At noon, accompanied by the somber sound of a steam whistle, the sailors swiftly untied the mooring ropes, stowed away the boarding ramp, raised the anchor, and the lead ship Ditch Number set sail out of the harbor. The bow cut through the currents, heading for the sea's exit.
To ensure the success of the escort mission, the Royal Navy dispatched one cruiser main ship, seven escort ships, and three destroyers, totaling over 400 sailors—a small fleet.
With the strength of the Royal Navy, sending more sailors would not have been an issue, but in the Magic Era, ordinary warships didn't play a significant role. Instead of meaninglessly amassing forces, it was more sensible to deploy more bishops.
On the Ditch Number, Marvin was assigned a rather nice room on the first deck, which boasted luxury furnishings including a double bed, a writing desk, and a liquor cabinet; second only to the captain's quarters.
