Free Web NovelChapter 1099: Chapter 477: Ten Thousand Leagues of Sea Breeze (Part 1)
However, considering Ollica’s presence, Laine ultimately rejected this suggestion.
The deadly enmity between the Dark Elves and High Elves doesn’t need much explanation, and the relationship between the Dark Elves and Wood Elves is evidently poor. The King of the Forest, Olein, once led the Wood Elf Army using the World Root to reach Nagrand and gave the Witch King Malekith a good beating. It was only because the Witch Queen Moras promised to teach the Queen of the Forest Airel Dark Magic that the Wood Elves retreated. As a result, the Dark Magic amplified Airel’s dark side, ultimately causing a region within the Aisloron Forest to become shrouded in eternal night.
Afterward, the three great Ancient Tree-men, with the oldest Tree-man Adanhu sacrificing himself, healed Airel, allowing the Queen of the Forest to regain her sanity. Deeply shaken after regaining clarity, Queen Airel seldom left the King’s Forest since then.
In Laine’s territory, all his subordinates knew that there was a Dark Elf maid by Laine’s side. However, Ollica always stayed at home, either cultivating or attending to Laine’s daily needs, rarely venturing out, and thus others seldom had the chance to meet her.
Out of sight, out of mind, the Wood Elves and Half-Elves wouldn’t pay much attention.
But if she were brought along to form a team, it would be different. In Laine’s words, their worldviews were entirely incompatible. Conflicts would inevitably arise during the journey, as internal elf hatred far exceeds that between them and other races. This is not just a casual statement.
"No need, having fewer people has its advantages." After thinking for a while, Laine finally said.
Seeing Laine speak like this, Surya refrained from commenting further and gently said, "Be careful on your journey, I’ll take care of things here in the territory."
"I won’t be gone for long."
...I’m preparing to set sail...
Three days later, in Boldro, at the Manannan Dry Dock, the Boldro’s Great Sailboat "Manannan’s Fury".
Where the sea meets the sky, a boundless blue stretch—Laine stood on the deck of the great sailboat, gazing into the distant clear blue ocean and sky. Watching the busy sailors and fully armed knights on the deck, and the huge Sea God Trident Family Emblem on the main sail, the Count smiled at the female courtier standing beside him and said, "This is the pride of the Sea God Fleet, the great sailboat of Brittania. My dear, how do you feel?"
The Boldro’s Great Sailboats are the pride of the Boldro Duchy; they are the most powerful ships in the Sea God Fleet. Every plank of these great sailboats, made from meticulously selected oak brought into the Manannan Dry Dock, is laid down with grand blessing ceremonies. Multiple banquets and holidays are celebrated when a ship is launched. The Boldro People love their country’s great sailboats; it is their pride.
A great sailboat can carry hundreds of trained sailors and soldiers. The powerful ship, like a floating castle, is filled with firearms and crossbows. Most sailors are armed with scimitars and muskets. Each side of the ship is equipped with up to a hundred cannons, ensuring any enemy approaching will face a storm of firearms and crossbow arrows. Even if the enemy dares to get close, the sailors and the Sea God Knights on the deck will never shy away from taking the fight to them.
The ship’s bow features a mermaid statue symbolizing the Sea God Manannan. Under the Sea God’s blessing, the mermaid statue not only guides the ship to remain stable in ocean currents and strong winds but can also release lightning. It’s said that during a battle in which the "Invincible Fleet" of Estalia was sunk, a single bolt of lightning from the mermaid statue destroyed a large Southern People’s warship, greatly shocking the Estalians, with many smaller warships fleeing immediately.
Duke Bodric’s Sea God Fleet is one of the few blue-water navies in the Old World and the cornerstone of the Knight Kingdom’s maritime defense. Besides the Sea God Fleet, Knight King Richard also has a naval fleet at Le Anglong, but that fleet is merely a yellow-water navy, primarily composed of privateer and pirate ships.
On deck, sailors sang Boldro’s navy anthem, "Heart of Oak." Laine walked holding Veronica’s hand along the ship’s railing, experiencing a unique romance amid the sea breeze, blue waves, and slightly salty air.
"I should be grateful you still remember me; I thought you might have forgotten me," Veronica said, holding Laine’s arm. The Jialan Witch wore a sweet smile, obviously pleased that Laine wanted her to join him.
The Jialan Witch, who was thirty-three this year, rapidly progressed in Light and Flame Magic due to her strong mana and guidance from Supreme Grandmaster Tygris. With her profound magical skills, she still appeared like a girl in her blooming youth, though more mature and cool compared to when Laine first met her. Now, wearing a fiery red robe, she exuded the demeanor of a Great Wizard, and her presence on the deck was enough to keep sailors at a respectful distance.
Additionally, Veronica received numerous High Elf Spellbooks and Magic Scrolls from Tygris, which kept her busy conducting experiments and practicing advanced magic in recent times. If Laine hadn’t told her about the mission that required her presence, Veronica might have spent years absorbing that knowledge.
"When I need you, you complain I interrupt your research. When I don’t, you’re afraid I’ve forgotten you," Laine teased. "You make it very challenging for this Count."
