, is a limited "miniature world".

In gaming terms...

The Diamond Star is the entirety of this space.

Further out, there are unexplorable "ungenerated areas," and you might even encounter "invisible walls"—that is, barriers in this space.

As for the tourists and waiters on the ship, they are similar to the characters in the promotion instance; they are NPCs in this scene.

Therefore, Shane did not return to the past, but rather entered a period of historical reflection and mistakenly entered a strange space.

This allows us to glimpse a hidden corner of the past.

However, while this space and the fourth-order advancement ritual have many similarities, they also have obvious differences.

For example, Shane and Joey entered this space directly in their original forms.

If they suffer a fatal injury here, they might really die!

Instead of being treated as a promotion failure, as in a promotion ceremony.

on the other hand.

The promotion ceremony at least told Shane what his task was, giving him a clear goal and direction.

But right now, Xia En doesn't know what he should do.

He didn't know what to do to leave this space.

After pondering for a moment, Shane asked the waiter a few more questions to gain a preliminary understanding of the Diamond Star.

According to the waiter.

The Diamond Star's trial voyage started from Light Breeze Port in the Great Yan Kingdom, traversed several seas, passed through more than ten kingdoms on the Southern Continent, and returned via the same route after arriving at Green Harbor at the southernmost tip of the continent.

Right now, the Diamond Star has already embarked on its return journey and has entered the territory of the Frigid Sea.

The distance to the destination, the Great Yan Kingdom, is not too far.

"【The Frigid Sea】, huh..."

Xia En turned his head and looked at the calm sea.

The old-time "Cold Sea" didn't seem as cold as it was after the great flood.

The sea breeze blowing from the sea carried only a slight chill, like a cool autumn breeze, which was still within an acceptable range.

Judging from its appearance alone, it is hard to imagine that this would be the cold and desolate sea area of ​​later generations.

"Could it be that the temperature of the Frigid Sea wasn't as low as it is in later generations before the Great Flood?"

A guess came to Xia En's mind.

After all, the Great Yan Kingdom was founded in the far north. If the far north was indeed covered with glaciers and extremely cold like in later times...

Ordinary people are struggling to survive, so how can they possibly build a vast kingdom?
Thinking further, could the drop in temperature in the northern seas be related to the impending major flood?

Gathering her scattered thoughts, Shane parted ways with Joey and the waiter, and headed towards the ship's restaurant.

The current situation remains unclear.

Instead of wandering around like a headless fly or charging recklessly and violently, it's better to go with the flow and play your role well.

Just like in some games, you have to follow the mission flow to trigger important plot points.

……

……

Not long after.

Guided by the waiter, Shane and his companion arrived at the restaurant in the ship's cabin.

Upon entering the gate, the scene before them surprised them greatly.

The hall in front of us was extremely magnificent, with dark colors and dark gold as the main colors, interspersed with some deep red, which was the luxurious style favored by the nobility.

The walls are covered with large murals, with exquisite brushstrokes and delicate style, clearly the work of a master.

A magnificent and exquisite chandelier hangs in the center of the restaurant, and various ornaments are displayed throughout the hall.

The sheer luxury of this restaurant is comparable to the royal palace in Coral City that Shane once saw.

Having seen a lot of the world during his numerous adventures, Shane wasn't too surprised.

But Joey, who lived at sea, had rarely seen such a luxurious hall, and couldn't help but let out a small gasp of surprise.

This soft exclamation immediately drew the attention of many people in the restaurant.

Some people unconsciously revealed a look of disdain in their eyes.

But when they saw Shane, they suppressed their disdain.

Low murmurs arose from the crowd.

"I heard that His Highness Shaen's wife was the daughter of a commoner, and now it seems that it was indeed true..."

"Shh, be quiet."

At this point, looking at the people in the restaurant, Shane finally realized the source of the strange feeling she had felt earlier.

Apart from the waiters and the sailors who were in charge of the ship's operation, everyone on the ship was dressed in fine clothes and of high status.

They looked like either nobles or businessmen.

There wasn't a single civilian among them, not even one dressed in ordinary clothes!

This discovery made Shane frown slightly.

From a rational perspective, it's understandable that the Diamond Star was still in the trial voyage phase, and only wealthy nobles and merchants could board the ship and participate in this trial.

But the problem is...

The Diamond Star was originally intended to be a "Noah's Ark" to leave behind a spark of civilization for humanity.

However, there were no civilians on this ship.

Instead, there were luxurious restaurants, magnificent murals, and men and women from the upper echelons of society.

Are only nobles and merchants considered human beings?
Thinking about this, Xia En felt inexplicably depressed.

The world is equal.

But there are always some people who are more equal than others.

However, at this moment, Shane also realized that the character he was now playing seemed to be a prince of some kingdom.

Even among the many nobles in the restaurant, he was considered to be of a relatively high status.

The respectful gazes and humble demeanor of some nobles are proof of this.

Upon hearing the whispers of some people in the restaurant, Joey's body visibly stiffened, and she seemed to want to lower her head to avoid the gazes filled with various emotions.

In fact, deep down, Joey always harbored a degree of inferiority.

This is related to her childhood experiences.

Even with Xia En's help, most of her inferiority complex had been eliminated, and she gradually became more cheerful and optimistic.

But at this moment, the gazes of these nobles were like arrows, piercing the most vulnerable part of Joey's heart, as if taking her back to the days when she was despised, disliked, and banished.

at this time.

“Joey, lift your head.”

Xia En's gentle yet powerful voice rang in the girl's ears.

"Don't pay attention to what they say. You are my wife now. They are the ones who should feel inferior."

“...Yes.” Joey’s expression gradually changed as she murmured to herself.

"There's nothing to be afraid of, Joey!"

She had no reason to feel inferior to these strangers, especially with the captain by her side.

but……

wife?

Hearing the title from Xia En's mouth, the girl's pretty face flushed slightly, as if a little deer was jumping around in her heart.

It's such a simple word, but why does it sound so delightful?
If it weren't for the fact that everyone was watching, she might have been so happy that she would have started humming a song.

Joey suppressed her excitement, then raised her pointed chin and looked around at the people in the restaurant.

After awakening her siren bloodline for so long, Joey has now grown into a very beautiful woman.

Coupled with that gorgeous purple dress, and the aloof emotion revealed in her red eyes, it undoubtedly creates a considerable sense of pressure.

Those whose gaze swept over her couldn't help but feel ashamed and fell silent.

Shaun gave Joey's little hand an encouraging squeeze and led her forward.

Perhaps it was Joey's gaze that made her seem unapproachable, or perhaps it was Shane's identity that made everyone wary.

After that, the whispers in the vicinity stopped.

People quickly looked away and refrained from making any further criticisms.

At this point, Shane's attention was focused on other parts of the restaurant.

He noticed that the restaurant tables were set with many exquisite dishes, each with a different kingdom's style, showcasing the status of the upper class.

Clearly, the Diamond Star has an abundance of food, not just a shortage.

However, Shane did not intend to eat at the restaurant.

—This space is eerie; who knows what will happen if you eat this food.

Soon, a middle-aged man with an obese build noticed Xia En's arrival.

He quickly stood up, walked to Xia En's side, and greeted him respectfully.

"Your Highness, good day."

Xia En sized up the middle-aged man and noticed that he was wearing a special uniform, suggesting that his identity was different from that of the others in the restaurant.

"……Who are you?"

Seeing that Xia En didn't recognize him, the middle-aged man didn't mind at all, and instead said with a smile.

"I am Luther, the captain of the Diamond Star."

"We met once when we boarded the ship."

Xia En raised an eyebrow and muttered, "The captain of the Diamond Star?"

He looked at the fat man in front of him, who had a smirk on his face and whose eyes were almost squeezed into slits by his fat, and his expression couldn't help but become a little strange.

The name "Diamond Star" was so famous that it became widely known even in the Seven Seas in later generations.

Therefore, in Xia En's original expectation, the captain of this ship should be a heroic, brave and extremely capable person.

But Luther, who was standing in front of him now, undoubtedly shattered that expectation.

Perceive it through the breath.

Luther's strength does seem to be quite formidable, possibly even stronger than Shane's.

But his greasy face and obsequious demeanor completely destroyed the image of a strongman.

of course.

Shane wasn't the type to judge people by their appearance; perhaps Luther was deliberately using that image to hide his true abilities?
He did not look down on Luther because of this, but instead chatted casually with the captain.

Soon, Shane discovered that Captain Luther was by no means a useless fool.

When talking about the customs, local delicacies, and even famous figures of various kingdoms, Luther could speak eloquently and knowledgeably.

When facing other nobles, Luther was also able to find the most appropriate attitude to communicate with them.

Such skillful maneuvering is itself a talent!
但老实说。

The captain gave Xia En the impression of being more of a socialite from high society than someone he could entrust with such an important task as captaincy.

Thinking about this, Xia En felt inexplicably uneasy.

After all, you can tell the style of a crew member from the captain's demeanor.

If even the captain is like this, most of the other crew members will probably be unreliable as well.

Moreover, ever since waking up in the room, Xia En had a persistent sense of foreboding.

Something bad seems to be about to happen!
This premonition is growing stronger over time.

But strangely, Xia En had no idea where this premonition came from.

"Speaking of Qingfeng Port in the Great Yan Kingdom, one must mention a local specialty dish..."

Just as Luther was enthusiastically introducing Shane to the local delicacies of their destination,

Suddenly, a gasp came from a corner of the restaurant.

"Fog! It's foggy!"

"……Um?"

Hearing the exclamation, Luther walked to the window, looked outside, and then muttered to himself.

"It really is foggy... Strange, judging from the weather these past few days, it should have been sunny."

Xia En's expression suddenly changed, and he looked down at Joey beside him.

The two exchanged a glance, both able to see the surprise and uncertainty in each other's eyes.

For the people on the ship, the foggy weather was probably just a coincidence.

But for them, it wasn't like that at all.

Don't forget, they were already in the [Misty Sea] before entering this eerie space.

Moreover, according to rumors circulating at sea, the Diamond Star... was lost in a fog!
Xia En also looked out the window.

A mist, rising and falling irregularly, gradually formed on the sea surface, silently enveloping the Diamond Star.

Moreover, the thick white fog was visibly becoming even denser.

This caused the visibility in the surrounding area to drop rapidly.

It was as if a giant beast made of mist had swallowed the ship whole.

Such an eerie and turbulent fog naturally surprised some of the passengers on the ship.

But Shane found that not many people were panicked about it, let alone afraid.

Seemingly noticing Shane's unusual mood, Luther offered words of comfort.

"Your Highness, there's no need to worry."

"The Diamond Princess is the best!"

Luther said with a proud tone, "We have already weathered three major storms and a tsunami, and it has survived them all unscathed."

Shane wanted to tell him that this fog was different, but he figured that even if he did, Luther wouldn't believe him.

Xia En simply reminded him softly, "It's still best to be cautious."

Luther was clearly unconvinced and chuckled.

"Your Highness, there's really no need to worry!"

"What impact could mere fog have on the Diamond Star?"

However, he just finished speaking.

There was a muffled "bang" sound.

From deep within the ship's hold, a faint, explosive roar could be heard!
(End of this chapter)