Above The Sky
Chapter 208 - 208 197 Polite Sea Otter Are You

208: Chapter 197 Polite Sea Otter: Are You?

(1/3) 208: Chapter 197 Polite Sea Otter: Are You?

(1/3) “The Glinting Crystal Clams were harvested by the Natives and cultivated in this sea area—they are the finest food for Magical Beasts, and every kind of Magical Beast likes to eat them, including the Deep Sea Crystal Dragon.”

Gazing far out at the sea, Ian retracted his gaze and turned to look at the Crystal Shellfish within the instrument, “But aside from that, there are also many other Magical Beasts that have been tamed by the Natives…

They are the guardians of this sea area and the watchful eyes of the Natives.”

“Clearly, our process of collecting the Element Crystal Clams has been discovered.

The Natives are already aware of our presence here.”

This was not surprising.

How could there possibly be no Magical Beasts lurking around such a sublime being as the Glinting Crystal Clams?

Both Master Gossay and Yisen Gard had long been prepared, and the explorers sent down to sea were also ready for combat.

It was just unexpected that this place turned out to be a Native breeding farm.

This also confirmed Ian’s earlier speculation that the Natives might have discovered the Deep Sea Crystal Dragon’s existence earlier than The Empire and had thus prepared to lure it closer and attempt to ‘worship’ it as a Totem Spirit.

Compared to a High-Level Magical Beast like the Deep Sea Crystal Dragon with great potential, creatures like Crocodragons and Sea Eels were just insignificant fish—To achieve this endeavor, the Tenglan Tribe and Mountain Tide Faction, which had almost split apart, might even join forces again!

Outside the cabin, a calm report also came from the first mate, “Lord, there are more Sea Beasts in the Luminous Sea than we imagined.

They seem trained and are closing in on us; we’re almost surrounded.”

“Besides, lookouts have noticed that on the periphery in the distance, small Native vessels are mingling with the Sea Beasts.

We have reason to believe that it is they who are driving the Sea Beasts to encircle us.”

Though the news was tense, the first mate was not afraid—never mind the encirclement of ordinary Sea Beasts, which posed almost no threat to their specially modified exploration vessel, even if Magical Beasts and Natives were among them, the exploration ship was equipped with cannons.

Even if Master Gossay did not take action, didn’t they have Sublimators among them?

“It’s fine, not a big problem.

I don’t sense the presence of those two Totem Spirits.”

As expected, Master Gossay, stroking his beard gently, likewise calmly said, “Get ready for battle.

The enemy is not strong, but they cannot be allowed to damage the ship’s structure and instruments.”

“Have the gunners adjust the Alchemical Cannons.

Ian, in which direction should we break through?”

At the end of the conversation, the old man looked towards the white-haired young man.

After contemplating briefly, Ian said, “Southwest.”

“Good, we break through to the southwest.”

Though Master Gossay had the ability to wipe out all the Sea Beasts, it would be too wasteful of time, strength, and energy, and the longer things dragged on, the likelier for mishaps to occur—they couldn’t afford to waste time.

With the direction confirmed by Ian and the tone set by the elder, Yisen Gard stepped forward to take the lead in assigning tasks, giving the four skilled individuals who had previously entered the sea their Stamina Potions to replenish what they had lost.

Order prevailed aboard the exploration vessel, and everyone worked fervently.

Ian, however, became idle again.

This battle, in theory, still had nothing to do with him.

One more of him made no difference, and one less of him didn’t either—a Wave Singer hardly needed to join the fray; in a crucial moment, they might need his singing to speed up the vessel.

Despite this, he had no plans to continue slacking off—he too was curious about the Natives’ plans and wanted to know what they were up to.

Moreover, those Natives who had nearly starved to death after the battle but could now tame so many Magical Beasts again recently…

Just how much aid had Fiery Flame Land given?

He wanted to assess that for himself.

“Besides, has Patrick reached an agreement with the Natives in just a few days and started to signal to us?”

Considering the swift appearance of the Natives, Ian couldn’t help murmuring to himself, “Well, it’s all good.”

A few groups of people with threats and ideas coming together don’t display an effect greater than the sum of their parts…

If Patrick truly collaborated with the Natives, their combined efficiency would certainly be less than two.

In the Luminous Sea, amidst the wind and rain, next to a small escort ship that was nearly completely obscured by the veil of rain.

The Sea Beasts were drawing closer.

Ian took out his High-Pressure Water Gun and stepped out of the cabin.

Even within the cabin, one could feel the heavy atmosphere, and after stepping out, the distant roars of the beasts became even more distinct, including many sounds quite familiar to Ian himself—Reef-eater Otters, Sea Crocodiles, Algae Dwelling Lightfish, Giant Sea Anemones, Harmonic Dolphins…

Just by sweeping his gaze from a distance, Ian could see these familiar figures.

Some were from Magical Beast Tribes, others were ordinary Sea Beasts, but the sheer number was indeed astonishing.

“After we get back, I’ll need to remind the Viscount…

hmm, feels like there’s no need for a reminder.

After our last conversation about Fiery Flame Land, he’ll definitely have realized that something’s amiss very quickly.”

Ian was quite confident in Viscount Grant’s abilities.

Although the other party was completely ignorant of the professional field, he wouldn’t issue any amateurish commands, and he was extremely proficient in all the things a lord should know.

Outside the ship, everyone was already prepared for battle, their hands wielding harpoons and steel hooks.

The Seaborn Swordsman was wiping his longsword, its blade that rippled like water becoming even more powerful in the rainy weather, seemingly breathing in and exhaling the surrounding moisture.

Faintly visible, a line of inscriptions could be seen flowing on the blade.

The other three Sublimators had all chosen bows and arrows.

“Wooooo————”

The sound was close now, and from the sea area approaching the exploration ship, deep calls overlapped one another, sending echoes.

Amidst the churning waves, shadows could be seen swiftly darting beneath the surface, trying to catch up with the ship that had already started turning.

“Begin the attack.”

It was Yisen Gard who was responsible for issuing the attack commands.

Upon hearing his words, Master Gossay nodded in approval.

He then raised his hand and drew a circle in the air.

A visible white surge of energy gathered within that circle, the rapidly oscillating air stirring up the moisture, turning it into a fog-like form.

Then, with a piercing screech, a long white ‘stream cloud’ transformed into several invisible long spears, stabbing toward the figures under the water.

Buzz!

The vibration was all that could be heard, and then the three largest shadows in the sea area ceased their movements.

Immediately after, large clumps of red and blue blood gushed out wildly, staining a vast expanse of the sea.

Whirlpool Squid, Harmonic Dolphin, and Scaleless Iron Serpent…

these Magical Beasts that could easily affect the ship and its instruments were eliminated first.

The battle that followed was merely a warm-up.

Noticing these details, Ian nodded and then continued forward with his high-pressure water gun.

“Guide…

you don’t have to fight this time.”

The team leader in charge of shellfish gathering was surprised to see Ian.

Noting the cylindrical object in the young man’s hand, mistaking it for an alchemical firearm, he said kindly with a smile, “Alchemical firearms are powerful, but they can be difficult to use in the rain.

The electric discharge from the panshard sand gunpowder can cause injury.”

“It’s fine,” Ian responded with a smile: “This isn’t a firelock.”

The captain was curious: “Then what is it?”

Sea Beasts were drawing near.

Ian didn’t reply immediately.

His eyes shone with a watery halo, easily locking onto those familiar figures—giant fish with stony armor, massive squid, iron-coated otters, and all sorts of strangely-shaped creatures.

He lifted the gun, aimed with practiced ease, and then infused it with Origin Quality.

The compression chamber operated rapidly, as a phantom light of Water Element Origin Substance visibly gathered on the high-pressure water gun’s cylinder.

Then, he pulled the trigger.

A slender but powerful jet of water broke through the rain and waves, straight into the sea, aimed at a shadow beneath the surface.

Immediately, a sharp cry of agony was heard as a Reef-eater Otter was struck in the lower body before it could notice, its will to fight instantly shattered by the intense pain—it was a beast nearly at the level of a Magical Beast.

“Aieeeeee——————”

An indescribable screech penetrated the entire sea area, heard even by the surrounding Magical Beasts, and their speed began to slow.

Their movements became hesitant, to the extent that some of the beasts suddenly came to their senses, looked at the condition of the otter, then at the direction of the exploration ship, and reversed course respectfully.

Meanwhile, the otter fled, without looking back, trailing a red stream in the waves.

Because the influence of the waves on the water jet was not anticipated, it did not pierce the otter’s heart.

Still, Ian was not annoyed; after all, the effect was the same.

The young man turned his head, looked at the captain, whose gaze was somewhat vacant and who subconsciously closed his legs, and smilingly said, “This is a water gun.”

“Yes.”

The captain looked with awe at the cylindrical object in Ian’s hand, which exuded a dangerous aura: “This is a water gun.”