Chapter 1429: Toward the Reef

The metal ship sailed across the open blue waters of the Palanic Ocean, making its way alone in a direction many didn't tread upon.

There were a few ships that went toward the Great Reef, but those that were there only wished to use the Great Reef as nothing more than a visual guide to help them circumnavigate the world. Since the large Great Reef circled the entire world, it became an easy rope to follow to go from one place to another without depending too much upon a compass or stars.

All they had to do was look for known regions of the Great Reef and then start moving away from it.

Even then, they would stay far enough away from the reef so that it would only be in their vision. Getting close to the reef meant death in most circumstances.

Ning leaned against the metal railing at the front, feeling the everchanging cold and hot breeze that flew across the ocean.

Jasmine leaned against the railing right beside him, looking out into the ocean, enjoying what she could in this claustrophobic ship.

Tony had gotten rid of his clothes and placed them underneath him in the ship as he laid down on the ship. White clouds covered the sky so he was in shade more times than he was not.

He had started doing what he had been told to do by both Tim and Jasmine, and that was to not worry about anything.

The ship was small? No need to worry.

The metal would heat up in the sun? No need to worry again?

They were going to the Great Reef itself? He knew better than to ask any questions by now. If death came for him, he would know it through the watch in his hands.

Tim sat beside him speaking about his papers and trying to learn more from Tony. Tony was excited to talk about the subject matter that he alone knew about, so he answered any questions that Tim had.

As they talked, Jasmine tried to start her own conversation with Ning. "How did you do the explosion? Actually, don't mind that. How did you make the powder in it rain just right so that it formed words?"

"People have long since known how to make fireworks form a significant imagery," Ning said. "I simply employed a similar technique."

"I have never seen fireworks that could spell things," Jasmine said.

"We can visit a country that is great with it," Ning said.

"There's a country like that?" she asked.

"I don't know yet," Ning said. "But I would assume so."

Jasmine was a little disappointed to hear the lack of definitiveness in his words. She could only wonder if there really was one or not. "What about the place you come from? What about fireworks there?" she asked.

"Oh, we have incredible fireworks," Ning said. "The fireworks we use would make your mind burn with amazement."

"Oh?" Jasmine said. "Can we see it?"

Ning thought for a bit. "I can show it to you," he said. "But fireworks are supposed to be used for special ceremonies and occasions. I don't know if I want to show it to you just because you ask for it."

Jasmine thought for a moment and asked, "What would a proper occasion be for us then? When we receive all the treasure?"

Ning smiled. "How about the day I leave?" he asked. "That seems like a good enough occasion."

"The day you leave?" she asked. "You plan on leaving then."

"As soon as I'm done with what I came here to do," Ning said.

Jasmine nodded. "And what if you can't?" she asked.

"I can," Ning said. "Ok, but what if you can't?" she asked again.

Ning smiled. "I would still leave in that case. If I can't do what I came here to do, then the year I spent here would've been wasted," he said and looked toward Jasmine. He then looked back at Tim and smiled a little more. "Maybe not as wasted as it could have been had I not met you two."

Jasmine couldn't help but smile at those words. She slapped Ning on the back loudly. "Alright, stop being sentimental. You're taking us to our deaths, so you can be sad once we die at the reef," she said.

She then looked out toward the ocean and looked around for a while.

Tony suddenly asked a question that caused her to become confused all of a sudden.

"Why isn't this ship rocking?" Tony asked.

At his words, Tim could recognize the lack of a familiar rocking that came with being in the ocean.

Jasmine quickly looked down at the water to see if it had stilled somehow, but it was just as tumultuous as ocean water always was.

"You're right," she said. "We aren't rocking at all. But the water isn't any different."

"How is that possible?" Tim asked as he looked down the side of the ship as well.

"Of course it is possible," Ning said. "It is my ship after all. You guys are only now curious about the lack of rocking. Have you guys even thought how this ship is even being steered?"

All three of the people on the ship gave weird looks at each other.

"Isn't the ship just moving on its own?" Tim asked. "I thought you were letting it take us wherever it would take us."

Ning narrowed his eyes. "Do you think I'm that stupid?" he asked. "Do you not think I would need to navigate to go where we are going?"

"Anywhere north should take us to where we are going," Tony said. "As long as the ship is headed north, I don't see a lot of need to actively navigate."

"That is where you are wrong," Ning said. "Because we are not just headed north after all. You all might have forgotten it, but our purpose is not to go to the Great Reef, but to find a Zurin Treasure within the reef."

"And right now, this ship is headed right toward the treasure."