A Journey That Changed The World. - Chapter 1655 - 1655: Why Not Come Back To Bed?

Archer stood on the balcony, the early morning air cool against his sweat-slicked skin, still flushed from making love to the two women. His gaze narrowed as movement flickered on the horizon, a dozen pirate ships cutting through the waves, their course set for the DTS White Storm.

A raid was coming. His jaw tightened, ready to act, when explosions illuminated the sea. The Draconia Navy surged into view, three sleek Destroyers slicing through the rough waters. Their cannons roared, unleashing precise mana shells that tore into the pirate vessels at the back, reducing them to ruin before sinking.

He leaned against the rail, his eyes tracking the chaos happening on the horizon. The Destroyers pressed their attack, hulls cutting through the sea like blades. Mana shells streaked across the sky, each one a pinpoint of light that erupted into devastating blasts upon impact.

Two more pirate ships splintered under the barrage, their hulls collapsing in flames as screams echoed faintly over the waves. The remaining outlaws, reduced to a handful of battered vessels, scrambled to retreat. Engines overworked in desperation as they veered away from the relentless Destroyers.

One pirate ship, its hull scorched and listing, fired a defiant parting shot, a cannonball that splashed harmlessly into the sea. The response was merciless: a final volley of mana shells obliterated the straggler’s stern, sending it spiraling into the depths. HIS lips twitched into a grim smile as the surviving pirates fled, their silhouettes fading into the misty horizon.

The Destroyers held their ground, their cannons silent but vigilant, ensuring the threat was gone. He exhaled, tension easing from his shoulders, and turned back toward the DTS White Storm, ready to protect them. While standing there, he picked up the mana waves as the two captains communicated.

Archer’s sharp ears caught the crackle of a communication crystal tucked in his belt, its faint hum breaking the silence. Activating it, he listened as a curt message from the Navy’s flagship relayed the truth: the Empire had dispatched the Destroyers to guard the DTS White Storm, ensuring a safe journey.

Relief washed over him, tempered by the weight of the early morning’s events. The transport ship, vital to their mission, was secure under the Empire’s protection. Archer’s gaze swept the horizon one last time, confirming the seas were clear, then he turned back toward the cabin.

With the Navy guaranteed, the White Storm could sail on unthreatened, and he could focus on the challenges awaiting them at their destination. He stepped inside only to notice Malakia and Meredith were still asleep, putting a smile on his face as he approached the button on the wall.

There was a menu on the side, prompting him to pick it up and go through it as he took in the dozens of meals he could order. While doing this, he spotted a few he wanted and ordered them along with several bottles of sake that they had in abundance. Once that was done, he sat down by the window as they sailed past a trade city on Draconia’s eastern shore.

While waiting, Archer’s gaze lingered on the trade city’s lights as two crew members knocked on he door and entered, balancing trays full of his order. The aroma of smoked crab dumplings and steaming ramen filled the air as they set down the spread: a generous platter of golden dumplings, a bowl of ramen with pork slices, and five chilled bottles of sake.

Moments later, the workers left the room as he poured a small cup of sake and took a sip, the crisp warmth spreading through him as he dug into the dumplings. A soft creak from further in their room broke his focus. Meredith, her short blonde hair tousled and green eyes heavy with sleep, stumbled out, steadying herself against the wall.

She blinked at the feast before Archer, a faint smirk tugging at her lips. ”You didn’t waste any time, did you?” she murmured, amused, as she shuffled closer to join him by the window, the ship gliding steadily past the eastern shore.

”Nope!” he replied, a bright smile appearing. ”Tuck in and enjoy, Mere. We went crazy last night.”

The blonde giggled at his words and sat down after making herself a cup of tea. Once comfortable, she spoke, grinning. ”Yes, we did, handsome, and I’m my kitty is open thanks to your monster.”

Archer chuckled at the unexpected revelation, a grin spreading across his face. With a casual wave of his hand, he cast a gentle healing spell, a soft glow enveloping the stunning maid. She exhaled deeply. Grateful, she leaned in and kissed him on the cheek, sending a shiver across his body.

”Thank you for that, my love,” she thanked him, a beaming smile crossing her face.

They settled at the table, the spread of food before them a welcome distraction. He picked up a smoked crab dumpling, its golden exterior glistening, and popped it into his mouth. The delicate wrapper melted away, releasing a burst of savory, smoky flavor that made him hum in satisfaction.

Meredith, now fully awake, joined him eagerly, her chopsticks darting between the ramen and dumplings as they ate in comfortable silence, the clink of sake bottles and soft lapping of waves outside filling the air. They devoured the feast with gusto, leaving nothing behind, plates cleared, bowls scraped clean.

Archer leaned back, sipping the last of his sake, and glanced at Meredith, who was sprawled in her chair, one hand resting on her stomach, a contented but slightly pained groan escaping her lips. ”Too much,” she muttered, rubbing her bloated belly with a wry smile.

He let out a yawn, causing the blonde to suggest. ”Why not come back to bed? You don’t need to be awake?”

”Can’t sleep,” he responded, taking a sip of the sake. ”I was thinking about the reason we’re out here and realized it was needed because I have to experience the world and everything in it to understand what my power means.”

***

(Kaelira)

Kaelira, Jasmine, and Khela continued traveling out of the village while heading for Westreach to get a ship to Draconia. While walking down the road, they had to stop when coming to a construction site, confusing the Wyrm Princess even more, as she thought. ‘What chaos is this?’

Soldiers rushed around building a road that headed their way. When the Water Elf saw this, her green eyes widened. ”Looks like the White Road has arrived! It’s taken over a year to crisscross Orientia.”

”What are they doing?” she asked.

It was the lioness Khela that answered. ”It’s a Draconian road, the best in the world. I’ve heard tales of landslides, storms, and waves can’t damage them thanks to the way they’re built. Father told me merchants love it thanks to the Rest Stops.”

Kaelira was confused further as it must cost a lot of coin to build such things, and to have them all over the eastern continent shocked her. She shook her head and questioned her companions. ”Is he doing it to win over the people?”

”Who knows the emperor’s motives?” Jasmine replied, giving her a shrug. ”But it improves everyone’s lives thanks to the flood of food the empire sends every month, stops people from starving.”

”Interesting,” she muttered.

Following that, the trio continued, and Kaelira was introduced to all kinds of Draconian inventions, from their strange crops to the clothes the people wore. Warm and practical, well-made, it surprised her as the northern lands didn’t care about their people, letting them suffer during the cold weather.

When reaching the main part of the White Road, she was shocked into stillness as a massive monster rushed by. She was about to attack, but Khela stopped her with a giggle. ”I love your reaction, Kae.”

The Wyrm Princess turned to the lioness, who explained. ”That is the Draconia Express, an invention of the emperor himself. It takes passengers from the Northwest to the Southwest, covering the land the empire took in the last war.”

”Why don’t we take it?” she asked, looking at the two women.

Jasmine giggled, revealing. ”Too expensive for E Rank adventurers.”

Khela nodded in agreement, but Kaelira was curious and decided to offer the duo. ”I’ll pay for our tickets. I want to ride it.”

Their eyes widened in surprise at such an offer. Soon after, the Water Elf shook her head and commented, unsure. ”Really? They cost three gold per one.”

The gold-haired beauty waved her away. ”Lead us to the place we can get on board, I want to experience such a thing.”

Afterward, Jasmine led them back toward the village. She veered left onto a narrow dirt road, its edges fringed with wildflowers swaying gently in the breeze. The path wound through a grove of ancient oaks, their gnarled branches casting shadows on the ground, before opening up to reveal the train station in the distance.

As the group approached, it emerged from the landscape like a vision from another world, and Kaelia stopped short, breath catching in her throat. The station was unlike anything she had ever encountered. The architecture was a breathtaking, sweeping arch of polished stone curved into spires that seemed to pierce the sky, their tips glinting in the sunlight.