"Alright, Haviva. What do you have in store for us?"
Dov, Celene, and the succubus were on the 3rd floor right now, precisely at the meeting room. Haviva called them here after Dov woke up from his sleep sometime around when the moon started showing up.
"So with the help of the documents you got from sir Penn, I… am able to do some research and side works, while the both of you were still resting."
With a sweet mature smile, Haviva began to draw a map and diagram of the Western Great River of Atargatis using her magic on a whiteboard attached to the wall. This water route connects two of the three Siren Mars cities, the Maid's Harbor and Lyrewharf.
Siren Marsh province has a unique territory, compared to every other province. Its area is located right in the middle of the continent ranging from the eastern sea to the western sea. You could say this province separates the upper half of the continent from its lower half. Especially since you need to cross the Great River if you want to travel from one half to another.
"Your target will be the Ruling Admiral of Maid's Harbor, who control a fleet with 38 warships and hundreds of trading ships. So it'll be a total suicide if you want to fight him head-on." Haviva explained. She also wrote the details of each warship on the board.
"But but but, fear not! Cause we got just the best opportunity for you two!" Her tone turned cheerful, like a shop lady doing promotions for their products.
"We?" Dov questioned.
"Evann helped me collect and arrange all the things you need." The succubus replied, with every single piece of her motion stopped.
"I see… continue."
"Alright~" Haviva went back to the whiteboard. "As I was saying, we got you an opportunity… to get personal with the Admiral!"
"Like meeting him in his office?" Celene raised a confused guess.
"No, sweetie. Far better! Let me explain~"
According to the person Haviva refers to as Evann, the Admiral will be sailing on a business trip to Lyrewharf tomorrow.
This trip, however, isn't something that he needs to do privately or in full protection, so he'll be going with one of his merchant ships that his fleet used as a passenger ship for people to travel around the Great River of Atargatis.
Haviva had ordered them two tickets to join the Admiral on his trip so they can assassinate him during his journey. Although with him being a mer and all that, fighting him above the water will also come with huge disadvantages.
"There will also be a familiar face joining you. They need someone to protect the ship from river monsters after all." The succubus added.
"Like a Slayer?" Dov curiously asked.
"Correct."
*
That night the two Hunters spent more of their time resting and preparing for tomorrow. They got a scene already been set, no need for them to go outside and wander aimlessly.
Passenger ships always travel when the sun is up since nighttime can be a lot dangerous. Sure high-level adventurers can protect themselves against nocturnal monsters but normal civilians need extra care to survive. Not to mention how threatening it is to have high-level monsters damaging the ship.
Nocturnal monsters are far stronger and a lot more aggressive than their diurnal counterparts.
That's why most Hunters travel during the night. Their tracking ability and powerful senses made them able to easily avoid all these nocturnal predators while every other people was shrouded by fear.
"Did you remember to resupply this morning?" Dov asked Celene as they walked across the last bridge till they arrive at the west dock.
"Yep! Food, medicine, all kinds of weird drinks Haviva made, and emergency floaties…?" Celene stopped her steps trying to remember.
"Did you seriously bring those resort nonsense?" Dov got caught off guard with that last words.
"I think… Haviva changed it with a life vest instead." The lady disappointedly said.
"Thank All-father." Dov sighed. "Just remember, don't use electricity if you fall into the water."
"Understood."
*
The dock was lively and crowdy that day, just like every other day. The sight of merfolks loading goods and cargo from here and there filled the business of the roads and waterway.
Though it was nothing to what they'll have on the later time of the days since in early morning like this, the only ships harboring are the ones which going to depart. But again, this city is managed by merfolks, and they're experts when it came to water traffic.
"Oh, Night Hunters! Got a call out of town?" A young mer greeted them in front of a wooden plank connected to a massive passenger ship behind him.
"I'll be honest with you, most of my missions are out of town." Dov sighed at the question. "It's seriously bothersome."
"Hahaha." The mer chuckled. "Cheer up, Night Bear. At least your job isn't as boring as mine."
"Well…" Dov had trouble answering that.
"You're joining the trip, right?" The mer then offered his hand. "May I have your tickets and badges?"
"A moment."
As usual, both Dov and Celene opened their [Inventory Ring] and took their [Adventurer's Badge] out. Celene held both of the tickets however, and she handed all the things asked by the inspector to him.
"Level 65 Demon [Warden] and level 55 Lycan [Wolven Raider]." Said the mer, reading both badges. "The tickets are valid and on the right ship too… alright."
"Welcome aboard, Hunters! May you have a safe and enjoyable ride!"
Finished with the inspection, the two walked on the plank, boarding the ship as normal passengers.
"Did you just… up by two levels?" Celene was surprised.
"There were thousands of elves living on that shrine, Celene…" Dov quietly said.
The ship they were sailing with wasn't the biggest in the Admiral's arsenal. They served only as a passenger ship after all. It was a galleon sizing about 40ish meters in length, powered by 280 active crews, armed with 44 cannons, and had a carrying capacity of 40 paying passengers.
There's also a Slayer on this ship, which should be familiar to both Hunters according to Haviva.
"Come, Celene. Let's go to the quarter deck." Dov invited the lycan to the rearer part of the ship. "It'll be a lot easier to see the main deck up there."
Like every large galleon, the upper part of the ship was divided into 5 sections. Forecastle deck at the very front, main deck after, then quarter deck, then sterncastle deck, and lastly poop deck.
All the crews were scattered at the moment since they were not begun sailing yet. Both Hunter also noticed all the passengers were with them right now at the quarter deck, chatting with each other, flirting with some of the maids, or just chilling and enjoying the view.
"Have you spotted the Admiral, yet?" Celene asked, under the effect of [Howlless Night].
With Dov's rank being a lot higher than her, his Hunter senses were also a lot sharper. He should be able to track every movement and noise on this ship if he were to activate his tracking ability.
"I have, he's on the infirmary, mating with two maids."
"He wha—" Celene was so shocked hearing things like that coming from Dov's mouth this early in the morning.
"Don't be so surprised, Celene. People love sex, no matter the race. We're just lucky he's not laying a powerful succubus that can use all those lust to ruin our chance." Dov said.
"I mean… uh… I guess you're right." She felt so defeated.
"Well, what he's doing at the moment is less important. The problem is him inside the infirmary. That room is located at the rearrest part of the orlop deck (one floor above storage deck (hold))."
"Wait, why is he not in the great cabin? Is he not the captain of the ship?" Celene confusedly asked.
"According to Haviva, no. A younger mer is in charge. And this guy… he might be a problem." Dov pulled out a notebook from the portal of his [Inventory Ring].
That note contains all important information Haviva wrote for Dov from every piece of intel she got and the documents he received from Penn.
"Why is that?" The lycan asked while moving to his back to get a better look at the note. Both of them were facing the sea at the moment.
"First, he's ranked the Tree Protector, meaning he's the same rank as me. Second, he's level 67. Third, his symbols are ax and shield." Dov explained.
"That third one… might be troublesome."
A loud bell suddenly rang multiple times, and the crews came rushing, leaving their current spot to fill every desired position on this ship.
"All hands on deck!"
A large merman about two meters tall came aboard, and the plank connecting the ship to the harbor got pulled. That mer wore some fancy sailors outfit with all kinds of jewelry and artifacts hanging around as accessories. And by looking at the head he's wearing…
"Well well, speaking of the devil."
He's the captain.
"Weigh anchor! No dilly-dallying! Full sail all the way west!"
"Aye, captain!"
The crews answered him in unison. The mer himself walked gallantly straight to the steering wheel at the edge of the sterncastle deck.
The scene was so busy. You could see a bunch of merfolks climbing all the three sails through ratlines, people running around untying all kinds of ropes, and a couple crews pushing the capstan at the main deck and the gun deck. All the cannons were also made sure to be in pristine condition.
"By the Stars, Dov. That mer is wider than me!" Celene got shivers just from seeing his figure.
"By the Goddess, it surely won't be easy, but…" The eyes on Dov's mask got lit up as he saw the familiar face Haviva mentioned scouting on the forecastle deck. "I can't see ourselves on the losing side."