SSS Talent: From Trash to Tyrant Chapter 552 Chapter 552: Sea Wind

The following day, Trafalgar was found waiting by the wall near the circular platform, a dark cloak already concealing his form, its hood pulled down for the moment. Drawing any attention was the last thing on his mind, particularly if their destination was Mariven Port.

Had he been traveling alone, being recognized wouldn't have been a significant concern. However, the circumstances changed drastically with Zafira accompanying him. He was already acquainted with the lord of Mariven Port, a man who possessed ample reason to remember Trafalgar after his reckless son nearly orchestrated the downfall of the Mariven family in a bid to end his life.

Their joint presence there presented a different scenario entirely.

Two individuals, a young man and a young woman, heirs to two of the esteemed Eight Great Families, moving together through a bustling trade city where news traveled with incredible speed. While friendship was one matter, the emergence of rumors was quite another. People often reveled in misinterpreting events, twisting innocuous occurrences into something more scandalous or convenient, allowing such talk to propagate on its own accord.

‘She is taking an excessive amount of time!

Scarcely had the thought crossed his mind when Zafira’s door swung open.

She emerged with her customary composed confidence, yet this time, there was a distinct intentionality in her presentation. Her violet hair had evidently been meticulously styled, her attire was impeccably fitted, and even the subtle details overlooked by most clearly indicated a significant investment of time in her preparation.

She halted directly before him.

Trafalgar couldn’t help but acknowledge it. She indeed looked striking.

‘Are we departing now?’ she inquired.

‘Yes… ah, hold on. Take this.’

He tossed the second cloak to her. Zafira caught it effortlessly mid-air and unfurled it with a single hand.

‘And this is for?’

‘A cloak, complete with a hood. Wear it so we avoid recognition,’ Trafalgar instructed, gesturing towards the fabric. ‘It’s designed with openings for your horns. Do not fret about that detail.’

Zafira examined the cloak, then looked back at him.

‘You are quite thoughtful,’ she remarked.

The sarcasm was subtle, yet undeniable.

Trafalgar perceived it immediately. ‘Are you displeased?’

She released a quiet exhalation through her nose. ‘Yes. However, I comprehend your reasoning.’ Her fingers lightly grazed the material. ‘Two heirs from prominent Families appearing together in such a manner would undoubtedly draw intense scrutiny. I am aware of that.’ A beat of silence followed, her tone softening. ‘It is simply a small vexation to have invested so much effort in my appearance, only for it to be concealed.’

Her voice lost its sharp edge toward the conclusion.

‘What is your assessment?’ she asked, her question now posed with genuine sincerity.

Trafalgar responded without embellishment. ‘You look excellent.’

Zafira briefly held his gaze, as if scrutinizing his sincerity. Whatever she discerned in his expression seemed to pacify her.

‘I suppose the effort was worthwhile then.’

She settled the cloak over her shoulders, though she refrained from raising the hood. Trafalgar mirrored her action, and together, they stepped onto the platform.

The journey to Velkaris concluded without any notable incidents. The city welcomed them with its characteristic bustling energy, vibrant yet never overwhelming, and from there, they proceeded to the Gate Hub. It was only upon reaching the sector connecting to Mariven Port that they finally raised their hoods.

No one paid them more than a fleeting glance.

A short while later, they traversed the Gate.

Blue mana enveloped them momentarily, and as reality reformed, the scent of salt was the first sensation.

The wind carried it directly from the sea, mingling with the aromas of fish, tar, damp ropes, and newly arrived cargo, the scent of its wooden crates still potent. Before them lay Mariven Port, gleaming under the daylight and alive with the characteristic vigor of a city built on commerce. Ships teemed in the harbor, ranging from slender coastal skiffs to broad merchant vessels laden with heavy sails and substantial cargo holds. Cranes creaked above the docks as laborers hoisted crates bearing foreign markings, sailors’ shouts mingled with discussions of ledgers and curses, and guards moved with the practiced vigilance of men accustomed to the immense flow of wealth through these streets each hour.

It was a place of opulence, clamor, and tightly controlled order.

Zafira remained still for a moment longer than anticipated, the sea breeze gently stirring the edge of her cloak.

‘It has been a considerable time since I last laid eyes on the sea,’ she commented. ‘Not since our expedition to the Primordial ruins. I even see a beach over there.’

Trafalgar followed the direction of her gaze. Some distance away, beyond the more active docklands, the coastline curved into a lighter expanse where a scattering of people had congregated.

‘Indeed,’ he affirmed. ‘Although that occasion involved being submerged in the ocean for the most part. And beneath it, too. That represents a rather significant distinction.’

A faint smile graced her lips. ‘True.’

He turned his head towards her. ‘You have never visited the beach?’

‘Not truly.’ She shifted slightly to face him. ‘Would you care to go later?’

"We can," Trafalgar affirmed, adjusting the drape of his cloak. "But first, a visit to Augusto's shop is in order. It's located towards the city's edge. Let's go."

With that, they set off on foot.

The thoroughfares of Mariven Port possessed a distinct rhythm, unlike that of Velkaris. Velkaris pulsed with the flow of mana lines, its stations, and meticulously planned schedules, a city constructed upwards and inwards. Mariven, however, surged outwards, perpetually oriented towards either departure or arrival. Carts laden with sealed crates rumbled along. Porters loudly demanded passage. Merchants engaged in spirited haggles over quantities even before the cargo had fully disembarked.

Zafira observed the scene as they proceeded. "It truly is unlike other cities. Everything here seems oriented around the movement of goods, both incoming and outgoing."

Trafalgar nodded in agreement. "Even with the existence of Gates, transporting substantial quantities like these is often more practical by sea. It stands to reason. Utilizing Gates incurs significant costs, and for cargo of this magnitude, one would require a Gate far larger than those utilized on standard trade routes."

"That is accurate," Zafira concurred. "The resources necessary to construct a Gate solely for such purposes would be astronomical."

"Precisely."

Their progression continued through the port district, passing by imposing warehouses, stalls overflowing with ropes, the pungent aroma of fishmongers, and shopfronts proudly exhibiting exotic wares, a testament to their lucrative demand. Gradually, the density of foot traffic lessened as they moved further from the central docks.

It was then that Trafalgar spotted it.

Augusto's shop had come into sight.