On Tuesday, August 12th, the weather remained clear and bright. By six in the morning, the sky was already lit with dawn's early light. Elyon, who had been confined to a hospital bed for nearly four days, had packed his belongings and neatly made his bed.
A cruise, a wish unfulfilled on Earth, was about to come true in this world. Elyon anticipated a touch of luxury.
"Good morning, Chief Elyon. Here are the items the Chief handed over to you. Please check them, and then we can depart," said a young man in a police uniform, about eighteen years old, handing a small package to Elyon.
"Isn't this a bit showy?" Elyon remarked after checking the contents of the package: an oversized revolver, six silver bullets engraved with runes, thirty ordinary brass bullets, a black leather document holder, and a wallet. It seemed to be the wallet he had left behind at the crime scene. He didn't bother to count the money inside—Elyon never carried more than two pounds in cash on him. That day, he had just over a shilling in coins.
"There's no issue. I need to go back for my sisters and grab some clothes."
"Your sisters are already being picked up. You can just follow me."
Hearing this, Elyon didn't protest further. He loaded three silver bullets and three brass bullets into the revolver, tucked the gun into its holster, and placed the documents and wallet in his pocket before heading out the door.
A carriage adorned with a saber and sword insignia awaited him, drawn by two high-quality horses. "Please, board the carriage, Chief Elyon."
"Alright, but where are my protectors?" Elyon asked as he climbed into the spacious, empty carriage.
"They've already infiltrated the area ahead of time. The Chief thought it best not to introduce you to them directly, to avoid any acting mishaps on your part. They'll be there to protect you discreetly."
Elyon felt a headache coming on at this news but pressed on, "What if I come across crucial information or sense danger?"
"If you find important information, there's a bar on the second deck. Order a gin martini, and someone will come to you."
No mention of what to do in case of danger. Elyon sighed; it seemed his safety was ultimately in his own hands.
Soon, the carriage stopped by the pier, a different area from where Elyon usually patrolled. This section was designated for passenger transport.
The Sea God cruise ship wasn't as large as Elyon had imagined. In his memory, cruise ships were towering behemoths with over a dozen decks, white behemoths that housed thousands—a veritable city at sea. In contrast, the Sea God was a six-story high ironclad vessel painted black, with three smokestacks billowing dark fumes. A mast rose over a dozen yards high at the foredeck, topped with a lookout equipped with a telescope—a necessity in an era without radar. The fore and aft decks each sported a pair of twin-mounted cannons. Though it was a coastal cruise, the ship was allowed basic armaments against pirates.
A queue had already formed beside the ship, with passengers eager to board. Of course, first-class passengers had a separate entrance. Elyon stepped down from the carriage and saw his sisters waiting at the end of the line.
Nyara and Seraphina were both dressed in white and black skirts, respectively, paired with light-colored blouses and matching wide-brimmed hats adorned with flowers.
"The two of you must be the most elegant ladies aboard the ship today," Elyon complimented them half-jokingly and half-sincerely.
"Yeah right, why don't you use those lines on that bigwig's daughter? We'd love to have a high-ranking relative," Nyara teased.
Still holding a grudge, Elyon scratched his head, "Whatever you want to eat on the ship today, it's on me—as long as it's under five pounds."
"I want the freshest seafood," Seraphina declared.
"No problem, that's what we're here for, a vacation on an island. Eat to your heart's content."
It seemed his younger sister was easier to please. Elyon glanced at the queue; the line for first-class was modest, with only a dozen or so people, contrasting sharply with the hundreds in the economy class line, each carrying various bags. If not for the Chief's donated tickets, Elyon doubted he'd be willing to spend so much.
At the front of the line stood an elderly gentleman in a lavish black suit, his hair graying at the temples. He held a walking stick, and a mixed-race attendant helped carry his luggage. Two burly men flanked him, the bulges at their waists indicating concealed firearms.
"A noble from Luke?" Elyon mused as he helped his sisters with their luggage, carrying his own backpack.
"How can you tell?" Nyara seemed interested.
"The nobility of Bruge don't fancy such lace decorations on their cuffs and collars. The mustache is trimmed in the Luke style, and their entourage doesn't look like ordinary rich folk," Elyon explained.
The elderly man appeared to be conversing with a tall man in military uniform behind him. The uniform was light green—Elyon recognized it as the attire of the colonial forces. The two silver stars on his epaulettes marked him as a lieutenant colonel, likely accompanied by his aide.
In the middle of the line were two men in business attire, less refined than the noble but still presentable. One was engrossed in the fourth page of a newspaper—Elyon knew most papers reserved the fourth page for domestic and international commodity prices and advertisements, of interest only to those looking to profit.
Ahead of Elyon and his sisters was a middle-aged couple. The man looked frail and sunburnt, while the woman seemed timid and spoke in hushed tones. They didn't appear to be the typical first-class clientele. Lottery winners like Elyon himself?
"Commoners' taste. I hope to meet suitable bachelors on this trip. The spotlight can't accompany you for life," a kindly yet somber voice came from behind. Elyon turned to see a mother-daughter pair. The mother appeared to be in her sixties, her black hair streaked with silver.
The daughter was attractive, with short brown hair just covering her neck. Her black dress was impeccably tailored. Elyon felt he had seen her in the newspapers and stared until a sharp pain in his back snapped him out of it.
"So you like the mature type, huh? She must be in her late twenties. I wonder if dad would approve," Nyara teased her brother again.
The queue moved, and the cruise ship lowered its gangway. A middle-aged man in a white captain's uniform and cap stood beside the ticket checker, shaking hands with each first-class passenger.
Soon it was Elyon's turn. The ticket checker stamped his ticket and handed it back. The captain shook Elyon's hand.
"Welcome aboard the Sea God, young sir, and the two beautiful ladies. I am Captain Burke, and our ship is renowned as the largest and most luxurious in Aegisburg. I hope you have a pleasant journey," Captain Burke said before leaning in to whisper, "Old friend Orion asked me to look after you. Hope it's not too much trouble." Then he signaled a young sailor to assist with the luggage to the first-class cabin.