Chapter 348: Pick Any Ship—Warship or Merchantman!

"What, don't I look like a lord?" Gervas asked.

"No, no, no, Lord Gervas, that's not what I meant—I just feel… with your status, this territory of Stormhold seems too…"

"Too remote, right?"

Columbus didn't nod, but his expression confirmed it.

Gervas smiled faintly; his demeanor certainly invited misunderstanding.

"Remote is better—no one comes to disturb me, so I can develop freely!"

Hearing this, Columbus realized this lord's thinking was utterly inscrutable; he could only force a nervous laugh.

Gervas didn't delay. "Come on, you must be eager to see the ships—I'll take you to the shore right now."

"Yes, Lord Gervas!"

Fortunately, Gervas's promise of support was not empty.

Now, Columbus eagerly followed Gervas toward the coast.

Of course, once they left the village, the surroundings turned barren again, causing Columbus to sneak another glance at Gervas ahead.

This man's bearing and splendor were utterly out of place here.

How could such a territory harbor such an extraordinary lord?

And—would the ship Gervas funded him with not be some ancient, decrepit hulk?

Though he wasn't picky, this voyage would take them thousands of miles across the ocean, through regions ravaged by storms.

If the ship was old, their danger would skyrocket.

"Ah, Captain, you… you look!"

Time slipped by; Columbus's thoughts had drifted, when suddenly his subordinate shouted.

Columbus startled—it was Johnny again.

He'd rambled nonsense before him, and Columbus had merely tapped his head.

But if he dared speak foolishly before a noble, he risked immediate beheading.

Yet the moment this thought arose, as Columbus prepared to rebuke Johnny, his body froze—his pupils shrank sharply.

He forgot Johnny, forgot everything—his eyes held only the colossal shape ahead on the shore.

"T…three-masted warship?!"

After what felt like an eternity, Columbus finally snapped back—he stared at Gervas in disbelief.

The kingdom's three-masted warships were few enough to count; such a behemoth was exceedingly rare.

Of course, as a seasoned adventurer, he'd seen three-masted warships before—even up close.

But that had been at Duke Hernand's Emerald Harbor, or the King's direct Lionhawk Harbor.

And now—where was he?

The kingdom's farthest frontier, Stormhold, where no one lived beyond the village…

"Columbus, we've arrived—welcome to Stormwharf!"

"Lord Gervas, that… that's a three-masted warship…"

"Correct—it's a three-masted sailer, but I can't give you that one—it's mine."

Is that what I meant?

Even in dreams, I never dared hope for a three-masted warship!

Columbus took two deep breaths and calmed his nerves.

Now, his gaze at Gervas had changed.

This man was unquestionably a duke's son.

Earlier, seeing Stormhold's desolation and hearing he was its lord,

he'd doubted Gervas's noble lineage.

Now he realized—he'd been foolish.

Would a minor border noble really fund an unknown adventure like this?

He'd handed out a hundred gold coins as easily as tossing silver.

And those cavalrymen—even a minor noble wouldn't spend so much to maintain so many.

Now, this three-masted warship.

This man's status was undeniably exalted.

He didn't know why a duke's heir would come to the frontier as a lord—but he wouldn't dare ask.

"Here, Columbus—though I can't give you the three-masted warship, you may choose any single-masted warship or merchant vessel!"

At that moment, they reached a line of ships.

Compared to the three-masted behemoth, these single-masted vessels seemed insignificant.

Yet among them were three warships—of excellent condition—causing the adventurers' eyes to gleam.

"Lord Gervas, we can actually choose one of these warships?" Columbus snapped back to awareness.

Jokingly, the three-masted warship was astonishing.

But it was beyond his reach.

These single-masted ships—especially the three warships—could be chosen by him? That was far more important!

"Exactly—choose any single-masted ship, warship or merchant vessel, as long as you believe it'll increase your chance of success!"

"Captain, pick the warship! That one's newest—we've never sailed a warship before!" Johnny blurted out.

"Shut up!" Columbus quickly cut him off.

Fortunately, Lord Gervas seemed unconcerned; so Columbus cautiously pointed to the warship Johnny had indicated. "Lord Gervas, if possible, I'd like to choose that one."

"Of course," Gervas smiled and nodded to Old Jack.

Old Jack immediately ordered sailors to lay planks; then, under Gervas's lead, Columbus and his party boarded the warship.

"Warships are truly different—look at the timber! Absolutely the finest!"

"Yes, look at the hull's streamlining—it's prettier than the dancers' waists at Hero's Tavern!"

Once aboard, every adventurer marveled at every detail.

They touched everything, murmuring in awe.

It was like a sailor who'd only ever crewed passenger liners suddenly commanding a destroyer.

"This ship is named Black Dragon. Under Lord Gervas's command, it defeated two pirate bands, each over two hundred strong," Old Jack explained to Columbus.

"How is it? Columbus—are you satisfied? If not, Old Jack can take you to inspect other ships."

"No, Lord Gervas—I'm more than satisfied! No need to look further!"

Jokingly, this warship—what was there to hesitate over? It was at least ninety percent new.

With it, even if they faced storms head-on, they'd survive—provided luck held.

His treasure hunt's success rate had just skyrocketed!

With the ship chosen, the rest was simple.

He ordered serfs to help load Columbus's party's supplies onto the warship.

Originally, Gervas had planned a lavish farewell lunch near the wharf.

But Columbus said he'd only dare eat Gervas's victory feast after succeeding.

Gervas found this reasonable and didn't press.

"Columbus, take this."

"Lord Gervas, this… this is a single-tube telescope?"

"Huh? You know of it?" This time, Gervas was surprised.

"Lord Gervas, word's spread through Hero's Tavern—there's a miraculous device in the kingdom, no magic involved, just a small tube that lets you see things miles away!"

"And objects hundreds of meters off appear as clear as if right before your eyes—any adventurer would call it a divine tool!"

"Correct—it's the single-tube telescope. With it, I hope you find your treasure more easily."

Columbus's eyes brimmed with emotion.

He'd received patronage from other nobles before.

But they'd always looked down on him and his crew—merely using them.

Yet this Gervas treated them with the warmest respect and gave them the best possible support.

"Lord Gervas, I won't let you down!" Columbus declared solemnly.