As for the Vichy tribe?
Ur thought it over and ruled out their involvement.
If he had personally requested the map, the Vichy people might have given him a fake one. After all, he had already killed two of their kin. Though they hadn't dared act against him at the time out of fear, their impression of him was certainly far from positive. Ur was well aware of that.
But the chart in his hand had been borrowed by Diana and her companions from the Vichy tribe. While the tribe might be brutal due to their harsh environment, they were unlikely to betray a lifesaver. Ur trusted that much.
"Ur, maybe we should turn back. We've only sailed for a day. If we head back and get a proper map, there should still be time." Pasfield said, his expression anxious.
He knew full well that things were no longer the same. Any delay of two days might allow his "siblings" to reach the Azure Water ahead of him. But at this point, there was no other choice. Continuing with this map would be a waste of time and meaningless.
"Not yet." Ur raised a hand to stop him.
Their bond on the ice plains had grown—a mixture of respect and fear. Previously, their interactions had been polite but superficial; now, Pasfield's trust in Ur was genuine.
The map Ur held was unlike any ordinary map. Most maps marked terrain with a route leading to a destination. But Ur's map contained no endpoint. Its lines flowed like the currents of hot and cold streams he had studied in geography, circulating endlessly within a region once reaching a certain point, with no final destination.
Ur studied the map, eyes scanning it repeatedly. Then suddenly, an idea struck him. "Pasfield, from now on, ignore the ship's guidance. Just follow the route on this map." His eyes glimmered with a faint light as he spoke.
"What? But there's no endpoint!" Pasfield exclaimed, alarmed.
"Trust me. Follow this line, and I believe we'll find what we're looking for," Ur said, feigning an air of mystery.
"Really?" Pasfield hesitated, half-believing.
"Trust me. It will work," Ur replied firmly.
For a moment, Ur understood why, in novels of his past life, characters often spoke half-truths, shrouded in mystery. They didn't fully trust their own words, yet they had to project certainty to influence others.
This was exactly what Ur was doing—guessing, yet appearing resolute. Thanks to their prior battle, Pasfield's faith in him was strong enough to follow without question.
Following Ur's instructions, the Dori XVII surged forward under magical propulsion, cutting through the waves at astonishing speed.
Three full days and nights passed.
Yet despite this relentless voyage, Pasfield hadn't even glimpsed an iceberg. The ship's magical crystals were almost depleted. Despair etched itself onto his face. The discovery of the Azure Water had been his potential glory, now lost due to a traitor. He couldn't bear it.
Just as Pasfield was on the verge of giving up, someone on deck shouted in excitement.
"I see it! An iceberg! It's massive!"
"Wow! This iceberg… must be at least a kilometer tall!"
Exclamations rang out across the deck.
Pasfield's face shifted instantly. He rushed down from the upper deck and gazed ahead. A colossal iceberg loomed, stretching as far as the eye could see.
"It's… it's real. The sacred site, the Gulya Glacier!" Pasfield whispered repeatedly, eyes wide with awe.
The emotional rollercoaster, the despair followed by such triumph, was overwhelming. Even Pasfield, normally composed, felt tears prickling at the corners of his eyes.
"Quick, full speed ahead!" Overcome with excitement, Pasfield wanted to seize the Azure Water immediately.
But Ur stepped forward, blocking him with a calm voice. "Wait, Pasfield. Don't forget, why did you seek my help in the first place?"
Though quiet and composed, Ur's words snapped Pasfield back to focus. "You mean… the dragon is nearby?" Pasfield said, his voice carrying across the deck.
He didn't lower his voice; before bringing someone into a mission, he believed it was essential to share key information, even if it meant risk. This made him a capable leader.
The crew immediately quieted. Though they had been warned of potential monsters, seeing the iceberg's magnitude was intimidating. After all, a dragon was no small threat.
Ur's eyes glimmered as he surveyed the enormous iceberg. A faint, inexplicable light danced in his gaze. "I fear there's more here than just the dragon," he murmured.
Even with prior suspicions, the sight before him felt absurdly overwhelming.
Pasfield froze at Ur's words, opening his mouth to ask for clarification, but before he could speak, a massive surge of seawater erupted ahead, shooting over ten meters high before crashing down with a tremendous splash.
From the waves, two figures, one large and one small, leapt into the air simultaneously.
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