Chapter 285 - 5: Mediterranean
Komer did not change his demeanor because of the two men’s gazes; he remained keenly interested in the craftsmanship of this Star Compass. It must be the handiwork of a genuine Magic Toolsmith, as temporary mages simply couldn’t produce such exquisitely made items. The dark star map and the crimson lines representing the sea map complemented each other beautifully, and the edges of the compass had been polished to a shine, likely due to long-term use.
A smooth glass cover shrouded the compass. Whenever one needed to harness the power of the stars, all that was required was to open the skylight at the top of the captain’s cabin and let the force from the stars shine upon the magic metal star map arranged in a specific pattern on the compass, which would then guide the crew on their way forward.
"It seems this gentleman is quite interested in the Star Compass," the captain said with a kind smile, prompting Komer to nod in response. He had not intended to engage in conversation about such topics, but with time to kill, learning about the ways of the sea might alleviate some of the loneliness of the journey.
"Yes, this Star Compass is quite exquisite, but it appears to have some years on it. Generally speaking, a Star Compass’s lifespan doesn’t exceed twelve years. May I ask how old this one is?" Komer’s fair fingers gently grazed over the glass cover, causing the shipowner beside him to tense nervously. However, the shipowner seemed to have a certain respect for the bearded captain and, seeing no signs of displeasure from him, simply turned his head away and pretended not to notice.
"This is Master Agamemnon’s creation from Delphi, who claimed that this compass should be usable for up to fifteen years. It’s been ten now, but it remains very precise; I too believe it can last longer than fifteen years," the captain said with evident respect when mentioning Agamemnon’s name.
"Delphi? Oh, was this ship built in the west? That’s incredible, it can actually navigate the Nether Sea. It seems you are a remarkable navigator. Please forgive my impertinence," Komer said, raising his eyebrows in surprise. Delphi was an important port at the northwest end of the Blue Continent, famous for shipbuilding and maritime trade. The straight-line distance from Mattdam must be over three thousand miles. If one were to travel by sea, it would be at least ten thousand miles. Komer had always felt that the ship did not quite fit the design and style from his region; it turned out to be an ocean vessel from the West. The fact that this medium-sized vessel could make the long voyage to the Nether Sea was indeed a surprise to Komer.
"Hmph, Captain Portalan is a well-known navigator on the Nether Sea and the North Mediterranean. He helped me select this ship, and it cost me a great deal of money, 80,000 Gold Shields," the annoying shipowner interjected inopportunely, his words tinged with a show-off attitude. Upon hearing this, Komer noticed a flash of displeasure in the captain’s eyes, but due to the presence of another party, there was no further comment.
"It seems that Captain Portalan must be very familiar with this sea region. I wonder if Captain Portalan has ever been to the south?" Komer was very interested in the situation in the Mediterranean. The old thief Gote was nowhere to be found, and even with the leverage of Magic-armed guns, it was difficult to meet with him. He had heard that the struggle for maritime dominance in the North Mediterranean was fierce, with the Red-haired Witch battling the Skeleton King. It seemed difficult to determine who truly held supremacy over the North Mediterranean for the time being.
"The south? You mean the Mediterranean?" The captain’s face flickered with a hint of wistful reminiscence, as if Komer’s question had stirred some past memories.
"Yes, it seems that Mr. Portalan is very familiar with the surrounding seas and even with ships from Delphi. So, I ventured to ask," Komer indeed wanted to understand the situation in the Mediterranean. Ordinary crew members were usually focused on their own jobs and might have some knowledge of maritime situations, but it would be incomplete. As a captain, however, one had to be completely aware of the surrounding waters as the shipowner might redirect the vessel to another route at any time, and the responsibility for any mishaps fell on the captain’s shoulders.