"Then let’s do it this way. We’ll find a place to sell them once we dock."
Gauss nodded, having no objections.
He knew in advance that the spoils from killing monsters needed to be divided.
He didn’t mind this expense, though the fleet didn’t contribute much in combat, without them, Gauss’s team wouldn’t have been able to stay and operate at sea for a long time.
This ship was more expensive than expected. According to Fern, the hull was made of special ironwood, which could prevent monsters from breaking through and sinking the ship, so the building and maintenance costs weren’t cheap.
And without money, why would the fleet take risks to assist Gauss’s team to complete the mission? Just because they hate the goblins, so they risk their lives to accompany the gentleman?
Naturally, that’s impossible.
Because of Gauss, none of the sailors were injured this time, and they unexpectedly earned an extra income, bringing joy to everyone’s faces.
The income, once averaged, was a small amount for Gauss, but for the sailors, it was a significant gain.
The indulgence of lavish feasts, several rounds of drinks at the tavern, or buying some decent new clothes for their wives and daughters at home.
This unexpected windfall was enough to allow these men who risk their lives at sea all year to live more comfortably for a while after returning home.
Their gratitude and satisfaction were genuine.
This was evident from the subtle change in how they addressed Gauss, from "Mr. Gauss" to "Lord Gauss."
"Onwards!"
After the slight interlude, the Seagull adjusted its sails, cutting through the waves once more, heading towards the deep blue.
The atmosphere on the deck became much more relaxed.
The sailors, while working, occasionally glanced at Gauss, who was standing at the bow looking afar, their eyes full of reassurance.
With such a compassionate strong man overseeing things, the rest of the journey seemed less daunting.
The journey continued.
As the Seagull ventured further, the surrounding sea conditions quietly changed.
The sea changed from a bright blue to a deeper ink blue.
In the distance, beneath the sky, the outlines of jagged rocks were faintly visible in the sunset.
"Ahead is the Black Sea Reef Area," Fern explained.
"Hmm."
Gauss nodded.
This meant their destination was not far.
The Tidal Cave was located on a large island near the reef area.
Initially, Gauss was surprised why the reef area wasn’t along the coast.
After inquiring, he learned that while reefs are mostly distributed along the coast, certain types of barrier reefs can extend to deeper waters, forming a reef belt away from land.
"Today’s journey will end here," Fern continued, pointing towards the increasingly menacing outline of the reef area in dusk.
"It’s too dangerous to navigate the reef area at night; the undercurrents and hidden reefs are more deadly than monsters. We’ll anchor here for the night and head to the mission site early tomorrow morning."
Gauss nodded to show he understood.
Night fell.
The sea at night was entirely different from during the day.
The sea surface turned pitch black, losing the warmth of the sun, and even the sea breeze carried a biting chill.
Captain Fern arranged for some crew to keep watch while the others headed below deck to the dining room for dinner.
The meal mainly consisted of fish caught by chance during the day, complemented by vegetables, fruits, and meat procured on land.
The slightly chubby chef, though not on deck during the day, heard from other sailors about Gauss and the others’ bravery, and with a broad smile, prepared an extra sumptuous meal for Gauss’s table.
Other sailors had no complaints about this special treatment.
On this perilous sea, the strong naturally hold privileges, especially those who can bring them benefits.
"Tomorrow should be good weather," Captain Fern said, sitting next to Gauss.
"If things go smoothly, we should be able to pass the reef belt and reach the Tidal Cave by tomorrow morning."
...
When the first light of dawn appeared on the eastern horizon, the Seagull awoke from its slumber.
After freshening up, Gauss walked onto the deck to find Captain Fern, the first officer, and the last group of sailors on watch, observing the weather and sea conditions.
As Fern predicted, today was indeed a good day.
The winds and waves from last night had calmed.
The sea became relatively tranquil, shrouded in thin morning mist under the faint dawn light.
"Mr. Gauss, up so early? It’s not yet time to set sail; you could sleep a little longer," Captain Fern exclaimed upon seeing Gauss.
"Habit."
During missions, Gauss never slept in.
This had become a routine.
Even though Fern previously mentioned not needing to wake early for once, Gauss’s internal clock still woke him at the usual time.
He enjoyed the sea breeze on deck for a while.
The Seagull’s breakfast was soon served in succession.
The main food consisted of hard bread and biscuits.
This bread was baked to be extremely hard, allowing it to be stored for a long time, and if necessary, could even be used as a blunt weapon in battle.
What caught Gauss by surprise was that, besides soaking the hard bread in hot fish porridge and soup, many sailors even softened it by soaking it in ale.
A peculiar combination.
But considering that on a ship, low-alcohol beer essentially served as fresh water.
Freshwater easily spoils at sea, whereas fermented beverages are easier to preserve.
Once you think of beer replacing freshwater, it makes more sense.