Drip, drip, drip...
The relentless raindrops pounded on the deck, creating a series of crisp, low-pitched notes. Inside the cabin, Lynn awoke from a night of continuous nightmares.
Once he had a clear view of his surroundings, Lynn couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. The sudden appearance of the goddess's apparition last night had put significant psychological pressure on him, but thankfully, she had shown no intention of pursuing them.
They should be safe now.
Lynn sat up, swung his legs over the hard wooden bunk, and grabbed a cloak hanging by the door. Then, he opened the cabin door and stepped out onto the deck.
The gentle sea breeze carried with it the scent of the ocean and a touch of salt, dispelling the stagnant air from the cabin.
Lynn gazed into the distance, where a thick fog shrouded the surface of the sea, engulfing the entire sailing ship. Visibility was limited to about three to five meters beyond the ship's sides.
This fog seemed to possess some mysterious power, as even when he used a first-tier spell, [Farsight] he couldn't see beyond the white mist.
Navigating under such conditions was undeniably perilous. Not only was it difficult to discern direction, but there was also the risk of colliding with hidden rocks.
"Wizard, are you awake? Did you rest well last night?" a familiar voice came from behind. Lynn turned to see Lame Laut.
However, compared to last night, Laut seemed somewhat dejected, clearly affected by their recent encounter with the apparition.
Lynn didn't respond to Laut's question but instead spoke directly, "Is this the Sea of Mist? How do you usually navigate in these conditions, and how much longer until we reach the Wizard's territory?"
"Normally, departing from the Harbor Town would require sailing for almost half a month. As for navigating in these conditions..." Laut was very cautious as he pulled out a compass.
Lynn curiously leaned in. The compass had a round wooden body adorned with intricate runes and symbols, but the most eye-catching feature was the pointer on top, which remained fixed on the ship's heading.
Could this be a compass?
Lynn speculated silently, then listened as Laut explained, "This compass was created by the Great Wizard Herlramm, an alchemical invention. No matter where you are, it will always point in the direction of the Wizard's territory."
This was their key to navigating the Sea of Mist. Regardless of where they set out, following the compass's guidance would always lead them to the Wizard's territory.
It was truly miraculous. Lynn picked up the compass, carefully examined it, and became somewhat interested in the Great Wizard Herlramm, as this was the second time he had heard that name.
It appeared that Archbishop Anluke had gone to great lengths to trap a few wizard apprentices, all in pursuit of obtaining this compass.
Handing this over to the Church would undoubtedly be a significant achievement.
Lynn couldn't decipher the runes on the compass, so he just memorized them and returned the item.
Laut accepted the compass and then appeared somewhat conflicted. After a while, he cautiously asked, "Are you a Grand Wizard?"
"Naturally not," Lynn shook his head. He couldn't admit to such a thing.
At this point, he was just a novice wizard who had recently started delving into magic. Being mistaken for a full-fledged wizard was one thing, especially since with the aid of his intelligence, he could achieve many feats that only accomplished wizards could. However, reaching the level of a Grand Wizard was still a distant dream.
If it weren't for the assistance of the thousand-plus members of the "Ship Gang," he wouldn't have been able to set up a trap capable of destroying the entire seaport. What had brought down Archbishop Anluke and his group was less magic and more the power of science.
Seeing Lynn's denial, Laut appeared somewhat sceptical. After all, he had witnessed the terrifying explosion last night, a feat achievable only with advanced magic.
However, recalling Lynn's request for gathering large amounts of materials, Laut speculated that the magic known as "fireworks" probably required a special ritual to unleash such powerful magic.
"In that case, after we arrive in the Wizard's territory, you might face some scrutiny," Laut sighed repeatedly.
Lynn's expression changed abruptly, and a dangerous glint shone in his eyes. He could now smell the scent of trouble.
Under the watchful gaze of someone who seemed "friendly," Laut hastened to explain. While he had been operating this route from Harbor Town to the Wizard's territory, the person who had established it was the Grand Wizard Herlramm.
In essence, the entire Ship Gang was merely tools in his hands. Whether they liked it or not, they were obligated to transport scarce resources to the Wizard's territory each year.
Although they had always operated discreetly and without major incidents for over a decade, the actions of Jenny and others had led to the destruction of this critical transportation route.
If Lynn turned out to be a Grand Wizard, they had nothing to worry about. But if he wasn't, they needed to be prepared for the consequences. This was the reason for Laut's confirmation.
With Laut's explanation, Lynn quickly understood the situation. He felt torn, as he understood the significance of this route. The blame should fall on his mentor, Kora. If Kora hadn't been so audacious, attempting to abduct the Duke's second daughter and getting caught red-handed, the Church wouldn't have traced the problem all the way to Harbor Town.
"Is this the only route from the Wizard's territory to the Sekas Empire?" Lynn inquired.
"Probably not... The Sea of Mist also connects to another vital port, the imperial capital of the Sekas Empire, Viknail City," Laut said hesitantly. Although he couldn't be certain, he suspected that there might be others in Viknail City doing the same work as him.
"I see," Lynn nodded. It appeared that the situation might not be as dire as he initially thought. However, he had no intention of shouldering this blame. He needed to find a way to avoid it.
As Lynn contemplated, he casually inquired about various pieces of information regarding the Wizard's territory. He was still relatively unfamiliar with the place, and having insufficient knowledge could leave him at a disadvantage.
Through several rounds of questioning, Lynn learned that the Wizard's territory was different from what he had initially assumed. It wasn't a refuge established by persecuted wizards but a land that had existed for centuries, boasting a city, a port, and a population of six hundred thousand, almost like a small kingdom.
However, there were no kings or nobles here. Instead, it was governed by wizards and various schools of magic. The highest authority was the Wizard Council (Council of Wizards), composed of several legendary wizards.