Extraordinary Voyage

The sun was shining brightly today, which was an exceedingly rare spell of good weather.

Amidst the blue sky and azure sea, the Kingdom's Third Fleet's base at Gabred Military Port was particularly bustling.

Merchant ships, large and small, arriving from all directions, were loading and unloading cargo, resupplying, and carrying out maintenance here. Meanwhile, the flourishing shipping business constantly delivered an endless stream of resources to this port city, creating countless wealth and opportunities.

This scene repeated day after day, year after year, unchanging for anyone's departure, nor halting for anyone's return...

At this moment, warships and merchant ships returning to port were taking advantage of this fine weather gifted by the Goddess to organize sailors for the maintenance and upkeep of their vessels. This ensured that, after setting sail again, their sole reliance on the ocean could still bring them safely back home.

In the warship docking area.

The sailors aboard a rather inconspicuous Level 6 Battleship were, of course, engaged in similar chores, but their diligence was noticeably more meticulous compared to the routine work on other battleships.

"Hurry up! We must thoroughly clean the deck before noon to welcome the new captain!"

Fleck, dressed in his cleanest and most immaculate sailor's uniform, commanded his sailors to meticulously clear the deck, with the simple aim of making a good first impression on the new officer.

Whether it was the warship underfoot or Fleck himself.

Of course, Fleck's task was just the simplest part of the welcoming ceremony. Personnel arrangement, supply replenishment, weapon maintenance records, and more all had to be impeccably prepared before the new captain's arrival!

Despite his present appearance as a proper sailor, Fleck was actually a fisherman's son, having just passed the assessment last year to become an esteemed member of the Kingdom Navy.

After three months of new recruit training, he and several other recruits from his cohort were assigned to this relatively ordinary Level 6 Battleship to become the most ordinary of sailors.

Indeed, the opportunities for new recruits in his cohort were similar, with very few exceptions.

Once on board, because a Level 6 patrol ship typically operated close to the coastline, life on board was relatively peaceful and safe.

However, this tranquility was only relative to other higher-class battleships.

Before long, during a patrol, they unexpectedly encountered a small pirate ship operating who knows where from. During the combat, he was surprised to discover that the swordsmanship skills of several of his fellow recruits were far superior to many veterans who had served for years, especially his own.

With just one battle, he had cleanly and efficiently taken a pirate's head.

Thus, Fleck stood out for his "outstanding" swordsmanship, which earned him the favor of the ship's dandy boatswain, allowing him and a few fellow recruits to join the ship's well-rewarded Marines. Though the new position was more dangerous, it paid better, and he gradually earned a considerable reputation among sailors.

The young man thought that by slowly grinding through his service and building achievements, he might be able to achieve the rank of Sub-Lieutenant after the age of thirty. If he could rise to the current position of boatswain before retiring, he would be even more satisfied.

But unexpectedly.

The former captain had voluntarily requested to come ashore and withdraw from frontline combat roles due to health reasons, taking along his close confidant boatswain. This unexpected turn of events introduced a new variable into Fleck's future plans.

Today the new captain was to assume command, and like many on this warship, Fleck couldn't help but feel a bit nervous.

Whether it was a merchant ship or a warship, the captain on the ocean was the ultimate authority, holding the power of life and death over the crew and control over their path to promotion. A change in command was nothing less than a turn of destiny for them.

"Fleck, are you done?" On the other side of the deck, his cohort recruit Baldwin urged loudly.

"Almost done," Fleck immediately replied after checking the sailors' progress.

But seeing his fellow Baldwin instantly reminded him of the rumors widely circulated among navy soldiers about the "Newcomer King."

After all, his and his buddies' swordsmanship owed its excellence to that honorable person...

Suddenly, as Fleck occasionally watched the movements on the shore, he noticed something new—three young people in officer uniforms walking across the dock's pathway, heading straight in his direction.

"Ah! That person is...?!"

...

"The commotion you caused at 'New Inn Port' this time wasn't small; when the news got here, the upper ranks of the Third Fleet were rattled! So, did you meet our Princess at the Academy? Is she as beautiful as the rumors say?" asked a Major officer with short dark blue hair, winking at the other young school officer walking beside him.

"What, are you trying to get information from me? We've been ordered to keep silent, and every detail of this incident is strictly confidential.

If you're clever enough, go sneak a peek at General Snite's internal intel. With his rank, he certainly has detailed information." Even after half a year of not meeting, Milan still couldn't shake his flippant and gossipy nature, especially when it came to girls.

Also from a distinguished family, Milan, even though he had an elder brother above him, compared to Anthony, a noble heir, put on far less pretension and lived more freely and comfortably, albeit less properly...

Hearing this, Aiven subtly countered. Talking about gossip regarding the Princess, you must have a death wish! Huh, by the way, as the Guardian Knight of the Princess, shouldn't I give this guy a sword at this point?

"Cough cough, that would be equivalent to having my leg broken directly.

However, what you said makes me even more curious about how you pulled off that feat at the time. Your appointment has arguably broken records in naval history, hasn't it? The youngest captain in the Kingdom! Newly come of age! Just one year into service!...and more records besides.

After receiving the Navy Department's order from Fleet Headquarters, the Vice Admiral wouldn't stop talking about it every day, and my ears were about to grow calluses."

"I just did what I had to do with all my might, and happened to have a bit more luck than others.

Once you witness what a true peak strongman is like, you'll understand how powerless I was at the time, and even with achievements in hand, you need to be alive to enjoy them!"

Milan's words brought Aiven back to recalling the scene of the grand night battle, the Quasi-Legendary Battleship rampaging, the "powerful" battleship burning fiercely, the glorious main cannon fired by "Steam Fortress," and the Evil God's crazy laughter still seemingly echoing in his ears.

In this grand battle, at least half of the sailors who went to sea failed to return to shore, with not even a complete corpse left behind.

Without life, there's nothing left! Thinking about this, Aiven instantly felt that the achievements gained through such life-or-death struggles were quite deserved.

The two were talking in front, with another towering and robust figure following silently behind, and the group had already reached a three-masted sailing ship docked in the port.

"Look, we're here. This is the Level 6 Battleship 'Conch' where you'll be joining.

There aren't many vacant ships to begin with, and many substitute captains who've been waiting for years have their eyes on them. I went to find my father, who spared no effort in getting this best-conditioned Level 6 Battleship left for you.

Don't be misled by its classification as Level 6; except for the insufficient number of cannons, it's not much worse than a Level 5 Battleship! How's that for brotherly consideration?"

"Much appreciated! I'll treat you to drinks tonight, you choose the place, and I'll pay the bill!" A good ship's importance to a navy officer is self-evident. Although he had the Navy Department's captain appointment, there were numerous loopholes that could be exploited during practical implementation.

Maintaining good relations with the high levels of the fleet and being tactful naturally leads to smooth sailing, at least without worrying about intentional sabotage. If you're tactless, being tossed a small shabby ship still counts as being a captain, and being given a group of troublemakers to manage would make life very uncomfortable!

Aiven indeed should express proper gratitude for Milan's help, and he patted his chest and graciously agreed.