Chapter 113 - 111: The Road Beyond Seabreak

Chapter 113: Chapter 111: The Road Beyond Seabreak

The morning House Elysium prepared to leave Seabreak, Arin discovered that his younger sisters had purchased a boat.

Not a toy boat.

Not a decorative model.

An actual fishing boat.

He stood on the harbor dock, staring at the weathered wooden vessel tied beside the pier.

Then he looked at Lyra.

"Explain."

Lyra stood proudly with her hands behind her back.

"We made an investment."

Arin looked at the boat again.

Its blue paint was peeling, its sail had several patches, and its name—Lucky Minnow—had been painted across the bow in crooked white letters.

"How much?"

"Forty-eight silver."

Arin slowly turned.

"Forty-eight?"

Lyra nodded.

"Yes."

"Where did you get forty-eight silver?"

"We didn’t spend forty-eight silver."

Arin narrowed his eyes.

"Then what did you do?"

"We paid six silver for a one-eighth share."

That stopped him.

Lucan, who had accompanied them to the docks, immediately began laughing.

Arin looked toward Luna.

She was holding a small notebook.

"Big Brother, we’re boat owners."

Arin rubbed his forehead.

"Apparently."

The explanation took fifteen minutes.

The Lucky Minnow belonged to a fisherman named Toren Bale, whose previous business partner had retired after an unfortunate encounter with a particularly aggressive reef crab.

Toren needed money to replace the boat’s damaged nets and repair its refrigeration box.

Lyra had overheard him discussing the problem with another fisherman.

Naturally, she had proposed a business arrangement.

The Little Elysium Workshop would contribute six silver.

In exchange, it would receive one-eighth ownership of the boat and a corresponding share of future profits.

Arin listened carefully.

Then asked the most important question.

"Did you sign anything?"

Lyra nodded.

She handed him a document.

Arin read it.

Then read it again.

His expression changed.

"Lyra."

"Yes?"

"Who wrote this agreement?"

"Captain Elsen helped."

Arin looked up.

The harbor master stood several meters away, looking suspiciously amused.

Elsen raised her hands.

"Before you say anything, I made sure it was fair."

Arin examined the document again.

The agreement contained maintenance obligations, profit-sharing terms, accounting requirements, and a clause preventing either party from taking on additional debt without mutual approval.

It also required adult authorization for the children’s investment.

Arin pointed at the final page.

"My signature isn’t here."

Lyra smiled nervously.

"That’s why we’re asking now."

Lucan laughed harder.

Arin folded the document.

Then crouched in front of his sisters.

"Do you understand what happens if the boat doesn’t make money?"

Lyra nodded.

"We lose our investment."

"And if it needs repairs?"

"We pay our share from the business account, up to the agreed limit."

"And if Toren decides to stop fishing?"

"The agreement says he has to offer to buy our share back at a fair valuation."

Arin blinked.

Lyra smiled.

"Elsen explained it."

Luna raised her notebook.

"And I drew a fish."

Arin looked at the notebook.

There was indeed a fish.

A very large fish.

Wearing a crown.

He sighed.

Then smiled.

"All right."

Lyra froze.

"Really?"

"Yes. But your investment stays under the existing Workshop’s supervision, and I want quarterly accounts."

Lyra threw both arms into the air.

"WE OWN A BOAT!"

Luna cheered.

Lucan clapped.

Elsen laughed.

Arin looked toward the Lucky Minnow.

Then toward Toren, who was watching nervously from the deck.

"Please don’t let them convince you to install a souvenir shop."

Toren hesitated.

"Actually—"

"No."

The departure preparations continued throughout the morning.

The navigation buoy network had been installed around Seabreak’s northern approaches, with local technicians trained to maintain the equipment.

The harbor’s power distribution system was operating under temporary restrictions while its longer-term overhaul moved into the planning stage.

Bubble, the deep-water submersible, had been repaired and secured inside the Civic Exploration Platform’s equipment bay.

And the Little Elysium Coastal Lighthouse had been transferred to a local community group, with Lyra retaining the right to sell souvenirs nearby during future visits.

Arin considered that last arrangement suspiciously convenient.

But the lighthouse was now publicly accessible, properly maintained, and entirely harmless.

He decided not to argue.

Captain Elsen met him outside the platform’s main entrance.

She carried a small wooden box.

"For you."

Arin accepted it.

Inside was a brass compass.

Old.

Scratched.

But carefully polished.

He looked up.

"What’s this?"

"My father’s."

Arin blinked.

Elsen smiled.

"He was a navigator. Spent most of his life sailing these waters."

"I can’t accept this."

"You can."

"Elsen—"

She folded her arms.

"Young man, I’ve spent the last week dealing with missing ships, enormous sea creatures, thieves, power failures, and your family’s lighthouse business."

Arin smiled.

"Fair."

"You helped us find four people who should have been lost. You gave us information we can use to protect other sailors. And you didn’t try to take over the harbor while doing it."

Arin laughed softly.

"That last part seems important."

"Very."

She nodded toward the compass.

"Take it."

Arin looked at the instrument.

Then closed the box.

"Thank you."

Elsen smiled.

"Come back someday."

He nodded.

"We will."

The Civic Exploration Platform departed Seabreak shortly before noon.

Its enormous tracks rolled slowly along the reinforced coastal road.

The crew had carefully planned the route to avoid damaging local infrastructure.

Several harbor workers stood beside the road, waving.

Children shouted.

Fishermen raised their hats.

And Old Renn stood near the northern gate, watching the platform pass.

Arin spotted him through the observation window.

The elderly sailor raised his walking stick.

"STILL AN UGLY EGG!"

Arin burst out laughing.

EVE smiled.

"I believe he’s referring to Bubble."

"Definitely."

Lucan leaned against the railing.

"He’s going to miss us."

Arin nodded.

"Probably."

Their next destination lay north.

Beyond Seabreak, the coast became increasingly rugged.

Cliffs rose above narrow beaches.

Forests covered the hills.

Small fishing villages occupied sheltered coves.

And the main coastal road eventually divided into several older routes, some of which had fallen into disrepair.

The expedition’s immediate objective was simple.

Explore the northern coastline.

Survey potential trade routes.

Visit settlements that welcomed them.

And discover what lay beyond the better-known maps.

No emergency construction projects.

No political disputes.

No giant monsters requiring relocation.

At least, that was Arin’s hope.

Lucan found it amusing.

"You know something will happen."

Arin looked toward him.

"Something always happens."

"Exactly."

"That doesn’t mean we have to chase every problem."

Lucan smiled.

"We’ll see."

The first day’s journey was peaceful.

The platform traveled along a broad coastal plain.

To the west, green hills rose beneath the afternoon sun.

To the east, the ocean stretched toward the horizon.

EVE spent much of the journey on the observation deck.

She watched the waves.

The birds.

The changing coastline.

And the occasional fishing vessel moving far offshore.

Arin joined her after lunch.

"Enjoying yourself?"

She nodded.

"Very much."

He leaned against the railing.

"Good."

For a while, they watched the sea in silence.

Then EVE spoke.

"I’ve been thinking about the Ribbonbacks."

Arin smiled.

"Still?"

"Yes."

"What about them?"

"Their behavior suggests a complex relationship with the larger creature and the hydrothermal environment. There is much we don’t understand."

Arin nodded.

"That’s true."

EVE looked toward him.

"Would you like to return someday?"

He smiled.

"Absolutely."

She seemed pleased.

"But next time," he added, "we bring better equipment."

EVE laughed.

"Agreed."

By late afternoon, the platform reached a small coastal settlement called Windmere.

It was little more than a cluster of houses, a fishing pier, and a market square surrounded by terraced fields.

The local administrator, a thin elderly man named Garron, nearly dropped his walking stick when he saw the platform.

He stared at the enormous machine.

Then at Arin.

Then back at the machine.

"Is that a moving fortress?"

Arin smiled.

"No."

Garron narrowed his eyes.

"It looks like a fortress."

"It has bedrooms."

"Fortresses have bedrooms."

"And a kitchen."

"Fortresses have kitchens."

"And a bakery."

Garron paused.

Then slowly nodded.

"All right. That’s different."

Lucan covered his mouth.

EVE looked away.

Arin smiled triumphantly.

Windmere had no urgent crisis.

No dangerous monster attacks.

No failing infrastructure.

No hidden conspiracy.

Its residents were simply curious about the enormous machine that had appeared outside their village.

Arin found that refreshing.

He arranged a short public demonstration of the platform’s noncombat equipment.

Rian explained the water purification system.

EVE showed several harmless exploration drones.

A-01 demonstrated the cargo-loading equipment.

And Lyra opened a temporary biscuit stall.

Naturally.

The villagers were fascinated.

One fisherman asked whether the platform could travel underwater.

Arin shook his head.

"No."

Another asked whether it could fly.

"No."

A third asked whether it could climb a mountain.

Arin considered.

"Depends on the mountain."

Lucan smiled.

"That’s the spirit."

That evening, the villagers invited the expedition crew to a small coastal festival.

It was not a major celebration.

Just a seasonal gathering marking the beginning of the autumn fishing period.

Lanterns hung between wooden poles.

Musicians played near the market square.

Families shared grilled fish, bread, vegetables, and sweet pastries.

Arin attended with his sisters.

Lyra immediately began examining the food stalls.

Luna held his hand.

Lucan disappeared toward a group of local fishermen who were discussing swordsmanship.

Victor found a drinking contest.

Arin sighed.

"Wonderful."

EVE smiled.

"Should I intervene?"

"Not yet."

The festival was pleasant.

Arin tried several local dishes.

Some were excellent.

Others were suspicious.

One particular fermented fish preparation nearly defeated him.

He stared at the plate.

Then looked toward EVE.

"Is this supposed to taste like that?"

She examined it.

"Yes."

"Are you sure?"

"Quite."

Arin considered.

Then slowly pushed the plate away.

"I respect their culture."

EVE laughed.

"But?"

"I don’t need to experience every part of it."

Later, Lyra approached him carrying a small wooden box.

"Big Brother."

Arin looked down.

"What?"

"I bought something."

He sighed.

"What now?"

She opened the box.

Inside was a small collection of polished sea glass.

Blue.

Green.

Amber.

And clear.

Arin smiled.

"That’s pretty."

Lyra nodded.

"I thought Luna would like it."

Luna gasped.

"For me?"

Lyra smiled.

"Yes."

Luna hugged her.

Arin watched them quietly.

Then Lyra added, "Also, I bought them wholesale."

He laughed.

"Of course you did."

The following morning, the expedition continued north.

The road narrowed.

The cliffs grew steeper.

And the coastline became increasingly wild.

EVE adjusted the route to avoid unstable slopes.

A-01 reduced speed.

The platform’s tracks moved carefully across the uneven terrain.

By midday, the crew reached a high coastal ridge.

From there, they could see a vast stretch of shoreline.

Forests.

Cliffs.

Small islands.

And far in the distance, a narrow peninsula extending into the sea.

Rian studied the map.

"That peninsula isn’t marked."

EVE examined the navigation data.

"The available charts are incomplete."

Arin smiled.

"Then we’ll have to make our own."

Lucan grinned.

"Finally."

The platform descended toward the northern valley.

As it approached the peninsula, EVE detected an unusual feature.

Not a monster.

Not a dangerous mana anomaly.

A settlement.

A large one.

Hidden behind the coastal hills.

Arin leaned forward.

"Population?"

"Estimated between two and three thousand."

"Registered?"

EVE checked the regional records.

"No current administrative entry."

Lucan raised an eyebrow.

"Another forgotten village?"

"Possibly," EVE answered.

Arin studied the terrain.

The settlement appeared to occupy a sheltered valley between two ridges.

Several roads led toward it.

But none appeared on the current regional maps.

He frowned.

"That’s strange."

Then EVE highlighted another feature.

A long stone wall surrounded part of the valley.

Several towers stood along its perimeter.

And beyond the wall lay a large circular structure.

Rian leaned closer.

"What’s that?"

EVE examined the image.

"Unknown."

Arin smiled faintly.

"Interesting."

The platform approached cautiously.

Arin had no intention of repeating the misunderstanding at Hollowbrook.

He ordered the crew to stop well outside the settlement’s defensive perimeter.

Then he sent a small communication drone toward the nearest gate.

A few minutes later, the drone transmitted a response.

A woman’s voice emerged from the speaker.

"Unidentified travelers, state your purpose."

Arin smiled.

"Exploration."

A pause.

"Exploration?"

"Yes."

Another pause.

"With that thing?"

Arin glanced toward the enormous platform.

"Yes."

The woman sighed.

"Naturally."

Lucan laughed.

The voice continued.

"This is the Free Port of Caldris. Visitors are permitted, but armed forces must remain outside the valley."

Arin nodded.

"Understood."

"And your machine?"

Arin considered.

"Can we park it outside?"

A long silence followed.

Then the woman laughed.

"You’re serious."

"Very."

She sighed.

"All right. Wait there. Someone will come to meet you."

Arin ended the transmission.

Then looked toward EVE.

"Free Port of Caldris?"

She shook her head.

"No current records."

Lucan smiled.

"Sounds promising."

Arin nodded.

"Very."

An hour later, a delegation approached from the valley.

Three riders.

Two guards.

And a woman wearing a dark blue coat with silver embroidery.

She appeared to be in her early thirties, with short black hair and sharp grey eyes.

She dismounted.

Then looked up at the Civic Exploration Platform.

For several seconds, she said nothing.

Finally, she turned toward Arin.

"I’m Magistrate Selka Venn."

Arin nodded.

"Arin Elysium."

Her expression changed slightly.

"Elysium?"

"Yes."

She studied him.

Then smiled faintly.

"Well."

Arin raised an eyebrow.

"What?"

Selka folded her arms.

"I suppose that explains the ridiculous machine."

Lucan burst out laughing.

Arin sighed.

"I liked her better before she started talking."

Selka smiled.

"Welcome to Caldris, Master Elysium."

Then she glanced toward the platform again.

"Although I should warn you."

Arin looked toward her.

"About what?"

She smiled.

"People here have a habit of making visitors regret asking too many questions."

Arin considered.

Then smiled back.

"That sounds like a challenge."

Selka laughed.

"Perhaps."

Behind her, the gates of Caldris opened.

And beyond them waited a city that did not appear on any modern map.

Chapter End