Hobbit’s work efficiency, it had to be said, was truly astounding.

Just last night, the Half-Elf had been enjoying dinner beside Roland, yet by this morning, all the crew members he had promised to gather were already in position.

Not only that, but the deck, which had been rather empty yesterday, was now piled high with necessary supplies.

Roland watched the crew bustling about the deck and nodded in satisfaction.

Just as Hobbit had said, although the crew members were a bit older, and some even had physical disabilities, every one of them was quick and highly competent.

Their orderly and well-coordinated teamwork, completely free of chaos, fully demonstrated their vast sailing experience.

"Mr. Roland, you’re here?"

Hobbit glimpsed Roland, gave a few more instructions to a one-eyed crewman beside him, and then walked over with a thick roll of parchment.

"These are the estimated daily expenses. Please take a look."

Roland took the parchment, gave it a cursory glance, and handed it back.

On one hand, it was out of trust for Hobbit. On the other hand...

He had no experience as a captain and naturally knew little about the costs of a sea voyage.

"You can be in charge of all this, Hobbit. What I’m more concerned about is..."

Roland reached out and gently patted the ship’s railing, leaning forward slightly to gaze out at the boundless sea.

"When can we set sail? I can’t wait to put the sailing knowledge you’ve taught me into practice!"

Hearing the deep trust in his words, a gentle smile spread across Hobbit’s face.

He immediately straightened his back and gave a slight bow.

"Captain Roland, we can set sail immediately, as soon as you give the order!"

"Then I’ll leave it to you, First Mate Hobbit..."

Roland blinked and waved his hand.

"Set sail!"

"Aye, aye!"

With that resounding command, the Sea Sparrow slowly pulled away from the port, heading for the vast, open sea.

Even with Hobbit overseeing things and the cooperation of many experienced sailors, Roland didn’t take sailing lightly.

He only instructed Hobbit to sail in the waters not far from the Royal Capital, treating it as a preliminary practice run.

As the Sea Sparrow sailed steadily on the water, Roland immediately activated his [Concentration] Trait. While recalling the knowledge Hobbit had imparted, he began to practice the various sailing skills himself.

He placed his hands firmly on the smooth oak wheel.

The sea breeze, carrying the scent of salt and brine, swept across the deck, rustling the hair on his forehead.

Hobbit’s voice, clear and steady, sounded from the side, like a guiding lighthouse.

"Remember the feel, Captain Roland. The wheel isn’t a dead thing; it’s a part of the Sea Sparrow. Feel the force of the waves pushing against the hull..."

"Yes, just like that. A slight adjustment is better than a sharp turn. Now, try to maintain a heading fifteen degrees east of due north, and let the crosswind push us."

Roland was completely focused, banishing all stray thoughts.

Before his eyes, the nautical chart Hobbit had drawn on the parchment seemed to appear, along with the lines and notes describing the relationships between wind, current, and the ship’s position.

He carefully turned the wheel, the movement minuscule, his eyes locked on the compass fixed to the bow.

Outside the ship, waves splashed rhythmically against the hull as the bow cut through the deep blue sea, leaving a churning white wake.

"Good! Very steady!"

Hobbit nodded in approval, his sharp eyes constantly monitoring the swell of the sails and the subtle shifts of the hull.

"Now, notice the flutter at the trailing edge of the mainsail. It’s not catching the wind properly—it’s ’complaining,’ Captain Roland. What adjustment do you think is needed?"

Roland looked up, his gaze sweeping over the massive mainsail.

He recalled Hobbit’s explanation of "sail camber" and "wind angle."

He noticed the rear edge of the canvas was indeed flapping and fluttering slightly, like a leaking leather bag.

"Do I need to... tighten the sheet?"

he guessed, uncertainly.

"Exactly right!"

Hobbit grinned, revealing his two signature small canine teeth.

"Go on, try it! Remember, tighten the rope little by little. Feel the change as the canvas pulls taut, until that annoying flapping sound disappears."

Roland walked over to the winch at the base of the mainmast. A few experienced sailors were already on standby, their eyes encouraging.

He gripped the cold winch handle and began to turn it with effort.

The rope CREAKED in the pulley block as it slowly tightened.

As he turned, he kept his eyes fixed on the trailing edge of the mainsail.

As the canvas gradually grew taut, the annoying flapping sound did indeed weaken and then disappear. The sail became full and smooth, and the ship seemed to gain new thrust, accelerating slightly.

"Well done, Captain Roland!"

Hobbit came to his side and gently patted his arm.

"Now, let’s do it again, but not to make a correction. This time, it’s to ’catch the wind.’"

He pointed to an area ahead on the starboard side where the wind and waves were slightly more turbulent.

"See that patch where the water is darker? The wind is stronger there. We can adjust our course slightly to catch the full force of that gust. It’ll save us a lot of time."

Roland returned to the wheel. His [Concentration] Trait made his Perception of his surroundings exceptionally sharp.

Furthermore, the Extra Benefit [Observing the Sea], provided by his [Fisherman] and [Student] Professions, allowed him to seemingly "hear" the subtle differences in the wind from different directions and "see" the changes in wind strength reflected in the sea’s ripples.

Following Hobbit’s instructions, he cautiously turned the wheel a few degrees to the right, letting the bow cut slightly into the windy patch.

The Sea Sparrow felt as if it had been given a sudden push by an invisible hand. The hull tilted slightly, and its speed increased abruptly.

Roland felt the deck tilt beneath his feet and the increased resistance from the wheel. He struggled to maintain his balance and the new course, a thrill of mastering the wind and waves surging through him.

Hobbit watched closely the entire time, issuing short commands intermittently.

"Steady the wheel... good! Watch the mizzen sail, don’t let it steal the mainsail’s wind... yes, ease the mizzen sheet a little..."

For the rest of the day, Roland repeatedly practiced these seemingly basic yet crucial sailing skills under Hobbit’s guidance.

Correcting the course using the compass and shore markers, adjusting the sails’ angles in different winds to achieve optimal power, feeling the ship’s response to various sea conditions and making predictions, learning to use a simple sounding lead to judge the water’s depth...

Hobbit’s guidance was precise and practical. There were no long-winded theories, only timely reminders and personal demonstrations, transforming profound sailing knowledge into a series of concrete actions and sensory training exercises.

Sweat gradually soaked Roland’s linen shirt, and the prolonged, intense concentration brought a trace of fatigue, yet his eyes grew brighter and brighter.

Every successful maneuver, every time he felt the ship respond to his command, deepened his understanding of the vast ocean and solidified his grasp on the identity of a "captain."

The golden glow of the setting sun spread across the sparkling sea, outlining the Sea Sparrow and the tirelessly practicing figure on its deck in a warm silhouette.

Roland didn’t limit himself to the four Sea Survival Skills required for the [Pirate] Profession. Instead, he put all the knowledge Hobbit had taught him into practice, striving to master it completely.

After all, he now had the Sea Sparrow, the profoundly knowledgeable Hobbit, and a crew of highly experienced sailors.

With such a deluxe setup, settling for just four Sea Survival Skills would undoubtedly be a tremendous waste.

Through such diligent and unceasing study, Roland had, before he knew it, been living at sea for half a month.

His once-fair skin, baptized by the sun, had taken on a faint, bronze sheen.

When he saw the new lines of text in the Skill section of his Professional Panel, an indescribable satisfaction welled up inside him.

’[Sail Control], [Steering], [Nautical Chart Recognition], [Nautical Chart Drawing], [Swimming], [Diving], [Ship Maintenance], [Marine Plant and Animal Identification]... I’ve converted all the knowledge Hobbit taught me into Skills. To become a [Pirate], the only requirement left is ’Plundering five large ships’.’

Looking at the almost ten Sea Survival Skills on the panel, Roland nodded with satisfaction.

’It’s time to head back. For one, I need to gather intelligence on nearby Pirates. For another...’

His gaze fell on [Basic Magic Theory], which was now displayed as "Full Level," and he clenched his fist tightly.

During his time at sea, besides drilling his sailing skills, he had never slacked off in his study of [Basic Magic Theory].

If it weren’t for the lack of proper tools on board, which meant he was still a few practice runs short of completing the requirement for "Engraving Spell Patterns," he might have successfully unlocked the [Enchanter] Profession several days ago.

’I wonder what kind of Traits the [Enchanter] Profession will grant me? And what sort of Extra Benefit will be produced when it resonates with [Apprentice Knight]?’

At this thought, Roland no longer hesitated. He strode out of the cabin, waved to Hobbit and the crew on deck, and gave the order in a clear voice.

"All hands, listen up! Set a course for the Royal Capital! We’re heading back!"

"Aye, aye, Captain!"