Chapter 218: Tim's Journey (2)

Under a cloudless sky, the Cuttlefish sailed across a calm sea. Tim Snowscale stood at the edge of the wooden deck, leaning against the rail and looking enviously at the Murloc soldiers playing with the Bronze-Backed Alligator Turtles in the water.

As Tim stared in a trance, the voice of the gnoll captain, Moni Redmane, rang out behind him.

"What, want to join them? Go ahead!"

Tim hurriedly turned and bowed in salute.

"Greetings, Captain!"

The gnoll captain looked him up and down. Tim was naturally blessed with a strong physique; his build was a full two sizes larger than an ordinary Murloc's.

"With a build like yours, it's a shame you aren't in the army!"

Tim's eyes dimmed. He wanted to join the army too, but unfortunately, his cultivation talent was simply too poor—he wouldn't even make it past the recruitment gates.

Seeing the Murloc's dejected expression, Moni instantly understood.

Under White Castle's policies, no talent went undiscovered. Upon turning three, children of every race received a free talent appraisal.

Moni didn't say anything more, turning around and heading toward the cabin.

Tim watched the gnoll captain limp away, his eyes filled with respect.

He had heard from a Murloc soldier, Sola Blackfin, that Moni Redmane had once been a powerful Warrior. The gnoll had frequently led his troops in charges on the front lines, shedding his blood and youth for White Castle.

But misfortune struck when least expected. In a battle against a Transcendent Beast, Moni had lost half of his foot.

The severe injury forced Moni to end his military career. Yet, unwilling to return home and retire, he found a position as a ship captain in the Logistics Department to continue serving his beloved White Castle.

Because of this, every crew member aboard the Cuttlefish deeply respected their captain.

After the captain left, Tim went back to watching the five Bronze-Backed Alligator Turtles alternately diving and surfacing in the water.

Among the Murlocs of the Overseas Archipelago, anyone who owned Bronze-Backed Alligator Turtles was either a professional soldier serving as a Tide Hunter, or a wealthy and powerful Murloc noble.

How magnificent those big beasts were!

...

The weather at sea was like a girl in love—fickle and prone to sudden changes.

The morning had been bright and calm, but by noon, dark clouds blanketed the sky and fierce winds howled.

Out on the deck of the Cuttlefish, the gale and rough waves made it difficult for the disabled gnoll captain to stand steady. He stood at the cabin door, gripping the frame to anchor himself as he commanded the bustling crew.

"Quick, quick, quick! Grab some ropes and tie down the cargo! Look sharp, all of you!"

"You there, kobold! Tie a few more knots and lash them tightly to the mast."

"Sola Darkfin! Take down the sails, or the gale will snap the mast! The storm is here!"

A wave crashed in, tilting the hull, and everyone hurriedly grabbed onto whatever was closest.

Suddenly, an unsecured cargo crate slid toward the sea. Tim Snowscale reacted quickly, lunging forward to grab a protruding block of wood on the side.

"Good job, Tim Snowscale! Move the extra cargo into the cabin! I remember there's still some space inside!"

"Damn it! Catch them! Don't let them run loose!"

"Murloc soldiers! Take our precious alligator turtles and dive into the deep sea! Don't let them get swept away by the waves, or we'll be carrying this cargo to the capital ourselves!"

At that moment, a bolt of lightning pierced down from the inky clouds, its white flash illuminating the world.

Boom!

A few seconds later, rolling thunder echoed, sounding as if it were ringing right in everyone's ears.

Pea-sized raindrops poured down, pelting the deck and splashing up before flowing down the scuppers into the sea.

The rain soaked the gnoll's fur. Captain Moni Redmane pulled off his hat, wiped the water from his face, and flicked his arm to shake the rain from his fur.

Suddenly, he spotted a massive wave in the distance—rising like a solid wall of water and hurtling toward the Cuttlefish.

"Damn it! Gnolls and kobolds, hide in the cabin! Murlocs, keep working!"

The land races retreated into the cabin in an orderly fashion. If Murlocs fell into the sea, they could simply dive deep to wait out the storm. But if a land-dweller fell into the water during a tempest, they were done for.

Yet the gnoll captain, Moni Redmane, limped his way toward the ship's helm.

By then, Tim had just finished moving the last piece of cargo. Through the fierce storm, the Murloc saw the gnoll captain step up to the helm and grab the wheel with both hands.

"Tim Snowscale, grab some rope and tie me to it! Hurry up, stop dawdling!"

Following the captain's orders, his heart swelling with admiration, Tim used the rope to lash the gnoll tightly to the helm.

In this kind of weather, without a professional at the helm, the ship could be blown off course, risking getting lost, striking a reef, or being completely capsized by the waves.

After securing the captain with a tight dead knot, Tim sprinted toward the cabin.

By then, the giant wave was less than ten meters from the Cuttlefish. The gnoll captain roared, "It's too late to reach the cabin! Hug the mast!"

The captain's voice pierced the torrential rain and thunder, reaching Tim's ears. With no time to think, Tim scrambled like a monkey, wrapping all four limbs securely around the mast.

In the gloom, a flash of lightning illuminated the gnoll captain's intensely focused face. Staring down the incoming rogue wave, he spun the helm, adjusting the ship's angle.

Finally, the Cuttlefish sliced into the wave at a near-right angle. It was thrust high into the air by the swell before plunging violently back down.

The ship plunged and heaved violently. Tim clung tightly to the mast, faintly hearing the sound of things shattering inside the cabin.

The experienced gnoll captain navigated the vessel, breaking through wave after wave, completely oblivious to the greater danger quietly approaching.

In the dark waters below, a shadow even deeper than the sea itself silently slipped beneath the Cuttlefish.

Suddenly, Tim felt the ship bump upward, as if something had nudged it from underneath. He was confused; in weather like this, what could possibly be directly below them?!

Assuming it was just his imagination, Tim looked up at the focused gnoll captain. Seeing no reaction from Moni, he relaxed.

Right after that, Tim felt the ship get shoved from below again.

This time, he realized something was wrong and yelled to the gnoll, "Captain! There's something under the ship!"

As a High-Tier Warrior, the gnoll captain's expression instantly changed the moment he heard the Murloc's shout.

Because of the ship's structure, the bow and stern were always the most turbulent during a storm, while the middle remained relatively stable.

The mast Tim was clinging to was located right in the center of the ship, making it easier to feel any subtle impacts against the hull.

The gnoll captain figured it out in an instant.

They were likely in huge trouble!

At that moment, a massive tentacle covered in suction cups erupted from the sea and slammed down onto the deck.

Crash!

The cargo crates on the deck shattered on impact, and the goods inside were swept away by the wind.

The gnoll captain instantly recognized the owner of the tentacle.

"Damn it! A wild deep-sea giant octopus!"