The Vastness of Magical Destiny
Chapter 287 - Seven: Soliciting

Chapter 287: Chapter Seven: Soliciting

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Two high-footed wine glasses were set on the arc-shaped ledge at the front of the captain’s cabin, their crystal-clear bodies glistening against the light mist rising from the sea clouds. The base of the oak barrel was quite high, with a movable support at the front end apparently intended for pouring the liquor. The dark brown barrel must have been quite old, as the metallic emblem on the side with an eagle just making out its wings was barely discernible.

The golden liquid swiftly filled the glasses along their sides, with the rich aromas of juniper, lemon peel, and cinnamon wafting through the air released by the alcohol, enveloping the entire captain’s cabin in an intoxicating atmosphere.

"Care for a drink? I don’t have our homeland’s honey wine here. Drinking honey wine on the high seas, except for ladies, one would be looked down upon. Though I do love the honey wine from home, one must not flout the customs," the Bearded Captain said as he lifted his glass and offered it.

Komer nodded as he took the glass, bringing it closer to his nose for a delicate sniff. This northern gin was not particularly popular in the south, but for sailors who spent years at sea, it was a rare treat. The strong alcohol blended with fragrant aromas provided a perfect respite from the tedium and frustrations of a sailor’s life. Given that gin ranged from expensive to cheap and came in numerous varieties to suit various budgets, it was a favorite among sailors for good reason.

Komer wasn’t particularly fond of drinking, but his memories of the lavish life in Cyprus were almost entirely spent in bars and breweries, the settings of disputations. The indispensable part of noble life that is wine had deeply burned itself into the memory of Komer from his carefree days.

As the tip of his tongue touched the liquor, memories of the past seemed to flood back into his mind, and a complex expression crossed Komer’s face. "Old Tom of Jinlus?"

A fleeting look of surprise crossed the Bearded Captain’s face; this was his treasured vintage. Though gin did not require aging, kindred spirits were hard to find. Portalan had been reluctant to indulge in the barrel that held the history of his wanderings alone, and he never expected it would be recognised by another in a single phrase.

"Your Excellency truly has a connoisseur’s taste. You are correct, this is Old Tom from the Seville Jinlus Winery. I never found the right opportunity to indulge, but today I am fortunate to properly enjoy this ultimate gin with Your Excellency," said Portalan, confirming that it was unlikely for him to be among the great nobility of the Corinth City-State Union. While Old Tom, an expensive pleasure, might be coveted by great aristocrats, it was integral to their life of luxury. During Komer’s lascivious days in Cyprus, he indulged in heavy drinking at breweries with Ilot and others. They even attempted to intoxicate barmaids with expensive spirits like Old Tom to take advantage of them; thus, he was familiar with this particular fragrance.

"Mr. Portalan, you may call me Reese. While I have tasted Old Tom, it is not to my liking. It is just distilled one more time to increase its potency. I prefer a milder taste. As I mentioned earlier, I favor drinks with a focus on flavor, such as honey wine and ice wine," Komer admitted, not wishing to be seen as overly pretentious. He did not consider himself an expert in wines and wanted to maintain a sincere impression with the captain who had left a good impression on him and whom he had come to respect. He hoped to sustain this congenial atmosphere.

"Oh, I didn’t expect Mr. Reese to have such unique tastes," said the Bearded Captain, his disappointment flashing briefly before he smiled sincerely. "No matter, the essence of wine tasting is in the atmosphere. Drowning one’s sorrows in drink only adds to the gloom in their heart. Meeting Mr. Reese today must be part of our destiny."

The mellow wine slid down their throats with a fiery heat, and the pleasantly engaged pair quickly slipped into a mildly inebriated state. While Old Tom’s strength might not have been much for Portalan to handle, it was clearly too much for Komer.

This slightly drunken sensation felt wonderful. Returning to his room, Komer realized that this feeling allowed his closed heart to suddenly open wide, releasing a torrent of emotions and pressures. Sitting silently on the edge of his bed and reflecting for a long while, he silently chanted a spell and released his Cosmic Bag, from which a delicate lyre slowly floated out.

Sitting alone at the prow of the ship as dusk embraced the world, the undulating sea gently accompanying him, Komer’s fingers lightly plucked the strings of the lyre, unleashing a series of somber notes: "Spring waters always flow to the rivers, and rivers into the sea, the breezes of heaven have forever in them a sweetness of passion; is anything in nature solitary? All things by a law divine in one another’s being mingle—Why not I with thine?

"See the mountains kiss high heaven, and the waves clasp one another; no sister-flower would be forgiven if it disdained its brother. The sunlight clasps the earth, and the moonbeams kiss the sea—what is all this sweet work worth if thou kiss not me?"

Lome, dressed in a white nightgown, quietly leaned against the window watching Komer, seated at the fore and passionately singing while playing the lyre. It was the first time she had seen the Great Sage so immersed, so fervently singing, sending shockwaves through her soul almost to the point of bringing tears to her eyes. What deep sorrows had wounded the Great Sage to possess such a somber yet fiery passion?

In the following two days, the friendship between Komer and Portalan grew rapidly. Komer felt a baffling kinship for the captain who seemed to carry a touch of melancholy and desolation. Portalan’s extensive knowledge had given Komer a deep understanding of the seas surrounding the Blue Continent during their time together.

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By late autumn, the Nether Sea had become relatively calm. Although Lome struggled on the first day, her astonishing adaptability became fully apparent in the following two days. She quickly learned to pluck the harp on the swaying deck alongside Komer, even occasionally using Air magic to blow across the strings in an attempt to discover new functionalities for the harp, which amused and frustrated Komer simultaneously.

As the ship headed north, the color of the seawater seemed to gradually lighten, as the deep blue slowly turned into a turquoise. In the distance, a string of faint and ill-defined shadows appeared on the horizon to the northeast, while to the northwest, a vague coastline was becoming increasingly visible.

"Mr. Reese, we’re nearing Odessa. To the northeast over there are the Galapagos Islands, the jewel of the Homer on the Nether Sea―famous fishing grounds on the mainland, known for their delicious trout. If you’re staying in Odessa tonight, you must not miss the chance to taste it," Captain Portalan casually walked up to Komer, who was standing steadfast at the bow, and explained.

"Galapagos trout? Hmm, it’s been a while since I’ve tasted it," Komer turned around with a slight smile, "I would very much like to invite Captain Portalan to join me for dinner tonight and together enjoy the trout from the Galapagos. Would you be interested, Captain Portalan?"

"To receive an invitation from Mr. Reese is a great honor." Portalan’s face brightened with a pleasant smile, "Has Mr. Reese ever tried the trout here before?"

"Ha, I forgot to mention, Captain Portalan, I am from Homer. Reese is my surname, my first name is Komer," Komer replied with a nod and a smile.

"Komer? Komer Reese? Baron Komer of Caucasus?" Portalan’s eyebrows raised in surprise. Although he had guessed that the elegantly mannered young man had an extraordinary background, he had never imagined that the young man before him was Baron Komer, the Lord of Caucasus.

"Indeed, that is me. What, does Captain Portalan find it hard to believe?" Komer was quite pleased with Portalan’s surprised yet composed demeanor, knowing that a man who can keep his cool under any circumstances was truly worth befriending.

The expression that fleetingly passed over Portalan’s face was peculiar. Here was the Lord of Caucasus on an ordinary passenger ship, en route to Odessa, and he had been as calm as ever when they were inspected by the Homer Navy Fleet yesterday. It seemed that this nobleman’s wits ran very deep indeed.

"Just a bit unexpected, my Lord. Never thought I’d see you here. Aren’t you worried that Grand Duke Philip might arrest you?" Portalan finally revealed a hearty smile, the thick beard seemingly hiding much understanding.

"Arrest me? Who knows that I am Komer? I’m merely passing through Odessa, he won’t have the foresight." Komer shrugged, seemingly unconcerned, "He has many things to worry about, and regarding me, perhaps he also harbors complicated feelings. I hope he can find a way out of his predicament. Let’s not speak of this uninteresting man anymore. Captain Portalan, would you be interested in traveling with me to the southern part of the mainland?"

Komer had finally issued his invitation. Portalan was a rare talent, especially knowledgeable about the Mediterranean to the point of being a living map. More importantly, his character meshed well with Komer’s tastes. Especially now in his state of downfall, Komer hoped to have someone to assist him. After his return from the Java Swamp, from Rosenborg to Mattdam, through the Mediterranean and the Nether Sea, he needed someone to help him control everything along this route, and Portalan seemed to be the perfect choice. Although Komer didn’t know much about Portalan, he had an intuition that this man would bring him good fortune.

Portalan’s gaze lingered on Komer’s face, his eyes brimming with inquiry, but Komer appeared not to understand the meaning behind Portalan’s look, quietly waiting for a response.

"My Lord, may I presumptuously ask what exactly you need Portalan to do for you? Aside from sailing a ship, I’m good for nothing. On land, I’m nothing but an idle drinker," the Whiskered man finally broke the silence with a tactful refusal.

Brothers, though the new book might be short on word count for now, its flavor is definitely not lacking. Rest assured and feel free to add it to your favorites. Also, please give your Recommendation Tickets to "Reincarnation of Wicked Dragon," as the book is in desperate need of support! Thank you!