"Hold on!"

"Right full rudder!"

The Flying Leaf's deft hull suddenly tilted sharply to the right, and the starboard side glided almost against the water. The people on the deck who did not stand still fell down with a bang, and there were screams from the cabin. Griffith felt like he was about to be thrown off the side of the ship, and with his left hand he almost snapped into the thick handrail, and his right hand hurried towards his companion, who had no handrail to grasp.

Galadia gave her companion a gentle push on her breast, and shimmered gracefully and nimbly across the deck, swaying her tall figure like the best performer of the circus, steady, watching Griffith's face slam against the side of the ship.

The fast sailing boats of Holmonwood are extremely nimble and delicate. In the initial moment of chaos, an invisible breeze supported the fallen passengers, and the hull of the ship quickly stabilized.

After a burst of screaming and swearing, the freshmen and sailors poured out of the cabin to see if anyone had fallen overboard or been injured. After a while, all the people who were okay gathered on the port deck and looked in the direction indicated by the sailor's portable light.

A vague silhouette floated lifelessly in the darkness less than a hundred meters from the Flying Leaf.

"It may be a shipwreck, it's rare but not strange in this fairway," the kind female professor stepped up to the deck and pushed the thick lenses, "Gentlemen of the Knights, I need a few volunteers to board that ship with the sailors and search for passengers in need." ”

"Yes, Ms. Marianne. Several teaching assistants and associate professors were immediately arranged.

"I'll go too," Galadia said unexpectedly, "and I feel an ominous aura. ”

Sonia cast an inquiring glance at her apprentice knight, and Griffith wiped his nosebleed and immediately came out of the crowd: "I fought a broadside battle with orcs on the Broken Shore. ”

"Plus I'll be enough," Lana said, pulling out his torch, "and the others are here to pick us up and be on guard." ”

The sailors deftly lowered the lifeboats on the Flying Leaf. The two brave sailors jumped first, followed by Griffith and the others.

"Light, guide the path of the traveler, so that danger and evil can not be hidden. ”

Sonia took her wand from her waist and held it in her hand, chanting a light spell. A glittering orb emerged from the tip of the exquisite wand, slowly drifting towards the dinghy. Griffith hurriedly stretched out his hand, and the blazing white ball of light floated a few centimeters above the palm of his hand, illuminating the surroundings with a soft light as his mind moved.

Sonia leaned on the side of the ship and shouted, "It's a guardian spell, if there is danger around, the ball of light will flash as a warning......"

At this time, although it had just entered the night, the darkness around was unusually deep and thick.

The sailors rowed their oars, and Griffith and Lana took out the daggers hidden in their boots and put them on guard at the bow and stern of the dinghy. At first, they could still hear the noise and talk of the freshmen running around the Flying Leaf, but the dinghy was only a dozen meters away, and the popularity and sound seemed to be swallowed up in darkness and silence, distant and faint, leaving only a lonely dinghy and a vague shadow in front of it.

"Let's go around in circles. Griffith pointed to the stern.

The faces of the sailors were a little stiff, and there was an indescribable solemnity and hesitation. But they rowed towards the tall stern of the ship as the midshipman had asked.

This is a medium-sized passenger ship, which is supposed to travel between the port and the offshore sea. The sails on the mast were gone, and there was no moving figure on the deck.

In the deep night, the name of the ship could be seen in white paint on the stern of the tower, which was as tall as a tower.

"Kono".

......

The sailors lit their torches, raised their heads and shouted to the deck. "Is anyone there?"

The sailing ship, surrounded by darkness, answered them with a dead silence. On the port side, several entangled ropes and a rope net for going up and down can be seen hanging down.

"The rigging should normally be packed on deck, and only lowered when it is time to leave the ship," said one sailor, "but I can barely see that the ship's lifeboat is not lowered." ”

"It smells. Galadia moved the tip of her nose slightly, "I can't tell what it smells like, but it's very damp, cold, and a little fishy." ”

"Where did it come from?"

"Do you think I'm a dog?" the elf grumbled, "Everywhere, maybe the water stinks from the floor." ”

Rana grabbed the dangling rope with agility and climbed up the deck in a flash. He first checked a few things, and then shouted to the following:

"Come on, no one. ”

The sailors followed. Griffith climbed up, secured the lifeboat at the side of the ship, and reached out to Galadia, who was still climbing up.

The elven girl, who had always been light and agile, was climbing on the rope net on the ship, looking at the sea and the dinghy with a wary face.

"What's wrong?"

"Well~ yes, nothing," Galadia said with some hesitation, "I seem to see a rope falling into the sea." ”

"Is there one?"

"Probably a delusion. ”

The deck was empty and there was no figure. Ropes hung messily from the tall masts, and there was no sign of the sails anywhere. The wheelhouse on the aft deck was pitch black, and it stands to reason that even if the whole ship was resting, there should be sailors on night duty there.

"Anyone?" shouted one of the sailors.

The silent darkness continued to watch them with silence.

The elf girl closed her eyes and tilted her head slightly, her long, pointed ears twitching, as if listening to movement in the darkness. After a moment, she opened her eyes and shook her head: "I didn't find anything. ”

"How about we split into two ways?" Galadia and I went to check the captain's cabin and the wheelhouse," Griffith said, "and Lana and the gentlemen checked the first deck cabin below deck and didn't go deeper. ”

"Just the first floor?" Rana asked, but immediately nodded in agreement, "Okay, then the first floor, and we'll be back here in ten minutes, whether we find it or not." ”

Soon, Lana and the sailors disappeared into the darkness around the corner.

"Maybe the crew escaped," Griffith nodded to the elf girl beside her, "the damage to the hull is minor but not serious, and the crew and passengers should have plenty of time to take notes or explanations before abandoning ship." ”

"Hmm. Galadia replied briefly, and then quietly followed the midshipman as she walked towards the upper cabin. Her usual longbow and twin swords were not carried by school rules, and she only held a wand in her hand.

Sonia created tiny balls of light that float in front of her like fireflies, hovering there to illuminate the path when encountering dark aisles and corners, even without Griffith's control.

The three-masted galleon was operated from the uppermost cabin on the aft deck. Huge portholes are opened in the wall panels, barely blocking the rain and direct sunlight while maintaining a good view.

The evening breeze of the narrow sea whistled into the cockpit from the window. The lights of the Flying Leaf flickered in the distance like ghostly fire. Several tables and chairs are neatly arranged in the wheelhouse, on which are also fixed teacups and voyage charts.

"The Kono, a regular sailing ship from Odessa bound for Sevasto, with a crew of 30 and 160 passengers, departed from the port two days ago," Garadya illuminated the course planner next to the rudder with a torch, "and the last record in the log was on the night of the voyage. They deviated greatly from their own course. ”

Griffith opened several teapots that had been placed on the edge of his seat. These teas were used to refresh themselves for night sailing, and they were only drunk a little, and the crew left before midnight from the consumption.

There is neither a crew nor any more clues here. As the wheelhouse is a semi-open area, rain and sea breezes make it unsuitable for storage, and logbooks and captain's records can only be found in the captain's room on the lower level.

The two of them left the cockpit and walked down the escalator on the other side towards the captain's quarters below. The lingering damp smell also began to thicken.

Griffith was amazed to find that if he approached Sonya's small ball of light, he would feel that the damp, solemn atmosphere in the air would also be blocked by a faint light, and a warm and soft pleasure would arise from the bottom of his heart.

"Griffith!" the elf girl suddenly reminded softly, "there's a break in the armrest." ”

The midshipman shone the light of the fire, and found a deep chisel mark on the wooden handrail indicated by Galadia.

"It was split with an axe," Galadia leaned down to observe the chisel marks, "and it seems to be this one." ”

"If they encounter pirates," Griffith checked around with his torch raised, "there will be many traces of battle, and the deck won't be so clean." Did you find any blood?"

"No," Galadia shook her head as she opened the door to the captain's quarters, "you see, the hatch of the captain's compartment is not damaged, it doesn't look like it has been attacked by pirates or mutated creatures. It's still possible to block the door and stick to it. ”

The Sea of Tranquility is the inland sea of the kingdom, and there are also naval warships roaming the coastal area. Passenger ships that are attacked need to hold out for a while, and if the alarm is raised, they will be supported within a few hours.

There was no one in the captain's room. There was a row of crossbows hanging from the walls, and it was evident that their owners were usually vigilant and had not used them until he left.

"There's a chisel mark on the floor," Garradia crouched down on her knees, checking the floor of the cabin, "the chisel mark is shallow. ”

"It's normal for a boat to get a little scratched and broken. Let's take a look at the nautical diary," Griffith shrugged and picked up a journal from his desk.

"Captain Cono, Jace Cono's Voyage Diary, August 27. ”

"At 3 p.m. on August 27, the Kono departed from Odessa for Sevasto with a full load of cargo and 160 passengers. According to the report of the port astrologer, we will encounter gusts of wind and light waves during our trip.

"At 7 p.m. I entertained the ladies and gentlemen in first class in the cabin.

"Today's salmon is not very fresh. I have taken note of the gentlemen's comments and will use them to claim compensation from the Narrow Sea Voyage Catering Company upon my return to port.

"At 9 p.m., the hull of the ship was hit. I immediately took someone to inspect the bilge, and there was no damage. The bottom of the sea in this area is very flat and safe, and we may have hit a whale.

"At 9:45 p.m., several guests in the second class cabin complained that their dog could not be found. This happens all the time, and I asked the second mate to comfort them. Everyone knows that those beasts are at risk of jumping overboard in boats.

"At 10:15 p.m., the second-class cabin reported that a woman and child were missing, and I launched a ship-wide search.

"At 10:40 p.m., my second mate and boatswain were gone, and when they were last seen, they were about to search the hold, where a frightening noise was reportedly heard. ”

This concludes Captain Jace Cono's voyage diary.

The diary and other papers were neatly tucked away in the corner of the desk, and it was clear that the captain still felt that everything was under control after recording the last line. It could also be that he is struggling to keep himself calm and composed.

"We're going to inform Rana and the Flying Leaf quickly," Galadia pulled out a whistle for emergency use and blew it hard to her mouth.

A sharp whistle pierced the silent darkness. Griffith noticed that the lights on the Flying Leaf, not far away, were also messy.

"What's going on?" Lana, who was in charge of searching the first deck below, hurried back.

"The Cono has been attacked, most likely from the bottom hold, and it's not safe for you to continue your search," Griffith said, "and we'll get back to the Flying Leaf at once." ”

"Don't check again?" a few sailors with Lana, you look at me, I look at you," perhaps a passenger was hiding in the lower cabin. ”

Galadia nodded as well, looking at Griffith with an inquiring gaze.

"Perhaps, but the enemy attacking the Cono may also be hiding in the Basement," Griffith said, "I don't want to venture deep into it until I'm fully prepared, and on the other hand, if we draw too many forces here, we'll hurt the Flying Leaf's guards." ”

At this time, there was already a small boat on the Flying Leaf approaching.

"What's wrong?" shouted Ophelia and Midianmaia standing on the dinghy, "what about the crew and passengers?"

"The Cono has been attacked, and both the sailors and passengers are missing," Griffith stopped the two Shotorals who wanted to climb onto the side of the ship to support, "We didn't search them completely, and the passengers or the danger of attacking them may still be hiding at the bottom of the ship, or they may have left." It doesn't matter, now we'll all head back to the Flying Leaf and drag Kono to safety with a rope for another check-in. ”

"How's that going to work?"

"There may be survivors in the cabin!"

"The attacker may still be on board!"

The sailors, Galadia and Ophelia shouted together, strongly disagreeing with Griffith's approach. Rana and Midianmayah did not participate in the conversation, their eyes cast behind everyone's backs and in the darkness nearby, respectively, to prevent danger from arising there.

"Or else, are you going to use the few men you have to explore the lower cabins in small groups, and be killed one by one in strange surroundings and darkness?" Griffith shook his head, "and this is not far from the shores of the Whispering Forest, and the attack on the sailors and passengers may be some kind of monster we don't know." There were only a few professors and teaching assistants on the Flying Leaf, and apart from them and the Trainee Knight, the others had no experience dealing with mutant creatures. ”

Ophelia and the sailors wavered, they looked at the thick darkness around them, and finally began to fix the rope to the Curno.

"But~ we've only checked one cabin," Galadia said, biting her lip and looking at Griffith, "the passengers may be hiding in the lower cabins, unable to call for help or injured......"

"Perhaps," Griffith patted the elf girl on the shoulder, "but that's the way it is, we have to make a trade-off. The people on the Flying Leaf and the passengers on the Cono are just as important. ”

The bow of the Cono was quickly secured with a rope. The other end of the rope was attached to the stern of the Flying Leaf, ensuring that it could be towed.

Once the job was done, Griffith urged the still hesitant group to return to the Flying Leaf.

Lady Marianne listened to Griffith's brief report, looked at the diary of the captain of the Curno that she had brought back, and pushed the glasses on the bridge of her nose with a solemn expression: "I hope we made the right choice." Inform the captain and expedite the return to Holmonwards. From now on, I need you to be on duty in shifts, and don't miss the slightest sign of the anomaly. Boys, I need some volunteers to step up patrols between the cabins, in pairs. ”

"Yes, ma'am. ”

The midshipmen present received their orders in unison.

"We need weapons," said Ishus, "we only have wands, and none of Shuttolar's weapons have been brought. ”

Several brave freshmen also stepped forward. They gestured with wands, which might not be of much use, and felt that this thing was not as good as a stick.

Ms. Marianne pushed her glasses, her face silent and solemn: "It seems necessary to allow some necessary weapons to be included in checked baggage." ”

"We have. Ophelia said, raising her hand.

"What's ......?"

Under the watchful eyes of the Provost and the freshmen, Griffith took off his coat, revealing gleaming chain mail, daggers, and throwing knives.

The other cadet knights conjured daggers and daggers from their coats, boots, and luggage compartments as if by magic.

"It should have been stated on the admission notice that weapons were not allowed," Lady Marianne sighed, her eyes widening suddenly, "Wait, Miss Ishtar, how can you bring such a dangerous thing with you?"

Ophelia opened the case containing the cello, took out the tip of the longbow, the bowstring, the shaft of the arrow from which the arrow was removed, and the sharp arrow, and deftly assembled it:

"The school rules do not prohibit me from carrying bent sticks, griffin tendons, and iron crafts~"

Lady Marianne was speechless for a moment, and suddenly she noticed that Rana had opened Fiona's bag and pulled something strange out of the compartment: "Jean, please explain what this is?"

"Dear lady," Lana replied earnestly, glancing at Fiona, who was covering her eyes, "two sticks and a flattened piece of iron. ”