Chapter 375: The Vast Ocean Trade Convoy
Misty City had two separate ports, one just to the north of the Misty Bridge, and one just to the south.
The northern port was the main one, where merchant and passenger ships from all over the South-Central Region, the Black Tiger Kingdom, and the countries even further north than that docked.
The vast majority of regular traffic and trade was conducted at the northern port, with numerous ships arriving and departing every day.
The southern port was far less used and mainly served as a berth for Raging River Legion warships that prowled the lower Lorren, intercepting smugglers and keeping a watchful eye out for any possible incursions from the Darr Kingdom.
However, every once in a while, the southern port would also host large vessels that sailed upstream from the Cerulean Ocean.
Today was one such day.
.....
When the messenger from the Vast Ocean Trading Company convoy flew in, he had reported that it would be another 2 hours before the ships actually arrived, giving the civilian and military leaders just enough time to throw together a proper reception.
The southern port was cleared of anchored warships and then hastily cleaned by a small army of labourers and dockhands.
Barrels were removed, crates stacked neatly, walkways cleaned, and extraneous equipment hidden away, all to make the dock as presentable as possible.
Lining the first and largest dock were two Battalions of soldiers, 100 from the Balfour Family Guard, and another 100 from the Raging River Legion.
Dressed in their finest armour, wielding their mirror-polished weapons, and holding up all manner of flags and banners, these hurriedly gathered troops made up the most basic of Honour Guards, ready to welcome the soon to be arriving Spirit Elite Elder.
At the head of this Honour Guard, where a movable gangway meant to facilitate boarding of tall, oceangoing ships was set up, stood Her Majesty the Second Queen, Natasha Summers, in a puffy, uncomfortable looking dark-blue formal dress.
Beside the queen was a rather unusual figure, one who seemed quite out of place amongst all the adults.
To be honest, Lucas was feeling rather uncomfortable, and not just because he was in those tight, stuffy noble clothes he hated so much. Still, he did his best not to fidget as he stood at attention like everyone else.
He was here to represent his Master as Celestina’s First Disciple, and he wasn’t planning on embarrassing her by tearing a button on his shirt.
Christina would likely have been a better choice for this role, as she actually had training for such occasions, but everyone had agreed it would be best for her to remain out of sight until they determined whether the Elder from the Vast Ocean Trading Company was friendly or not.
The Aura Concealing Pendant Tina usually used would be of no use in front of a Soul Elite’s Soul Sense, nor would a normal Aura Concealing Cloak be considered proper attire for such a ceremony as it basically screamed you were trying to hide something.
While not as bad as it would be for someone from the Empire to learn of Christina’s extraordinary talent, a powerful Cultivator from the Kore Sovereignty becoming aware of the Twelfth Princess’ genius wasn’t ideal either.
Lucas would never expose his Junior Sister to such risk just because of a little discomfort, so he didn’t hesitate to accept this job.
Standing just behind Natasha and Lucas was a row of Spirit Initiates, including Allina, Vanessa, Samuel, Gavin, and a dozen others, all of them also wearing armour or fine formalwear.
Just minutes after all the preparations were completed, a hazy figure appeared on the northern horizon, then another, then another.
Soon, a total of 20 ships sailing in a neat formation came into sight, each one of them at least twice as large as even the biggest river ships built in the Rockwell Kingdom.
Not only were these ships large, measuring at least 60 metres in length with a minimum 2,000-ton displacement, they were also quite fast, traveling upriver at almost 25 kph, a fact that Lucas found quite shocking.
It was quite windy along the shallow valley where the Lorren flowed, but such speed shouldn’t have been possible for a pure sail ship of this size.
There must be some form of technology or Spirit Array at work, supplementing their propulsion, Lucas immediately figured, becoming more and more intrigued.
Lucas needed ships of this size, or quite possibly larger, if he ever wanted to see his parents again, return Lady Frey and her pack of Snow Spirit Foxes to the Northern Continent, and reunite Yuki with her mother in the far south.
Being able to study these Vast Ocean ships, or better yet, recruit some shipwrights from the Trading Company, would surely be of great help to this goal.
Of course, Lucas understood that this was a consideration for the future, but making a positive impression on a high-level figure here would probably be a good first step towards that goal.
15 minutes later, as the lead Vast Ocean Trading Company ship finished mooring at the lead dock and the boarding stairs were pushed into place by the dockhands, Allina Crest shouted in a resonant voice, "Honour Guard! Salute!"
Immediately, all the soldiers stood at full attention, their right fists clenched tight across their hearts, their gazes fixed forward, spears or flags held upright.
As for Queen Natasha and the Spirit Initiates leading the welcoming delegation, they also placed their fists across their chests, shifted their left foot back half a step, and bowed their heads ever so slightly, offering the appropriate degree of respect for a powerful foreign dignitary without appearing overly servile.
Moments later, a figure appeared at the top of the gangway wearing a thick brown cloak that covered most of their figure and face.
This was typical traveling wear, especially for those sailing in winter when the cold and wind became quite oppressive, but it somehow added an air of mystery to this person.
What wasn’t a mystery, however, was their status.
This cloaked figure was undoubtedly the High-Rank Elder they had been expecting, the potent Cultivation Aura radiating from them making it obvious they were a Mid-Rank Spirit Elite.
Lucas was quite tempted to take a peek, curious to see what this Vast Ocean Elder looked like, but he knew better than to act so childishly, so he kept his head down just like everyone else.
Everyone remained perfectly still as the figure descended the steps, waiting for the foreign Elder to make the first move, and move they did.