Garrett Nordmark spent quite some effort explaining to Captain Jacob what he needed the sheep for. It was for experiments, genuinely just experiments—using live sheep to test spells, nothing bizarre!

Well, if luck wasn’t on their side, it might end up killing the sheep; if luck was indeed on their side and the sheep survived, they’d have to dissect them to check for any lung damage…

"So, how many sheep are you planning to slaughter at once?" Captain Jacob looked at him uneasily:

"We don’t have that many sheep on board! Don’t go wiping them all out in one go; we’d have nothing left to eat for the last few days!"

He knew all too well about the nature of a mage’s experiments. A slight mishap could result in a mass extinction of test subjects. If Magician Nordmark ended up killing all the sheep at once, the complaints from the mages, knights, and passengers aboard…

"Don’t worry, you have my word!" Garrett assured him repeatedly:

"Besides, dissecting sheep takes time. How many can I dissect in a day? At most four, two in the morning and two in the afternoon, no more!"

"…Alright, talk to the quartermaster yourself! If you end up killing the sheep and the passengers complain, I won’t back you up!"

Thus, Garrett embarked on a routine of experimenting with magic—dissecting—experimenting again—dissecting again. Every day, he donned long boots and a leather apron, bustling around the kitchen assisting the chefs, ending up a messy bundle from head to toe. The Black Crow Swamp would have been delighted to see him in such a state.

Under such intense work, Garrett’s control over his magic improved rapidly—mainly because he could directly dissect each time and visually inspect the sheep’s lung alveoli for damage.

Captain Jacob was exceptionally supportive. The day before the trade delegation disembarked, he actually completed the analysis of the spell model, answering all of Garrett’s questions—except for unilateral lung ventilation. Garrett, witnessing him demonstrate each solution, was filled with awe:

"That fast, huh…"

Next door, Archmage Serano was still pulling his hair out!

"Of course!"

Captain Jacob stood tall, basking in Garrett’s admiration. As soon as Garrett excused himself, the captain immediately conjured a water mirror and a light spell, carefully counting his hair from all angles:

It seemed the bald patch at the top of his head had expanded by another 5 millimeters… Magician Nordmark, indeed, had a knack for stirring up trouble!

Garrett chuckled, leaving the captain’s grievances behind. He followed the trade delegation, craning his neck curiously to observe the port of Annya. This harbor, in stark contrast with the port of Nevis City, was quite different!

Annya Harbor is the largest seaport on the Black Gate Peninsula and the only trade port. Facing the bay and backed by mountains, it’s surrounded on three sides by mountains, forests, and fields. Standing at the harbor, Garrett gazed into the dense greenery that stretched from the nearby hills to the horizon, its extent unseen.

With so much forest, lumber was naturally abundant. Walking along, the dock was made entirely of logs, giant trees driven deep into the bay, with thick planks laid side by side without gaps, providing a sense of security.

Compared to this, the wooden docks of Nevis Harbor couldn’t even be called made of wood!

Garrett estimated silently, amazed. When he had gone to fetch his oak staff with Elder Elwin, the largest oak tree they saw wasn’t even this big!

"Are there even bigger trees?"

He asked quietly. Before the mage in front could answer, Bernard, carrying his large bone club, grunted from behind:

"Look at that ship."

Garrett followed his gaze. A ship was rapidly approaching from the bay, its sleek body resembling a gondola from his previous life, only many times larger. Such giant trees could only be used to construct the keel of such a long ship.

The ship’s sides weren’t high, and unlike the [Philosopher’s Stone], it didn’t have an additional deck. Both ends of the ship were sharply pointed upwards, aiming at the sky. The only difference was that one side featured a vividly carved dragon’s head, roaring fiercely.

The sides of the ship were lined with densely arranged shields, reflecting silver light like two rows of dragon scales, imposing and menacing.

"This is…?"

"A warship. Looks like they just made a score and are returning."

Bernard’s tone was subtly excited. Garrett instinctively shrank back and hurried to keep up with the group.

The harbor was bustling, with masts of varying heights filling the view. Despite the Black Gate Peninsula being vast with sparse population, a glance across the harbor revealed a myriad of masts,

at least a hundred. The port area instantly buzzed with the vibrancy of dense crowds.

There were hawkers, porters, and a mix of tall and short, big and small people running about. Walking along the dock, Garrett’s group had to occasionally dodge the busy crowd.

Exiting the harbor area and crossing several streets, they entered an inn. The inn, a three-story building, had its exterior made of solid logs, each layer showcasing the robust timber. The roof, also constructed from logs, towered as high as a six-story building from Garrett’s previous life.

At the tip of the roof flew a triangular flag, on which a raven was painted against the sturdy canvas, fluttering boldly in the wind. The group settled in an independent courtyard behind the inn. Archmage Serano pointed at the flag, loudly declaring:

"Remember this flag. It marks the [Raven Inn], known to anyone in Annya Harbor. They can guide you back here. We’ll rest here tonight and set off after breakfast tomorrow. Feel free to explore the port, but be mindful of your safety and return early in the evening!"

The group responded enthusiastically. Apart from a few assigned to guard the merchandise, most were eager to explore the streets. Garrett quickly freshened up, changed into casual clothes, and dragged Bernard out to the street.

The street where the [Raven Inn] was located was bustling. Along the way, Garrett was dazzled by the array of shops:

Deer, wolf, bear, seal, and walrus pelts;

Thick, glossy black fox pelts, displayed separately and hung in rows on wooden racks;

Long swords, short knives, giant axes, war hammers, lined up, their cold gleam deafening with the sound of smithing from inside;

Further down, a small building made of brick and stone featured large transparent glass windows, showcasing sets of pristine porcelain…

Garrett walked and gawked, overwhelmed by the sights. As he wandered, he spotted a charming little house tucked between giant wooden buildings:

The front side featured two buildings side by side. The left one, enclosed by two elegant curves, resembled a petal plump at the bottom and sharp at the top, which, along with the three circular steps at the entrance, the oval wooden door, and the rectangular glass window on the second floor, looked like a penguin squatting on the spot;

The right one, made of pebbles, was cylindrical, with a rectangular wooden door set into a cut-out of the cylinder. The cylinder was a third shorter than the penguin on the left, with the top section missing and capped with a pointed roof;

Behind the two entrances stretched three or four sharp roofs and a two-story building. At a glance, the entire structure seemed like a child’s most naive creation, yet filled with the patina of time.

Garrett couldn’t help but walk over for a closer look. The door of the penguin building was slightly ajar, leaking faint music, while the door of the cylinder was firmly shut. Hesitating whether to enter for a visit, the penguin door creaked open, and an elderly man in a white robe emerged, smiling warmly:

"Stranger, would you like to come in and learn about the grace of the Lord of Radiance?"

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Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay