Chapter 37: Blood Moon
As Xio asked about the "wolf fish cans," Enber stiffened, instinctively preparing to activate his Seabreeze Hat's Beyonder power to raise a gust of wind.
But before he could act, two men in black soft hats and checkered black-and-white uniforms—dressed like policemen—were already on the scene.
Standing just behind him, their uniforms lacked epaulets but bore a seagull emblem on the chest, the same symbol as the Pritz Harbor Ticketing Company. Clearly, they were security guards.
Turning around, Enber saw one guard leap forward, tackling a young man with distinct Southern Continent features to the ground. The other slipped the can from his hand into a bag, then—unsatisfied with just one layer—tied a second bag around it.
Their movements were so practiced and fluid it was almost painful to watch. When one guard escorted the subdued man away, the other turned to the still-stunned Enber and Xio.
"Sorry for the alarm, sir, madam. That man holds a grudge against the company and planned to use the wolf fish can to cause trouble."
"That was a wolffish can?" Xio asked in surprise, curiosity lighting her voice. "Why the commotion?"
"You've never smelled it, have you, ma'am?" the guard said, his face growing grave. "Back when I was a sailor, there was a story that went around… Pirates captured a merchant ship from Louse—a city on the eastern Feysac coast. Eager to inspect their loot, the pirates opened barrel after barrel, only to find them filled with pickled wolffish. Well, you can imagine what happened next. They fainted, vomited, and lost all ability to fight, becoming easy prey for the remaining crew."
"But why would something so foul-smelling be made into food?" Xio asked, clearly baffled.
The guard hesitated, struggling for an answer—it was something he himself had often wondered.
Seeing him at a loss, Xio turned to Enber. He shrugged and said, "There's always someone with a peculiar taste. Besides, the pickling method is simple, cheap, and keeps it from spoiling."
With that brief explanation, he didn't linger and headed straight into the Pritz Harbor Ticketing Company hall.
"Alright…" Xio muttered, following him inside.
The spacious hall had seven ticket windows, each with a line of at least a dozen people.
Glancing around, Enber approached a tall wooden board. Pinned to it were sheets listing the week's passenger ship schedules, destinations, ports of call, and prices for various cabins.
Unfortunately, his timing wasn't ideal—nearly all second- and third-class tickets for the next two days were marked with bold red circles and the words SOLD OUT. Enber frowned. Tickets were harder to get than he'd expected.
"That's because the Royal Navy has stepped up inspections near Oak Island recently, especially of ships coming from overseas colonies," the guard from earlier explained, having followed them inside. "Traffic's down almost half, so demand for the remaining ships has surged. You know how it is—always cargo on board that captains would rather not have inspected."
Oak Island… the Royal Navy base. Enber recalled something—wasn't it just two days until the maiden voyage of the kingdom's first ironclad, the Pritz? Even the king himself would attend. No wonder inspections were stricter. Then again, with the king's strength, it would take several high-ranking angels to even attempt harm.
Pushing aside those thoughts, Enber refocused on the board, looking over first-class cabins. Since the lower classes were sold out, pricier accommodations were their only option. Fortunately, a first-class ticket included a servant's cabin, so he and Xio would only need one.
Finally, he settled on a ship departing the morning of the 27th—the Myriad City Brilliance. Not knowing much about it, he asked the familiar guard, "Do you know anything about this ship?"
The guard's face lit up as he eagerly replied, "You've got an eye for ships, sir! The Myriad City Brilliance is brand new, fully steam-powered, with a top speed of 18 knots. Built by the Myriad City Shipyard in Desi, she's their first prototype passenger liner. Her captain once served as first officer on a colonial warship in Bayam—the shipyard lured him in with a high salary."
Enber nodded in satisfaction. The ship had no ties to the Storm Church or military interests, likely a venture by southern capitalists trying to compete with northern shipping businesses. That made it an ideal choice.
After purchasing a first-class ticket, he and Xio returned to their hotel to wait for the next day. Enber briefly considered exploring the local Beyonder circles for potion materials but quickly dismissed the thought. With time so short, he'd never gain enough trust to access one.
---
June 27, 9 a.m.
Enber, suitcase and cane in hand, arrived at Rose Wharf with Xio, now disguised as a maid.
The Myriad City Brilliance was docked there—large, elegantly designed, and rumored to have had input from several artists during its design.
Its modern aesthetic, tall smokestacks, and bright flags gave it a distinct look. With twelve cannons mounted on each side for defense against pirates and rivals, the ship inspired confidence in the boarding passengers.
Standing below, Enber looked up at the vessel, then took Xio's arm, helping her onto the gangway and eventually onto the deck.
Carrying their luggage, they followed the crowd into the ship's interior, climbed the stairs, and reached Room 301—the first-class cabin Enber had reserved.
Opening the door, he inspected the room with approval. It was even better than the house he'd once rented in Backlund's East Borough.
A roughly 30-square-meter sitting room connected to a master bedroom, two servant's quarters, a private bathroom, a standard wardrobe, and a mahogany desk.
"Xio, you take the master bedroom. I'll use the outer servant's quarters," Enber said with a smile after stowing his luggage.
"But I'm supposed to be the servant… Won't it look suspicious if anyone notices?" Xio asked, hesitating.
Enber chuckled, mimicking his teacher's tone. "First, I doubt anyone will come visiting. With the door shut, they won't know. Second, no one here knows us, so even if someone saw, let them think what they like."
Seeing the logic, Xio agreed. Besides, they'd spent quite a bit on first-class—it would be a shame not to make full use of it.
After arranging their belongings and stowing his cane sword, the two ventured back onto the deck, mingling with other passengers. There, Enber met the ship's captain, Alanson Edward.
The former warship officer was a born storyteller, regaling listeners with tales of Bayam's exotic customs and even his family's history.
"You know, my family didn't originally come from Desi. We settled there a little over a hundred years ago, but before that, we lived in Backlund, in the old Northwest District…"
Before anyone could respond, a nearby sailor burst out laughing. "Captain, you must've had too much to drink! There's no Northwest District in Backlund."
"You laugh, but it's true! My family still has my ancestor's old journals. Back then, they lived on… Dharavi Street, I believe." Captain Alanson replied earnestly.
The more serious he sounded, the less anyone believed him, taking it as a joke. Only Enber's gaze lingered on him thoughtfully.
---
That night, unable to sleep, Enber threw on a coat and slipped out to the deck.
Looking up, he saw the black "velvet curtain" of the sky stretched above, pierced by a deep red full moon. Its tranquil light spilled across the ship.
"Midnight, June 28… the night of the blood moon…" he murmured, his eyes drifting northwest, as if piercing the vast distance to glimpse a dim figure in an old apartment room in Tingen City.
"The Fool… has finally descended."
(End of Chapter)