Pillar of Yita

Moreover, Golden Bay Anchorage is not small, and the Berio found a relatively open cove to anchor in. Since it lacked the abundant lift of the winged airships, it feared being grounded due to insufficient lift when too close to the edge of the continent. Therefore, as last time, both personnel and goods were transported to land via the small boats on the ship.

Luo Yu and Tianlan were waiting to board the ship with Mr. Greyrock, so Fang Hong took the first boat. Along with him, aside from the first batch of sailors to land, were Atira, Miss Hilveld and her servants, and Gita.

The Elf Miss had been bedridden for days. Though her injuries were mostly healed, her complexion was still somewhat pale; however, her mood seemed to have lifted from the gloom of a few days ago, and her eyes held the serene smile often seen on her before.

She smiled and nodded at Fang Hong, indicating that he needn’t worry too much about her.

”Don’t push yourself, Miss Atira. When we disembark, Hilveld and I will support you,” Fang Hong said with concern.

The Elf Miss did not refuse and nodded gently.

”Thank you, Ade.”

Only then did Fang Hong breathe a sigh of relief, assured that she must have emerged from her state of low spirits.

In fact, this was one of the reasons they planned to travel by land; otherwise, if Atira had not yet recovered, they would naturally have to wait here idly.

Under the sailors’ control, the small boat entered a river cove—the boat was equipped with a Galleon generation apparatus, but given its limited magic capacity, staying afloat for long periods was impossible, making the transition from air to water a natural choice.

Of course, it was also possible to land directly on the land, but in that case, taking off again later would be troublesome.

After entering the river cove, the magic guided engine that had controlled the boat was naturally no longer suitable, so the sailors took out the oars they had prepared and rowed against the current. It didn’t take long before they found a safe camping spot deep in the cove.

However, as they went ashore, the group encountered a small problem.

Due to the onslaught of a heavy rainstorm, the river’s water level had risen dramatically. The original landing spot was submerged, and the turbulent waters created difficulties, preventing the sailors from successfully beaching and coming ashore after several attempts.

The leading Bosun, sweating profusely, turned back to address the noble young lady: ”Miss Hilveld, maybe we should try another place further south. The river here is too turbulent, and I’m afraid something might go wrong.”

”The terrain is higher to the south,” Hilveld calmly replied. ”I’ve observed it carefully from the sky earlier. The river channels behind aren’t much broader, and we may encounter the same problem.”

After speaking, she turned back to Fang Hong: ”Maybe the Captain has an idea?”

The sailors’ gazes shifted unanimously towards him. Outside of the Bosun’s restraint, most of them looked skeptical.

During their days on the Berio, what these sailors had seen most was the noble young lady who had been assisting in the chart room.

And since a Navigator holds a status akin to that of a junior officer at sea, plus Hilveld’s close friendship with Princess Briana and her own beauty, the sailors were naturally more inclined to trust her.

As for Fang Hong, he spent most of his days shut in his room working on his projects or moved between his room and the activity lounge; he spent even less time outside than the Lion People and Luo Yu. Most people probably forgot that there was such a person on the ship from the beginning to the end.

Seeing him suddenly today, they might have been startled by the sudden appearance of an extra living person on board. Hearing Hilveld addressing this youth as the Captain and suggesting he might have a solution, everyone’s instinct was disbelief.

But Fang Hong didn’t care.

Or rather, he had been studying the distance from the small boat to the shore from the start and hadn’t noticed the others’ gazes. Only upon hearing Hilveld’s question did he come back to the moment and nodded:

”Alright, I’ll give it a try.”

”Wait a moment,” the Bosun interjected, pulling out an airbag—it was actually an inflated long-tailed stork’s airbag, which the sailors from Eteliria had been using as a lifebuoy for a long time: ”Take this with you. The current is too turbulent, and the small boat isn’t very stable. It’s safer this way.”

Though this man meant well, his words implied concern that the young man might recklessly fall into the river.

Fang Hong glanced at him, sensing the man’s goodwill, but simply shook his head: ”No need, that thing would get in the way.”

”I think you should take it, kid,” one of the sailors remarked mockingly, ”Otherwise, if you fall in, we won’t be able to save you.”

No sooner had he spoken than the sailors began to chuckle amongst themselves, evidently sharing the same view.

Yet before Fang Hong had a chance to say anything, Hilveld beside him stood up with a frown and addressed the sailor coldly: ”Pinky, do you have an issue with my suggestion?”

The man jumped, clearly not expecting Hilveld to come to Fang Hong’s defense. He stammered: ”Miss Hilveld... I mean, I’m just worried about the kid...”

Hilveld raised an eyebrow, her pale blue eyes more serious than ever: ”This ’kid’ you’re talking about is my Captain, a formal Alchemist of the Elpaxin Artisan Association, the hero of Dolifen. And who are you, Pinky, a sailor?”

Pinky’s face turned red, and he lowered his head: ”Sorry, it’s Mr. Ade, my mistake... I was just worried... ”