The Vastness of Magical Destiny
Chapter 532: Volume 13: Sea Rain and Heavenly Wind - 2: Dragon’s Cave

Chapter 532: Volume 13: Sea Rain and Heavenly Wind Chapter 2: Dragon’s Cave

Rebury seemed to have merged with the ship’s body, his entire focus infinitely extending along the hull, eyes level as if motionless, yet Komer knew Rebury was surveilling the every move of the Jellyfish People underwater, ready to sound the alarm and respond at the first sign of trouble.

Meanwhile, Solonberg resembled a cheetah whose fur stood on end, his gaze piercing as it slowly swept over the water’s surface, with hands already drawing the Knight Spear and placing it atop the deck.

Even though a few steps away, everyone could feel the intense bloodlust emanating from his Knight Spear, as if it were about to explode at any moment, seeking a target to unleash upon.

All aboard perceived the threat in the abnormal behaviors of Komer, Rebury, and Solonberg. Hayreddin, proficient in seafaring and close-quarters combat aboard ships, felt powerless against a threat so elusive that not even the enemy’s location was visible.

Grace, the only one who had accompanied Komer, was also sensitive, and although she couldn’t detect the exact location of the enemy, she, too, felt the external threat. A Stiletto was already at the ready on her waist, her body tensed defensively against the edge of the ship’s canopy, primed to strike at a moment’s notice.

"Mr. Gate, something seems off. It feels like we’re surrounded. Could you please intervene and see if there’s perhaps some misunderstanding?" Komer, while assessing the situation, was also laboriously elevating his magic power to its peak, silently beginning to chant magic spells.

Although he didn’t want to engage in conflict due to a misunderstanding, the Jellyfish People were a notoriously reclusive race. Should they attack without cause, his only option would be a forceful counterattack to ensure their own safety.

Gate, who frequented these waters, had evidently never encountered such a situation before. Seeing everyone on alert, his previously relaxed demeanor instantly tightened with tension. He hurried out of the cabin to look around, hoping to spot a familiar Jellyfish Person.

Both Komer and Rebury immediately sensed a change in the atmosphere underwater. The critical situation, once at a knife’s edge, eased subtly with Gate’s appearance, though none of the opposition had yet made any move to show themselves.

"Mr. Gate, they are all underwater. Would you please hail and explain, to avoid any unnecessary misunderstandings?" Komer, having halted his chanting, remained on guard. This being his first interaction with the Jellyfish People, whose notoriety preceded them, Komer dared not gamble with the lives of those aboard.

A stream of peculiar and difficult-to-understand words emerged from Gate’s mouth. Though Komer could not comprehend what Gate was saying, he could tell that Gate was announcing their presence through specific procedures, undoubtedly at the Jellyfish People’s first line of defense.

Merchants who followed the usual protocols might not trigger an alarm, but the Jellyfish People would enter a state of alert and even attack should they notice anything out of the ordinary.

The water’s surface suddenly rippled with hundreds of waves as if countless sea monsters were surfacing from the calm river. Dozens of heads appeared around the stationary ship without warning, their wet scalps crowned with pairs of eyes filled with hostility and caution, assessing Komer’s group with eerie pressure, prompting even the usually bold Grace to let out a scream before covering her mouth.

Indifference in their eyes roved over Gate; after a long while, one who Komer couldn’t tell apart from the others spoke in a harsh and bizarre tone, "Gate, it seems you have violated our agreement. According to the terms, you may only bring two servants for deliveries. These are not your delivery people, and you should be punished!"

"My friends, I think I need to explain," Gate began. "I have dealt with you for more than a day or two, and what can and can’t be done, Gate knows better than anyone. There’s a reason for these friends to be here, and they will provide an explanation to you all in due time. I believe the Jellyfish People are not unreasonable. Now, with the power in your hands, what do you have to fear? At worst, it’s just a few lives. Do you really fear we could fly away?"

Gate’s words not only left the somber Jellyfish People standing in the water somewhat puzzled but also made everyone in Komer’s party see him in a new light.

They’d thought him merely a somewhat knowledgeable merchant, but he spoke with such reasoned and dignified words that even the Jellyfish People, unaccustomed to such defiance, didn’t know how to respond.

The situation being rare to them as well, the leading Jellyfish Person hesitated before consulting with their companions for a long while, yet they still couldn’t reach a unanimous decision.

Perhaps it was because the opinions of the companions were not the same: some were firmly opposed to letting strangers enter, believing that this would lead to countless troubles, while others considered Gate a higher trusted acquaintance, and these people must have had important issues to negotiate since they had come, so why not just let them in? After all, the Trading Area was not a particularly secret restricted zone, and moreover, the lives of these strangers were in their hands, so there was no need to be too anxious.

Komer and Gate patiently waited for the other party to come to a decision, while the Jellyfish Person who had led the way felt somewhat embarrassed by the internal dispute and rashly agreed to let the group report directly to the Chief in charge of trade, who would then determine the fate of these fellows.

Finally, the boat slid forward again on the calm waters. The Catania River was quite wide, but near the banks was a thick stand of reeds, not only a great raw material for papermaking but also a beautiful green scene for both sides of the river. Yet, it was in the dense reed beds that the Jellyfish People had their free kingdom. The Jellyfish People spent their youth in these Swamp Areas, living freely without fear of danger from the outside world.

Komer and Rebry’s party could feel the gaze that had been silently tracking them, the suspicion and caution of the Jellyfish People were indeed somewhat extraordinary. Although they felt everything was under control, their keen senses made them aware that the few strangers on the boat weren’t that simple, and staying vigilant was very important.

Komer was quite interested in observing the armed forces among the silently gliding group of Jellyfish People in the water. Though it was not apparent that they were carrying any conventional weapons, Komer was certain that if a conflict arose, the Jellyfish People’s weapons would be launched from the water in no time.

Although the Jellyfish People were not Mages, their natural abilities dictated that some special Water Magic was an inherent instinct for them. According to the historical records Komer knew, the Water Magic of the Jellyfish People had caused the mortal navies ample grief at that time and was also one of the main reasons the mortals had retreated in such an embarrassing manner.

The way the Jellyfish People moved under water was quite special; they left only their eyes above the waterline, their bodies moving deftly through the water as if there was no resistance, nor any need for propulsion—thus gliding through the water silently, giving off a somewhat eerie feeling.

The river channel grew wider, and the reed beds on the sides became denser. Gradually, it was possible to see that scattered land had begun to appear under the reed beds, which were originally lake areas; of course, these so-called lands were termed as such in comparison to the pure water areas on the river surface.

In fact, no one could walk on this so-called land. Its name was Swamp, the vast Great Swamp Area, stretching as far as the eye could see.

From a distance, Komer observed a series of corridors made of some plant material tied together. As the boat approached, the voice of the Barefoot Society Merchants reached him, "Mr. Komer, that’s our Trading Area. Those corridors and balconies surrounded by corridors are places for us foreigners to rest and wait. Once we get there, they’ll send someone to discuss and inspect the goods, then complete the transaction. It won’t take long, and as soon as the trade is done, we must leave immediately. It’s always the same people; the Jellyfish People never want to have more contact with us."

The boat finally approached the balcony area, which was a crude structure built on floating mud from a special kind of timber.

In the moment he stepped onto the balcony, Komer gently touched the dry material of the building, sensing a faint Magic power reverberating in his palm. The wood wasn’t ordinary oak or fir but likely came from a special plant in the Great Swamp, with the joints all tied together with dried reed stems and leaves. The simple wooden tables and two or three benches hardly seemed like the fixed Trading Area of the Jellyfish People.

As the party stepped onto the balcony under the watchful eyes of the Jellyfish People in the water, Komer felt an immediate quiver below the surface. He estimated the Jellyfish Warrior group was probably using a special method to communicate, likely notifying someone responsible for handling these matters to come.

"Mr. Komer, my task is now complete. The rest is up to you. The Jellyfish People are temperamental and think differently than mortals, so I hope you don’t anger them; otherwise, we might all end up staying here as fish food."

As the group stepped onto the balcony, the Barefoot Society Merchants could finally breathe a sigh of relief. Although the actual situation hadn’t changed, the secure feeling of stepping on the stable balcony still provided some psychological comfort. Arriving here perhaps meant that they had really entered a substantive area.

Looking around, the Reed Marsh that resembled a green City Wall swayed slightly in the breeze, as if the entire world was still, with only this green wall world swaying. In the midst of Komer’s appreciation, a powerful surge of energy shot straight into the sky from the depths of the distant reeds, and even Rebry, Solonberg, and Grace by his side noticed this anomaly.

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