The slender, gleaming magic ship of the captain rocked gently upon the vast expanse of black, murky waters. Its surface, once pristine, was marred by deep gashes and abrasions—battle scars from its most recent encounter with the black-clothed cultivator, Amon, whose strength had proven formidable. Despite the damage, the ship's self-restoration capabilities, a remarkable feature Grey had discovered days prior, began to mend the wounds, its surfaces slowly knitting together with ethereal energy. As the ship sailed onward, the air felt thick with the residual tension of the battle, yet there was also a sense of anticipation. They were nearing Sky Mist City.

'Unfortunately, my magic ship doesn't have self repair functions. Maybe I'll add that when I'm upgrading it.' Grey shook his head inwardly.

The harbor loomed ahead, and the protective array that shielded the city hummed gently, its presence as much a part of the landscape as the sea itself. The array's scanning gaze swept over the ship as it approached the dock, subtle yet all-encompassing. Grey and the captain, standing side by side at the helm, produced their respective identity tokens—jade slips imbued with both authority and personal records—before the scan passed over them. The gaze lingered for a moment, the magic scanning for any traces of threat or malice.

The few seconds felt like an eternity, each one stretching out in tense silence. The array's attention was a heavy weight, but then, with a quiet hum, it passed, leaving nothing but the faint echo of its departure. Grey exhaled softly, a sigh of relief escaping him as the ship's approach continued unhindered. Beside him, the captain, her true appearance restored after shedding her earlier disguise, let out a breath she seemed to have been holding for far too long.

The captain had suggested hours earlier that they forgo their disguises as they neared the city. Grey understood the reasoning well enough—if they were to continue their mission, there was no point in further complicating their situation with unnecessary secrecy. The cloak he had worn, a mystical treasure taken from the Devil's race cultivator he had fought months ago, had provided protection from prying eyes. But he didn't know how Sky Mist City's protective array might react to such an item. Would it detect any lingering malignancy within it? He wasn't willing to test that theory, so he had tucked the cloak away in his storage bag, opting for a simpler look.

The ship slid smoothly into the harbor, its delicate frame creaking softly as it docked. Grey felt a familiar tug in his chest as he gazed over the city's skyline. The buildings, though not entirely the same as the ones back on Earth, had a strange resemblance that made him feel an odd sense of comfort. The towering structures, their faces kissed by the soft mist that perpetually hung in the air, brought back memories of home—of Earth. The mist had lessened in intensity over the past few months, and though the corrosive elements that once plagued the city's streets had not entirely vanished, the improvement was noticeable.

He muttered under his breath, more to himself than anyone else, "It's not exactly like Earth, but it fits…"

The captain, already hopping lightly from the ship, landed on the dock with the grace of someone accustomed to the magic of their world. Grey, following her example, leapt off the ship and landed beside her, his grey hair now long enough to tie into a small, unruly bun. He had allowed it to grow without much thought, no longer feeling the urge to trim or shape it as he once did.

The captain glanced at him, raising an eyebrow as she inhaled deeply, her gaze scanning the city around them. "Ah, we're back in Sky Mist City," she remarked with a smile. But then her expression turned serious. "First things first, we need to report to the Detective Agency Department and fill out the required forms. You've been on leave for two months, but after nearly four months at sea… well, you'll have a bit of explaining to do."

Grey raised an eyebrow but said nothing, instead adjusting the sleeves of his shirt. The captain coughed but continued, her voice light and teasing. "Normally, an ordinary member would face trouble for such an extended absence, but you're the Vice-Captain, so I can let it slide."

Grey turned his head slightly, glancing at her. "What about you?" he asked, his tone detached, though there was an underlying curiosity. "Who's going to let it slide for you?"

The captain let out a soft laugh, her eyes glinting with mischief. "Oh, don't worry about me, little Grey. I know the Director. She's not one to hold a grudge, especially against someone as charming as I am." Her wink, playful and knowing, almost caused Grey to turn his head to see who she was addressing, but he refrained. Instead, he only shuddered internally at the sound of her calling him "Little Grey."

"Hmm," Grey murmured, more to himself than anything else. "The Director… the only time I saw her in person was during that night raid on the Secret Order members. Back then, I could feel her strength from a distance. She gave off the aura of a solid Foundation Establishment cultivator, even though we were far apart. But now, with the knowledge I've gained, I can tell she must have at least two Spirit Fires at that time. I wonder how much stronger she's gotten since then."

The captain, ever quick to catch his words, flashed him a sly grin. "Falling for the Director, huh?" she teased, her voice dripping with mischief. "Just so you know, she's only interested in really strong men… or so I think. But with your looks, I'm sure you'll do just fine."

Grey, deliberately ignoring her teasing, kept walking ahead, his expression as neutral as ever.

As he walked down the crowded streets fill with mundane humans and cultivators, Grey couldn't help but sink into thought.

'The captain said something about war several months ago. She also continued this conversation about war when we just met after the Pocket dimension spatial tear. Is it still ungoing, and if it was, can I still participate?' For four months in which he had been at sea, he had nearly exhausted his spirit stones and other items he took with him.

Now his spirit stones, which was once over two thousand was reduced to barely twenty. After seeing the benefits of the war, he couldn't help but get greedy for a second, as if deliberating.

'Sigh. I'll ask the captain about this afternoon we've cleared the required forms and our previous leave of absence. If I cannot participate, I guess I'll have to go back into the market of catching wanted criminals and Secret Order criminals.' Grey sighed inwardly. Feeling pity for his pocket in arrears. In just months, he had went from slightly rich to as broke as he was before. All for a hardly noticeable change in cultivation base.

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