Chapter 18

In the sky, the people on the magical flying ship were waiting.

Two hours passed.

Moxi and the others became anxious, and the families of the adventurers devoutly prayed to the gods.

Oriel, Balen, and the others were restless.

Bobo and Derek, a few nobles, were idle, occasionally looking down through the windows, appearing indifferent.

"The water is murky, the lake water has become turbid." Kellyser, who had been staring at the lake, suddenly shouted.

The others crowded around the windows to look down, some even pushing the windows open to stick their heads out.

As Kellyser said, a large area of the clear Soul Lake was no longer clear, forming a stark contrast with the distant parts, the color dark and obviously turbid.

"Kellyser, tell me, is your master of a high martial rank? I need to know this to decide whether to go and save your master. You should understand, I am a noble, and I have things to protect my life."

Derek loudly asked after seeing the situation on the lake.

Kellyser pursed his lips, continuing to observe the lake without even glancing at the other person.

Bobo's eyes rolled, and he followed, "I think Derek is right, Kellyser. Look, if your master is in danger, they will lose their lives because of your foolishness. As a loyal guard, you must tell us the truth, you must, so that we can..."

"Please shut your mouths, Bobo, Derek." Oriel, the son of the city lord, could not stand it anymore: "Put away your dirty thoughts. Don't think others don't know what you are thinking. Do you really want to go down and help? Really?"

"Of course, it's true..."

"Alright, I believe you, Derek. Now, please follow me with your companions. There is a spare small lifeboat on the ship. As you wish, I will let you down. Come on, nobles, it's time to show your glory."

Oriel made an inviting gesture, his smile full of contempt.

"Go down? No, I didn't say go down. I said it's true that I don't know how to express my concern. You interrupted me before I could finish. Isn't that right... Bobo?" Derek tilted his head, saying indifferently.

"Interrupting others is impolite. I believe Derek is not rash. Look, you said it, we are nobles, and nobles do not lie. Just like my stomach feels hungry when it's lunchtime, listen, it's protesting." Bobo patted his stomach, smiling.

Oriel looked at the two with disgust: "There is no food, none. The ship's cook is anxiously waiting for Young Master Murong and Nalasha to return safely. They have no mind to prepare food. Balen, go and bring the leftover bread from yesterday to serve the noble lords, and don't forget the clear water from yesterday."

"Never mind, Balen, listen to me. We are also worried about the two who went down. Being hungry doesn't mean we can eat. Let's pray together." Bobo quickly stopped, his smile slightly awkward.

"I have never hated nobles as much as I do today." Moxi glared at Bobo and Derek and others.

"I have always hated them." George echoed.

******

The people on the flying ship with different thoughts were already done with their battle.

The multi-clawed monster that had been chasing them died heroically in the battle. In the final moments, it tried to retreat strategically but failed, losing due to its lack of mobility.

"Brother Murong, what the butler grandpa said is so right. Speed is indeed crucial, whether in pursuit or escape. The big monster couldn't move as swiftly as the wind, so it fell." Nalasha summarized after the battle.

"It also couldn't be as unpredictable as the clouds." Murong, who had put away his weapon, added, then he collected the multi-clawed monster.

Nalasha controlled the air bubble to fly toward the source of the magical fluctuations: "It's time to harvest, Brother Murong. When we build our manor, we should come to the Soul Lake to see. There might be treasures in the big cave."

"Sure, it's not far from the capital. When we get tired of studying, we can come here to relax. You can also invite your friends to play, have a barbecue by the lake, or something." Murong hoped Nalasha would make more friends.

Nalasha shook her head: "No, they talk so awkwardly, jumping at every little thing, using so many adjectives. They must be bored."

"You need to learn to adapt."

"I am learning how to loot more things. Look, there are some flowers. Flowers, Brother Murong, are there flowers at the bottom of the lake? Collect them, all of them." Nalasha slowly moved forward at the bottom of the lake, carefully searching for valuable items.

It wasn't until Murong's storage space was almost full that Nalasha stopped. They had also reached the source of the magical fluctuations, which was where the big monster had been.

Nalasha controlled the water to bring in a hexagonal object with complex patterns and asked: "Is this it?"

"Probably. Try wrapping it in a spell pattern cloth, but not yet. The ship might start moving, and I'm afraid they might cause trouble." Murong fiddled with the object in front of him.

Nalasha sighed: "I'm afraid too. If things go wrong, we might have to fight them even after reaching the capital. Sigh~!"

Nalasha's little face wrinkled.

"So we need to treat the struggle as a pleasure and enjoy it." Murong encouraged.

"Let's go, to enjoy." Nalasha controlled the air bubble to rise, which was much faster than going down because they didn't need to search carefully.

In less than ten minutes, the two appeared below the small boat and quietly climbed aboard.

Nalasha first changed back into her full set of jewelry.

Murong pulled the rope tied to the side of the boat a few times, and someone above started pulling the rope, slowly lifting the boat.

Cheers erupted in the ship, but this naturally did not include Bobo and Derek, whose faces were very grim.

"By the gods, Young Master, Miss, you have finally returned safely. Do you know, those two hours felt like a hundred years to us. Just as I was sinking into the darkness of despair, the revered Miss and Young Master brought me the light of hope. Please accept your servant's heartfelt praise, ah! That sapphire-like Soul Lake, your enchanting form stirs the waves..."

"Moxi, if you continue, I won't mind letting you embrace the enchanting Soul Lake. The Young Master and Miss should rest, not listen to your annoying praise."

Kellyser pulled Moxi aside, bowing to show his congratulations and respect for Murong and Nalasha's safe return.

Bobo and Derek walked over very cooperatively.

"The ship hasn't moved yet. Are you sure you solved the problem? Or did you two just want to play on the lake?" Bobo looked down at Nalasha, questioning.

Derek remained silent, as he sensed danger again. Standing next to someone ready to kill you means you must control your mouth.

Nalasha ignored the two and said to Oriel: "Uncle Oriel, let's go to the captain's cabin."

"Sure, Miss Nalasha. Congratulations on your successful return, and thank you for your bravery, Miss and Young Master Murong." Oriel agreed, leading Nalasha and Murong to the captain's cabin and locking the unwelcome ones outside.

Bobo and Derek took a few steps forward, trying to press their ears to the door to listen, but Kellyser stopped them: "Hey! Guys, we need to be useful, right?"

The other adventurers crowded over, pushing Bobo and Derek back more than ten steps.

******

In the captain's cabin.

Nalasha took out the hexagonal object, holding it in her hand: "Uncle Oriel, in the lake, Brother Murong and I found this."

Oriel did not show the same curiosity as Nalasha and Murong. His expression was very serious, even heavy.

"This is the Kipling Chaotic Hexagonal Spell Star, it has another name... Mike's War Pendant. The great Lambert Kipling wanted to create something to counter the natural chaotic magical fluctuations on this planet, planning to help people cross the Sea of Misfortune, but he failed.

However, in his laboratory, he created the Kipling Chaotic Hexagonal Spell Star you are holding. It can interfere with and affect other large magical systems. The great Lambert Kipling selflessly shared the method of making it, aiming to provide theoretical ideas for other magical researchers.

Six thousand four hundred years ago, during the hundred-year war between our Rexlar Empire and the Mitchell Empire, a small mage in the Mitchell Empire made thousands of Kipling Chaotic Hexagonal Spell Stars. In the battle of the Dekker Mountains, our Rexlar Empire's magical ship fleet... was completely annihilated. To this day, the Dekker Mountains are still part of the Mitchell Empire's territory.

No one remembers the full name of the small mage, only that his companions called him Mike, a name not as great as Lambert Kipling, a name that no one wants to remember but can never forget.

Since then, all countries with mages have made large quantities of Kipling Chaotic Hexagonal Spell Stars, used in wars. So, it is called Mike's War Pendant."

Oriel told the story of the hexagonal object, his slow pace making one feel endless sighs, as if the frosty years were just yesterday.

"For the Mitchell Empire, Mike is also great. As long as the Dekker Mountains remain, no one will forget. The long river of history cannot wash away his name." Murong said solemnly.

"You are right, Young Master Murong. There is a damned canyon in the Dekker Mountains called Mike. Every year, countless people from the Mitchell Empire go there. The scenery there is not good at all. In hot weather, mosquitoes and flies fly around, and the rotten ditches emit a foul smell. Those who go there should die of illness, yes, die of illness!"

Oriel waved his fist fiercely, cursing viciously.

Nalasha, who only cared about quickly building her manor, did not care who occupied whose place. She simply remembered the names and places, which might be useful in school later.

She took out the spell pattern cloth, shook it twice, and asked: "Uncle Oriel, can you confirm it is this? Is the spell pattern cloth useful?"

"Oh! I find Nalasha getting smarter. Of course, a not very precious spell pattern cloth can solve the current trouble. I just can't figure out why it appeared in the Soul Lake. Where did you find it?"

Oriel was more concerned about the reason and location of the appearance of the Kipling Chaotic Hexagonal Spell Star.

Nalasha shrugged and spread her hands: "Who knows!"

"You don't know where you found it?" Oriel asked, not giving up.

"In the lake." Nalasha blinked her eyes.

"More specifically?"

"Who knows!"

"Alright, alright, I won't ask anymore. Now, let's continue flying to the capital. Forward, guys." Oriel waved his fist again.