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Back on State Island, Ethan's first stop was the guild, where he arranged for a series of value assessments, including an appraisal of the Death Magic Stone he had brought back.

As expected, the stone's value was incredibly high. The guild placed great importance on it and was eager to purchase it directly from Ethan.

"I'm willing to sell the magic stone," Ethan told them, "but in exchange, I want a brand-new ship, built to my exact specifications."

The request didn't come as a surprise. In fact, it aligned well with the guild's mission of fostering skilled adventurers. They readily agreed and even made an excellent offer, Ethan could request any design he wanted, and the shipyard would ensure that all necessary materials and requirements were met.

Once the ship's final cost was determined, the guild would compensate him for any remaining balance in additional supplies. That was just how valuable the Death Magic Stone was, it could not only pay for a fully customized ship but also cover a large reserve of extra materials.

With the guild guaranteeing the deal and supplying all the necessary resources, the shipyard assigned a dedicated liaison to handle Ethan's request.

"Hello, my name is Pete," the man introduced himself. "I'll be your point of contact for the next phase of the process. If you have any additional requirements for the ship, let me know, and I'll coordinate with the shipyard."

"Nice to meet you. I'm Ethan."

With an intent agreement already in place, Ethan now had to select the base model for his new ship before adding or removing features to suit his needs.

Inside a dedicated showroom, he browsed an array of ship models, many of which he had never seen before.

"Ships with these markers are readily available," Pete explained, pointing to some of the models. "They're among the more common types, so the shipyard keeps a few on hand for customers who need something immediately."

Unmarked models, on the other hand, were rarer. Since few people requested them, the shipyard didn't mass-produce them in advance to avoid unnecessary inventory. They would only be built on demand.

"This one serves as the base model."

Ethan chose a design that was both practical and familiar, a large sailing warship with a structure similar to a Galley-style vessel from his previous world. The size was nearly identical as well, placing it in the category of large-class ships.

With three decks and a massive displacement, the vessel had an expansive interior, giving Ethan plenty of freedom to make special modifications according to his needs.

The only real challenge was its rigging. The ship had three masts, along with a complex arrangement of primary, auxiliary, and additional sails. Operating such a vessel was no small task, it wasn't the kind of ship that could be handled by just one or two people.

"By the way," Ethan asked, "what kind of technology can be used to minimize the required crew size?"

Pete glanced at him, unfazed by the question. Large ship buyers often had similar concerns. After all, the Sea of Calm wasn't densely populated, and the number of adventurers was limited. Even well-established teams struggled to assemble enough members to operate a full-sized sailing warship.

If crew roles were divided traditionally—combatants, gunners, navigators, and so on, there were very few adventurers in the entire region who could actually man a ship of this scale.

That was one of the main reasons why large warships were a rare sight in these waters.

"We've actually optimized these large sailboats quite a bit to reduce the number of required crew members," Pete explained. "By the way, how many people are in your crew?"

"Uh…" Ethan scratched his nose awkwardly. "Just me."

Pete blinked in surprise. From the way Ethan spoke, it didn't seem like he was planning to recruit additional crew members either.

Was he really an adventurer determined to sail alone?

It wasn't unheard of, but adventurers like that were rare, especially ones who operated on this scale. In all his years at the shipyard, Pete had never encountered someone like Ethan before.

"If that's the case... allow me to introduce you to the shipyard's exclusive technology," Pete said, leading Ethan to a seemingly ordinary table. There was nothing on it, just a blank, featureless surface. "This is our advanced magic stone-assisted system for large sailing ships."

Pete lightly tapped the table, and a brilliant glow emerged from the platform. Within moments, a white holographic image materialized in midair.

Ethan's eyes widened in surprise. He hadn't expected the shipyard to possess such technology. The holographic display instantly reminded him of Tony's lab.

Pete then began explaining the ship's features, demonstrating how magic stone technology enhanced the vessel's capabilities.

At its core, it was still a Galley-type sailing warship, but it had been outfitted with specialized devices powered by magic stones in various discreet locations.

For example, the ship had a magic stone stabilization system to ensure a smoother voyage, a water purification system that could draw in seawater and cleanse it using purification magic, and kitchen facilities that utilized fire and ice attribute magic stones for cooking and refrigeration. Additionally, a reinforced storage room could regulate temperature to preserve supplies for longer periods.

The ship also featured fully customizable living spaces, including bedrooms, dining areas, and bathrooms. Certain cabins could even be converted into specialized rooms based on Ethan's needs.

Most importantly, the entire ship could be controlled through a specialized magic stone console, meaning Ethan could operate it on his own.

"What does the console look like?" Ethan asked.

"It's not much different from this table," Pete explained. "It's installed near the ship's wheel. Through the console, you can adjust the ship's sails and control all the magic stone cannons on board."

To help Ethan understand, Pete used the holographic table to simulate the console's functions. The interface was surprisingly intuitive, reminding Ethan of a video game. The controls were simple and user-friendly, almost anyone could operate the ship with minimal effort.

"Perfect. Let's proceed with this design."

Ethan also requested the addition of a small foundry. Other than that, this magic stone-powered Galley was exactly what he had been looking for. He had originally considered modifying a standard ship himself using magic technology, but to his surprise, this world already had a superior solution.

"I still don't understand magic stone technology well enough. There are clearly a lot of secrets in this world I haven't uncovered yet."

From magic stone armor to entire ships powered by the technology, Ethan realized just how little he truly knew. And now, he was even more eager to discover what lay beyond the Sea of Storms.

"Of course, there are still a few important details we need to finalize," Pete continued.

"Such as?"

"What level of magic stones do you want for the ship's equipment?"

Ethan understood the issue immediately. While the ship's features were the same, the grade of magic stones used would determine their effectiveness and their cost.

Ideally, he would want components that could last until the ship was decommissioned. But that would require core-grade magic stones, which were far too expensive. He would have to settle for a lower grade and plan for future replacements. This meant he also needed to account for magic stone consumption rates, which would slightly alter the ship's performance.

"It's basically a choice between high, medium, and low-tier stones," Ethan mused.

He also noticed that Pete hadn't mentioned all available magic stone technologies. Most likely, the shipyard had deliberately omitted the highest-end features, knowing that Ethan's budget wouldn't cover them.

For example, Ethan was aware that magic stones could generate protective shields, he had even reversed protection spells to use on his personal gear. Yet Pete hadn't brought up shield generators at all. That likely meant such technology existed, but it was far beyond what Ethan could afford.

A ship-wide shield generator would probably require a magic stone on the same level as the Death Magic Stone.

"How long will it take to build the ship?"

"One month should be enough. All the necessary components are in stock, it's just a matter of installing them. A basic setup could be completed in under ten days, but this timeframe includes full testing and adjustments."

The shipyard already had Galley-type warships available. Many of them were newly constructed, requiring only internal modifications to match Ethan's specifications.

"That works for me."

One month wasn't long. He could stay on the island while the ship was being outfitted, prepare for the journey ahead, and set sail for the Sea of Storms as soon as the ship was ready.

"How many magic stone cannons do you need?"

"How many can I install with my current budget?"

Pete quickly calculated Ethan's remaining funds and provided an answer. "You can install about ten broadside cannons, five on each side, plus two additional cannons on the bow."

That was the absolute limit. And even then, Ethan wouldn't have enough money left to purchase a sufficient supply of magic stones for ammunition.

Still, he decided to go with the full number of cannons and had them placed on the second deck, hidden inside the ship's hull.

"Magic stones can always be acquired later, even here on the island. But cannons? You can't find those just anywhere."

In less than half a day, Ethan had spent nearly all the wealth he had accumulated over the past two years. The only funds he kept were just enough to cover his living expenses and supplies for his upcoming voyage.

As he left the shipyard, he glanced toward the horizon. The sun had already dipped to the edge of the sea, painting the sky in deep hues of orange and red.

It felt symbolic, like the closing of one chapter in his life. And when the sun rose again tomorrow, a new journey would begin.

"Maybe I'm just imagining things," he murmured.

But whether it was an illusion or not, his life was about to change. A new ship awaited him, and with it, a new adventure.

****

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