Chapter 73. Revenge.
Van. Somewhere in the outlying seas of Mo Se, between the Earth Kingdom and the Fire Nation.
The merchant's ship had already sailed away, carrying the bodies of the fallen and some of Elder Jiang's mages. We were left with a captured frigate—a smaller vessel, but superior in speed and maneuverability. In my past life, I never understood much about ships, but the section on the Fire Nation I'd read provided detailed knowledge. If I remember correctly, our acquaintance's ship was a cruiser.
Over the years of the industrial revolution, driven by the need for more powerful ships, many different types and sizes emerged. The largest are considered battleships, twice the size of cruisers, capable of carrying up to a thousand soldiers. Typically, high-ranking officials from the military or administration travel on them: admirals, generals, the royal family, and some officials.
Next are cruisers, the main combat unit of the Fire Nation's fleet. Their large crew and powerful armament make even a single ship a formidable force at sea. Usually, they carry three to five trebuchets and a ballista. At the stern is a massive tower housing the captain's bridge.
Frigates are used for special operations, employed by the Southern Raiders. Their low draft allows them to approach the shore unobstructed, launching lightning-fast attacks on coastal settlements—as we saw with the Southern Water Tribe.
Boats are small steam-powered vessels, mandatory on every cruiser and battleship, and can be operated by a single person.
Wooden boats are built on captured territories in the Earth Kingdom. Due to the lack of metallurgical facilities, they're clad in wood instead of steel plates.
Transport ferries are used to carry people and cargo. There are also numerous barge ships, which have no armament.
"So, what's the issue?" I returned to our previous conversation as soon as I boarded the ship.
"Sometimes I regret my family is so large," he said wearily. "One of my nephews lives on Island Forty-Five—some small islands here don't have names, just numbers. He says that during the full moon, some villagers started disappearing. It began about six months ago."
"I told him to inform the village elder, who'd then send a request to the capital. Honestly, it's not the job of a patriarch from a respected and ancient lineage to run around with such minor matters. A month ago, on the full moon, some officials arrived, looked around, and left without finding anything. Now, I think I'll investigate myself. Maybe the spirits are 'playing around,'" he finished thoughtfully.