CHAPTER 178: THE CITY OF THALORA

Redhoven Port, Thalora...

Night had fallen, and a cold sea breeze swept through Redhoven Port. But instead of bustling with ships from across the continent, the port lay eerily silent—only a few ships remained docked.

The reason was a single, terrifying presence: a legendary sea monster. Since its emergence, numerous merchant ships from various kingdoms and empires had been destroyed.

As a result, no one dared to approach Redhoven Port, leading to significant losses for the city of Thalora.

At that moment, a middle-aged man and a ten-year-old boy stood on the pier, gazing at the vast ocean before them.

"Father, does the monster really exist?" the boy asked hesitantly.

The man let out a soft sigh and gave a slow nod.

"Yes. It does. The monster always appears in the Sea of Nereus, about five kilometers from here," he replied wearily.

"Then... can we not return to the Izanagi Eastern Empire?" The boy asked, lowering his head, his voice filled with sadness.

"We can’t," the man answered gently. "We’ll likely remain in Thalora City for a few more days until the matter is resolved. I believe Emperor Ragan and Duke Austin have already taken steps to deal with it. We just have to be patient."

Upon hearing that, the boy said nothing—he simply gave a small nod.

"Very well," the man said as he turned around and gently took his son’s left hand. "Come, let’s head back to the inn. Your mother must be waiting—and probably worried that we haven’t returned yet."

To his surprise, the boy didn’t respond. His eyes were fixed straight ahead, his finger pointing toward the sea.

"Father, look at that!" he exclaimed in awe. "Isn’t that a merchant ship? How did it get through the Sea of Nereus?"

The man was taken aback. He turned quickly to follow his son’s gaze.

Sure enough, in the distance, an enormous merchant ship was approaching, its sails billowing as it glided steadily toward the port.

On either side, two smaller ships accompanied it—judging by their structure and design, they were likely warships from another kingdom.

It really is a merchant ship... the man muttered, his mouth slightly open in disbelief. How could it make it through the Sea of Nereus? Has the sea monster been taken care of?

It was the only explanation that made sense. Otherwise, how could any ship have sailed through those waters unscathed?

"Father! Does that mean we can go home tomorrow?"

His son’s excited voice pulled him out of his thoughts. He looked down at the boy and gently ruffled his hair.

"Yes, my dear. Tomorrow, we’re going home," he replied warmly.

"Yay!" the boy shouted with joy, hopping up and down in excitement.

The man simply smiled, his heart warmed by his son’s pure happiness.

However, as he looked back at the ship in the distance, his expression suddenly stiffened, and his eyes widened in horror.

What he saw was terrifying—a pitch-black, snake-like monster with scales and long horns had surged from the depths of the sea and rammed into the three ships.

Even from afar, he could tell the merchant ship in the middle was massive—easily sixty to seventy meters long. It was among the largest in its class.

The two ships flanking it weren’t small either—each likely thirty to forty meters in length. But before the monster, all three ships looked tiny.

Boom!

The sound of the monster’s colossal body crashing into them echoed all the way to the pier where the man and his son stood.

Within the span of ten breaths, the three great ships were reduced to splinters and vanished beneath the waves.

The man and his son stood frozen, their faces pale with fear.

For the father, it was the most terrifying thing he had ever seen.

For the boy, the trauma of that moment would surely stay with him—especially his fear of the sea.

...

Three Days Later...

The city of Thalora sat at the easternmost tip of the eastern region.

Home to the largest port in the east, it had long prospered as a central hub of trade.

Merchants from all over came to collect or purchase goods delivered from other kingdoms and empires. The city was also recognized as the leading center for maritime trade in the eastern region.

Redhoven Port in Thalora welcomed not only merchant ships but also fishing boats that delivered their daily catch.

With such bustling activity, the ruling family of Viscount Hermes—the governor of Thalora—naturally lived in great wealth and prosperity.

After all, they collected taxes from sailors, merchants, and the countless transactions that took place within the city.

The people of Thalora, too, benefited from this economic strength. Both men and women worked and earned decent incomes.

As a result, poverty was rare, and unemployment was almost nonexistent.

Unfortunately, the sudden appearance of a sea monster in the waters of Nereus shattered the order that had lasted for decades.

Merchants from outside the region grew hesitant to enter Redhoven Port, and local fishermen became too frightened to venture into the surrounding sea.

The impact was dire—poverty began to rise, and the Hermes family was forced to spend heavily to manage the crisis, which in turn severely drained their finances.

"This city feels so empty," Nolan muttered, glancing to his right and left.

In truth, it wasn’t completely deserted. But the energy of a once-bustling port city was gone. The streets, once lively, now felt hollow and subdued.

People walked by with downcast eyes and weary expressions—an image that made the atmosphere feel even more unsettling.

Beside him, Rafine let out a long sigh. "It’s because of the sea monster," she said quietly. "Its presence has brought serious damage to Thalora. If not for that, the city wouldn’t be like this."

Thalora’s reputation as one of the region’s most prosperous cities wasn’t without merit.

That prosperity had always stemmed from one source—Redhoven Port. And with the port left idle, it was as if the heart of the city had stopped beating.

Elina remained silent, listening to their conversation. She kept her horse moving forward, occasionally glancing around with a conflicted expression.

Nolan, Elina, Luvistar, and fifteen hundred troops rode through the streets of Thalora City.

Their presence caught the attention of many residents. Quiet murmurs rippled through the crowd.

Some even recognized Rafine and Elina and quickly bowed their heads in respect.

In return, the two women offered a smile and a gentle nod.

They continued riding until they reached a grand and spacious mansion.

In front of the gate, a hundred soldiers stood at attention, accompanied by a middle-aged man, a young man, and a yellow-haired woman of similar age.

As the group approached, the middle-aged man stepped forward, placed his right hand over his stomach, and bowed respectfully.

"Welcome, Princess Elina, Prince Nolan, Young Lady Rafine, and General Luvistar. I, Darel Hermes, extend my warmest welcome to you all."

...

Author’s Note: Previously, I used the word "Harbor" instead of "Port."

After reviewing it, I realized that was a significant mistake—it should have been "Port" all along. So if you come across any remaining instances of "Harbor," please let me know. Thank you!