Old Gods, Rapid-Fire Guns, and Prohibition

Chapter 204 [The Golden City]

The June sea breeze caressed the golden surface of the sea.

Ethan was awakened by the loud sound of a steam horn.

Looking up at the old-fashioned cabin ceiling, Ethan felt for a moment as if he had returned to the very beginning.

But the soft, comfortable mattress beneath him and the warm sunlight streaming through the porthole told him that he hadn't gone back, and time was still moving forward.

It's June now.

The sea outside the porthole was no longer the frigid North Sea of ​​October; there were no icebergs standing on the distant sea.

Just then, Anya seemed to hear the noise and came in from the cubicle. She looked at Ethan and said, "Young Master, you're awake. Would you like a cup of coffee first? We still have a while before we arrive in the capital."

Anya wasn't wearing the same black hunting outfit she wore when they first met today.

She wore a slightly loose, oversized striped indigo dress over a white shirt, paired with a knee-length skirt. Her silver hair was loose and flowing, giving her a relaxed yet youthful look.

"Okay, I'll have one."

Ethan then hastily threw on a nightgown, quickly washed up, and headed up to the deck with a cup of hot coffee.

He returned to the capital aboard the Poseidon.

As luck would have it, the Poseidon had just finished its short voyage and was passing by Winston again.

Also, traveling from Winster to the capital by land does take longer.

The kingdom's railway system is still expanding, but it has not yet reached most parts of the northern region. It will probably be several more years before Winster can open its railway.

Therefore, the fastest route to the capital is still by boat.

Moreover, the Poseidon is a premier luxury cruise ship, boasting the highest level of comfort and safety.

Ethan had a pleasant five days on the ship.

Today, we've reached our destination.

As Ethan walked onto the deck with his coffee, the first thing he felt was the pleasant sea breeze.

It wasn't as humid and hot as the sea breeze in Winston.

In the height of summer, the sea breeze here is surprisingly cool and pleasant.

It truly lives up to its name as a sea of ​​gold.

The so-called Sea of ​​Gold, in a broad sense, refers to the entire sea area beyond the eastern coast of the kingdom. However, in reality, the area that can truly be considered the Sea of ​​Gold is only the one hundred nautical miles outside the capital in a narrower sense.

Within this area, one can clearly see the outline of the coastline. The sea within this area is free of strong winds and high waves, with a pleasant climate year-round and warm, comfortable sea breezes. Under the sunlight, the sea surface always shines like gold, hence the name "Golden Sea".

Some say that the reason this sea area is so peaceful and calm is because it is protected by the royal aura of the capital.

Therefore, the word "gold" is also used to praise the prosperity of a kingdom.

In short, Ethan likes this kind of sea.

He took a sip of coffee, slowly walked to the ship's side, and gazed at the distant horizon.

By this time, the coastline was already in sight.

In fact, not only the coastline, but even the outline of the capital city is already faintly visible.

As the world's largest city today, it is a city of ten thousand cities.

The outline alone is enough to give people a strong sense of impact.

As a result, Ethan's memories of his predecessor resurfaced.

After all, Ethan had lived in the capital for several years, so theoretically, he was familiar with the city.

"What are your thoughts on coming back?"

Just then, someone walked up from behind Ethan and asked a question.

This man was none other than Carlos. It was Carlos who had picked Ethan up and brought him back to Winster.

Everything seemed to be a cycle.

"I just remembered a sentence."

"What?"

"This world is a good place, worth fighting for."

"That's a remarkable statement."

Carlos couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.

Ethan smiled and said, "Actually, I only agree with the second half of the sentence."

"That statement is even more remarkable."

Another person arrived; it was John Holt. He clapped softly as he spoke.

The three of them stood together by the ship's railing, quietly watching the coastline draw closer and closer.

After a while, Carlos said, "It just so happens that I'm going back to the capital. I'll introduce you to some friends then. They're all business associates. Since we're in the capital, our business might be able to expand even further."

John Holt perked up at this suggestion and couldn't help but whisper quickly, "Then how about tonight?"

"No need to rush. It's only the first day here. We need to find a place to stay and get a good night's rest first, right?"

Carlos was somewhat speechless, but he could understand John Holt's eagerness.

After all, no one wants to be stuck in a small place, no matter how rich or powerful they are. In the face of the capital, no one would want to miss out on a better chance.

This is the charm of the city of ten thousand cities.

It is a city of gold, but also a collection of human desires.

After spending some more time on deck, Ethan finished his coffee and went back to his cabin to change.

Around noon, the giant city was almost in sight, and Ethan, dressed in light casual clothes, came back onto the deck.

At this moment, the people who had been traveling with them also came out.

Sofia was dressed up as usual today, wearing a slightly gorgeous retro long dress and carrying a small hand fan. She had the air of a noble young lady, which made the people around her a little afraid to get close.

But she didn't care. She just leaned over and whispered to Ethan, and also chatted with Anya for a bit.

The relationship between the two of them is now a bit delicate; they can't be called friends, but they can't be called enemies either.

There's just one thing: Sofia will probably have to call herself "Miss Driver" for the rest of her life.

Palen, on the other hand, appeared somewhat low-key, dressed in a gray suit, and looked a little nervous and uneasy as the giant city approached.

But deep in his eyes, there was a fiery feeling, a burning passion.

With him was another person, someone Ethan was somewhat surprised by.

Haska Muric.

This guy has been somewhat out of the public eye since Sandro's death, mainly because he's afraid Ethan will settle scores with him.

But he had actually been living a life of mere survival within the Poletta family.

Palen surprisingly showed some sentimentality, and this time when he came to the capital, he asked Ethan to bring him along.

Ethan didn't refuse Palen's request and agreed.

Haska was also extremely excited at this moment, looking at the legendary city with rapid breathing.

The art students from Winster University who came to the capital with Ethan for the exchange program behaved similarly.

Amidst the diverse emotions of the onlookers, the capital city was finally reached.

(End of this chapter)