NOVPUBChapter 338: Chapter 297: Storm and Siren_2
Lis’s life had been quite routine these past two days; he was very familiar with the monotony of sea voyages and made full use of every moment.
He meditated to conceive new arcane models and, when tired, would come out to stretch his legs and incidentally beat up Mans.
It could only be said that this former mercenary, now the Third Officer, was indeed a representation of repeated defeats and resilience, getting his nose bloodied and face swollen yet always looking happy. If it weren’t for his steady strength increase, Lis would have thought he was a masochist.
Lis and the Third Officer’s sparring sessions were not hidden from the crew but took place right on the forward deck of the ship, always drawing a crowd.
Seeing the stern Third Officer being beaten up was a source of great amusement for the sailors.
The captain and other Sailor Leaders occasionally watched the sparring as well, their respect for Lis growing unconsciously while they were also entertained.
... 𝑛𝘰𝑣𝑝𝑢𝑏.𝘤𝑜𝘮
Especially among the mercenaries, where strength was so highly regarded, everyone recognized Lis’s strength as the strongest on the ship.
There was also some wonderment as to why this man, possibly of Gold Level strength, would be taking a child on a ship to the Boditch Kingdom.
Seeking refuge?
A noble fleeing from the turmoil in Ice Peak City?
It wasn’t strange for them to think so, as Lis’s demeanor certainly didn’t resemble that of an ordinary mercenary, and Helen was a delicate and cute little girl dressed in a princess gown, all of which inclined them to associate him with nobility.
While most on the ship were relaxing, Evar, who had been sitting at the bow, suddenly stood up and shouted to Captain Loren, who was on the deck confirming the course:
“The storm is coming—brace yourselves!”
A storm?
Many of the sailors who were on their first voyage were puzzled, looking up at the huge sun and the cloudless sky above their heads.
It didn’t look like a storm was coming, did it?
But Loren, Mans, and others did not take it lightly; they immediately organized the crew to lower the sails and secured the boxes and other items on the deck with ropes.
On the return voyage from Dan Port, Evar had already proven the reliability of his predictions, and no one doubted his foresight any longer.
Lis was not surprised either; it wasn’t strange for someone carrying the aura of the Divine Power of the Lord of Storm to predict a storm.
Seeing that the deck needed no help from him, Lis avoided the busy sailors and returned to the cabin.
The weather at sea was always unpredictable, especially the fierce winds and torrential rains, along with the towering waves—it was a test all vessels at sea had to face.
The busy sailors suddenly noticed a shade of ominous black appearing in the distant southern sky, quickly approaching the Mermaid.
Everyone hastened their actions, as experienced elders led the newcomers in reinforcing the ship, hoping to make it safer against the storm.
At sea, if a ship sank during a storm, there might be very few survivors.
Lis returned to the cabin with Helen, who looked frightened, her little face ashen.
“What’s wrong?”
Lis looked at Helen, who appeared quite unwell.
“Nothing…”
Helen recalled the pirate ship she was on before, which had also sunk during a similar storm.
She never wanted to experience the sensation of sinking into cold, dark seawater again.
Observing Helen’s tightly clenched hands, Lis pondered for a moment and then placed his right hand on her pure white forehead.
Zero-Circle Magic: Resistance Enhancement!
A faint white glow enveloped Helen’s body, loosening her tense facial expression somewhat.
This was a Spell that could enhance Helen’s base resistance and also mildly relieve her tension.
To be honest, in such a situation, the Priest’s Skills were the most useful.
For instance, the Blessing Technique and the Courage Cloak could very well alleviate Helen’s current state.
But Lis did not know them!
Although Lis could learn Priest Skills, he currently did not have a single Priest Skill.
This was because the priority of Priest Skills was not high for him; the simplest way to learn them was to join the Church of the Gods and offer one’s faith to the All Gods.
But for Lis, that would take up too much time and effort; in his past life, Priest players needed to pass a three-month trial to formally receive the Divine Arts.
However, compared with players who chose other Professions, the resources gained by joining the Church of the Gods were richer and more stable, quickly making up for the initial shortfall.
They also did not know how the All Gods determined whether their faith was sincere after passing the trial.
Rather than waste time like that, Lis planned to search for the Lost Great Holy Church hidden beneath the sands by the Fantasy and Knowledge God Azus, which contained comprehensive records on Divine Arts. Moreover, the information on the Divine Arts there was engraved on specially made steles, meaning there was no worry about them being discovered by others in advance.
Soon, the pattering sound of rain began to fall on the ship’s wooden planks, and the dense noise of rain, wind, and waves drowned out all else.
Dark clouds had already shrouded the entire sky, and the beautiful weather from a moment ago seemed like an illusion, the sky so gloomy it appeared as though it could collapse at any moment.
The waves raised by the storm had now reached the porthole of Lis’s cabin, and briny sea water began to pour through the gaps, wetting the blankets on the beds.
