386 - The Lakemarket City

Three days passed without incident. The weather remained clear. And the sea was unusually cooperative.

Under the care of Serene and Autumn, the thirty-two saved slaves slowly stabilized. They remained unconscious. Kept under light sedation to ensure their bodies could heal without stress.

The other reason they were kept unconscious was simply to avoid troublesome questions. Besides, Jack saw no reason to integrate thirty-two traumatized, weak strangers into his ship's crew.

On the late night of the third day, they finally saw it. The dark, jagged shape of Bigbanyan Island could finally be seen on the horizon.

Jack ordered the ship to slow down as they approached a secluded stretches of beach. It should be located a few kilometers north of a small coastal village. The village lights flickered faintly in the distance. Indicating the villagers' simple, rural life.

"Alright! Get ready to work, Everyone! Let's place them here." Jack said to the crew of his ship.

He jumped off the ship, straight to the beach. The others followed him quickly. Once they were there, Jack took his hand mirror out and cast the [Mythical Mirror Realm] on it.

Then, the crew brought the unconscious slaves out of the Mirror Mansion pocket dimension. They carried the thirty-two survivors to the shore in several quick trips.

They laid the men and women down on the dry sand. Sheltered under the thick foliage of the jungle edge where the tide could not reach them. Beside each person, Jack placed a sturdy waterproof leather pouch.

Inside each pouch was several coins and five days' worth of dried rations. It was enough to help them reach the nearby village and restart their lives. Provided they were not completely foolish.

Jack did not intend to linger or make a spectacle of the act. He had no interest in playing a messiah and being thanked. He simply wanted the task finished so they could proceed with their main goal.

"Done." Jack said decisively. "Let's move."

"They should be fine here, shouldn't they?" Reina asked.

"The village is close by." Jack replied calmly. "Most of their injuries had been healed by Serene and Autumn. And they should wake up soon. As long as they aren't completely unlucky or very stupid, they will survive."

Once back aboard, Jack told Rune to activate the disguise mechanisms of the vessel. The fairy emitted a blinding purple light. And the ship started to transform.

The dark, decayed wood of the Silent Mermaid creaked as powerful illusion runes and structural shifts took hold.

The shredded black sails smoothed into crisp, white canvas. The ancient, blackened timber turned into polished newer-looking mahogany. And the ghostly aura vanished completely. Leaving only slightly colder atmosphere around the ship.

Within minutes, the terrifying ghost ship had transformed into a perfectly normal, elegant explorer sloop. The Ocean Wanderer.

"Set course for the river mouth." Jack ordered Argust.

The Ocean Wanderer glided into the broad mouth of the Bigbanyan River. The river was massive. Flowing heavily from the interior of the island.

Massive, ancient trees lined the riverbanks. Their roots were twisted like gigantic snakes reaching into the murky water. Nocturnal bird calls echoed through the night air.

By early morning, the huge river widened even more significantly. Opening into a vast, mist-shrouded body of water known as Lake Banyan. Sitting directly in the middle of this massive freshwater lake was... Lakemarket City.

Jack stood at the bow. Looking at the settlement through his steamrune binoculars. It was a sprawling, chaotic metropolis built entirely on top of the water.

Thousands of heavy wooden barges, floating platforms, hollow log rafts, and multi-story brick-and-wooden structures were tethered together by thick ropes and iron chains.

White smoke rose from thousands of small brick chimneys. And narrow water canals served as streets. Filled with rowboats, small canoes, and wooden ferries.

Unlike Lonestone City, there were no towering steam pipes, no rumbling iron engines, and no steamrune rails here. The city looked completely untouched by the modern Industrial Revolution. Frozen in the aesthetic and technology of the Exploration Age.

"It looks like a floating maze." Baroness Artheim observed. Stepping up beside Jack. "Ridiculous in term of city structures, yet remarkably stable."

"It works for them." Jack said calmly. "And it makes traveling interesting. I'd be very disappointed if every settlement we visit has the same style."

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The Ocean Wanderer navigated toward the main outer harbor ring. A thick wooden toll gate blocked the channel. A stout dock master in a faded linen coat stood on a wooden tower. Holding a brass megaphone.

"State your vessel and purpose!" The dock master bellowed.

"Private explorer sloop, Ocean Wanderer." Jack answered. His voice was easily carried across the water without aid. "Resupply and trade."

"Ten silver pieces for one day's docking fee at Dock Ring Four." The dock master said.

"Three days." Jack tossed a small leather pouch containing the exact amount required directly onto the tower desk.

The dock master caught it, checked the contents, and nodded. He yanked a wooden lever. Causing the massive timber gate to drop beneath the water surface with a heavy splash.

"Pass through!"

The ship glided smoothly into the assigned berth. Once the vessel was securely moored, Jack turned to his crew.

"We stay here for three days to gather local information." Jack said bluntly. "Don't cause unneeded trouble. Don't drag the ship into local politics. But if anyone gives you trouble, feel free to act."

The crew nodded. They were already familiar with the principles Jack set for them. They were not looking for trouble. But, they weren't afraid of trouble either.

They were all experienced transcendent characters and needed no hand-holding. Within minutes, the crew split up.

Ned, Bell, and Moby headed toward the central floating taverns. Baroness Artheim, Leon, and Chloe went to search for the library. Mirella, and Barnaby took a ferry toward the artisan districts. The healer sisters stayed near the docks to check local herbal markets, while Argust and Don set off to find local ingredient suppliers.

Jack decided to go ashore with Reina and Aella. Floating silently beside Jack's shoulder was Rune. Her tiny mechanical body was emitting a faint, soothing pale green light. One that was practically invisible under the morning sunlight.

Aella adjusted her leather belt. Ensuring her voidfire handgun was hidden beneath her slightly oversized leather coat.

"Where to first, Dear?" Reina asked. Looking around at the bustling wooden walkways.

"Let's just walk around." Jack said. "We don't need to have any specific destination."

As they walked across the creaking wooden planks of Lakemarket City, Jack stealthily activated his [Eyes of Judgement]. Faint information overlays flickered rapidly across his vision as he scanned the passing crowds.

The city was overflowing with people. And to Jack's surprise, the density of transcendent beings here was significantly higher than the ones in any major mainland city he had visited. Roughly one out of every twelve people walking the floating streets possessed supernatural power.

However, as Jack analyzed their details, he quickly noticed a clear pattern. Almost all of the transcendent people present belonged to physical-oriented classes.

They were mostly low-level martial monks, mystic fighters, eldritch knights, bloodline warriors, and arcane hunters. Most of them were still in awakening levels. Only a few were in low enhanced levels.

Jack continued walking. Scanning the crowded marketplace where fishmongers were shouting and merchants were trading exotic jungle timber.

His eyes caught a few exceptions. A quiet man in gray robes sitting near a shrine was detected as a Divine Acolyte from the Church of Justice. An old book trader sitting behind a stack of moldy scrolls was listed as a Mystic Scholar. And a woman gathering rare water lilies on a raft was a Primal Sorcerer.

Beyond those few, Jack saw absolutely no advanced caster or craft paths. There was not a single Steamrune Engineer in the entire sector. He saw no Eldritch Warlocks, nor did he spot any Sacred Druids.

"Notice anything interesting, Dear?" Reina asked softly. Noticing Jack's silent scrutiny.

"A lot of transcendent ones." Jack said bluntly. "But almost all of them are low-grade martial types. Barely any real casters or scholars. Zero steamrune engineers."

"It makes sense." Reina said. Looking around at the wooden structures and the waterwheels. "Myriad Island Archipelago possessed decent number of training halls for martial types of transcendence. Magic and steamrune technology weren't really popular in these zones."

"Good for us." Jack muttered. "It makes them pretty predictable."

Aella sniffed the air. Pointing her tiny finger toward a roadside stall roasting large, scaled freshwater eels over an open charcoal pit.

"Smells good." She said in excitement.

Jack smiled and bought three skewers of roasted eel. Handing one to Aella and one to Reina. Enjoying its taste as they kept moving

They spent the remainder of the day walking through many of the floating districts. Exploring the weapon smithies. Inspecting local alchemical herbs. And observing the unique waterborne culture of Lakemarket City.

Despite the high concentration of rough-looking martial artists, no one was foolish enough to pick a fight with Jack's group. Even without displaying his aura, Jack's size and his intimidating aura; as well as the quiet air of danger around Reina were enough to keep local thugs at bay.

Later in the evening, Jack, Reina, and Aella returned to the Ocean Wanderer. The crimson sun was slowly dipping itself below the lake horizon. Setting the floating city ablaze with fiery reflections.

The rest of the crew had already gathered on the main cabin. Don was in the middle of preparing a massive dinner using local giant lake crabs and spicy jungle tubers. The aroma filled the ship. Creating a relaxed, comfortable atmosphere.

"Any useful news from the city?" Jack asked as he sat down on a wooden chair. At the head of the dining table.

"Just local gossips." Ned said. Tossing one of his magic beads into the air and catching it lazily. "The local tribes in the deep jungle are holding some kind of celebrations. The local martial guilds are hiring mercenaries to guard timber expeditions. Things like that."

"Boring stuff." Barnaby added. Lightly plucking a chord on his lute. "No good ballads around here. Just fishermen singing about giant catfish."

"Well... I found something much better than gossip." A confident voice interrupted.

Chloe Chase stepped forward. Beside her, Sparkle, the small lightning kirin cub, let out a cheerful, crackling squeak. Chloe had a triumphant smirk on her face.

Jack looked at the inheritor of fortune. Not really surprised. "Speak then."

"I was wandering around the old antique stalls in the lower float district." Chloe began. "I found this old, dusty puzzle box made of dark wood. The merchant claimed it was an unbreakable relic from two centuries ago and tried to scam me for it. Well, I bought it just to test my shadow threads on the internal lock."

"And?" Jack prompted.

"Er... I got clumsy." Chloe admitted. Rubbing the back of her neck with a sheepish grin. "I dropped it down a flight of wooden stairs. It hit the ground and and smashed wide open. The wood was totally rotten inside."

"So you broke a useless box?" Leon grunted. Taking a swing from his flask.

"Well... not exactly useless." Chloe responded. Pulling out a rolled-up object from her shadow pocket. "The box was a decoy. Inside the double-bottom panel, I found this."

She unrolled the object onto the center of the wooden dining table. It was a... map.