Hanhai City
Massive dock stretched into the sea like iron ribs, crowded with merchant ships, and fishing boats of all sizes.
At the edge of the main dock, an argument was drawing attention.
A broad-shouldered old man with weather-beaten skin stood firmly on the wooden planks, his hands crossed behind his back. Deep wrinkles carved by years of wind and salt lined his face, and one could tell at a glance that he was someone who had spent most of his life at sea.
This was Captain John.
Standing opposite him was a younger man in dark traveling clothes—Cain. Though his expression remained respectful, impatience flickered in his eyes.
"I've already told you," Captain John shouted, his voice rough like gravel, "it's impossible to sail for a full year. Impossible!"
Cain clenched his teeth. "But we're offering more money for the voyage," he insisted. "Far more than the market price."
Captain John snorted coldly. "You might as well buy a new ship with that money. Listen to me,—I've sailed these waters for decades. A month from now, the sea will turn violent. Storms, rogue waves, sea spirit disturbances… even a battleship would think twice."
He paused, then added in a lower, graver tone, "I don't recommend going. Not unless you're tired of living."
Cain took a deep breath, suppressing his frustration. "We sought you out precisely because of your experience, Captain John. Others would have already accepted without hesitation."
Captain John's eyes narrowed sharply, a glint of seasoned caution flashing within them. He studied Cain for several seconds, as if weighing something unseen.
Then he shook his head.
"Words won't change reality," he said firmly. "If you truly insist, then let me meet your superior. A sensible person will understand what I'm saying."
Cain hesitated.
For a moment, his gaze flickered toward the deeper part of city—toward a figure waiting silently for this upcoming sailing journey.
Unable to persuade him any further, Cain finally nodded.
"…Very well," he said. "Follow me."
Turning around, he led Captain John toward the true decision-maker behind this dangerous voyage.
Cain led Captain John away from the noisy docks and into the inner districts of Hanhai City. The streets here were clean and wide, paved with smooth stone instead of weathered planks.
They soon stopped in front of a well-known restaurant—a place whose reputation in Hanhai catered exclusively to nobles, wealthy merchants, and influential figures. The building itself was elegant rather than ostentatious, its wooden pillars engraved with wave patterns and ancient maritime motifs.
Captain John glanced at the signboard, then at the guards posted outside, his eyes narrowing slightly.
'Is this some rich noble flaunting their money?' he thought. 'Trying to buy their way past the sea's temper?'
Inside, the atmosphere was quiet and refined. Soft music played somewhere unseen, and the footsteps of servants were soundless against the floor. Cain led him through the main hall and toward the upper level, stopping before a private chamber.
As the door slid open, Captain John's gaze froze.
Inside, seated near a wide window, was a noble lady.
She wore exquisite clothing of light gold and white, simple in design yet clearly crafted from the finest materials. Her golden hair fell like flowing silk down her back, catching the morning light. Her beauty was difficult to describe—calm, restrained, and distant, like something one could admire but never grasp.
What truly held Captain John's attention, however, were her eyes.
Purple eyes, deep and tranquil, reflecting the endless sea beyond the window.
She was gazing outward, toward the horizon.
Captain John followed her line of sight instinctively.
'That direction…' his heart tightened slightly. 'Sea God Island.'
The golden-haired lady calmly lifted her teacup and dropped another sugar cube into it. The faint clink echoed in the quiet room. Only then did she turn her head slightly and look at him.
"Nice to meet you, Captain John," she said softly.
Her voice was gentle, yet it carried an authority that made his breathing unconsciously steady.
Captain John removed his sailor's hat and pressed it against his chest, straightening his back.
"Nice to meet you, my lady…" he paused, unsure how to address her.
"You can call me Eve," the golden-haired lady said, her lips curving into a faint, polite smile.
"Yes, Lady Eve," Captain John replied immediately, bowing deeply.
She set her teacup down and turned fully toward him.
"Captain John," Qian Renxue said calmly, "I've always had expectations of going to sea. Could you please… make it possible for me?"
The words were polite. The request was gentle.
Yet when Captain John met her shining purple eyes, all the warnings he had prepared—suddenly felt distant and unimportant.
His throat moved.
"Yes… Lady Eve," he said before he could stop himself. "We can set off within three days."
The moment the words left his mouth, even he was startled.
Cain, standing to the side, bowed respectfully. "We will take our leave, then, to complete the preparations as quickly as possible."
Qian Renxue lifted her hand slightly in acknowledgment.
Cain and Captain John turned to leave.
Just as Captain John reached the door, her calm voice drifted behind him—unhurried, unshaken.
"Don't worry," she said lightly.
"With me present… there won't be any danger."
Captain John paused for the briefest moment.
For reasons he could not explain, he believed her completely.
Qian Renxue gently sipped her tea as Captain John and Cain disappeared beyond the door. The faint sound of footsteps faded, leaving only the quiet hum of the restaurant and the distant cry of seagulls drifting in from outside.
Her gaze slowly returned to the window.
Beyond it lay the endless sea—vast, calm on the surface, yet concealing unfathomable depths beneath.
"Sea God Island…" she murmured softly.
Her purple eyes narrowed slightly, as if piercing through the horizon itself.