Naval Gacha System: It's Time To Monopolize The Seven Seas!
Chapter 307 - 307: | 307 | Frontier Expedition

Inside the median fringes of the Frontier, the vast rough seas roared as the heavens blackened in the turbulent storm. The azure tint of thunder flashed amongst the dark clouds as the burdensome rain descended sideways. Islands have sunk into the deepest of the abyss, leaving no signs of civilizations behind. But above the stormy skies, vessels of steel emerged.

The tempestuous winds beyond the storm were unforgiving, yet the air distorted as a light gleamed with unparalleled radiance. Silhouettes of vessels materialized, emanating hope amidst the chaos that ruled the heavens and the earth. These strategic ships were part of the expedition fleet belonging to the country of hope and freedom, the United World Government.

As dozens of metallic vessels soared over the blackened heavens, they briefly made their descent to the anarchic waters below. Their spotlights pierced through the shaded darkness of the rough seas and searched for whatever was left behind. Sadly, there were no signs of anything and anyone. All had been consumed by the abyss of the ocean. Culture, history, and people.

The bridge of the strategic ships was absorbed in their scrutinizing investigation of the area. It was dumbfounding to hear an entire sea region worth of islands to be sunk in mere moments. Nevertheless, it was the undeniable truth. No matter how much they searched the nook and cranny of the lonesome sea region, there was simply nothing.

"There's no signs of the countries, huh? Even sonar provides us nothing but an empty background. The sea region is deep, interfering with fragile machinery. It will take time to understand how the phenomena occurred." The captain of a strategic cruiser uttered while observing the results of their search. It was an unfortunate piece of news to hear, however they must move forward regardless.

"How about nearby islands outside of the sea region? There must be a place where we can establish ourselves." He turned his gaze towards a nearby intelligence officer, who glanced at him and responded. "No signs of islands near the sea region, Sir. The nearest is half a thousand kilometers away according to the data link. The admiral wants us touch down in five hours. Regardless, if there is an island or not."

"I see... I guess there is nothing we can do about that. Continue searching for any signs." The captain sighed to himself and commanded the intelligence, who nodded in understanding. The bridge of the strategic cruiser was busy with personnel engrossed by their respective duties. It was the same throughout every bridges of the expedition fleet.

However, inside the bridge of an aircraft carrier, the admiral stood with a straightened back and glanced at the figure behind him. With a furrowed eyebrows, his gaze turned into a cold glare. "The moment you break the orders of the Authority. I will not hesitate to prosecute you through military law. We have no forgotten what you have done to us."

His words was resounding, yet it was only heard by him and the figure. The figure leaned on the metallic wall and calmly responded. "Are you doubting the power of the Authority? I was brought into the expedition because the fleet requires my expertise and connections. I have also been ordered personally by him. Don't complicate the simplest things."

"Unlike you who has seen him in a fleshly vessel, I have already perceived his true form. Those who would be able to even discern a bit of it would understand that resistance is meaningless. After all, would you resist against the sun?" They tilted their head as the harsh words of the admiral was meaningless. Loyalty didn't matter against absolute power.

Besides, the United World Government was a good place. It would be unfortunate to lose it.

Hearing the words of the figure, the admiral didn't stop glaring at them and turned away. "The mission doesn't require you, to begin with. The expedition is a test for you. Will you returned to the accursed organization of the Frontier? Or will you stay. In truth, no one would be able to stop you. After all, you are the priestess of the so-called bestial deities."

"Hey, hey... Is that a way of cursing others?" The figure waved their hands in annoyance as they didn't want to hear their previous identity under the bestial deities. "Besides, even if I return, it wouldn't matter. The Authority will be able to find me no matter what I do. It's only a matter of when. And you're assumptions are wrong if none would be able to stop me."

"Do you not hear of the Mythical Mage aboard in your ship? She's the maker of Sovereigns, so I probably don't stand a chance against her." The figure shook their head as though speaking of common sense. The admiral narrowed his gaze and responded. "The elven mage will not influence the expedition in any way. Consider her a neutral guest."

"Neutrality, huh? Well, I guess it would be troublesome for the foreign powers if the Mythical Mage decided to side with the United World Government." The figure slightly shook their head, understanding the intricacies of politics. The admiral didn't respond and maintained his gaze over the turbulent seas that raged below the strategic ships soaring across the stormy skies.

Meanwhile, amidst the labyrinth-like interior of the vessels, a young girl opened her eyelids and awakened from her slumber. Rising from the comfortable bed, she yawned for a moment before turning her attention towards two sleeping individuals. They were none other than her seniors, her current roommates within the expedition. Though, amongst them, an elf sat by a chair and read through ancient scriptures with utter calm.

"Teacher, did you not sleep?" Tiamat questioned with stretching her arms upward. She glanced at her teacher, intrigue whether or not the elven mage would answer her question. Althea stopped reading and turned her attention towards the young dragon. "Sleep is a luxury for scholars, Tiamat. Although mages and the magi have evolved far beyond the original roots as scholars, our minds and knowledge remained to be an integral part of ourselves."

"Okay, what is that scripture all about?" She inquired and pondered about what may lay inside the text of the past. She had long understood the ancient identity of her teacher. The fact that her teacher had lived through the world before humanity grew out from being cavemen made the identity of the elven mage much more interesting. It was part of the reason why Tiamat chose her.

The wisdom and knowledge that comes through age wasn't to be underestimated.

"This is a text of a long-forgotten empire that collapsed under the weight of its past. The expedition reminds me of natural phenomenon bygone to the civilizations that now walked over the surface of the world. It might seem unnatural, but there are reasons as to why things happen." Althea closed the scripture and muttered under her breath. It was quite confusing, but Tiamat got the gist of it.

"Does that mean that you could have an idea about why the islands are sinking in this sea region?" Tiamat tilted her head and asked with a calm tone. From the words that escaped the supple lips of the elven mage, she seemed to imply that she knew of phenomenon that may be unnatural to the young civilizations that influenced the world. But unexpectedly, the elf shook her head.

"Even with the vast amount of knowledge I had acquired during the dozens of millennium of my lifetime, I do not have all the knowledge over the natural world. I am merely an elven mage of the continent of Europa, and I shall be as uttered. In simpler terms, I'm ignorant of the outside." Althea clarified to the young dragon who could only nod in understanding.

"Anyhow... I expect you to have mastered your first attribute, am I wrong?" Althea glanced at the little girl who's talent reached far beyond the realm of the natural. The young one was an amalgamation of power, a testament to the capabilities of her parents. 'Even the children of Sovereigns do not yield such extreme potential.' She quietly thought to herself.

"Hmm... I think I'm doing well. Though, I have no idea about where your standards for 'well' stands." Tiamat leaned on the edge of the bed and smiled at her elven teacher. Hearing the words of the little dragon, the edges of Althea's supple lips curved as her long ears quivered. "You're not wrong about that. But as long as you have learned a spell correlated to your attribute."

"It should be 'well' enough in my dictionary." The elven mage continued, earning the nod of understanding from the young girl. Tiamat shifted her hand as spell circles formed beneath her fingers. As she closed her eyelids, a mumble escaped her. "I can feel the minds of the people inside the strategic carrier. They are akin to threads connecting to a greater idea, their loyalty to UWG."

"I can bend the strings and control their mental state with ease. Though, I'd rather avoid toying with the minds of my father's subordinates." She remarked while standing up from her bed. On the other hand, two of her seniors awoken from their slumber. They rubbed their eyes as their perception of reality returned to their senses. Now that the two had awakened, it was time for them to begin the expedition.

Although the United Military would undergo through its own investigation of the phenomenon, Althea found herself intrigued and desired to understand the secrets of the Ferus Sea and the Frontier within it. 'Personal investigations shouldn't be against my neutrality.' She softly thought to herself while crossing her legs. The frontier expedition.

Who knows what kind of things they could discover over the turbulent seas of the Frontier.