Seeing Freddy's actions, Roland raised a brow.

"Is he trying to get revenge for last time?"

This was not because Roland was prejudiced.

At least on this continent, Orcs had a terrible reputation.

They possessed immense strength, loved killing, and craved war.

Apart from their formidable power, Orcs also had one widely known "trait."

Put politely, they lacked enlightenment. In plainer terms, they acted on impulse without considering the consequences.

Therefore, it would not be strange for such a race to do anything extreme.

Thinking of this, Roland's body tensed by instinct, but he was not especially worried.

The Orc Freddy's strength was indeed astonishing. In terms of physical qualities alone, he was even comparable to many monsters Roland had encountered.

But even in their previous exchange, Freddy had failed to defeat him, let alone now, when Roland had successfully advanced to [Knight Apprentice].

With his current strength, Roland was confident that even without using the breathing method, physical power and pure combat technique would be enough to suppress, or even crush, the Orc approaching him step by step.

With that in mind, Roland fixed his gaze on Freddy's shoulders, predicting the possible directions of attack.

However, the red-skinned Orc abruptly stopped when he was only two steps away from Roland, and then...

He did something that stunned Roland.

He bent sharply at the waist and gave a deep bow.

"I am extremely sorry, Mr. Roland..."

That deep voice rumbled like muffled thunder, but the hesitation and sincerity within it made the apology clear.

"That day... I failed to control my emotions... so..."

Freddy struggled through a simple apology with unusual difficulty.

He repeatedly tried to organize his words, yet could not find the right phrases.

In the end, he could only keep bowing awkwardly, clumsily conveying his regret through action.

After confirming that the other party bore no malice, Roland released the hand he had placed on the sword hilt at his waist.

Looking at Freddy bowing up and down like a pendulum, then seeing the clumsy sincerity on that fierce face, Roland let out a soft laugh.

He stepped forward, reached out, and firmly steadied Freddy by the shoulder. With a bit of strength, he straightened the Orc's bent body back up.

"It's all right, Freddy. I know you did not mean it that day..."

Although he did not know much about Orcs, Roland recalled how Freddy's pupils had become bloodshot during that fight and had a rough guess.

Most likely, the fierce battle had stimulated the red-skinned Orc's bloodline, causing him to briefly lose control and go too far.

"You... forgive me?"

Hearing Roland's words, Freddy let out a long breath, but still asked in his dull, booming voice.

Looking at the cautious unease in the Orc's eyes, the corner of Roland's mouth lifted.

A tall, fierce-looking Orc wearing the expression of a child who had done something wrong and was waiting to be punished was honestly funny and a little endearing.

"Of course, Freddy!"

Roland laughed a few times and struck the Orc's solid chest with just enough force.

"Do I look like the kind of person who holds grudges? Besides..."

He blinked with teasing intent.

"The one carried into the infirmary that day was you, not me."

These teasing words, paired with the rough chest thump, did not anger Freddy. Instead, they made him feel a strange sense of closeness.

The red-skinned Orc grinned, scratched the back of his head with his broad palm, and laughed with simple honesty.

"Then that is good, Mr. Roland. You are a good person!"

"Thank you for the praise."

Hearing this blunt compliment, the corner of Roland's mouth twitched almost imperceptibly.

To break the slightly heavy atmosphere, he casually asked,

"Why are you practicing here alone?"

"If I remember correctly, it should be class time right now."

"I..."

Freddy awkwardly rubbed his broad hands together and said with embarrassment,

"I got into a conflict with another student in class... so the instructor threw me out..."

Good grief. So he was a troublemaker.

"Mr. Roland..."

Just as Roland muttered inwardly, the red-skinned Orc before him suddenly slumped his shoulders. His straight back bent slightly, and his fierce face filled with worry.

"Do you think... I can really complete my coursework and graduate from the Knight Academy smoothly?"

Freddy grabbed irritably at his coarse, messy hair.

"I can never control this damned temper... Just this month alone, I have already received four warnings."

"Instructor Reggie said that if I receive more than ten warnings in a semester, I have to pack up and leave."

In any case, Hobby had not arrived yet, and Roland had nothing urgent at hand. On top of that, Freddy's simple, honest behavior made Roland feel that this Orc's nature was not bad.

So after a brief pause, he said,

"Freddy, if I am not mistaken, the root of your inability to control your emotions lies in... the restlessness of the bloodline inside you, correct?"

"Yes."

Freddy nodded dully.

"Mr. Roland, you may not believe it, but sometimes... I hate this bloodline of mine."

"It gives me strength far beyond ordinary people, but it also... prevents me from living like a normal person."

Looking at the painful struggle on the red-skinned Orc's face, Roland said softly,

"As far as I know, Orc bloodlines contain a warlike nature and a desire for slaughter. That is an instinct that cannot be rooted out."

"I remember the Knight Academy's class schedule is not exactly tight. Why don't you..."

Roland patted Freddy's shoulder.

"Use your free time to accept a few monster-hunting commissions from the Adventurer's Guild?"

"With your strength, ordinary monsters should be no problem for you."

"That way, you can apply the knowledge you learn in class to real battle and improve your coursework, while also venting the restlessness brought by your bloodline. Once that impulse settles down, you will naturally be able to control your emotions better."

"This... hm..."

This lengthy suggestion seemed to make Freddy's already less-than-brilliant mind stall.

He lowered his head and thought for a while before finally understanding what Roland meant. Then he abruptly raised his head, his eyes shining with strange excitement.

"Mr. Roland, you are too smart! I will go to the Adventurer's Guild and accept commissions right now!"

As he spoke, Freddy took heavy steps toward the Knight Academy gate.

But after only an instant, the red-skinned Orc turned back and bowed deeply to Roland once more.

"Mr. Roland, thank you for your guidance! If you need anything in the future, please ask me without hesitation! Also..."

He opened his mouth, trying hard to say something more appropriate, but in the end, he only bowed clumsily again before quickly leaving.

"What an honest fellow..."

Watching the other party depart, Roland shook his head with a laugh.

Just then, faint footsteps came from nearby.

Looking toward the sound, he saw the Halfling Hobby approaching with light steps.

"Mr. Roland?"

Catching sight of Roland, Hobby immediately quickened his pace and came forward, a delighted smile spreading across his face.

"Why are you here?"

Roland reached out and gently rubbed the little fellow's head, then explained why he had come.

After listening, Hobby agreed almost without thinking.

The two chatted casually as they walked side by side out of the Knight Academy.

Passing through the bustling crowd, before long, the two arrived near the harbor.

Looking at the sailors busy moving cargo on the docks, Roland glanced around. His gaze swept back and forth among several small ships near the edge of the harbor.

"Hobby, which one is the ship your eldest brother agreed to lend me?"

"It's over there, Mr. Roland!"

Hobby excitedly raised a hand and pointed.

Roland looked in the direction he indicated.

After carefully examining it for a moment, he turned his head, his tone carrying uncertainty.

"Are you sure... that is the 'small boat' your eldest brother mentioned?"

"Absolutely, Mr. Roland!"

Hobby stood on tiptoe, trying to see more clearly. His face brimmed with a proud smile as he nodded firmly.

"That is the Seabird! My eldest brother's first ship when he sailed the sea! What do you think? Impressive, isn't it?"

Hearing this, Roland's gaze followed the Halfling's line of sight again.

His eyes passed over several genuinely small fishing boats and coastal barges nearby, landing on a deeper dedicated berth at the edge of the harbor.

There, a ship was moored.

It was a colossus, entirely different from the casual "small boat" Trevor had described at the banquet.

Its size was astonishing.

Even compared with several large merchant ships that had returned from distant voyages beside it, it did not seem inferior at all.

In fact, in terms of mast height and deck width, it faintly seemed to surpass them.

The dark oak hull was weathered by wind and frost, with heavy salt stains along the waterline and several conspicuous repair marks still visible.

Yet careful maintenance had left it in excellent overall condition.

The tung-oil-soaked wood gleamed, and the deck was tight and level. Although it showed wear, there was no rot.

On the heavy bulwarks, brass rivets shone steadily.

Three thick mainmasts stabbed toward the sky, and the ropes and rigging were arranged with meticulous care.

"Seabird?"

Looking at the enormous vessel before him, which sharply contrasted with its name, the corner of Roland's mouth twitched.

He had thought the "small boat" Trevor mentioned would at most be a little larger than a small fishing boat. He had not expected it to be of this scale.

A ship of this size, let alone being used for him to practice sailing skills, was more than enough for ocean voyages.

"Your eldest brother is generous..."

Roland sighed softly, then turned to Hobby.

"But Hobby, I only taught you some basic combat techniques. Using the Seabird as a return gift is far too valuable."

"Mr. Roland, you need not refuse!"

The Halfling shook his head.

"My eldest brother taught me that friendship cannot be measured purely in material terms. Besides, as you can see, he has a better ship now. This ship is sitting idle. You do not need to feel burdened."

Perhaps worried that Roland would still refuse, Hobby earnestly added several more sentences.

Unlike the red-skinned Orc Freddy from earlier, the Halfling's eloquence was quite impressive. He seemed to have prepared his speech beforehand, pouring out persuasive words without pause.

Roland was not someone who fussed over every formality either.

After the other party persuaded him several times, he accepted the kindness.

"All right, all right, Hobby. I understand what you mean."

He waved a hand to stop the Halfling's rambling, rubbed the little fellow's head, and laughed softly.

"No wonder Galvez likes you so much. Looks like compared with being a warrior, you might have more prospects following him to taverns and telling adventure stories."

Hearing Roland's teasing words, Hobby was not dissatisfied at all. Instead, joy appeared on his face.

"Then, Mr. Roland, you..."

"When you write next time, remember to thank your eldest brother on my behalf."

"No problem!"

Hobby patted his not particularly thick chest and said eagerly,

"Then Mr. Roland, let's go aboard and take a look right now!"

Roland nodded and followed Hobby toward the Seabird.

After boarding the deck, Roland looked around.

Just as he had seen from a distance, the hull had several damaged places, but all of them had been repaired neatly.

Overall, it had been maintained very well, without any sign of decline.

Roland stepped on the solid deck beneath his feet, but the joy that had just risen in his heart quickly faded.

Although he had never commanded a large ship before, Roland understood one thing clearly.

For a ship to sail at sea, aside from key positions such as captain, first mate, helmsman, and lookout, a large crew was needed to operate the sails and rigging.

After all, sea travel did not rely only on wind. It also required manpower.

For a large ship like the Seabird to sail normally, a conservative estimate would require at least one to two hundred sailors.

Roland was not worried about the daily costs of supporting so many crewmen.

After all, he had just received a brand-new card from Colin, and the amount inside was enough for him to spend freely while polishing his sailing skills.

The truly troublesome issue was personnel.

Unlike travel on land, sailing required facing the mighty power of nature directly.

Even the most experienced sailors could be buried beneath the sea through the slightest carelessness.

Although Roland's current strength had already placed him among the standouts of the transcendent realm, he was still powerless before the fury of the vast ocean.

Therefore, the crew had to possess considerable sailing experience.

In the coastal Royal Capital of the River Kingdoms, experienced sailors were not difficult to find. However, most of them had already been hired by the major merchant companies.

If he began recruiting and preparing now, it would probably take several weeks before he could begin practicing sailing skills.

And he did not especially want to waste time on this.

No sooner had this thought surfaced in Roland's mind than the words had already left his mouth.

Unexpectedly, the Halfling seemed to have anticipated this problem long ago.

Hobby proudly raised his head and said with a firm tone,

"Don't worry, Mr. Roland! My eldest brother and I considered this problem long ago."

"Among the sailors who followed my eldest brother before, quite a few are no longer suited for ocean voyages because of injuries or age. But in consideration of their contributions, my eldest brother sets aside part of his income every month to support them and lets them do ship repair and maintenance work."

"Since you only want to practice sailing skills for now, their abilities will be completely sufficient."

"As long as you agree, I can gather them to board and work tomorrow. Naturally, all expenses during this period will be borne by my eldest brother."

Hearing this, Roland's expression stilled.

He had not expected Hobby and Trevor to have considered matters so thoroughly.

According to their arrangement, he could begin practicing almost as soon as he boarded, without worrying about any other trivial matters.

And...

Thinking back on Hobby's description of Trevor supporting old sailors who could no longer sail far, Roland gained a deeper understanding of that sturdy Halfling.

Whether in ability or character, he seemed almost beyond reproach.

No wonder he had become a captain at such a young age.

Even setting aside his relationship with Hobby, such a person was absolutely worth deepening ties with.

Thinking of this, Roland shook his head and patted Hobby's shoulder.

"Hobby, I am already more than grateful that the Seabird is being lent to me to practice sailing skills. So I will bear the expenses for those sailors during this period."

Seeing that Hobby still wanted to argue, Roland waved a hand and cut him off.

"That settles it! Or in your eyes, am I some penny-pinching pauper?"

He winked at the Halfling, a smile at the corner of his mouth.

"Of course not!"

Hobby hurriedly shook his head.

Seeing Roland's unquestionable expression, he could only nod.

The two discussed the matter a while longer and settled the arrangements for sailing practice.

After the discussion ended, Roland wanted to hand Hobby the card from Colin that stored gold coins.

But the Halfling refused no matter what, insisting that he would wait until he returned and calculated all the expenses, listed them out for Roland to review, and only then collect the cost.

Seeing the little fellow's stubborn posture, Roland had no choice but to give up.

He rubbed Hobby's head, and the two walked home while discussing details.

They had just reached the door of the house and pushed open the courtyard gate when a familiar voice drifted over.

"Roland! Why are you only back now? I'm about to starve flat!"

"Avril?"

Roland looked toward the voice and saw that slender figure sprawled across the stone table not far away. He raised his brow.

"You're still in the Royal Capital? I haven't seen you come over to eat these past few days, so I thought you had already gone with the others from Shadow Veil to exterminate the Wolf King."

"Huh?"

Hearing this, the Elf girl straightened and looked puzzled.

"Roland, how did you know about that? I remember I didn't tell you."

"Isn't it obvious?"

Roland glanced at the muddled Avril.

"The Royal Capital's guards have been mobilizing constantly lately. I am not blind."

"Ha... hahaha..."

The Elf girl realized she had asked a stupid question. She scratched her cheek awkwardly and hurriedly changed the topic.

"Your observation is correct, Roland."

She stood from the chair and stretched lazily.

"Tomorrow, I set out for the Misty Lands, so today I came to you for a farewell dinner."