Inside an alley diagonally opposite the Red Theater, Major Lex had just led Levto in when he saw a man furtively emerging from an unlabeled herbal shop.
This herbal shop was right next to the doctor's unnamed clinic. Major Lex couldn't help but curiously glance into the herbal shop, seeing the owner inside wearing a black, rural witch doctor-style robe. He looked to be in his thirties, with jet-black hair, brown eyes, a round face, and a chubby build.
Perched on his shoulder was an owl with bulging eyes.
Ignoring the strange combination, Major Lex and Levto headed towards the clinic next door and pushed the door open.
Inside the clinic, the cold-faced doctor sat on a long sofa. Beside him, a young woman gently placed one of her long, straight legs on the doctor's lap, rubbing it back and forth.
Major Lex couldn't help but clear his throat: "I'll come back later."
The doctor looked up, saw it was Major Lex, and whispered a few words to the woman. The charming woman chuckled, stood up, and as she passed Major Lex, he turned sideways, smiled, took off his hat, placed it over his chest, and nodded slightly to the woman.
After the lady left, the doctor hung a 'Closed' sign outside before saying, "When did you arrive?"
"Just now."
Major Lex wasted no time and went straight to the point: "Is there any news of Raditz?"
The doctor nodded: "Tomorrow night, he will come to the Red Theater. If you want to see him, this is an opportunity."
"You arrange it." Major Lex patted his shoulder and added, "Get ready. We'll be setting off in a few days. My ship is nearby."
The doctor responded concisely: "Alright."
"Do you have any leads on the Biologist?" Major Lex asked casually. The Biologist is a Sequence 6 of the Planter pathway.
The doctor shook his head: "No, but don't worry, I've only just become a 'Harvest Priest'."
Major Lex smiled and said: "I know a method that can help you master the current stage of the potion relatively quickly and safely, effectively avoiding loss of control. I'll tell you later."
"As for the Biologist's formula, I will keep an eye out and help you inquire about it."
The doctor had no objections to this arrangement. After they chatted a few more times and finalized the details for meeting Raditz tomorrow night, Major Lex left the clinic.
As he passed the small herbal shop, the chubby owner and his owl were standing at the doorway. Seeing Major Lex, he said, "Are you sick? He can cure you, and so can I, even more efficiently than him."
Was he trying to poach customers? Major Lex glanced at the chubby owner, shook his head, and smiled: "Thank you, I don't need it. I'm not sick."
"I can see that. So, are you looking to enhance *that* aspect of your abilities?"
The chubby owner bent his back, lowered his voice, and chuckled: "If that's the case, you should definitely come to me. I have potions that will make you more outstanding at night, in bed. I guarantee that after taking it, you'll make ladies scream and cling to you."
"How about it, do you want some? Guaranteed satisfaction."
Are you talking about aphrodisiacs?
Major Lex gave a dry laugh: "Your sales pitch is impressive, but unfortunately, I don't have that need."
"Oh really?" The chubby owner seemed a little disappointed. His eyes darted around, and then he said, "Are you Adventurers? I have a commission, but the reward is only given upon completion."
"Sorry, I wish I could help you, but I don't have time. I have other matters to attend to. Goodbye." Major Lex pulled down his hat brim, resolutely shaking off the chubby owner's persistent questioning.
The chubby owner sighed lightly and walked into the small herbal shop. The owl perched on his shoulder spoke: "Darkwill, he doesn't like you. He acted very politely, but his eyes were impatient. Perhaps you should improve your sales tactics."
"Shut up, you silly bird." The chubby owner said grumpily.
The next day, Major Lex, Levto, and adjutant O'Neal left Bayam. It took them nearly two hours to reach the private port Colonel Sturk had mentioned.
Arriving at the private port, facing the Sea, Major Lex couldn't see any sailboats that could be used for going out to Sea.
At that moment, he heard a dry cough, turned his head, and saw the dark-skinned Quincy.
"Why are you here?" Major Lex was a little surprised.
Quincy jumped into a fishing boat docked next to the pier: "It's all because I was waiting for you, otherwise I would have been on the 'Wavebreaker' already."
"Hurry up and get on! You didn't think the captain would dock the ship directly at the private port, did you?"
Major Lex shrugged and got onto the boat with the other two.
After the fishing boat left the pier, Quincy handed Major Lex a letter: "This is from the captain."
Major Lex opened the letter, which contained lines of scrawled Loen script.
'Congratulations, Major Lex. We recently acquired a sailboat on the Sea. It is itself a magical item, but unfortunately, it is a medium-sized ship, only capable of carrying about forty to fifty people.
Otherwise, I would have a flagship with mystical abilities, befitting my status as a Admiral.
I reported this sailboat, and the headquarters decided to allocate this ship to you as another reward for your significant contributions to the Kingdom.
So, let me tell you about the wonders of this [Explorer].'
After reading the letter, Major Lex generally understood the capabilities of the 'Explorer' he was about to receive.
Firstly, the 'Explorer' could, when needed, manifest a layer of 'Phantom Armor' over the entire ship. It could withstand a certain amount of damage, making the ship more robust and less susceptible to destruction.
Secondly, it possessed the ability of 'Deep Dive', capable of forming an air membrane to envelop the ship, providing sufficient oxygen for the crew while the 'Explorer' stealthily moved underwater.
It could descend to 20 meters below the Sea and travel underwater for nearly an hour.
Finally, it also possessed the ability of 'Water Control', capable of creating large water spheres, changing the water quality to make it corrosive, and even forming small whirlpools on the nearby Sea surface to restrain enemy ships, and so on.
As for the negative effects, it would gradually make the captain's temper irritable, impatient, and eventually turn him into a brainless brute. However, daily meditation could counteract this influence.
Furthermore, it repelled land; when it approached land, its abilities would weaken or even become unusable.
"Explorer"
Looking at the Sea, Major Lex couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation.
About an hour later, near an unnamed Sea Island, Major Lex saw a sailboat.
It was a three-masted sailboat with a stern designed in a large arc and an exaggerated bowsprit at the bow.
Its foremast and mainmast were fitted with white square sails, while the mizzenmast carried a lateen sail.
In addition to this, it was equipped with multiple cannons and corresponding gun positions. Its main gun was a heavy, black iron cannon, which could extend its barrel through a hinged gunport from the bow to fire at targets.
Quincy narrowed his eyes slightly, looking at the sailboat ahead and softly saying, "That's the Explorer, that's your ship, damn it!"