The Water Magician

The next early morning.

The sound of a bell echoed on the deck of Skizblaznil.

Hearing it, Abel stepped out of the VIP room.

“Zack, what happened?”

He asked Zack Cooler, who was guarding the door to the VIP room.

“It seems a ship is approaching from the port,” Zack replied, pointing towards the harbor.

Indeed, without even needing a telescope, it was apparent that a ship was drawing nearer.

It wasn’t as large as Skizblaznil, but it was still considerable in size.

The other squad captain, Scotty Kobuck, had already taken charge of the Royal Knight Order and lined them up on the ship.

Of course, the knights had not drawn their swords, but they were fully armed.

Prepared for combat if necessary.

“Zack, Scotty, don’t engage from this side.”

“Understood.”

Abel commanded, and both of them replied in unison.

It wasn’t just the knight order preparing for battle.

The deck of Skizblaznil was also ready for combat.

Specifically, arrows lined up in a position where they couldn’t be seen from the enemy ship.

So the crew could grab their bows and nock arrows at a moment's notice.

“Captain Paulina, hold off on engaging from Skizblaznil as well.”

“Understood.”

Paulina nodded.

The crew seemed to nod along with her.

“Ryo, can you tell how many people are on that ship?”

“There are fifty on deck, with thirty of them being armed soldiers. Also… there seems to be an important-looking person at the bow.”

“An important-looking person?”

“They’re crossing their arms and probably glaring at us.”

“You can tell all that?”

Abel was surprised by Ryo’s detailed report.

It seemed Zack, Scotty, and Paulina were equally astonished.

Yet, everyone remained silent.

The tension was rising.

And then...

“Stop the ship!”

Zack shouted.

The ship that had come from the harbor stopped at about a distance of fifty meters.

It resembled a galleon, which was becoming mainstream in the Central Nations.

With a length of fifty meters, it was smaller than Skizblaznil and had a lower deck position.

However, due to the slightly raised bow and stern, the figure standing with arms crossed at the bow was easily visible from Skizblaznil.

“Just as Ryo said, they look important.”

“Right?”

Abel muttered, and Ryo nodded beside him.

The man standing at the bow looked to be in his mid-thirties.

With a height of about one hundred eighty centimeters and a solid build with a broad chest.

He stood with his arms crossed in front of his chest, proudly puffing out his chest.

With black hair, slightly mixed with gray, tied back, but what was most striking were his strong-willed black eyes.

“I am Mafredi, the island lord of Nibann Island. I wish to meet with His Majesty the King Abel I of the Naitorei Kingdom.”

The man at the bow, Mafredi, introduced himself.

“I am Abel I.”

In response to the introduction, Abel introduced himself as well.

“Oh... Just as reported, you exude an aura of strength.”

“Reported?”

“I have heard that the ‘monster’ from Pishkan went on a rampage due to that aura.”

“I see.”

Abel nodded, understanding Mafredi's words.

It seemed this man was aware of the events that had transpired in the Pishkan Kingdom.

“I’ve heard that an island lord holds a position similar to that of a vice king. Thus, is it correct to understand that you have taken on a supportive role to His Majesty Rakan, whom I met yesterday?”

“Yes, that was the case until yesterday.”

“In other words, it's different now?”

“Yes. From today, I am the king of the Banban Kingdom, not Rakan.”

Mafredi declared with a smirk.

“I see. Then, what is the reason for Lord Mafredi’s visit?”

Abel asked without changing his expression or tone.

However, Ryo caught on.

Abel had referred to him as ‘Lord Mafredi’ and not ‘Your Majesty.’

Of course, Mafredi himself noticed this point.

But he said nothing.

Silently, his smile deepened.

If Abel were to say ‘Your Majesty Mafredi,’ it would imply that the Naitorei Kingdom acknowledged this coup d'état.

The words of the king, being the highest authority, hold that kind of weight.