The bed is comfortable, the food is impeccable, and the black tea tastes great, but I am not allowed to go out. Uther looked bored, flipping through the book she took from the bookshelf. With her superhuman dynamic vision and memory, she memorized the contents of the book instantly. Boring. She slouched on the desk, wondering if this is what they call house arrest. The door opened and a maid in a maid's uniform pushed a delicate little cart into the room. She placed the lunch on the table, bowed lightly, and exited the room. In that instant before the door closed, Uther caught a glimpse of two Marines standing in the hallway.

Knock them out and make a run for it.

Uther turned her gaze toward the window. Through the small circular window, she saw the Sea of Emptiness composed of endless white clouds. Unbelievably, this luxurious room was actually the noble's cabin on the "Queen Elizabeth II," and its previous owner was Fleet Admiral Meckel. However, Uther didn't know that Meckel was already dead, and that she herself was the present owner of this room. Escaping from the warship was not a good idea. Although she was worried about Lin, she managed to contact Hadley, who promised to help her find him. If it was Hadley, there was nothing to worry about. His dad was now the president of the dockworkers' union, basically the boss of the gangsters in the dock area, and this gang leader was also known for his righteousness. His words were like commands, and the whole warehouse area would be searched by the dockworkers. The real worry now was herself. Even her command-type headphones were confiscated overnight. What should she do next? With these thoughts in mind, Uther buried her head in the pile of books, making even the lunch taste bad.

Anyway, it's time to escape...

Uther activated the innate techniques of bodily reinforcement and stone skin at the same time. She punched the wall, and a part of the beautiful wallpaper sunk in with a loud thud, but her fist remained undamaged. If she controlled her strength, it shouldn't be fatal, right? Probably not...

Hearing the noise inside the cabin, a Marine knocked on the door.

Uther instantly opened the door, and their eyes met at close proximity. The Marine was surprised, and what followed was not a matter of surprise anymore. Uther punched him in the abdomen, and he immediately rolled his eyes and fainted.

"What... what are you doing?" His companion was shocked, and Uther swiftly landed a punch on him.

Done. Hehehe. Uther clapped her hands, lifted the two unconscious Marines onto the bed, and covered them with a blanket. They would probably sleep for a long time. Quietly closing the door, Uther slipped into the cabin. Her broad perception activated, instantly mapping the structure of the ship and the activities of the personnel in her mind.

The security was lighter than expected. Since the ship was in a docked state, there weren't many people on board. The soldiers didn't carry weapons and conversed easily with each other. The only troublesome ones were the two Marines patrolling in pairs. However, dealing with just two of them was not difficult.

Something feels off...

Having easily escaped, was it too smooth? Uther contemplated and decided not to leave the warship just yet. If someone was scheming, that person would only be in one place - the command tower.

The configuration of the Marine Corps on the ship itself was strange. There were almost always people patrolling the path leading to the gangway, while there were only two groups heading toward the bridge. Moreover, the patrol routes of these two groups didn't overlap, which meant she could completely avoid them. With little effort, Uther found the entrance to the command tower, all thanks to her radar-like broad perception.

The omnipotent voice did not raise any objections, indicating that the danger had not reached the level of combat.

Opening the door to the command tower, Uther saw the familiar sight of the command center. On the huge table with the battlefield map, delicately crafted military chess pieces were placed. It took a lot of effort from the staff to simulate battles. Uther really wanted to take away one of those exquisitely made warships. On the high seat behind the table, Felicia von Bergman, wearing the uniform of a general, sat there. Her long red hair sprawled over her shoulder boards, shining with golden sparkles. Behind her stood ten elderly veterans in red military uniforms, but their weapons had been replaced with the latest rapid-fire rifles. Behind the veterans, a large object was covered with a white cloth, and Uther couldn't tell what it was.

"So, you've completely outsmarted me?" Uther raised her hands in surrender. "Truly a genius strategist.""If you want to leave, I won't stop you," Felicia smiled faintly, "but why did you come to my headquarters? Can you tell me the reason?"

"Don't misunderstand, I just came to retrieve my Magic Armor," Uther ran his fingers through his light brown hair, "and to see what kind of face the person who had me under house arrest has. But as expected... it's not surprising."

"And then?" Felicia raised an eyebrow.

Just by changing clothes, Uther's presence was completely different from that night. The heavy oppressive feeling made Uther out of breath, but she was not overwhelmed by the aura. Instead, she stood tall, crossed her arms, and stared back. Felicia smiled slightly, snapped her fingers, and the old soldiers stood at attention, their heels making a loud clanking sound as they solemnly left. Among them, Uther saw several familiar figures - the old soldiers who had protected Felicia in the burning estate that night.

"The old men are still alive," Uther said, "that's great."

The old soldiers all glared at Uther together, as if saying, "We're not old yet!"

Uther could only force a smile.

The old soldiers walked out of the command tower, and the heavy armored door closed behind them. Now, only she and Felicia were left here. Felicia stood up from her seat, took confident steps towards Uther, her red hair swaying behind her, leaving a sharp impression. Uther wanted to step back, but Felicia embraced her, pressing her face against her chest, almost suffocating her for a whole minute.

"Come with me to the Empire," Felicia let go of Uther, "no matter who you are, what your background is, or whether you are human or not, I need a subordinate like you."

"That last accusation is a little serious, isn't it?" Uther scratched her head, "Not being human and all..."

Felicia used a finger to lift Uther's face, gently brushing aside her hair, revealing her pointy ears. Uther had always cleverly hidden her ears with her hairstyle, as long as she concealed the pointed part, no one would notice any problem. But when someone like Felicia directly brushed her hair aside, the disguise no longer worked.

"Are you a fairy?" she played with Uther's hair ends.

"Absolutely not, please don't think in that direction," Uther pushed her away, "I am human, basically... reluctantly... considered human."

"Well then, let me ask you another question," Felicia went behind her seat, pulled down the white cloth covering a huge object, and a Night Owl Command Armor appeared in front of Uther. It was her Magic Armor. "A year ago, someone piloted this Magic Armor into the flagship's command tower. He killed all the staff but didn't kill me. Perhaps it was because I was wearing a princess dress. If it was military uniform, maybe he wouldn't have said, 'the battlefield is not a place for children', right?"

Uther felt a mix of emotions. If Felicia knew that the man had turned into a girl, she didn't know how her expression would change. She made up her mind not to mention a word about the Magic Armor. If someone else knew this secret, she would be ashamed and die.

"That man... is dead, right?" Felicia muttered, "Hit by a 76mm cannon, it's impossible to survive. After I issued the ceasefire order, Merkel killed him for his own face, which made me see through that old fox. Regardless of how you obtained this Magic Armor, I won't take it from you."

After saying that, she approached Uther. Due to the height difference between them, and now with Felicia wearing high-heeled military boots, the height difference between the two widened even further, and Uther could only look up.

"Uther," she reached out her hand, "become my subordinate."

To be able to follow such a legendary commander was every soldier's dream. However, Uther hesitated and eventually looked away.

"Sorry," she said, "I have something I must accomplish."

"Such a pity," Felicia smiled, "you were almost mine. But it's okay, if you ever change your mind, you can come find me anytime."

After saying that, she walked out of the command tower and disappeared outside the armored door. At the same time, accompanied by mechanical noises, light seeped in from above as the large exhaust windows on top of the command tower opened. It was a five-meter diameter passage large enough for the Magic Armor to pass through. Even the exit was prepared, indicating great foresight or anticipation. Regardless, since the sky can be seen, Uther started the Magic Armor, the Night Owl Command Armor took off, flying towards the snowy sky."What did you say?"

Uther pounded the table, sitting across from the bald man with a frustrated smile. The Dockworkers Union was a two-story building, and even the staff downstairs looked up at the office on the second floor. Although these people were dressed formally, the scars on their faces and bodies seemed to imply something, exuding a terrifying atmosphere.

"Lin disappeared," Hadley sighed, "two nights ago, the warehouse in the western district was completely destroyed. We searched the disaster area thoroughly, but found no body and nothing else. However... we found this thing, which is highly suspicious."

In front of Uther was a broken machine sword.

"What is this..." Uther looked at the broken sword, "Fiona... are you really here?"

Hadley seemed a little frightened by Uther's hateful gaze.

Just then, the door opened and Lieutenant Luke Maximilian, dressed in a captain's uniform, walked in. He was a handsome man with slicked-back blond hair, a typical Empire noble. Before the office door closed completely, the voices of the girls working in the union could be faintly heard, showing that this handsome guy was popular wherever he went.

"Good afternoon, Captain Maximilian," Uther greeted politely.

"Oh, the captain is here," Hadley quickly made way, "Come, sit here."

"No, I'll sit here," Luke sat on the sofa prepared for guests, "Miss Uther Neinheim, something needs to be handed over to you."

"To me?" Uther was taken aback, "Thank you for the trouble."

Luke took an envelope out of his coat pocket and handed it to Uther. It was sealed with the official seal of the Empire Military. Uther opened the envelope and inside was a transfer of ownership document, ship registration documents from the Empire, and a pass from the Trade Alliance. She first opened the transfer of ownership document, which was for a ship registered under the name Uther Neinheim, and the ship that was transferred to her was none other than the Adventurer. That slave ship became Uther's property.

"The Adventurer..." Uther was surprised, "that slave ship."

The Empire's ship registration documents were basically the same as the transfer procedures, so Uther quickly confirmed them and folded them up. The pass was definitely a good thing. The Trade Alliance pass guaranteed the freedom of navigation for merchant ships in non-combat areas. If she wanted to do business, this was necessary. However, the annual fee for the pass was expensive, so many merchants chose domestic routes instead. Uther flipped to the end and confirmed the validity period - a full twenty years!

"Why are you giving me that ship?" she asked.

"It's an order from higher-ups, I'm not quite sure," Luke said, "But the Adventurer is largely captured by you, so there's nothing to say if it's transferred to you."

"I wonder what happened to the original owner of the ship."

"You mean the slave trader?" Luke smiled slightly, "In the Empire, trafficking slaves is a serious crime, and he had the bad luck to run into the purge led by Princess Lillian, so he was executed."

"He deserved it," Uther snorted, "What about the girls who were treated as slaves?"

"They are temporarily housed in an orphanage," Luke said, "But Lady Felicia will arrange for them properly. Those who can find their parents will be sent back by the Empire Fleet, and those who cannot can choose to enter the Officer Academy for education. Although it takes time to forget these bad memories, the future will be better."

"I suddenly feel that monarchy is superior to republic," Uther sighed, "Federation politicians have always been indifferent to the disadvantaged, unless it's time for elections and they need votes." She turned to Hadley, "Hadley, I want to hire a group of sailors. After all, it's impossible for me to sail a merchant ship alone."

"It's not necessary," Luke said, "Those Kunlun slaves are still on the ship."

"What!" Uther remembered the dark-skinned slaves on the ship, and couldn't help but feel dizzy. These slaves were tall, muscular, and looked alike. Although they were skilled and obedient... Uther didn't have such a strong interest. She helplessly rubbed her temples.

"Those ship slaves seem to be part of the Adventurer," Luke explained, "The collars they wear cannot be removed by Empire technology, and according to them, if they stay off the ship for too long, the collars will strangle them.""There's something else..." Uther sighed, "Why is it like this?"

"Don't underestimate those dark-skinned Kunlun slaves," Hadley interrupted, "From what I've observed, they are all very skilled sailors, and they are familiar with the ship. They are definitely much better than rehiring new sailors. And loyalty is guaranteed, which is important, you know, during the Age of Exploration, many famous explorers died due to mutinies by the sailors."

"Well, then," Uther put the envelope away, "I'll just accept it all shamelessly."

"The Explorer is ready to sail," Luke said, "And it is loaded with Princess' cargo. You need to deliver the cargo to the designated location, and then the ship will be completely yours."

"As expected, there's no such thing as a free lunch." Uther smiled slightly, "I do have some experience in operating ships, so this small task won't be a challenge for me. Please inform the Princess that I will deliver the cargo. Well then, goodbye to both of you."

After saying that, she left the office, leaving Hadley with a surprised expression.

The Explorer was docked at Pier 17, its Spirit Seed Furnace was running at low power, and a thin layer of ice had formed on its newly painted black hull. Twenty Kunlun slaves, shirtless, were lined up on both sides of the gangway, their silver collars emitting a faint light in the wind and snow. Uther walked past these dark-skinned men and felt a bit overwhelmed, but fortunately, her experience in commanding troops prevented her from being flustered.

"Everyone back to your positions," she commanded as she stood on the gangway, "Do you plan to freeze to death here?"

"Yes, Master!" the slaves answered in unison.

Within a few minutes, all slaves took their respective positions. Uther stood inside the bridge, looking through the frosted windows at the distant lighthouse, and the shadows of the cranes were faintly visible in the flying snow. Three slaves stood at their posts - the navigator, helmsman, and first mate. Uther turned and walked toward the captain's position, where a red crystal was embedded in the captain's seat. It was the control center of the airship, and only the captain could activate it.

Uther placed her hand on it, and magic runes of despair appeared and disappeared. Accompanied by the roaring sound of compressed air, white steam issued from the Spirit Seed Furnace and dissipated on both sides of the ship. The Spirit Seed Furnace of the Explorer entered its normal operating state, and the magical circuits engraved on the hull emitted a faint green light.

"Hey," Uther pointed at the navigator, "What's your name?"

"Master, my name is Navigator," the slave stood up straight and answered.

"I didn't ask for your position." Uther said, "Tell me your name."

"Master, my name is Navigator."

"I said..." Uther turned awkwardly to the helmsman, "Your name isn't Helmsman, is it?"

"Yes, Master, my name is Helmsman," the slave replied.

"Well," Uther sighed, "Where's the First Mate?"

"Master, how may I serve," the last slave asked.

The previous master was quite casual, but names are just codes, although it is a bit disrespectful to these Kunlun slaves, it must be said that this makes things convenient.

"Helmsman, check the steering equipment," Uther commanded, "Don't forget to notify the engine room to prepare for departure."

"Yes, Master," the helmsman replied.

"Navigator, here's the navigation plan." Uther spread the nautical chart on the table, "You plan the route, I want to see your work in ten minutes."

"Understood, Master." The navigator took the nautical chart.

"First Mate," Uther turned to the third slave, "Take me to the cargo hold. I want to see what Princess has asked us to transport."

"Yes, Master."

"I say, all of you..." Uther looked at the three tall and burly Kunlun slaves, "Can you not call me 'Master'?"

The faces of the three slaves instantly showed puzzled expressions, and they shook their heads together.

"Master," the first mate said, "If we don't call you 'Master,' the collars will kill us."

"Well, I never knew that." Uther sighed, "Well, do as you please."

"Yes, Master." The three slaves said in unison.

The cargo hold was located in the middle of the Explorer, with doors on both sides that could be opened to load large goods, vehicles, or even allow vehicles to drive directly onto the ship. Uther was very satisfied with the loading capacity and technical condition of this ship. It had been used only for trading slaves before, which was truly a waste. The contents of the cargo hold surprised Uther, there were a hundred mass-produced Magic Armors, complete with weapons, ammunition, and a technical officer."Firearms? Or Magic Armor?" Uther tapped on the mass-produced armor, confirming its authenticity. "Your Highness Filipxia, are you planning on starting a war?"

"These are gifts for Yang Jiye, the Governor of Yujing," the technical officer said. "Please make sure to deliver them to him in Yujing. The Federation is invading Yujing, and these weapons can help Yang resist the enemy."

"I'll also sell Yang a favor to get his support for the Empire?" Uther took the inventory list, which surprisingly included a large quantity of light weapons and other supplies. "I'll keep twenty sets of cold protection clothing and deliver the rest."

"If it's just clothes, no problem," the technical sergeant said. "The goods have been handed over. I shall take my leave."

"Wait! Aren't you coming with us?" Uther looked at the cargo hold filled with Magic Armor. "Magic Armor needs regular maintenance, and the journey takes a month."

"Captain, your slave has completed the basic technician training, so you don't have to worry about maintenance," the technical officer said. "I am a soldier of the Empire, and it would be inappropriate for me to get involved in this."

"Understood. The Empire shouldn't meddle with this." Uther reached out his hand. "Thank you, and perhaps we will meet again in the future."

The technical officer hesitated for a moment but shook hands with Uther, who was three heads shorter than him. "You truly are an extraordinary person," he said as he walked down the gangway. Uther couldn't help but smile bitterly. Judging someone by appearance truly didn't work on her.

"Now, what's next?" Uther commanded. "First Mate, get twenty sets of cold protection clothing and distribute them to all crew members. Although you all appear resistant to the cold, I don't believe you won't feel cold."

"Yes, Captain." The slave nearly burst into tears.

Twenty minutes later, Uther returned to the bridge. All the slaves were wearing Empire's white cold protection clothing, but the logos on the clothes were removed beforehand to avoid unnecessary trouble.

"Route planning is complete," the navigator reported. "Please review it."

Uther glanced at the route and found it to be quite professional.

"Very good," she commanded. "Release the mooring ropes, prepare to set sail!"

The slaves on the deck began busying themselves, loosening the ropes one by one. The explorer, no longer anchored, began to move using its own propulsion system. The propellers tore through the flying snow, and the magical circuits on the engine lit up with a faint green light. The helmsman skillfully turned the wheel, adjusting the explorer's course. It accelerated and gracefully passed the harbor lighthouse, brushing past the white Empire fleet flagship, the "Elizabeth II".

On the magnificent bridge of that massive battleship, Uther saw Filipxia. She wore the uniform of an Empire general, with a green military coat draped over it. Her red hair danced in the wind and snow.

In the end, I'm still serving you, Uther smiled bitterly. But this is not bad either.

The explorer, leaving the port, accelerated and disappeared into the wind and snow.

Interlude: Captain's Journal

Hello, everyone. I am Captain Albert, the quirky captain, no, the ghost ship captain, as mentioned earlier. I am currently using an alias, so please do not inquire. I won't tell you anyways.

Today, the Barbarossa received another business order.

Cough cough, to be honest, I was a bit surprised. I thought that after living for 55 years and drifting in the Sea of Emptiness for another 100 years after death, there wouldn't be anything that surprises me anymore. But today, I was still surprised. The summoner of the ghost ship this time was a man, but he definitely had no chance to be handsome. He gave off a sloppy feeling. However, this man was obviously a foreigner. Black hair, black eyes, slim figure, and a rather neutral appearance. But according to my standards, he's definitely an ugly guy. In front of his chest, a red crystal sparkled with an eerie light. And surprisingly, the previous client also boarded the ship.

That woman named Fiona doesn't seem to be in a good situation this time. What's with that collar on her neck? And she's even wearing a leash, with the other end held by the young man. Is this some kind of new playing? SM is so fun, ah! I'll have to try it when I get the chance. Fiona seems quite reluctant, unable to resist being led like a dog by the young man. The resistance in her eyes and her blushing face contrasted starkly, and this kind of play must be exciting.According to the ancient contract, summoning the ghost ship comes at a price, and I am eager to see what that young man will give us. If he fails to satisfy me, his soul will be consumed by the ghost ship.

"This is the Celestial Sphere," he took out a spherical device, which snapped apart into several metal rings rotating around a glowing core. It was exquisitely crafted and incredibly impressive. But where did this man get this magical artifact? Well, I never pry into other people's secrets.

It is the treasure I have long yearned for! With this device, I will be able to precisely control the Barbalos and carry out accurate interdimensional transfers, with accuracy measured in millimeters.

"As a price, it's not bad," I sat on the captain's seat with a smirk, "So, what do you want us to do?"

"Take me to Jade Capital," the young man said.

"Jade Capital?" I laughed, the sound reverberating between the empty ribs of the ship. "If you want to go to Jade Capital, you can take a commercial ship directly from the Fort Hurricane passenger terminal. Do you want me to give you the schedule?"

"You really have a sense of humor, Captain Orberde," the young man looked at me fearlessly. It seems applying grease on my skull really makes me handsome, and handsome guys aren't scary, of course. "I want to go to the center of Jade Capital—Penglai."

"Penglai..." I stared at him. "I see."

My dear audience, you may not know what Penglai is, but let me explain it to you. Jade Capital is the name of a large floating island cluster, comparable in size to a country. Penglai, on the other hand, is the center of the entire Jade Capital. It is a small floating island, not very big, but it floats at a height of five thousand meters above the Sea of Emptiness dimensional layer. This height exceeds the cruising altitude of any hovercraft and the practical limit of a magic armor.

In other words, humans have no means of reaching Penglai.

However, it seems that the ghost ship, capable of interdimensional transfers, can. That's why this young man has come to us.

"We accept this deal," I nodded at the first mate, and he took out a piece of parchment. "So, my esteemed friend, please sign your name here."

This parchment contains magic, and once the contract is signed, both parties will be bound. But I like it this way. In business, integrity comes first, and those who break their word will undoubtedly be cursed by the contract.

The young man picked up the pen and wrote his name in the signature line: Lin.