Chapter 91

# Chapter 91: <If We're Moving, Then>

A few days later, Kale got out of the carriage, sniffing the pungent smell. He saw the sea, still swirling with a few whirlpools.

"Master, it's an honor to meet you."

"Are you in charge here?"

"Yes."

The manager of the Hennithus family greeted Kale.

He was the representative manager from the Hennithus side among those participating in the naval base construction. Representatives from the royal family, the Ubar territory, and the Hennithus family were stationed at the coast.

"The number of whirlpools has decreased, making more islands accessible and the coast more stable, so we've been able to accelerate construction."

"Is that so?"

"Yes. Thanks to that, we've been able to build ships more quickly."

Naval base construction. The Hennithus family had invested a large sum of money, fully representing the Ubar territory's desire to minimize the royal family's influence.

In return, they wanted corresponding benefits, one of which was the Hennithus family's free lease of a portion of this coast.

"Shall I show you to your quarters first?"

"No. Wait a moment."

Kale looked at the window of the carriage he had just exited and wiggled his fingers.

Creak. The carriage door opened. A small figure with a pale complexion stepped out.

"Hurry up, will you?"

"Yes, yes!"

Müller hurried over and stood between Kale and the manager.

Müller, a dwarf hybrid with a plump figure and splendid attire, was well taken care of by the countess as a luxury item.

Kale placed his hand on Müller's shoulder.

"Shall we show you the first draft of the external design?"

"Uh, yes, yes!"

Müller, taking a deep breath, hastily handed the design to the manager. The manager, responsible for naval construction, was well-versed in architecture and coastal matters.

"...Huh?"

The manager, looking at the ship design in his hand, glanced past Müller to Kale, who was watching with a pale face.

"Master, is this...?"

"Yes, that's it."

"I've never seen a ship design like this before?"

Kale hesitated for a moment at that. He had been quite surprised when he first saw the ship design himself.

'Could this guy actually be a Korean reincarnation or something?'

Müller, feeling Kale's gaze turn sharp, tightly gripped the gold ring given to him by his spiritual mentor, the countess. Kale, seeing this, swallowed a sigh and met the manager's gaze.

"Still, wouldn't it be great once it's completed?"

"Great or not—"

The manager trailed off. This was beyond good or bad; it was incredible.

Kale, seeing the manager's inability to respond, calmly continued.

"Isn't it going to be sturdy?"

"Yes, it will be very sturdy, but—"

It was more than just sturdy.

The manager wanted to ask.

Is this really a transport ship?

It looks more like a ship for naval battles.

But before the manager could ask, Kale had already made up his mind.

"Then it's settled."

The manager couldn't bring himself to continue. Yes, they were looking for a very sturdy transport ship. The manager accepted this. Instead, he brought up another issue.

"However, it will be quite expensive. Especially the golden turtle part—"

"What are you worried about?"

But that wasn't a problem for Kale.

"I have the money."

A smile filled with wealth appeared on Kale's lips.

"Really, I'll make a masterpiece!"

Kale, ignoring the manager's suddenly passionate and determined face, got back into the carriage.

"I'll go to the quarters through one of your subordinates, so you talk with Müller."

"Yes, I understand."

"Master, have a safe trip!"

With Müller bowing deeply, Kale closed the carriage door. Soon, the carriage set off for the quarters, and the manager saw Müller's shoulders relax.

"Ahem, this ship, you see. It won't break even if it takes a magic bomb."

"Yes, it seems so. But we can't make many of them, can we?"

"No, our goal is one."

Müller cleared his throat. He could foresee that he would be riding this ship, not just the castle. Not wanting to die, he was pouring all his efforts into the design.

"Actually, the second draft of the internal design is almost complete."

Müller's shoulders shrugged back, exuding arrogance.

"Oh, the internal design?"

"Yes. I haven't shown it to Master yet, but I've set a concept."

"What concept?"

Müller spoke confidently.

"The best defense is bombardment!"

Striking first is the best defense.

Of course, this was Müller's own idea, which still needed Kale's approval.

***

After arriving at the quarters, Kale quietly observed the people lined up in the room used as an office.

"This won't be easy."

Everyone except Ron, who was in the bedroom, and Vikros, who was being cared for, had gathered.

Three children, on average seven years old, Rosalind and Lark from Jihan's group, Deputy Commander Hillsman, and ten wolf clan children.

Kale had brought everyone he could.

'Not like we're going to destroy the kingdom.'

He thought it might be a bit excessive, but he lacked information about the enemy's scale. It was right to bring everyone he could.

The mage Rosalind looked at Kale and spoke.

"Master Kale, are we going to sail to Hais Island?"

"Yes, we'll head to Hais Island 5."

Hais Island.

The large and small islands between the Eastern and Western continents were collectively called Hais Islands. They were numbered in the order they were discovered.

Kale's destination was Hais Island 5.

The fifth island discovered and the largest.

It was also the closest to the Western continent, making it accessible by ship. That's why Ron could navigate there.

"There's supposed to be a mermaid base there."

"A base on the island? That's strange."

"Indeed, it's likely to be a base of 'Darkness.' So, our first stop will be—"

Kale's destination was set.

"We'll head to Hais Island 12."

The 12th island discovered, a very small one.

The closest to Hais Island 5.

"Master, but—"

Deputy Commander Hillsman spoke cautiously. Kale gestured for him to continue.

"You said we'll fight the mermaids. I heard the whale clan and mermaids are fighting."

"Yes."

Hillsman, unlike his usual laid-back demeanor, was serious. He knew Ron's life was at stake. Seeing this, Kale recalled his father Dert's words.

'Whether an assassin or anything else, they're within my boundaries. Save them. It's not too late to think after saving them.'

Count Dert had decided to save Ron, who was just a servant in the eyes of others, because he had been by Kale's side for over a decade, despite the strained relationship with his family. It was more a father's heart than a count's.

"Master, but will it be okay? The mermaids are dark-attribute and have been strengthened by dead mana and poison."

Dark-attribute and dead mana. These were Hillsman's concerns.

Rosalind answered for him.

"Don't worry. Master Kale knows the solution to the mermaid poison, and even with dark-attribute and dead mana, we can overpower them with stronger power."

When fighting dark-attribute beings using dead mana, the most common method is to minimize combat time and suppress them in one go.

Using stronger mana, aura, or attack power to suppress the enemy's dead mana.

However, there was a powerful opposing force to dead mana.

Kale knew this power.

Life force.

'A simple but direct one, right?'

It's a simple principle.

Ultimately, the living are stronger than the dead. The most definitive proof of a living being's vitality.

Rosalind continued.

"Of course, when life forms fight dark-attribute beings who consume dead mana, using blood is the most effective, but it's dangerous."

Yes, blood.

A considerable amount of blood is needed.

Even a weak human can block a dark-attribute being for a short time by sprinkling their blood, but the risk of dying from excessive bleeding is much higher. A small amount of blood isn't enough to fight a strong dark-attribute being.

'Of course, using blood is useless against dark elves or vampires.'

Dark elves, being a natural race, are resistant to blood even when consuming dead mana, and vampires, who live on blood, are exceptions.

According to ancient texts, demons enjoyed turning living human hearts into dead, beating hearts with dead mana.

'Crazy talk.'

To Kale, it was very crazy.

At the same time, a thought came to mind. He blurted it out without thinking.

"My blood would be very effective."

Blood flowing from a heart engraved with vitality, blood with regenerative power, tougher than any other blood. And due to its regenerative power, it keeps flowing. Is there a stronger blood against dark-attribute beings?

It was a sudden thought.

An experiment would be needed to confirm, but even if it doesn't work against mermaids, it should hold up against mermaids who have consumed dead mana.

Most importantly, ancient power is a natural force belonging to nature and humans. It's a force containing life force and the natural order, likely to be very strong against dark-attribute beings.

Kale imagined.

"Hmm, if I sprinkle my blood—"

Fighting while sprinkling blood, covered in blood.

Kale chuckled.

'It would look disgusting, wouldn't it?'

It would be very disgusting.

Kale