Chapter 702: An Old Sea Chart

Angor didnt say anything. It seemed destiny meant completely different things in their view.

To Angor, destiny meant finding the legacy left behind by a great wizard, the nest of a powerful monster, or a hidden treasure vault in an unknown dimension. It called for both luck and effort since one needed a lot of work to find them.

But what Boro said was basically waiting for gold to drop on his head.

Boro saw Angor was unresponsive and stroked his beard with a smile. My teacher is Mister Wallace, by the way. From him, I learned the strict ways of an academician. Im too old to compete with young ones.

In other words, he could do nothing other than picking up leftovers now.

As they talked, Hami had settled his business with the other apprentices as well. Willingly or not, they agreed to let Hami return to Brute Cavern first, who would convince more people to join the job, one way or another.

Hami came back to Angor with a bright smile. Its settled. Now quick. I really want to go back.

Angor looked at Hamis expression and felt as if he shouldnt break down someones hope so cruelly. However it couldnt be helped now.

You misunderstood me. Im not here for a job.

Youre not? Hami yelled. Dont tell me youre a recruiter?

Well, yes, I think.

Can-can I see your bone card then? Hami wasnt convinced.

Angor complied but without revealing his personal information. He only showed the others his accepted quest, which was already printed on his card.

Hami saw the recruitment quest and stomped away, cursing. The other apprentice also returned to their posts in great disappointment.

Why didnt you tell us earlier? That will make us less sad! Hami yelled back.

Angor shrugged. You didnt give me a chance to speak.

You look pretty young Why would you accept this quest? Suppose you have a lot of time on your hands, you dont know if you can find enough candidates for sure, Boro asked. He was the only one who wasnt bothered.

Hami interrupted again by speaking first, Do you even need to ask? Just look at his clothes! An academicism rich kid who doesnt have the guts to accept more challenging jobs, just like you!

Neither Boro nor Angor said anything. It was another worker in the office who snickered at Hami. Hey, Hami, so why did you agree to come to this sh*thole? An office worker isnt exactly a more challenging job.

Hami was getting furious. Because I was wounded, and Im not fit for any other quests, you fool! n.o.body told me that I need to wait for a stupid replacement to leave this place! Unlike you lots, Im a true supporter of praxis, like Mister Sunders! Oh, forget it. Hami jerked his head back and looked at Angor again. Now, tell me, why would a recruiter come at such a time? Most waterways are frozen solid. You cant go anywhere.

If I remember right, the Devils Water doesnt freeze easily, right? replied Angor.

Youre heading to Devils Water?! Hami and Boro yelled at the same time.

Angor nodded.

Hami felt his face burning in embarra.s.sment. He just said that Angor was a coward who only takes easy jobs, and what Angor said proved the exact oppositetraveling across Devils Water meant courage. Blind courage.

Are you perhaps going somewhere around Blackberry Waters or the Whalebone Sea? Boro asked.

Thats right.

But those routes will be frozen too, by the time you arrive. Its still too early for you to depart.

Im heading to the Land of Revelation by flying above Devils Water. I have a flying vehicle, Angor explained. The only route I dont know well is this Devils Water. I dont think I can get past it without a guide. This is why I came here. I want to ask if any s.h.i.+p is going to Devils Water these days.

Boro and Hami found their suspicion answered. It was easy for the owner of a flying vehicle to bypa.s.s many dangers lurking around Devils Water. Also, owning a flying vehicle already proved ones strength.

I wont question your purpose of going there, Mister Padt, said Boro, as for s.h.i.+ps Im afraid none of our s.h.i.+ps are strong enough to sail there. I can only help you contact the White Clam Ocean Fare a.s.sociation and see whether they have a s.h.i.+p going to the Land of Revelation recently.

White Clam Ocean Fare a.s.sociation? Is it perhaps

Boro nodded as he pointed upward. Yes. Those people. Dont worry, they always agree to bring some recruiters along. But its rare for us because we Brute Cavern usually do not search for talents across Devils Water.

Do you know about The Redbud? Angor asked.

The Redbud? Thats a s.h.i.+p operated by the a.s.sociation. So you know them? This s.h.i.+p travels along a distant course that usually took more than a year. But its not at the port at the moment. I think it left half a year ago.

Angor nodded. He asked this question out of the blue. And he wasnt expecting that the recruiter s.h.i.+p he used several years ago belonged to the Floating City.

Ill go and ask them now, sir. Hope you bring us a brilliant new generation. Boro removed his wizard hat, bowed to Angor, and slowly headed upstairs.

When Angor wondered why the old man needed to go to the second floor, Hami answered him, The transmitter used for talking to Floating Mech City is placed up there. They said that it must remain outdoors to receive a signal.

While waiting for Boro, Angor looked around the office curiously.

The building wasnt big. He saw many thick books scattered on the desks and chairs, most of which were difficult reading materials related to various arts.

Most workers were currently reading something while taking notes, which made the whole place look like a library full of eager students.

Apart from the books, Angor was interested in a yellowed nautical chart hanging on the wall beside the staircase. Judging from what he knew, this chart had many problems such as an incorrect measuring scale, and it showed different areas in the wrong sizes. Only the general directions of locations were relatively fine.

He saw the Land of Revelation, the Magus Corridor, and Valhalla Isle on the chart.

But to his confusion, it excluded Old Earth. At where Old Earth was supposed to be, someone instead left a strange picture that looked both like a flower and a weird animal.

It was common for someone to neglect Old Earth since many people never went there before. But why would someone draw a picture instead of leaving it blank?

Boro already returned to the first floor and spoke beside his ears, which surprised him a little.

This map was left here for G.o.d-know-how-long. Either from an apprentice, or a mortal. No one can remember. As you see, it doesnt have much value. We put it here for the sake of decoration. I believe someone found the map at a random corner in the storage.

The map is usable as long as you only check the directions of destinations, Angor said as he pointed to several names. At least these are correct, telling from the books I read before. But theres something not right here

Are you talking about the Marginalized Island? Boro used his cane to point at the strange picture.

Yeah. Angor chose not to mention the different names of the place. To non-natives, Old Earth was always called the Marginalized Island.

I didnt know what this meant either. Perhaps it represents the shape of Marginalized Island? Boro held his chin. Or maybe the mapmaker did it out of boredom, since it wont affect the other parts of the map.

I see. Im planning to head there though.

To Marginalized Island? Thats pretty far, and I dont think you can find any talents there. Boro shook his head but decided not to question Angors purpose. Ive got an answer. They have a s.h.i.+p departing, but its not going for the Land of Revelation. Theyre heading to Ferran Land next week.

Ferran Land? Angor checked the problematic sea chart again.

On the chart, Ferran Land was right next to the Land of Revelation. But from what he remembered, these two places were at least ten thousand kilometers apart.

That might be a great distance in the view of mortals. But not to Gondola.

Angor nodded. Alright. Ill go with them to Ferran Land. Then Ill go for the Land of Revelation from there.

Again, Boro went upstairs to confirm the new pa.s.senger, and he reached an agreement with the s.h.i.+ps holder soon.

They said yes. However, they hope that you can protect the mortals on the s.h.i.+p while at it, who are the majority of the voyagers. Of course, youre free to abandon them should anything that threatens your life comes about.

Are there any other supernatural individuals with us?

I dont know. But according to conventions, they will have at least one powerful level-3 apprentice serving as a guard, or even wizards, if the s.h.i.+p must sail into Devils Water in the wrong months.