Northern Tulip, Atreid Sea.

Although this sea area is also part of the Black Sea, compared to other parts of the Black Sea notorious for harsh sea conditions, the sea surface here is calm with low waves and rarely visited by extreme weather.

It's almost like a paradise!

Moreover.

A warm ocean current from the south meets with a cold current from the northern continent in this sea area, stirring the water vertically and bringing a large amount of nutrients to the surface.

This place, seemingly blessed by the Sea God, is rich in fish and shrimp resources, and... the hunters chasing after food!

Lively and lovely dolphins, ferocious bloodthirsty sharks, and huge whales of various kinds... gather here in groups.

Of course, behind the predators exists an even more terrifying "predator"!

That is—humans!

In the afternoon, a two-masted sailboat barged into this marine paradise, crushing the shimmering sea surface.

"Mr. Arman! This is the Atreid Sea where I mentioned the large groups of whales appear. Not only are there many whales here, but most of them have little vigilance against humans.

It can be said to be the best whaling ground.

In one day, you can harvest at least a hundred barrels of whale oil, and it won't be long before you return fully loaded!"

A middle-aged man with a pale face, dry yellow hair and skeletal thinness, shivered as he spoke to the whaling ship captain, who was tall and wore a triangular captain's hat.

"So... sir, about my debts...?"

Captain Arman, with a large bushy beard, although his unkempt appearance due to the long pursuit of whales might not seem tidy, it doesn't change the fact that he is an excellent whaler!

Upon hearing the middle-aged man's words, Arman did not respond immediately.

He held a brass telescope and continuously scanned the distant sea surface.

Boom—

Boom—

Sure enough, without much effort, he saw groups of whales emerging from the shimmering sea surface, playing, frolicking, and hunting.

"One, two, three..."

Silently counting in his mind, Arman's rugged face couldn't help but break into an irrepressible smile.

It's been very hard, leading his whaling ship at sea for a full year, but the harvest has been meager; the hold capable of storing a thousand barrels of whale oil has not yet been filled even to one-fifth.

Nonetheless, the Goddess continues to favor the "Fish Spear"!

Earlier during resupply at a nearby port.

They unexpectedly received news of the whale groups from a man named Pipps, who was a gambling addict!

Thus Captain Arman, half-skeptically, promised that as long as they could find the whale groups he mentioned, he would cover his enormous gambling debts.

Unexpectedly, in this pleasantly inviting sea area, they could find such a large number of whale groups at once.

"Hahaha, no problem, upon returning this time, I'll cover all your gambling debts!"

Seeing the whale groups was like seeing flowing whale oil; this small sum of money was naturally insignificant to him.

Judging by the scale, even with the most conservative estimate of harvest, within half a month he could fill up the remaining empty barrels and make a fortune!

There is never any worry about selling whale oil.

In the era before the extensive dissemination of petroleum, humans have primarily used two materials for lighting: gas and... whale oil!

With the steam engine continually being introduced across various industries, the demand for worker quality was also steadily increasing. The enthusiasm for learning among ordinary people was unprecedentedly high as they tried every way to enter factories to change their and their families' fates.

Thus, the consumption of oil for lighting was also constantly rising!

Compared to the higher-priced and somewhat dangerous gas, people preferred more affordable whale oil.

After many years of continuous development.

At this moment, whaling ships were like floating factories at sea. After whales are caught, they can continue whaling while simultaneously boiling whale blubber onboard into oil and filling barrel after barrel.

The oil obtained from simmering the subcutaneous tissue, viscera, and bones of whales presents a light yellow to yellow-brown color, and besides being used for lighting, it is also a crucial industrial oil.

It was used extensively in the leather industry, also for tempering baths and lubricants, even as raw material for manufacturing soap, candles, and other products.

Thus, whale oil is a highly sought after special commodity, and to a certain extent, it can even be regarded as a hard currency!

"Lower the boats!"

At this moment, Arman was already impatiently eager to begin his hunting action, checking his gear while issuing orders.

"Captain!" A young man in a yellow shirt standing behind Arman, however, frowned and addressed him gently.

"What's wrong, my First Mate?" The captain, in an excited state, did not notice any abnormality in his First Mate Fisher's tone.

"Captain, sir, I think something is not quite right. This sea area is less than ten days' voyage to the nearest Tyrone Kingdom, and whale oil is not only what we lack, why haven't others come here to hunt whales?"

"And not only are there no other whaling ships, but along the way, we haven't even seen a single small fishing boat in the Atreid Sea area. Don't you think that's a problem?"

The sharp young man voiced his doubts to the captain.

"This...."

Arman's excited expression gradually stiffened. As an experienced old captain, he shouldn't need a reminder from the young First Mate about such matters.

However, the agreement he signed with the owner of the "Fish Spear" stipulated that as long as he brought back 1,000 barrels of whale oil, he could get one-twelfth of the share.

If they couldn't catch enough whales, he wouldn't just miss the promised bonus; he might not even keep his position as captain on the next voyage!

He was blinded by the enormous profits and thus didn't realize the peculiarity of this sea area.

Arman turned to the gambling addict Pipps, his expression indecipherable: "I think you should be able to tell us the answer!"

"It's just a centuries-old, irrelevant legend that's been circulating in this sea area!

Only those stubborn old fogeys would still hold on to those stories that trick kids!

Besides.

I myself have already come with you, how could I deceive you? Are the whales before us fake?"

Seeing that his massive gambling debt might finally have a solution, the gambling addict was as eager as Arman.

Only when the whaling ship turns a profit can his problem be resolved. Not just for the whaling ship, but for him, this was also the last desperate battle.

If he couldn't catch whales, even if he returned, he'd meet his end soon!

He had risked it all!

The captain stared at his muddled, yellow eyes for a while, his face indecisive, but ultimately, he gritted his teeth and ordered, "Lower the small boats, we go!"

In the face of great profits, what does a little risk matter?!

The First Mate Fisher, standing nearby, no longer persuaded him, unwilling to let the whale pod right in front of them slip away.

Soon, three small boats were lowered from the whaling ship.

Captain Arman, First Mate Fisher, and their most experienced whaler each led a small boat.

Swish, swish, swish——

In the orderly sound of paddles, they charged towards the pod of whales, which were completely unaware of the impending danger, like hungry wolves.

Every small boat carried ten strong whalers, with many wearing strings of whale-bone protective talismans around their necks, proof that they had once successfully hunted a whale.

Without exception, they were all excellent whalers!

At this moment, not far from them.

Bang——

A massive grey baleen whale over twelve meters long leapt out of the sea, then crashed back into the water, splashing large, white waves.

In its bright eyes, there was curiosity and friendliness, but no vigilance.

It never imagined that while playing freely in this predator-free sea, it had attracted the attention of hunters.

"Quick! Get a little closer!"

Captain Arman ordered the rowers to continue closing in, holding a specially crafted whaling harpoon with sharp barbs, standing steadily at the boat's bow. He exchanged glances with First Mate Fisher holding a whaling harpoon on a parallel boat.

"Three, two, one!"

Whoosh——

Whoosh——

As the grey baleen whale swam close to the small boats again, two gleaming whaling harpoons shot out.

Thud!

Thud!

First Mate Fisher's harpoon was released slightly early, slipping into the water beside the whale, but Captain Arman's shot was more seasoned, the harpoon striking the whale's spine precisely.

Boom——!

The baleen whale suddenly attacked, dove sharply underwater.

The frequency of the whale's cries exceeded the range of human hearing (ultrasound), so humans couldn't hear their pained screams after being injured, nor could they feel their suffering.

"The captain's amazing!"

Everyone cheered excitedly for hitting the target, but their voices.... the whales could hear.

The harpoons they threw were tied to long ropes to prevent the whales from escaping.

Due to the pain and instinct to avoid danger, they would struggle and dive rapidly, but when they resurfaced, exhausted, it would be the whalers' moment of harvest!