Zaecuria Kingdom.
"Your Majesty." The minister walked across the room and whispered to the king.
"Hoh?" The king looked amused. "That is indeed interesting. He wants to see the ship?"
"Yes. He is probably trying to see how long it takes to finish."
"That's true. If what we have heard is true, it's clear that this is a perfect time to actually set sail." The king thought for a moment. "How long do we need to complete the ship?"
"Three months."
"Is it possible to speed it up?"
"No. We build it so fast that if we speed it up even further, I'm afraid we can't guarantee its quality."
"However, the foundation has been completed, right?"
"Yes. He can begin drawing the runes."
"Alright. Tell the admiral, the chief engineer, and the guardian to accept him. He will definitely tell us how to operate the rune, and we can train our sailors for the next three months."
"Understood." The minister nodded with a serious expression. "And there is one more problem."
"What is it?"
"He is asking about the record of the sailing from the start of our project. We are not sure about his intention."
"The record?" The king couldn't help but furrow his eyebrows. He thought, 'Did he know that record? How? It was supposed to be a well-guarded secret of the royal family. Was there someone leaking the information? But there was supposed to be no one who could do something like this at the moment.'
"This way, the ship will look even more menacing. It should be perfect to be the flagship of the Ardagan family." Duke Briton smiled, proud of his own work.
"I like that. Once it's about to complete, don't hesitate to call me again. I'll be drawing the rune myself."
"Understood." Duke Briton extended his hand. "Would you like to take a look at the interior?"
"I'd love to, but..." Noel glanced at Duke Briton, asking, "Do you know why the Zaecuria Kingdom starts creating ships and discovers an island across the ocean?"
Duke Briton looked shocked but immediately replied, "I'm not sure what you're talking about. My apologies."
Noel looked at Duke Briton with sharp eyes as if he already noticed that slight hesitation. "I see. Thank you for answering my question. It seems I have to meet your king directly. Well, I'm going to visit the Zaecuria Kingdom to draw the runes for them, so I guess I might as well do it."
"You are visiting the Zaecuria Kingdom?" Duke Briton was taken aback. He thought Noel wouldn't leave the territory, but he was wrong.
"Yes. I have received the letter from them, so I'll be leaving tomorrow. I'm just asking if you need me to pass a message or something."
Duke Briton scratched the back of his head. Since Noel would know it from the king himself, Duke Briton only said, "I'm sorry, this matter is top secret. That's why I can't divulge it."
"Don't worry. I know that after seeing your reaction. As long as I know it exists, it means I have to go."
"From what I have heard, you will be going with Admiral Christopher. He is a rather stiff man, but his skill is good. I know that you are the one leading this expedition, but I think it's good to leave the command to him." Duke Briton explained.
"I know. That's what I'm planning. It's just... I also have my own expert, so if necessary, I have to regain control. What I'm worried about is not him, but the demons hiding underneath the sea."
Duke Briton's expression turned dark. "There is one record stating that they find giant demons emerging from the sea, destroying the ships. Out of the three ships, only one survived to tell the tale. Considering this trip only consists of one ship, you should be careful even though the ship has been reinforced by the runes."
"I know." That was the exact reason he wanted to get the Diva's help. With her controlling the water, underwater fighting would be much easier.
Duke Briton nodded, implying he didn't need to send a message or anything. "I wish you luck."