In any case, the first step forward would be to reach a human settlement. He could slowly start to figure out what to do next after that. While he had a brand-new unknown enemy at his back, this enemy would chase all others in his stead. He was on borrowed time but all that borrowed time would be free time, close to risk-free. There were a lot of things he could do within such a long duration.

And so, he began to walk at a hurried pace in the opposite direction to the shore. Even if he was slightly safer, it did not mean that he could simply waste time.

Because, in the end, time is the most precious resource.

...

Rodolph saw from his vantage point on the Ark how Jin managed to land safely. He chuckled at the sight. If it had been a random 9th stage that he threw like that, the guy would have crashed violently. He might have died from such a fall and, at the very least, he would have been heavily injured. But this guy managed to land safely without so much of a scratch.

To Rodolph, this proved that the man's reputation was not unfounded throughout the high-level circles. People who knew Jin talked of him as a monster, unrivalled under the 10th stage. And that was at the time when his nickname was the colorful spear.

Very few people had the rights to be aware of The Peak's trial. Rodolph was one of such people and, as such, believed that Jin was even stronger than what the people, who knew him before he took on the trial, claimed. It did not matter much in the grand scheme of things but it remained interesting to witness.

To be fair, it was nothing more than the curiosity a mortal might feel towards a puppy he encountered on the road. But that was still a form of curiosity.

In any case, his job was done. He sailed away from Vrislorin and back towards their island.

As the boat flew back and away from the lower continent, he couldn't help but be slightly disappointed that he had not been the one appointed to monitor the 'puppy'. He would not have gone himself anyways but it would still be less boring than the usual job of managing the casinos...

He sighed as he recalled how he would have to once again take care of this job.

Maybe he should slow the boat a bit...

...

In a different part of the ocean, off the coasts of the Greed's cartel island, there was a boat. It was one of many but this one was special. It was manned by mortals and the captain, Redan, was quite well-known amongst the sailors. He was the sole mortal who managed to struck a deal with a Sea Python Clan and receive protection from them over the waters.

The Sea Python Clan was one of the Oceanic ruling clans. Being able to place their colors both under the ship and on top of the mast meant safe passage all over the world and across all seas.

Safe passage was no joke.

The waters were no playgrounds. The dangers real.

Very few mortal sailors enjoyed such good fortune. It did cost him a lot though as he ended up sacrificing his wife for it. At the time, a man from the Sea Python Clan came across his wife and found her attractive.

He ended up giving her up in exchange for the protection of that clan.

If you asked him if it was a worthy trade, he would always answer that it was a deal he could not refuse. But it was not because the deal was good. It was because he had no choice.

Everyone would have died if he refused...

At the time, he wanted to kill himself. He wanted to drown his sorrow in alcohol. But he could not. For he still had the kids his wife left behind to take care of.

He lost her but not them.

So, he kept working and roaming around the seas. And twenty-two years passed by. Days went by and looked bland as usual. This time though, he received a strange request from a freaky cultivator. The man asked to be picked up in the middle of the ocean. The man paid upfront and a rather great amount. He did not reject.

After inquiring around, he noticed how a few acquaintances received the same request or a similar one. Clearly, that man was being chased and trying to break away from something or someone. It was not his business anyways. He believed he was probably no more than one more bait around.

After having spent so long under the protection of the Sea Python Clan, he was not scared of such a job.

However, as he saw a flying boat with the easy-to-recognize golden G on the mast, he knew he made a mistake. He looked at his subordinates who were observing the flying boat curiously and sighed. They were all good people...good sailors... Innocents...

Then, he looked once more up. And he saw a gigantic ball of fire approaching his boat.

There was only one power that would dare to offend the Oceanics, it was the Greed cartel. And this time, it turned out that he ended up crossing their paths...

As the fire was close enough that he felt the heat, he did not move. He understood how pointless it was. He was smiling at his imminent death as he believed he would join his wife who had probably long been killed.

But then, unexpectedly, a gigantic wall of water erupted in front of the ball.

Fire and water collided and vapor was created. It diffused in the air. Under the eyes of the frightened sailors, the gigantic ball of fire disappeared. Captain Redan hurried to the side of the boat and looked over.

The water was calm. Without a single ripple.

Then, from on top of the flying boat, a loud voice exploded: "Show yourself!"