Goblin Dependency

Early morning.

Wave-breaking Pier.

As the core area of Suo Yu Bay’s port, the air here is always filled with noise and clamor.

Especially at this pre-dawn moment, the fishy smell mingles with the shouting of fishmongers, continuing until noon.

But at this moment, the entire pier reveals an extremely peculiar silence, even carrying a sacred undertone.

The night sky still envelopes most of the heavens, yet under the impending sunrise hidden deep at the horizon, it sheds its former blackness.

Merging the sky into a deep blue, mysterious haze as if blending with the sea.

The pier is packed with people.

Unlike the usual sweaty laborers, nitpicking merchants, and rough sailors...

The crowd on Wave-breaking Pier now consists of a much more diverse composition.

Men, women, the elderly, children... even those prominent nobles who should be in their luxurious mansions in White Cliff at this time, are here accompanied by their guards, pushing through the crowd.

Every person has donned what they believe to be their most dignified and appropriate attire.

Even those who dwell like mice in the depths of Saltwater District’s alleys have found a place to carefully clean themselves, digging out from the bottom of their bundles the piece of clothing with the fewest patches.

The wind lanterns on the towers, the oil lamps by the mooring posts, and the candlelight from coastal wooden house windows... all lights have been put out in advance.

If someone could stand high enough in the sky to look down now, they would notice.

Centered around Wave-breaking Pier, a vast area nearby has been swallowed by darkness, devoid of any trace of brightness.

No one is speaking.

The people quietly wait.

The only sound in the air is the "crash" of the tide washing against the shore.

Buzz—

From the deepest part of the harbor, a light suddenly appears.

A floating sea lamp radiating a deep blue cold light rocks amidst the waves.

Then comes a second, a third...

The previously lightless mysterious sea surface is instantly transformed by countless lamp lights into a dreamy blue, like a slowly flowing artificial Milky Way illuminating the entire bay.

And at the very center of these ethereal lights is a not-so-large but extraordinarily exquisite ceremonial ship.

The long cables on either side are incrementally released by the sailors onshore, allowing the ship to silently glide over the water.

The ship’s body is coated in pure, immaculate white, the deck piled with flowers donated by residents throughout Suo Yu Bay.

Saint’s blessing lilies from the Church high ranks, meticulously cultivated double-petaled roses by the Governor Mansion’s gardeners, violets and lavender purchased from a Cormorant District flower shop, and nameless wildflowers from a Saltwater District alley corner...

These flowers, with no distinction of status, are heaped together layer by layer, nearly drowning the ship’s railings.

From a distance, it looks like a floating hill of flowers on the sea.

A statue of the "Tide Singing Saint," who is said to have pacified the Divine’s wrath with her life, securing peace for the Southern Islands’ people, stands quietly atop the flower hill.

She faces the course, her head slightly bowed, half-closing her eyes, with fingers interlocked, palms joined in prayer before her chest.

Her body is shrouded with the ethereal radiance reflected from the surrounding floral decks, lending the entire statue a sacred aura.

The saint and the ceremonial ship, surrounded by the starry river and sea of flowers, slowly sail out of the harbor.

And just at the instant when the bow crosses the line between the port and Outer Sea, the first ray of dawn breaks through the night sky from the distant horizon, gently illuminating the statue’s face.

Buzz—

The previously pervasive silence at the port instantly collapses, turning into cheers and clamors of joy from countless people.

The Sea Rhythm Festival has arrived.

Standing on the deck of the Vengeance Blade Blade, Xia Nan folds his arms, his dark eyes fixed on the ceremonial flower ship bathing in dawn, gradually receding under the embrace of sea lamps.

Although his face shows no change in expression, he can’t help but feel an inexplicable sensation in his heart.

Despite being from another world, naturally bearing a sense of alienation towards everything on Aifala Continent, and utterly unfamiliar with Suo Yu Bay’s local traditions.

However, when he becomes a participant in such a local cultural event, experiencing its intensely rich local customs and traditions, he can’t help but have some inner stirrings.

At the very least, it seems quite interesting.

The "Flower Ship Parade," reportedly held by the local Southern Islands’ people to commemorate the "Tide Singing Saint," has gradually added meanings of blessing the port ships and praying for abundant fish harvests in the coming year.

It is one of the customs belonging to the Sea Rhythm Festival, held once every three years, in parallel with the "Moon Tide Banquet."

It’s said that in the coming days, the Governor Mansion will also plan a "Blessing of the Sea" event, officially organized to go out to sea, where the first catch of fish is cooked into fish soup in the town square and distributed by the venerable to everyone, symbolizing sharing the ocean’s generosity, so that each person who drinks the fish soup receives the sea’s blessing.

Xia Nan initially thought about going for a bowl and tasting it.

Now, however, he no longer has that opportunity.

The reason... is naturally because he is about to depart, joining the Vengeance Blade Blade Ship Group to head to Outer Sea for the long-awaited "Moon Tide Banquet."

"Hey, hey! Xia Nan!"

"Help me hang the flag!"

A hurried call suddenly comes from behind.

Turning to look, Xia Nan sees the Half orc Alton holding up a flagpole taller than himself with both hands.