Assigned to guard the left flank, the charismatic man understood the reality of the situation and had anticipated it ever since the captain summoned him.
The captain and his two subordinates hurried out of the room after the dark-haired man dragged his feet across the deck.
The man named Dama smiled.
"The captain is always pushing Yorke; doesn't that make things difficult for him?"
The captain smiled, his eyes closed.
"No," he replied. "In fact, he'll be paid after this."
The two men slowed their steps before exchanging glances.
"Captain? Are you sure about that 'payment'?" the brown-haired man asked in confusion.
The captain smiled faintly; his steps remained steady.
"Of course."
He turned at the corner, followed by the other two.
Of course, hearing that only made the two of them even more confused about the situation.
'Strange, very strange.'
Dama knew that the captain was notorious for being stingy; he never spent a single penny while on duty.
However, Dama was also somewhat confused and impressed by how the captain had managed to survive every mission and assignment he had undertaken.
Dama raised an eyebrow.
'He must have mooched food and drinks off other people.'
That was not the same as stealing.
But, of course, that was merely Dama's hypothesis.
After walking through the dimly lit corridor to save on expenses, the three men arrived at the open deck.
Approximately fourteen crew members were gathered there, each with a long-barreled weapon slung over his shoulder.
The Helawars Amome Ansquers usually used cannons to fight their enemies, but those weapons were completely ineffective against sea monsters like them.
Moreover...
One of the officers smiled bitterly.
Although they usually greeted one another, as required by one of the navy's important regulations, they momentarily ignored that rule as their attention remained fixed on the phenomenon mentioned earlier.
"...Captain Fennec."
'Thank goodness you've arrived.'
The man immediately approached the three of them and saluted amid the nervousness gripping his mind.
Fennec Soneto looked at him indifferently.
"Where is Yelisa?" he asked for confirmation.
The man was silent for a moment, as if thinking hard.
"Lieutenant Casan is over there, Captain," the officer replied.
"Good."
After saying those words, the captain carefully lowered his long rifle and walked toward the thirteen people standing before him.
Dama instructed his companion to remain where he was with the man who had provided the information.
He looked around, but the thick morning fog obscured everything.
'How are we supposed to fight that creature if we can't even see it?'
With a secret artifact user aboard the Helawars Amome Ansquers, Dama was somewhat skeptical about the safety of the voyage.
Moreover, the sight of the crew members monitoring the situation from above was enough to make Dama feel as though his heart were being torn apart from within.
Dama shook his head and glanced at his companion before following the captain.
A one-and-a-half-meter-tall iron railing stood along the edge of the ship.
The other thirteen officers were not foolish enough to simply gather in one place.
They split into several groups, at least two, to observe the irregularities in the ship's direction and the movement of the water on both the left and right sides.
Indeed, the strange phenomenon continued; the ship even reacted with its distinctive sound.
Toot... Toot...
Acting on Captain Fennec Soneto's instructions, the other four ships, each under the command of its own captain, had moved according to his orders.
Now, all six ships shared the same goal: to survive and challenge the savage Caspian Sea, a region dominated by supernatural anomalies.
"Don't shout!"
A firm voice, sharp enough to pierce the eardrums, echoed from behind.
Several meters to the left, where six people had gathered with their attention turned toward the seawater, Fennec Soneto stopped in his tracks and turned around.
'Captain Aqanstor? Why is she here?'
He held his breath as he stared at her, even though they held the same rank.
"Soneto..." Aqanstor called softly.
Fennec adjusted the long-barreled weapon slung over his shoulder.
"...Why are you here?" he asked, seeking confirmation.
It was true that the two ships were connected by two passageways that could be used at any time, at least by high-ranking personnel.
However, considering the difference in their authority, Fennec found the woman's presence unexpected.
The woman smiled, covering her mouth with one hand; her eyes sparkled mischievously.
Two officers stood straight beside her, their heads lowered.
"Answer my question!"
Fennec spoke in an indifferent tone.
Dessie Aqanstor was silent for a moment; her expression turned serious as she put on her hat.
A few seconds later, she sighed and answered, "To check the situation outside, of course."
For a moment, the thirteen officers shifted their gazes toward the two captains facing each other.
They made no comment, knowing full well how this interaction would unfold.
"What do you think, Captain Soneto..."
"Fennec," he interrupted, sounding somewhat apathetic.
"Captain Fennec," Dessie repeated, slightly furrowing her brow.
"Good," Fennec Soneto praised flatly.
Dessie smiled.
"What about that?" she murmured, seeking confirmation. Fennec shook his head slightly, a grim expression appearing on his face.
Captain Dessie immediately understood the situation.
Having anticipated this moment, Dessie turned around.
Her two subordinates raised their heads slightly before taking several steps back, their bodies still facing Fennec.
Fennec lowered his gaze, his expression turning serious.
Dessie stared sharply at him.
"Prepare yourself," she said.
"Of course." Fennec replied, trying to remain calm.
A few seconds later, they shifted their feet several inches, the soles of their shoes gripping the floor.
Tap.
The sound echoed briefly, sharply contrasting with the surrounding atmosphere, which was filled with thick fog that blocked out the sunlight.
The others watched in silence; some of them did not even understand what their two captains were doing.
The two of them sprinted at full speed, forcefully pushing off the ground.
Bang!
Bang!
Their incredible speed caught several of them off guard.
Boom!
Dama looked around in confusion.
'What was that?'
It turned out to be a feint, carried out just before the other four ships fired their cannons.
Fennec reached the edge, only a few meters from the formation of ships. Meanwhile, Dessie joined the team, which was predominantly made up of Captain Fennec Soneto's personnel.
Each of them lowered their long-barreled rifles, faint smirks appearing on their lips.
The thirteen crew members hurried away, knowing what would happen next.
Without hesitation, Fennec calmly pulled the trigger once more.
"Where are you?" he whispered, observing the strange whirlpool ahead.
As the ships moved, doubt began to grip their minds more tightly.
Moreover, the creatures did not appear at all, as though they could sense the danger.
The two reckless captains had no choice but to lure them out using cannon blasts and shots from long-barreled rifles specially modified for hunting Xie.
The plan worked; they watched as the whirlpool grew stronger.
Realizing that the creatures were about to emerge, the four ships crept closer, ready to fire.
The two captains stepped forward, their long-barreled weapons in hand.
They were now faced with a difficult choice: continue with the plan or fight the sea creatures directly.
'Dama is there; that woman is there, while...'
He raised his head, focusing his gaze on a single figure through the telescope mounted before his eye.
Waiting for information from that person was the worst choice; Fennec knew that all too well.
He clicked his tongue; he had no choice but to do it himself.
"Dessie," Fennec called firmly. "Bring that equipment here."
Captain Dessie showed no reaction.
A few seconds later, Fennec quickly added:
"Hey, aren't you listening to me?"
Dessie clicked her tongue.
'Shut up, idiot. I know the equipment is useful.'
He knew the creature should have appeared after the barrage of explosions and gunfire.
It was strange, undeniably strange.
Her two subordinates, who had gone ahead earlier, returned carrying something in their hands.
Yes, it was fishing line.
The two captains each took their own fishing line.
The gamble began when the two captains ordered their personnel to remain close to them.
Seventeen personnel nodded, promptly accepting the order.
After reaching the bow of the ship, the two captains exchanged glances before preparing to cast their hooks.
Their long-barreled weapons rested against the iron railing, ready to be used at a moment's notice.
The others merely watched the action, waiting for an opportunity to fire.
A faint red light briefly illuminated the turbulent seawater as the fishing lines touched the surface.
Those who had their weapons aimed instinctively pulled the triggers.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
A barrage of gunshots rang out; the smell of gunpowder still lingered in the air, even after several minutes had passed.
The two captains remained silent, unable to do anything but wait and hope for luck.
The atmosphere grew increasingly suffocating as more and more eyes appeared around the speeding ship.
The creature did not attack; instead, it hid beneath the hull, waiting for the right moment to destroy the humans, the intruders inside the massive floating vessel.