The next day.

Milan had just barely regained his casting ability when Aiven dragged him to perform divination again. He wasn't hoping for a vision of Anita like the first time; he simply wanted to confirm her life or death!

The final scene of the sea dragon attacking the city had left Aiven with lingering fear. At this moment, his expectations were not high at all; as long as his sister was alive, the fact that they couldn't reunite yet was of no consequence.

"Please be okay! Please be okay!"

This time, there was no need for the cumbersome rituals of the "Moonlight Spirit" ceremony; it was just a simple crystal ball divination. In reality, even if Milan wanted to perform such a high-level ceremony, it would be impossible to calm his spiritual turbulence and loss without several months.

As Milan focused his casting, the transparent crystal ball slowly showed wisps of light fog, a precursor of successful divination!

Two pairs of eyes gazed intently at the crystal ball, their eyes widening.

But in the next moment...

Poof—

Like a candle suddenly extinguished, the light fog vanished before it could form into a scene.

The two were stunned, looking at each other with mouths agape.

Not succeeding but also not failing; both knew what this represented. Because half a year ago before Aiven's departure to New Inn Port, he had asked Milan, who was still a Wizard Apprentice, to perform divination, and the same scene occurred.

"Milan, your power... hasn't reverted back to a Wizard Apprentice, has it?!"

Aiven was a bit dumbfounded. Could it be that yesterday's divination ceremony had exhausted Milan's spirit, causing him to regress back to Apprentice Level... this, the guilt is too much.

"No, no!"

Milan also looked at his hands incredulously, confirming multiple times that he was still an Official Wizard Level "Prophet." His spirit was only temporarily declined, but fundamentally unharmed.

This time the "Divination Art" had no problems, and the crystal ball's spirit gave feedback. It was simply due to the vast difference in power between himself and the divination target that it couldn't sustain the divination.

"Could it be...?"

The two spoke in unison:

"Great Knight?!!!"

...

"It's the perfect time to set sail,

Off you go, my young lad,

The sails are already raised,

You're a good child,

Join us in the adventure,

Braving the waves together,

You've grown into a man,

Make your own choice,

Jump aboard without delay,

Young one, hurry up,

Look at the distant horizon,

Dark clouds are gathering,

Johnny boy!

We were born for storms,

....."

Listening to the sailors' cheerful singing at his ears, Aiven stood at the bow wearing the captain's cloak, his sword in hand, as the sea wind made the cloak flap noisily.

The bow of the "Conch" sliced through the waves; today's conditions were choppy, with splashes of sea spray breaking into snowy foam around him.

Regarding the divination that day, Aiven hadn't seen the final scene of Anita slaying the sea dragon with the "Dragon-slaying Sword: Siegfried," bathing in the dragon's heart's blood.

Though it was nearly unbelievable that his sister emerged not just unscathed but had advanced to Great Knight in such perilous circumstances.

But being thousands of miles apart, at this moment, he could only lightly set it aside. At least knowing she was currently safe meant they'd meet again someday.

As for dropping everything now to head to the treacherous Mist Sea near the New Continent, searching in the pirate-ridden "Sunken Ship Bay?"

Haha, Aiven wasn't that reckless.

After assuming his new position, the "Conch" spent a few days in the near-seas adapting, finally leaving port to embark on Aiven's first mission as captain.

Where once Uncle Gel had supported him on the "Silver Wings," and instructors watched over him in the Navy Academy, now, truly at sea, he had only himself to rely on.

Although it was merely a straightforward near-sea patrol and mail delivery task, Aiven was determined to execute it perfectly, leaving no room for accidents!

His crew naturally felt the same.

On their first sea mission with the new captain, everyone wanted to make a good impression, as this captain controlled most of their promotion channels and even life-or-death matters.

Since setting sail until today.

The first patrol mission was nearly complete, and even as they commenced their return, the journey had been peaceful and smooth, promising a relaxed and enjoyable voyage.

After all, Aiven had served on the "Silver Wings," where due to Gel's presence, it undertook the most challenging tasks below Battleship level. Now, leaving "Silver Wings" and handling regular Level 6 Battleship missions felt much easier.

At least now he wouldn't randomly encounter sea monsters or be surrounded by vicious pirates...

After another routine patrol, Aiven returned to his private captain's quarters.

No matter how low the warship's rank, a captain's living and working conditions were maintained, already much improved over his time on the "Silver Wings."

Knock.. knock.. knock..

"Hoo hoo hoo..."

On the shelf by the porthole, the snowy Owl Bass tilted its head curiously toward the door. Since becoming captain, Aiven had formally arranged a separate spot for his "pet" in the captain's quarters.

After all, upon departing by sea, having an owl fly with those seabirds was a bit too much for it.

"Come in!"

"Captain, I've brought the nautical chart. Would you like me to brief you on the upcoming journey?"

The door opened, and in came Adrian, the Chief Navigator of the "Conch."

He was a silent, middle-aged man with weathered curls of flaxen hair. Years of maritime experience had given him some skill, not outstanding but adequately qualified.

His appearance was ordinary, personality average, and abilities standard. In essence, he was someone who left a faint impression - a "normal" person.

Having spent most of his life on Level 6 Battleships, any grand ambitions had long faded, and at his age, it was hard to have the resilience and drive to hone skills and push beyond oneself like the young men.

Perhaps quietly holding to the rank of Navy Captain until retirement was his greatest aspiration.

Yet Aiven was not demanding of him, as many things needed gradual sorting upon his own appointment.

With Aiven's permission.

Adrian walked to the desk, unfurled the nautical chart, and respectfully said:

"Captain, look! 'Campania,' 'Turst,' 'Westcarr,' these three cities on our return course link together, the voyage will require about two and a half days.

The final stop is a brief dock in the small fishing city 'Leopold,' then along the winding coastline, returning to 'Gabred' requires less than two days."

"Leopold?" A name so familiar it was ingrained into Aiven's very being made his movements pause slightly.

Listening to Adrian, he focused on the spread-out nautical chart on the table. As an outstanding graduate of the Royal Navy Academy with "Master-level" Sea Navigation Knowledge, Aiven could naturally comprehend nautical charts.

This was a typical Portland-style Sea Chart, pioneered and perfected by Saint Portland, a devotee of "Queen and Goddess of Navigation."

The chart was filled with radial bearing lines, allowing navigators to determine their position in known waters with these lines and a compass, relatively convenient.

The chart's annotations primarily included: coastline shapes, islands, reefs, water depths, beacons, lighthouses, supply points, habitats of dangerous marine creatures, etc.

With nautical charts, ships at sea could precisely navigate, find suitable supply points, avoid entry to Extraordinary Creatures' habitats, or grounding on reefs, crucial hardware of the era for sea travel.

Of course.

If one were an adventurer daring to explore uncharted waters, one might consider those remarks unsaid.

And as an essential for maritime affairs, a meticulously crafted seafaring map required considerable manpower, resources, and time investments, beyond the means of ordinary factions, thus naturally valuable.