Chapter 461 - 26. Eve of the Eastern Ocean

Fisher and Isabella walked into her room together. The small cabin lacked the vanity table and dedicated seating of her room in the Golden Palace, and there wasn’t even a decent mirror. She could only use her hands to gauge the length of her golden locks before roughly cutting them to a shorter length.

Strands of golden hair fell to the floor, making the area look a bit messy.

"Once the magic activates, it will cover the area above your bed. Best not to stray too far, unless you’d like to wake up with the head of a pig tomorrow."

"Not a chance... something like a pig’s head."

Isabella quickly swept up the scattered golden strands on the floor with the room’s small broom, bundling them together.

Fisher placed the metal plate by her bed, waiting for her to lie down before he would activate the Healing Magic.

However, seeing her unevenly cut hair that was long in some places and short in others as she swept, he couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow, then beckoned to her, saying,

"Come here first."

"Huh?"

Fisher took out the black sword handle he had in his hand, summoning a Fluid Sword that moved as quickly as mercury. The blade of the Fluid Sword was made of rapidly moving liquid, so it couldn’t adhere to the Magic Materials used for engraving magic and certainly couldn’t serve as a Magic Engraving Knife, but it was quite suitable for trimming a young girl’s hair.

Watching Fisher summon the Fluid Sword, Isabella instantly understood his intention. She obediently sat in front of Fisher, letting him tidy her uneven golden hair. Despite that, she couldn’t help but ask,

"Does the hair I cut look that bad?"

She had expected Fisher to say something polite, but he decisively nodded in response,

"Yes, it looks terrible."

Out of his sight, Isabella silently puffed her cheeks, unable to understand why her Sister Elizabeth was fond of this tactless Mr. Fischer, who hardly ever had a good expression and was always breaking a girl’s heart with his words, just like at the Gedelin Festival.

"However, you’ve inherited the Gedelin family’s signature golden hair just like your sister. The texture is very good, making this awkward haircut tolerable... Don’t move, the sword is very swift and could cut your scalp."

"..Okay."

Isabella pursed her lips, feeling the touch of Fisher’s fingers through her hair, bringing a tingling sensation that made her comfortably squint her eyes, enjoying the service that was akin to a massage.

Although Mr. Fischer often looked displeased, the gentler he was, the more precious it seemed; was that the reason her sister was moved by him?

As Isabella was enjoying the moment, she suddenly realized Fisher’s actions were too skilled—had he done the same to her sister?

So, she opened her eyes and asked Fisher behind her,

"Mr. Fischer, have you combed my sister’s hair too?"

"Kids also like to ask about these things. I’m starting to doubt whether it was a good idea for your sister to send you to university... There, it’s done. See what you think?"

"Oh, it looks very nice..."

Fischer didn’t reply to her question but instead stood the Fluid Sword upright, turning it into a smooth, mirroring surface to show her current appearance. It was her first time seeing herself with short hair. She felt quite dashing, a different style from before.

Seeing her unconsciously puff up with vanity, Fischer had already retracted the Fluid Sword into his chest and then snapped his fingers lightly to activate the Healing Magic by the bed.

In reality, Fischer had not only combed Elizabeth’s hair but had also kissed her lips and fingers. They’d done almost everything except the final step, but of course, he couldn’t mention such things to Isabella.

According to the Gedelin family tradition, ladies were strictly prohibited from engaging in such matters before marriage, as in ancient times, princesses were as pure as the Holy Maidens of the Church. However, since princesses started attending university and learned alongside others, they inevitably acquired some knowledge about such matters.

Elizabeth’s knowledge about love came entirely from practical learning with Fischer, while Isabella had learned through theoretical study with Milica, the "storybook princess."

"The magic is fully activated now. The Healing Magic will speed up the circulation of bruises in your body, so sometimes it might feel a bit painful—just bear with it."

"Mm..."

Fischer didn’t linger, as the sound of rain outside had also lessened. He walked to the door, ready to leave, and as he was about to push it open, Isabella’s voice called out from behind,

"Goodnight, Mr. Fischer."

"Goodnight."

Fischer waved at her before leaving the room, leaving short-haired Isabella to look at the closed door, feeling the warmth brought on by the Healing Magic.

No wonder Sister Elizabeth has taken such a liking to Mr. Fischer...

She glanced at the Healing Magic on her bedside table and touched her neatly trimmed short hair, suddenly thinking this to herself.

The next morning, the Iceberg Queen had already sailed away from last night’s incessant rain. The weather was agreeable this morning, and Fischer had risen early, readying himself for breakfast when Emhardt flew in from where the still-sleeping Mouse Lady lay and perched on his shoulder.

Fischer shot a glance at Emhardt whose one eye and mouth were both forcefully yawning, as if he hadn’t slept well,

"Hmph, those three little brats, not only grinding their teeth in the middle of the night, they actually tried to bite me! They downright mistake the great Emhardt for a teething stick!"

"Whose fault is that when you decided to sleep with them last night?"

"I thought you wouldn’t be returning to your room last night and that you’d go to rest in the captain’s room... How awkward would it have been for me to intrude upon your pleasant evening?"

Emhardt left for the kitchen to practice his engraving magic before Fischer had a chance to clarify. Probably assuming Fischer hadn’t returned to his room because he was off having a secret rendezvous with Alagina, Fischer opted not to explain and, in the company of the prattling Book Knight, headed to the foredeck, where many crewmembers were already training.

Fischer’s gaze immediately found Isabella trailing at the end of the line, still managing to keep up through gritted teeth and, possibly an illusion, she seemed to pick up her pace and her face turned even redder upon seeing him, prompting the crew nearby to sneak more glances at her.

Only Emhardt threw suspicious looks between Fischer and Isabella.

Fischer then looked up at the top of the mast, and sure enough, there was Ossie, as usual, her white hair fluttering like waves under the morning sun’s rays.

"Good morning, Mr. Fischer!"

On the side of the deck, Pahetz, who was holding a telescope, greeted him cheerily with a new small pendant around her neck—a necklace made from a double-barreled shotgun bullet casing, a sight that had Fischer taking a second look at Pahetz’s smiling visage.

If Old Jack hadn’t rested well in his room last night, Fischer might have suspected that something had happened between the two.

"Good morning, Chief Officer Pahetz."

"Hey, we estimate that in the next few days we’ll reach the junction between the East Ocean and the Southern Ocean, where the well-situated Patulshen Islands lie. There are lots of interesting items for sale there... Not only can we resupply, but the crewmembers usually take the opportunity to relax a bit too, since there are entertainment venues tailored for North Realm people. Of course, I generally don’t go."

Looking at Pahetz winking at him, Fischer was caught between laughter and tears for a moment.

Regarding the possible happenings between Pahetz and Old Jack, Fischer wasn’t concerned. Or rather, it wasn’t his place to worry; both of them were a full generation older than him... Fischer always felt that Old Jack treated Pahetz like a younger brother from his gangster days, even if Pahetz seemed a bit too scheming.

"I mean, the captain never goes to those kinds of places. She doesn’t have strange quirks, doesn’t gamble, isn’t lecherous, and even when it comes to drinking, she only ever sips... I heard she wants to buy you some clothes on that island, could you check how much money she’s saved up in her little treasury for me? She’s too thrifty; she needs someone to help her spend it, you know."

Fischer laughed, but before he could reply, he instinctively looked up at the mast, only to meet Ossie’s covert gaze,

"Stare..."

Upon seeing Fischer abruptly look up at her, she quickly averted her gaze in another direction, once again becoming the Iceberg Queen’s unwavering "Observation Tower," though in her arms, the colorful parrot Steel Blade couldn’t help but poke its head out, tilting curiously towards him.

"Idiot... idiot..."

Fischer chuckled, responding to Pahetz’s earlier comment,

"I’ve got it."

"Hehe, that’s great, that’s great. Oh yeah, you should hurry up and get breakfast. The mess hall still has plenty of food, and there are those three Mouse Ladies too. Mr. Jack just asked me to call them down for breakfast... My goodness, I think I forgot."

Pahetz, with her hand on the telescope, smacked her own forehead in frustration and then scurried toward the back rooms.

Watching her retreating figure, Fischer leaned against the railing at the front, gazing out at the sea ahead.

As long as the ship entered the East Ocean, that meant they were not far from their ultimate destination, the pirate port, and after that, he would likely commence a journey toward the Northern Realm to seek the remaining members of the Snow Mountain Clan or more demi-human girls for research...

He made some rough plans in his mind but then suddenly thought of something and turned to shout back to Pahetz, asking,

"Chief Officer Pahetz, what’s for breakfast this morning?"

Pahetz’s figure was already out of sight, only a vague response came from afar,

"Egg soup!"