CHAPTER 956: CHAPTER 950: SANCTIFIED PRIEST

The following days marked a voyage lasting several weeks.

According to the known safe route, the casters onboard the three steamships tasked with confronting the "Nine Commandments Conspiracy" would head south, venturing into currently unexplored waters.

But even before entering unfamiliar waters.

This journey brings numerous troubles.

After the personnel exchange was completed, over the next two weeks, the fleet of three steamships encountered two bouts of extreme weather on the sea.

From gloomy days to pitch-black nights.

The terrifying winds, rains, and waves constantly gave one the feeling that the ships might be destroyed at any moment; not even Ronald, in his special cabin, could completely avoid the impact of such extreme weather.

Besides the two periods of advancing through gales and storms,

The rest of the voyage became utterly mundane life on the ships.

If it weren’t for the size of the steamships and the internal entertainment venues provided for passengers to while away the time, Ronald feared that within a few months, the bored caster group might cause quite a stir.

Bang, bang, bang——

Thus continued until the third week of sailing.

On a summer morning at sea, Ronald was lying in bed in his cabin when someone knocked on the cabin door.

"Who is it? Come in!"

Ronald crawled up from the bed, inviting the visitor.

Through spell detection, he sensed a slightly familiar presence outside but couldn’t recall the exact identity, so he asked.

As Ronald finished speaking,

A young girl with a tray pushed open the cabin door and entered, smiling as she greeted Ronald:

"Though we only met once before, I believe Mr. Ronald wouldn’t have forgotten me already?"

"..."

"I didn’t expect to meet you here."

Seeing the figure before him, Ronald paused for a few seconds before recognizing the visitor.

——It turned out to be Marda!

Ronald had met her at the cloister when he obtained the Sword of Saint Catherine, a nun of special status.

However, it had been a long time since their last encounter.

Her attire was notably different from their previous meeting, with black and white nun robes, distinguished by silver arched patterns.

In the church, individuals with such unique clothing are rare.

Ronald immediately understood her identity—Holy Priest.

The nun before him had become a figure as important as a Church Bishop. In common fantasy terminology, she was undoubtedly a Church Saint!

Meanwhile, under the gaze of Ronald’s surprised eyes,

Marda set the tray on the dining table in front of Ronald and placed breakfast on it.

"Mr. Ronald, do you mind if I join you for breakfast?"

"Of course not!" Ronald smiled decisively and took a glass of milk and a slice of bread from the tray brought by Marda, "But you chose this time to find me, it must not be just to have breakfast, right?"

Facing Ronald’s inquiry.

Marda was no longer as inexperienced as when they first met.

She smiled casually and, as the now Holy Priest, began to speak softly:

"Actually, the main purpose is to have this breakfast."

"Because the act itself serves as a notification to the outside world of our good relationship with you in terms of the Church."

So that’s how it is...

Ronald fully understood her explanation.

As a Holy Priest within the Church, Marda’s every move had significance. Such a personal visit indeed had a significant effect.

"Announcing our good relationship to the outside, that is certainly not a problem."

Ronald nodded in agreement with Marda’s approach.

Given the past attitude of the Church and Ronald’s familiarity with the Sword of Saint Catherine, his impression of the Church was favorable.

Moreover, observing her closely now,

Ronald felt a subtle sacred magic fluctuation emanating from Marda. Evidently, as a Holy Priest, she possessed strong spell abilities in the mystical realm.

Yet, the precise function was not currently clear to Ronald.

"..."

In this quiet and tranquil atmosphere, Ronald and Marda finished their breakfast together.

Afterward, the Holy Priest stood up and began to clear the table.

As she rose to leave, Marda spoke once more to Ronald:

"Mr. Ronald. According to the ship’s astrologer, in two days our ships will dock in the south for final replenishment. The subsequent voyage will truly be an adventure to find our way across the unreal sea."

Marda spoke very calmly, seemingly just informing Ronald of the fleet’s upcoming plans.

But with Ronald’s sharp mind.

He discerned the subtle implication in her words.

"Marda, do you think the fleet needs my guidance to find the way forward?"

Marda replied with a smile:

"If you are willing to assist, I’m sure everyone on the ship would welcome it warmly."

This nearly confirmed that he possessed a way to guide the path.

Seeing Marda’s attitude, Ronald felt somewhat complex. Before the Holy Priest left, he couldn’t help but ask.

"Is it Prophetic Spell?"

Marda did not hide the truth from Ronald and answered promptly:

"With your high rank, Prophetic Spells wouldn’t be that effective."

"But in the prophecy made before this voyage, the casters received some vague hints that you would provide assistance or bring trouble on this expedition, which would have a very significant impact."

"..."

"Thank you for your answer."

Ronald expressed his gratitude, while Marda simply left a smile as she headed towards the dining room of the cruise.

Just then.

The maid Costate, who was supposed to prepare Ronald’s breakfast, returned with a tray.

The maid looked at Marda’s departing figure with her tray.

Then she looked at the bread crumbs still on Ronald’s lips.

In the next moment, Costate showed an unprecedented expression of distress, and swiftly approached Ronald:

"Sir, am I going to be out of a job?"

"?" Ronald’s face was full of confusion "Costate, why would you think that?"

The maid answered seriously:

"These days I’ve observed quite a few human activities on the ship!"

"Based on their conversational habits."

"Some noble families use this sort of subtle notification method when they’re about to dismiss their servants..."