The ship’s cabin was exceptionally spacious, and the wooden table was laden with steaming hot food.

Besides fresh fish and fine wine, there was a dazzling array of other delicacies.

Although there were only four people present, Trevor had thoughtfully arranged for two nimble crewmen to act as waiters, specifically to serve Roland and Teresa.

"Sean went to serve in the Border Legion?"

Hearing this news, Roland looked curiously at Teresa, who was beside him, devouring the food on her plate with an elegant yet unusually swift pace.

"Why did he suddenly make that decision?"

"I’m not too sure either..."

Teresa popped the last bit of food into her mouth, licked the grease from her lips as if wanting more, and handed her empty plate to a nearby crewman.

"Could you please get me some more of the stewed fish? Thank you."

After doing so, the silver-haired woman turned back and explained.

"Mr. Peyton told me the news as I was leaving Wuxi Town. I heard that..."

She took the refilled plate from the crewman, thanked him softly, and continued eating with her knife and fork as she added.

"It was something Sean requested himself. He wants to improve his strength."

’That guy...’

Although Teresa hadn’t provided much information, as Sean’s best friend, Roland immediately understood his friend’s thoughts.

’It seems the appearance of the Giant Dragon had quite an impact on him...’

Thinking of this, he remembered another friend.

’I wonder if that fellow Dalko managed to get into the Knight Academy for his training...’

"Mr. Roland!"

Seeing a lull in Roland and Teresa’s conversation, Trevor raised his wine glass and said loudly.

"Thank you for looking after my little brother. Let me toast you! It won’t be long before I have to set sail on a long voyage again, and when that time comes..."

He ruffled the hair on Hobbit’s head, who was sitting beside him, and smiled.

"I’ll have to trouble you to take good care of this little guy."

"You’re too kind, Trevor."

Roland raised his glass to clink with Trevor’s, then winked at the Half-Elf across from him, who was a little reserved due to Teresa’s presence.

"Hobbit and I are friends now. Isn’t it only natural for friends to help each other?"

"Well said!"

Trevor drained his glass in one gulp and wiped the wine from his chin.

"Since you’re Hobbit’s friend, you’re my friend too! If you need anything in the future, just ask!"

Roland chuckled. Just as he was about to change the subject, his eyes suddenly lit up.

"Trevor, speaking of which, there actually is something I’d like to ask your help with right now."

"Name it!"

Roland’s frankness seemed to be to the Half-Elf Captain’s liking. He gestured grandly.

"As long as it doesn’t go against my principles, you can ask for anything!"

"It’s not that dramatic."

Roland took a small sip of his wine.

"It’s just... I’m very interested in sailing, and recently..."

He tipped his chin toward Hobbit.

"Hobbit has been teaching me a lot about it, but I still lack opportunities for practical experience, so..."

"I get what you mean!"

Trevor slapped his chest and assured him.

"Whenever you need it, just come find me! I happen to have a small, unused boat to my name. It’s just sitting there anyway. If you want to practice your sailing skills, you can take it and use it anytime!"

"Then... thank you very much, Trevor."

"Hey! Between us..."

After a few glasses of wine, Trevor’s boisterous, rough-and-tumble nature began to show.

But when he glanced at Teresa’s still-elegant dining posture, the captain’s mouth twitched almost imperceptibly, and he immediately lowered his voice.

"Mr. Roland, even though we’ve only just met, I can tell from Hobbit’s descriptions that you’re a trustworthy person. There’s no need for any more pleasantries."

"Alright, Trevor."

Roland replied with a smile.

For a while, the atmosphere was harmonious and pleasant.

However, Teresa’s appetite was truly astonishing, and her eating speed was abnormally fast.

This forced Trevor, who had originally planned to drink late into the night, to change his plans.

Before the sun had even set, Roland and Teresa were seen off by the Half-Elf brothers as they walked down the gangplank and set foot on the solid ground of the docks.

"Teresa..."

Looking at the silver-haired woman beside him, who was gently rubbing her stomach with a satisfied expression, Roland let out a soft chuckle.

"What are your plans now?"

"Hmm... Probably... the same as before."

Hearing the question, Teresa quickly glanced at the young man beside her out of the corner of her eye, her voice soft.

"Take on some commissions, continue traveling around."

Although her tone sounded normal, the subtle movement of her hand tightening on the hilt of her sword betrayed her inner turmoil.

"In that case..."

Seizing the opportunity from her predictable answer, Roland extended an invitation.

"Would you like to stay at my place for a while?"

The thought had occurred to him the moment he first saw Teresa on the deck.

He was just one person short of fulfilling the "form a squad and defeat a strong enemy" requirement needed to become an Apprentice Knight.

And having fought alongside Teresa before, Roland was perfectly clear about her strength.

While Power wasn’t her strong suit, she was exceptionally outstanding in terms of Agility and speed.

Her prowess was definitely at an extraordinary level.

What’s more, the power she possessed from the Gods’ blessing might bring an unexpected turn of events at a critical moment.

As for the matter of her appetite...

With a generous patron like Colin around, Roland wasn’t the least bit worried.

"As it happens, I have something I need your help with."

"Live... with you? Wouldn’t that be a little..."

Teresa fiddled awkwardly with the silver hair by her ear, her voice trailing off, but in the end, she still gave a small nod.

"No problem."

"Then thank you..."

Noticing the unnatural blush spreading across the silver-haired woman’s face, Roland raised an eyebrow in confusion, then started walking ahead to lead the way.

Before long, the two of them arrived back at the residence Colin had arranged.

Roland pushed open the wooden gate to the courtyard. He gave a slight bow and was just about to make an elegant gesture for Teresa to enter when a clear, lively voice suddenly rang out.

"Roland! What took you so long to get back? I’m starving... hmm?"

Avril popped out from somewhere, her brown hair bouncing in the sunlight with her movements, shining with a brilliant luster.

She tilted her head, curiously sizing up Teresa, who stood beside Roland.

"And this is..."

"This is Teresa. She’s a friend of mine,"

Roland introduced her immediately, then turned to the silver-haired woman.

"Teresa, this is Avril, a prospective member of the Shadow Veil Organization from the River Domain. As for that person over there..."

He tipped his chin, gesturing toward a blond young man huddled on a stone bench in the courtyard not far away.

"His name is Galvis. He’s a Minstrel. And of course..."

Roland said, guiding Teresa into the courtyard as he spoke.

"There’s also Mr. Bronson. He’s a scholar, but he’s shut in his room doing research right now, so we shouldn’t disturb him."

"I understand."

After nodding lightly, Teresa’s gaze swept quickly over Avril and Galvis in the courtyard, then flicked to the closed door. The light in her eyes seemed to dim for an instant.

A flicker of indescribable disappointment, as if some secret expectation had been dashed, passed over her face.

But soon, that emotion was replaced by Concentration.

Her pair of silver-gray eyes lost their focus, piercing through the scene before them and fixating on the empty air behind Avril and Galvis.

A moment later, the silver-haired woman, who was always aloof and rarely showed emotion, slowly furrowed her brow.

A strange expression, a mixture of deep confusion and disbelief, gradually replaced her previous mood.