Michael and Gaya approached the young boy who was shouting to get people on board a ship to the Southern Continent.

  "Greeting young sir and young lady, are you thinking about visiting the beautiful Southern Continent?" the boy quickly asked Michael and Gaya,

  "You could say that" the boy's face brightened up to see potential customers,

  "Then you come to the right place. I have three tickets to onboard Captain Lars's majestic warship, Striker. Let me tell you this, you'll find no safer ship to travel than the Striker" the boy said, placing his hand on the chest.

  He sounded so truthful but Gaya knew he would say anything to sell the tickets.

  "How much is a ticket?"

  "Just 100 gold coins. If you buy two, it'll be 180 gold coins. You should buy them quickly young sir, there aren't any other ships going to Southern continent in this weather"

  Michael looked at Gaya as she nodded. The young boy grinned ear to ear.

  After he handed over the pouch containing 180 gold coins, the young boy just weighed it using his bare hands before putting it into his space ring. They were surprised to see a space ring in a young boy who wore nothing but ragged tunics that had several holes in them. Again, they understood that this young boy might be working for someone influential and powerful around this part of the city. Otherwise, he couldn't have afforded to keep his space ring intact with his hand.

  "Follow me, young sir, young lady"? instead of giving the tickets, the young boy gestured at them to follow him behind.

  "Customers coming through" Surprisingly they followed the young boy to the military side of the harbor where Michael saw armed soldiers patrolling.

  However, they didn't stop them but let them through, asking no questions. Soon, they came before a galleon. The ship had a broad hull and a carved keel and figurehead of a sea dragon. The ship could easily reach the length of 50m and was armed with 30 cannons. If Michael was to compare this ship to something he had previously seen, he would say this ship looks like the black pearl.

  "Here you go" the young boy took out two silver coins from his space ring.

  He tossed each of the coins to Michael and Gaya.

  "No spell casting on the ship" the young boy warned before running to sell the remaining ticket.

  "You sure we can use Arch energy in the Southern Continent?" Gaya asked again. This was the third time she had asked the same question since they left Icefair.

  However, he was unable to give her anything except a simple answer of yes. The system required him to actually reach the location where the Arch energy would be cut off from their bodies before offering him the solution.

  Since the system assured him that he could afford the solution it would tell him, he wasn't afraid of reaching the Southern continent but rather he was excited.

  "Ask this question again and I'll kick your snake butt"

  "Let's see who's kicking whose butt, hehe" he had a bad feeling seeing her evil laughter yet he threw his arm around her neck before pinching her rosy cheek.

  The wooden plank creaked as they walked. When they reached the upper deck of the ship, they were welcomed by the sight of the ship's crew preparing to leave the harbor. They took a second to notice Michael and Gaya before returning to their duties. They didn't wear any kind of armor or uniform but wore open shirts and linen trousers. The commonality between all of them was the cutlasses hanging on their waists and the smell of the sea.

  "Move yer asses maggots. I need striker cleaned an' prepared fer leavin' the 'arbor soon as possible, snap to it, lads" on a platform above the deck, a muscular man with a feather hat shouted at the crew standing near the rudder. In Michael's eyes, he looked like a typical pirate with a long dirty beard, a rum bottle in one hand, and an eye patch.

  "do ye 'ave the tickets?" a skinny crew member with greasy blonde hair approached Michael and Gaya.

  "Yeah" they showed the coins given to them by the young kid.

  "arr, mates we 'ave guests, cultivatin' guests. This one here looks like a genius o' some kind. Lass looks fine too"

  "Why dont you get the fuck out of my face and send someone else to show us where we'll be staying?"

  The crews were stunned to see a gentle-looking girl speak the way she did.

  "harr, I like that there one" the captain leaped from the rudder and landed right before them like he was trained in the circus.

  "ye be welcome aboard cultivators" the captain tried to imitate a noble bow sarcastically.

  "the Cap'n likes them" the crew laughed,

  "Where we be going, yer cultivation be as jolly as shite" the captain stared at them from top to bottom before taking a long sip of his rum.

  (jolly=good)

  "I' be Cap'n lars an' this here old matey o' mine be called Striker.do what I say an' when I say an' ye'll reach southern continent alive. Try to use yer fancy spells 'ere, I'll personally throw ye into the sea" Lars let out a burst of Arch energy to reveal his Core Strengthening stage level 7 cultivation level.

  "Trent 'ere will show ye where ye'll be stayin'" Lars leaped again to reach the rudder again as the skinny crew member whose called Trent led Michael and Gaya to their rooms in the lower deck.

  "We 'ave to sleep at night so don't do it so loudly. We won't complain if ye do to 'ehehe" Trent laughed, fanning the flames of Michael's excitement.

  She expected Michael to open his mouth to say something but she turned to see him licking his lips. He then winked at her as she couldn't help but roll her eyes.

  "You wish" she flicked Michael's forehead.

  "Why be the cultivators like yourselves goin' to the southern continent?" walking down the wooden stairs, Trent asked.

  "To do business that's called none of your fucking business" Gaya was already annoyed by Michael's evil look and Trent's question made her even more annoyed.

  "ye 'ave some mouth lass"

  "I plan to take full advantage of it" Michael teased her, pinching her perfectly sculpted waist.

  "Ah" she squealed after he pinched her hip, throwing a glare at Michael. Yet she soon laughed which gave Michael a bad feeling.

  "What is she planning?" He asked himself. After walking a few more steps, they came before a six feet tall wooden door. Trent opened the door to reveal a small room with two bunk beds. The room gave off a serious claustrophobic vibe as it barely had any room to move around.

  "At Least we have a window," Michael sighed, looking at the small window near the bunk beds. If not for the windows, he knew they would be choked to death at night.

  "We won't be sleeping in nights anyway" Gaya entered the room shoving Trent away.

  Michael couldn't help but undress her in his mind. Although he had a bad feeling, he ignored those feelings, imagining a steamy night with her.

  "Alright love birds, we serve what we catch in a few 'ours" Trent left them in the room.

  Michael entered the room lowering his head to avoid hitting the door frame.

  "I call the top bed" She shouted but when she was about to jump to the upper bed, he pulled her by her waist.

  "Where are you going?" Michael was lying on the bed and she was on top of him. The bed creaked as both of their noses rubbed each other.

  "Let me go" she tried to wiggle herself out of his hold.

  "Give me a kiss," Michael chuckled. His fingers were running around her smooth back.

  "Winter, small room, sea view. What a perfect time" Gaya stopped trying to get out of his hold.

  "No marriage, no me" she teased him by slowly running her fingers around his chest.

  "You never told me what kind of marriage you want? Simple wedding or fancy wedding?"

  "Don't you dare go for the simple one, I would kick your ass" she pinched his cheek,

  "Fancy it is"

  "I want our marriage to be one of a kind" she placed her head on Michael's chest,

  "Flowers, music, fireworks. I want everything to be perfect"

  "Everything will be more than perfect for my more than hotwife" the word wife made her blush and at the same time, put a beautiful smile on her face.

  Michael knew behind all that tough lady shell is a soft beautiful girl hiding. Only in situations like this could he see that soft girl.

  If anyone asked if he plans to marry someone on earth, his answer would have been a big no. However, now he couldn't wait to tie the knot. With her by his side, it felt magical. He couldn't even imagine a life without her. The same thing goes for her too. She wanted to be with him forever. Even if the entire world was against him, she would stand in front of him, not behind or beside, she would stand in front of him shielding him from the world.

  Michael very well knew that this is just a calm before the upcoming storm. Therefore, he decided to enjoy every second of these peaceful moments.

  At this moment, no one except one knew the fate of the Southern Continent is going to be changed forever.

  ******************

  As Michael thought, this chapter is just the calm before the storm. Get ready to come on a bumpy rollercoaster ride from the next chapter!!!