CHAPTER 233: CHAPTER 233 STRANGE

Time shifts forward.

After receiving the emergency military orders from the Military Department, Aiven, with full cooperation from the Third Fleet Headquarters, handled all the procedures without much delay.

Aiven then led his crew aboard the Level 4 Battleship "Storm Horn," which had been systematically repaired, maintained, and officially listed into the Kingdom Navy’s combat sequence, heading non-stop towards "New Inn Port."

Rustle, rustle, rustle...

In the captain’s cabin, Aiven, who had achieved a dual harvest of military rank and battleship, didn’t neglect the enhancement of his own power at all.

Although the apprenticeship in the Vitalist School only has three prerequisites: Spirit Communication Potion, Wild Talisman, and Activated Plants, these are essentially the three cornerstones constructing the school’s witchcraft structure.

Behind each witchcraft lies an entire profound system of mystical knowledge!

Even with Aiven’s good learning methods, habits, and pre-existing knowledge base, further assisted by Data Visualization, it was not easy to fully grasp this knowledge in a short time.

So, after obtaining the knowledge inheritance of the Vitalist School, as long as he had some spare time, Aiven would sit down and thoroughly study the Inheritance Secret Scroll "Flesh Sacrifice."

However, what frustrated Aiven was that every time he felt he had made significant progress, "Flesh Sacrifice" would present new and more esoteric content, erasing every slight sense of pride he had, leaving only the most rigorous and focused learning attitude.

Nonetheless, Aiven found joy in constantly enriching himself and didn’t find it boring at all. Meanwhile, the Data Visualization which allowed him to see his progress at any time greatly assisted him.

Hoot, hoot, hoot...

The owl Bess tilted its head, curiously watching every move of its master Aiven.

After being modified by witchcraft, Bess grew very fast. Although, strictly speaking, the time span was just about a year, its intelligence was no less than that of a seven or eight-year-old human child.

Aiven even planned to use a mind connection method to teach Bess to read, making it live up to the title "Symbol of Wisdom" in Mysticism and even possibly become a true owl scholar in the future.

The sky gradually darkened.

The afterglow of the sunset slanted through the porthole of the captain’s cabin and onto Aiven’s face, startling him from his deep concentration on the book. It was then that Aiven realized it was almost dark.

Stretching slightly, he glanced at a gas lamp in the corner of the room, with no intention of using it.

Snap—

He snapped his fingers casually.

The two pots of plants on the desk, which resembled a row of small lanterns, instantly lit up, emitting a very bright yet soft "light." The white, fleshy flowers were the "light bulbs" of this plant lamp.

This was the "Hanging Wind Chime" cultivated and modified by the school, a natural and eco-friendly lighting tool unique to the Vitalist School wizards. It could efficiently absorb and store sunlight during the day and then provide stable lighting for the wizards for up to two hours at night.

With just a few of these prepared for alternate use, one could say goodbye to outdated lighting tools like gas lamps.

In the bright "light," one could see that Aiven’s captain’s cabin had transformed significantly since he first moved in, mostly due to the variety of oddly shaped potted plants that had appeared.

Most of them were items Aiven sorted out from the collection of the Snake-man Heber Crete, possessing all sorts of magical abilities.

There was the green core grass that could purify water sources (including turning seawater into fresh water), the four-leaf violet that would change color when swept by spiritual radiance, and the Dragon Chrysanthemum Fragrance that helped calm the mind and aid sleep...

Among them, there was only one that wasn’t from the school’s collection but was a plant Aiven planned to add to his research list, a seemingly ordinary... Venus flytrap.

The reason it appeared among a bunch of demonized plants was simple. Since he already had "Activated Plants," such a marvelous witchcraft, how could he not use his mind to make the most of it?

If he could modify the Venus flytrap to some extent, activating all its life vitality in an instant, then during intense sea battles, could a bunch of giant Venus flytraps potentially catch incoming cannonballs?

It must be said that Aiven had a broad imagination.

Although a witchcraft shield that could cover the entire ship might not be realistic even before a legendary battleship, such an alternative method was quite feasible.

This was another ambition in Aiven’s heart. If he could achieve it, not only would his future safety index increase significantly, but he could also add a very practical plant species to the Vitalist School’s "Activated Plants" list. Like the predecessors, he could leave his name in the school’s inheritance.

Another thing worth mentioning was that after the task of hunting pirates ended, Milan had no intention of returning to the Third Fleet Logistics Department.

When departing with Aiven, he even uttered a seemingly inexplicable phrase: "The tributaries of fate will eventually meet the mainstream, the eye of the storm opens in the waves of the Black Sea, the ’heart’ will determine the ownership of the crown... As a great ’Prophet,’ how could I be absent during the changing of an era?"

After jointly slaying the half-step Deceitful Fate Wizard Basem, Milan’s abilities as a "Prophet" had made significant progress once again; however, the side effect was that he became even more cryptic...

It was only later that Aiven learned that what Milan had said was a warning delivered by the "Prophetic School" to its members! It was a prophecy made through the "Eye of All-Seeing!"

Even Milan himself couldn’t interpret the meaning behind it and was merely using it to show off in front of Aiven!

However, Aiven was naturally delighted with his decision to remain on the ship. He couldn’t be happier to have him as his Chief Navigator for life. Such a capable individual, Aiven hadn’t seen anyone like him, at least for now.

...

With the help of the "Monsoon Goddess," the "Storm Horn" went all out, reaching "New Inn Port" in less than ten days, far exceeding the speed of his first enrollment.

According to orders, Aiven was to report to the Navy Department.

The Navy Department, as the critical department controlling the Kingdom’s strongest military force, had its headquarters in the Royal Capital Bekele. However, for ease of command, the department also established a branch in "New Inn Port."

In the future, Aiven and the command of the "Storm Horn" would belong to here.

However.

When he successfully docked with the orders, everyone else was left behind. Aiven was greeted by a civilian position Colonel who had been waiting here for quite some time, and taken into a nondescript carriage!

What was even more surprising was that accompanying the carriage were six fully armed Heavy Knights, guarding the sides like two moving steel walls.

Even the Governor wouldn’t have such an entourage, right?

"Lieutenant Colonel Aiven, I’m under orders to take you to a confidential location. Please!"

The Colonel courteously but resolutely gestured for Aiven to follow.

"A confidential location? Aren’t I here in ’New Inn Port’ to receive the ’Navy New Star’ reward?"

Sitting in the unremarkable carriage, Aiven felt things were becoming complicated and bizarre.

His main purpose for striving to obtain the ’Navy New Star’ top name was to acquire that "Golden Compass" listed among the treasures.

Just when it seemed he was within reach of the item, developments suddenly went beyond his expectations.

He was urgently summoned from Gabred, seemingly using the ’Navy New Star’ matter as a cover, while something deeper seemed to be happening behind the scenes.

Had Aiven not clearly recognized the Colonel as a part-time lecturer from the "Royal Navy Academy," whom he had seen several times before, he would have suspected a conspiracy.

Despite being somewhat of an acquaintance, no matter what Aiven asked, the Colonel only replied with "You’ll know when we get there." Unable to find out more, Aiven could only follow him to the so-called "confidential location" to see what was truly happening.

Da-da-da...

With the crisp sound of horse hooves, the team headed south along the coastline, bypassing the main city.

Today’s weather wasn’t good; the foggy sky made the mood heavy, as if something was about to happen.

Moreover, as the team continued, a layer of fog gradually thickened from the initial faint presence to a point where visibility was less than a hundred meters.

Aiven observed the unperturbed demeanor of the Colonel seated opposite him, finally understanding why they weren’t traveling by boat to the seaside.

In such weather, navigating nearshore by boat along the coast would be incredibly risky if they didn’t run aground.

The gas lamp prepared long ago in the carriage lit up, and the group continued along the now fog-filled path until they reached an almost completely deserted location. Aiven found himself contemplating the fastest way to handle the six Heavy Knights if necessary...

And then he heard the Colonel suddenly say:

"We’ve arrived!"

Relieved, Aiven followed the Colonel off the carriage. On the shore, a small boat awaited, and even in the dense fog where visibility was low, Aiven glimpsed a massive shadow lying across the water.

From his experience, it was at least a Level 2 Battleship!

However, the Colonel’s authority extended no further. After delivering Aiven, he turned away with the six silent Heavy Knights.

"Are we going out to sea? Why is it so secretive?"

No one answered his question. Aiven was ushered aboard the small boat and swiftly transported to the Level 2 Battleship.

Unexpectedly, the Battleship turned out to be a familiar one—the "Frost White Sword," which had escaped unharmed in the battle against the "Ghost Ship."

On this ship, Aiven was greatly surprised to encounter a familiar face—Anthony Kramer.

Seeing this fellow, Aiven suddenly felt certain, having some guess as to the purpose of this journey.