Chereads / Reincarnated with the Country System / Chapter 24 - First Contact

Chapter 24 - First Contact

In the vast expanse of the open sea, there a magnificent ship. Its towering masts reached towards the sky, adorned with billowing sails that caught the wind and propelled the vessel forward with grace and power.

The ship's hull was made of sturdy oak, weathered by years of salty sea spray and fierce storms. Its bow was adorned with intricate carvings of mythical creatures, their eyes gleaming in the sunlight as if alive. The deck was bustling with activity, as sailors scurried.

Sitting near the stern in control of the helm was a figure whose exhausted expression matched the languidness of the air.

"I should've never have set sail today…" Captain Marko Thought.

He was a man of average height, with weathered skin from years spent at sea. His hair was a tangled mess of salt and wind, and his eyes were a piercing blue that seemed to see straight through you.

Captain Marko was not a man of many words, but when he spoke, his voice was deep and commanding. He had a presence about him that demanded respect, and his crew knew better than to question his orders.

Despite his gruff exterior, Captain Marko had a kind heart. He cared deeply for his crew, and would go to great lengths to ensure their safety and well-being. He was a fair captain, always willing to listen to his crew's concerns and take them into consideration.

As the captain of a ship, Captain Marko had seen his fair share of adventures. From battling fierce storms to fending off pirates, he had faced many challenges in his time at sea. But through it all, he had remained steadfast and unwavering, a true leader in every sense of the word.

Captain Marko was a man of mystery, his true nature hidden beneath layers of salt and sea spray. He was a man of contradictions, both fierce and gentle, commanding and compassionate.

He murmured to himself.

"Man… There were even reports that there wouldn't be any wind blowing into the Gali Bay for the entire morning… Fuck, I never thought it meant that fog would roll in."

Right now, he was right in the middle of a thick fog blanketing the ocean surface. His view of what's around him is completely obscured, making him unable to tell where right from left is.

"Visibility's hardly up to almost 25m ! I really can't see anything!"

He couldn't even properly see the stern of his ship, which was only a short distance away from where he sat. The only things he could properly make out were himself, and the calm ocean surface.

Of course, night will eventually give way to day; the fog will eventually lift sooner or later so all he has to do is wait. Right now, that was his only choice given the circumstances. But he was running out of patience.

"But I didn't want to disappoint…"

Looking into the ship's hold, one could see a pile of fish. There were many kinds of fish, which they caught using nets.

"Hmmm... I think It's alright for today! Jak, ring the bell. we will go back"

The act of raising a ship's bell up to the top of the mast was a sign to nearby vessels that the vessel in question wasn't moving. In the North Sea, when a vessel is in fog, it became common practice to ring the raised ship bell.

"Ah, Captain ,I guess we didn't need to do that. I bet there ain't any ship…"

said one of Marko's crew

Ships cannot just stop in the blink of an eye. That's why it's dangerous to sail a ship in such low-visibility conditions: by the time another vessel is spotted, it'd be too late to try and maneuver to make way for them.

"But we cannot be careless."

"Ah! Yes, You are right, Captain "

"Huh! Speed up boys! Move the ship forward!!"

"Yes, Captain!"

Everyone is busy with their work

"Hah…"

The clinking of the bell rang endlessly. Signal that there is a ship.

They heard a sound that they had never heard before.

"Hm?"

If they had to compare it to something, it sounded like the growling of an animal.

Marko quickly tried to find the source of the sound

Everyone set their gaze toward where they thought the sound was coming from. Then, from within the fog, the silhouette of something appeared. It seemed like it was the one making the strange sound.

"Is it a Ship? No wait, a sea monster?!"

Marko quickly tells all his men to get ready.

"Prepare the cannons quickly!"

An uproar ensued on the ship. Everyone quickly went to their positions

What the hell was that thing?

The calm sea became turbulent as the huge object approached them. The waves started to rise. Their ship started to swing.

Everyone stares at the huge thing coming towards them

The roaring sound grew louder

Everyone is very tense

To their astonishment, they saw a massive metal behemoth. It was unlike anything they had ever seen before - a giant ship. They gasped in awe and fear at the sight of this strange and powerful vessel.

There are no sails on the ships. The ships are made of metal.

As the ship drew closer, they could see the crew bustling about on deck, their uniforms is white.

"Captain! What shall we do?!"

His subordinates said in panicked.

"Umm… everyone will attack at my signal"

The ship stop.

"We come in peace"

They heard a sound

"We are from a distant land, and We are here to establish diplomatic relations."

They were stunned. They had never encountered anything like this before - a group of strangers from a far-off land. They looked at each other in disbelief, unsure of how to react.