The harbor town y to the east of the entire Sekas Empire, renowned for its proximity to the vast Sea of Mists.

  Thanks to the temporary calm brought about by the effeoonday, the deadly whirlpool known as the Eye of Death had stilled. tless cargo ships, den with spices and ores, were now able to sail directly to the capital city of the Sekas Empire, Vikniel.

  This was the busiest time for the harbor.

  However, this year was somewhat different. To capture the devilish cultists causing chaos in the Nordnd's territory, the entrao the harbor town had extra guard posts. Caravans had to line up and endure iions amid a chorus of pints.

  "Shouldn't be a problem, right?" Lynn, who was skillfully disguised, felt somewhat nervous. He tio adjust his voice, attempting to mimic the struggling and shouting he had heard during the rescue st night.

  It wasn't a particurly challenging task. The essence of sound was nothing more than waves propagating through mediums like air, causing vibrations in the eardrum. 071 had already recorded Lotte's vocal characteristics. All Lynn had to do was imitate it.

  Now, it was time to test his posure.

  With mixed feelings, Lynn, adopting the most natural demeanor, crossed the line of waiting caravans, the guards, and stepped into the harbor town.

  A few stationed guards hesitated but did not dare to intervene.

  "Who was that just now?" Priest Adan, statio the checkpoint, noticed Lynn's departure and furrowed his brows, asking.

  "That was His Lordship Lotte, the son of Baron Pedrol. He's been quite generous to the Chur ret years, probably to ete's smooth passage through the knighthood test. I remember him a bit," the guard truthfully replied.

  Oher side, Lynn, who had successfully ehe harbor town, was now drenched in cold sweat. At the moment he passed the guard post, he even prepared for a physical altercation. Fortunately, everythi as pnned.

  His current identity was the legitimate son of a hereditary baron. While it might not mean mu all of Nordnd, in the small harbor town, this status offered him signifit advantages.

  Having passed the most challengi, Lynn was able to ease his guarded posture somewhat. However, the unfamiliarity of the harbor town soon became a headache. He had to spend a siderable amount of time wandering the harbor, silently itting every location to memory, all while pretending to be familiar with the surroundings.

  After hours of wandering, Lynn carefully entered a shop with a circur emblem on its fa?ade.

  If he wasn't mistaken, this was the emblem of Lame Loude's gang, known as the "Gang of the Ships."

  The shop's owner was an elderly halfling. As Lynn stepped inside, he was busy moving a rge barrel of heavy yellow-bck ore to the other end of the room.

  Due to his short stature, the heavy iron barrel pressed against the halfling's fad stantly swayed as he walked. The small pieces of ore on top quickly tumbled to the ground.

  Seeing this se, Lynn stepped forward to lend a hand, and together, they piled the ore from the rge barrel into a er.

  "Thank you so much... guest!" The elderly halfling, speaking with a pronounasal tone, vigorously wiped his dust-covered hands on his pants before turning to Lynn and said, "Alright, let's get down to business. Wele to Bill's little shop... I mean, what I help you with, Lord Lotte?"

  After getting a good look at Lynn's appearahe halfling Bill's casual attitude immediately turned obsequious.

  He practically luoward the ter arieved several ornate boxes from a drawer, each taining red and blue gemstones. "You have a look at these; they're the fi goods this year... and we also have a whole shipment of exquisite spices that you won't find anywhere else," Bill rambled on.

  Lynn, oher hand, waved his hand with a ck of i, interrupting the halfling's words. "I'm not here to buy anything. Quite the opposite, I have a valuable shipment that I want to send through the Sea of Mists to reach Vikniel."

  "I heard that you have the ability te a ship for long voyages and ehe safety of the cargo, is that right?" Lynn asked tentatively.

  "Of course, everyone in the harbor town knows the reputation of the Gang of the Ships, and even those vile pirates wouldn't dare to intercept our vessels!" Bill puffed out his unruly beard and assured Lynn.

  "But renting aire ship for cargo transport requires a lot of crew and guards..." Bill cautiously observed Lynn's rea, ready to determihe price based on his expression. This was a golden opportunity to make a big profit.

  "Money is not a problem!" Lynn said without hesitation, tossing out a substantial sum. Then, with Bill's exuberant expression, he ged his tone and tinued, "However, this shipment is of utmost importance. I o meet Loude in person, preferably face to face!"

  Bill's expression became somewhat hesitant.

  "What? Do you think I'm not qualified to meet Lame Loude?" Lynn furrowed his brow and his tone grew stern.

  "No, no, no," Bill shook his head frantically. He definitely didn't dare to say that.

  After a moment of hesitation, Bill looked around and cautiously said, "In fact, very few people in the Gang of the Ships know the eruth. Mr. Loude is currently not in the harbor town."

  "How ve," Lynn clearly hesitated for a moment, scrutinizing the halfling in front of him with a suspicious look before asking, "Do you know where he went?"

  Bill smacked his lips and helplessly said, "I'm not sure. Normally, around Moonday, Mr. Loude stays in the harbor, but this year seems to be an exception."

  Lynn stared at the elderly halfling for a while, then suddenly spoke, "Fet it. If Loude isn't here, I'll seek help elsewhere."

  The elderly halfling immediately became anxious. "Lord Lotte, maybe you should resider. While Mr. Loude is not in the harbor town, I tact Rabel for you. He is Mr. Loude's most trusted subordinate and handle all matters for the Gang of the Ships..."

  "I've said it already, this cargo is extremely valuable. I o speak with Loude personally. Notify me wheurns," Lynn said, ign Bill's tinued calls as he walked out of the shop.

  Outside, on the well-kept docks, dozens of massive sailboats were moored. Dockworkers in gray attire were busy moving crates filled with goods from the decks to the wooden ptforms by the docks, amidst the noisy hubbub of the crowd and the overseer's shouts.

  Lynn surveyed the bustling se of the harbor town, his mind filled with doubt.

  I days, this was the busiest time for the harbor, and acc to Jonny's description, the passage to the nd of the wizards would briefly open. It was the only ce each year to transpoods to the nd of the wizards. At such a critical juncture, Loude should not be leaving.