Kaika laid out the books, each with its own back up.

"You sure you can buy all of them? You can borrow them instead." Galland offered, eyeing the stack of books Kaika had gathered.

"I'll be better off buying them." Kaika opted not to buy them.

Galland shrugged. "It's on you." Galland carefully checked the backs of the books for their prices.

"Thirty chesh." Chesh seems to be the currency.

"Got it here." Kaika pulled out two banknotes. One is twenty chesh, and the other is ten chesh. He handed them over, leaving himself with only ten chesh.

Now, I am only left with ten.

Kaika piled them up.

"Now..." Kaika walked away, as Galland continued doing his thing.

The wooden gates of the library were already open, so Kaika walked out smoothly.

These books would be invaluable for his upcoming journey to Toree, and he couldn't wait to dive into their knowledge.

...

"Please!" Disedinel pleaded, his voice filled with desperation, as he bowed down before the woman seated in the room.

The place exuded a sense of tranquility with its beige theme, adorned with pictures on the wall and a shelf stacked with books.

"I don't have time for you. You did a good job, but we cannot provide you with a spare ship. Go away." The woman's response was firm and dismissive, sweeping away Disedinel's hopes of securing a ship from her.

"Alright. I apologize for the intrusion." Defeated, but not discouraged, Disedinel rose from his bow and left the room, accepting the reality of the situation.

I guess begging for a ship wouldn't work.

As he stepped outside, he let out a contemplative hum.

"Hmm."

Disedinel considered what to do.

Perhaps I could accept a request that provides me with a ship.

Disedinel smiled as his eyes lit up. Accepting a mission that provides him with a ship to complete it could be his ticket to acquiring a usable ship for the journey to Toree.

"Man, I'd go to sleep, but with this idea, I don't think I can." He muttered, still smiling.

Disedinel set out to ask around the headquarters.

He visited different departments, inquired with officers, and checked notice boards, searching for the right opportunity.

...

Man, nothing. I suppose I should go sleep and try again tomorrow.

...

Right, I should've thought of that!

Kaika absorbed the book's knowledge, letting his ideas for the trip to Toree expand and take shape.

... The next day...

Man, there sure are a lot of requests, but nothing aligns with what I need.

Disedinel, still determined, concluded his thorough check on the requests.

"Yo, Disedinel, here again? What are you looking for?" A fellow officer greeted him.

Disedinel turned his gaze to his colleague.

"I am looking for something that will at least temporarily get me a ship."

The officer's expression turned surprised. "What for?"

Disedinel smiled. "I am going to Toree, but I don't have a ship. So, I am looking for a mission that will let me have a ship."

Disedinel looked up, raising an eyebrow.

Hold on!

"Wait, that makes it sound like I am trying to simply get the ship and then run away, hahaha."

Disedinel chuckled awkwardly.

His fellow officer laughed along, understanding his lightheartedness.

"Hey, don't worry, Disedinel. We all know you're better than that." The officer patted him on the back.

Disedinel, grateful for the support, chuckled.

"Well, keep looking. The way to Toree is tough. If I see something that fits, I'll tell you about it."

His colleague encouraged him, also offering help.

Disedinel and the officer said their goodbyes. The officer went on to enter the door right next to them, and Disedinel walked through the corridor.

Perhaps I should check on Kaika.

And Disedinel knocked on Kaika's door.

He received the signal and opened the door.

"Yo, Kaika... Reading again in the dark?" Disedinel chuckled, looking at Kaika.

There he is, reading his books on the bed in his dark room.

"Yup. How is it going, Disedinel?"

Disedinel pondered. "Well... I asked my sister for her ship, but she doesn't want to."

Then he picked up one of the books.

"So this is what you're reading? Anyway, I also asked the higher-ups to get us a ship, but that's a no, too." Disedinel sighed.

Kaika closed the book he was reading. "Do you have anything else in mind?"

Disedinel replied with a serious tone. "I do. I am trying to find a request that lets us use a ship."

Kaika turned around. He nodded, understanding the plan. "So we take a quest that requires us to travel, thus, we have a way to get to Toree."

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

Disedinel nodded, glad that Kaika understood what he meant.

"Yeah, exactly!" Disedinel looked down. "I checked them today and yesterday, but none will take us anywhere near there."

Kaika stood up. "Alright. Once you find something, tell me. Then, we can go there and clear things up."

Disedinel handed the book he took from Kaika. "Anyway, I see you've been doing your job, too."

Kaika took the book. "Yeah. Disedinel, mind if you ask your sister to come with us?"

Disedinel's expression turned serious in an instant. "Kaika, my sister would kill me if I talk about that near her again."

Kaika giggled. "Alright, alright. Shall I ask her, then?"

Disedinel turned around and crossed his arms.

"Right. Do whatever you want, but that is a no from me. I believe there is no longer room to talk."

And he left the room.

Kaika stayed silent.

"Whatever." He lied down on the bed and picked up his book.

...

Five days left.

...

"Here again, eh?" The officer from yesterday greeted Disedinel.

Disedinel turned around. "Oh, hey. Yeah."

"Seems like you really need a way to get to Toree. Perhaps I could lend you my ship." He laughed.

Disedinel laughed along. "You'd get fired. Besides, if I don't manage to find anything until then..."

Disedinel paused for a moment, his expression determined. "... I'll use my ace."

"Ooh, I see. Well, keep going if you got nothing to do." As always, the officer supported Disedinel.

Now, back to the training.

...

"Sir Galland! Good morning." Disedinel waved to Sir Galland in the corridor.

Sir Galland looked in Disedinel's direction. "Oh, Disedinel. Came just in time, huh?"

Disedinel nodded, smiling.

Sir Galland unlocked the doors, and they both came inside.

"So, what are you up to these days?"

Disedinel sighed. "Nothing much. But in several days, I'll go to Toree with Kaika."

Disedinel handed five chesh. "Will that do?"

Sir Galland nodded. "Will do if you're paying for five days."

"Well, yeah." Disedinel walked over to one of the machines and began using it.

...

Four days left.

...

As the alarm went off the next day, Disedinel delved straight into looking for a quest.

...

After finding nothing, he headed to the machines.

Sir Galland stopped Disedinel. "Disedinel, mind if we check up on your cel count?"

Disedinel stopped the machine. "Yeah."

They both walked over to the cel counters.

"Huh, forty thousand in short. Hey, your cel suddenly skyrocketed, what is up with that?" Sir Galland folded his hands.

Disedinel stepped off. "I don't know."

"Hm, alright. Be happy while you can, these machines don't work well after fifty thousand."

...

...

Three days left.

...

Disedinel woke up at 5:10, before his alarm.

...

Man, I can't sleep.

I should clear things up with Kaika.

Disedinel took his white shirt and black trousers, and went to Kaika's apartment.

...

As Disedinel walked in the corridor, he noticed Kaika right outside his apartment.

He stared at the wall.

"Hey, Kaika!" Disedinel increased his speed.

"Hey, Disedinel." Kaika still stared.

"Let's go inside." Disedinel's tone is happy yet serious.

Both sat down on the couch.

"Anything you have to report, Disedinel?" Kaika appears to be lost in thought.

"You should be able to notice yourself. I've become stronger!" Disedinel gave a wide smile.

Kaika's expression didn't change. "Seems so. Does it really matter if we have no ship?"

Disedinel didn't bother pondering. "You aren't wrong. Nothing, yet. What about you? Do you have to say anything?"

Kaika finally looked at Disedinel. "I guess. First, we can't use fast mode near Fedor's territory. If we do, we'll be immediately spotted, and we'll have to take desperate measures."

And Kaika proved that he studied well.

"... That is logical. Wait, so fast mode emits strong compulsion. So, if we even have compulsion coating, we'll still emit compulsion, wouldn't we?" Disedinel's eyes widened, his tone slowly became more and more serious.

Kaika clicked his tongue. "You're right, unfortunately. Usually, it isn't something to worry about."

Disedinel sighed. "We'll need a navigator, then." Disedinel hit his head on the table.

"You've been on a streak of being right."

Somebody knocked on the door.

"Huh, seems like we have an interesting guest." Kaika went to the front door and opened it.

"Hello, Vaneila." Vaneila? She looks one-on-one with Disedinel's sister.

Disedinel looked surprised. "My sister?"

So her name is Vaneila.

"So this is where you were, Disedinel!" She went behind him.

Disedinel looked up to her. "Heeeeyy." Disedinel smiled at her.

"So you're still feeling like going there?" She sounds a bit annoyed.

"Also, Disedinel, I didn't tell her anything." Kaika folded his arms.

Disedinel took a deep breath. "Yes, sis. Are you trying to stop me?"

"No. I've come to say that if you're going to go to Toree, then I will come too." She looked at Disedinel, completely serious.

"Do you mean it?" Disedinel stood up and turned around.

"Yeah." She nodded firmly.

Disedinel looked at each other.

Both smiled.

A genuine smile spread across Disedinel's face. "Thank you, sis!"

Kaika also couldn't help but smile. "So we have your ship, and you'll come with us."

"So, what now?" Vaneila asked, still not knowing about the plan.

Disedinel turned to face his sister. "We will gather in the morning three days from now.

Kaika clapped twice. "Alright. We have a ship suitable for traveling, and us three."

"And in three days, we will go!" Disedinel happily raised his hands.

"You didn't give yourselves a lot of time. It will be tough for you, you know." Vaneila remarked.

"You're talking as if it will be nothing for you." Disedinel chuckled.

"I think we are done here. And since I still have three books to read, please leave." Kaika had taken his daily dose of Disedinel and Vaneila, it seems.

Disedinel looked at Kaika, smiling. "Yeah. Vaneila, let me go check your ship."

She nodded, and they left.

Vaneila and Disedinel went to make sure the ship would work.

...

Two days left.

...

Now that they have a ship, Disedinel didn't check the requests.

Another day, immersed in training...

As he lied on his bed, Kaika finished another book.

"I should read another one. Then, I'll read one more tomorrow and consider everything carefully."

And he did just that.

...

One day left.

...

Disedinel once again woke up to his alarm.

Tomorrow is the day of the departure.

Disedinel thought about what he should do, as he wanted to take a rest today.

I guess I'll prepare some things.

Disedinel prepared his clothes.

He looked at his on-duty uniform.

He sighed.

"I guess you might not be used anymore."

He put it together with the other clothes anyway.

As for food, sister said she's got it. So I guess I'll eat what I have here instead of bringing it to the ship.

He opened the fridge.

"Hm. I guess I'll eat the raisins." He took the plastic bag of raisins.

Tasty.

...

Ugh, I really read the three books left cause I couldn't sleep.

...

And Vaneila was in her room, still asleep.

...

Disedinel, now in the ship hangar in front of their ship, pulled out a watch.

Vaneila's ship was completely different.

With it, an opening appeared in the ship along stairs, allowing you to enter the ship. The ship had long legs holding it up.

Disedinel went inside. The ship was mostly the same. Difference is, in the bedroom, there are more beds. The kitchen was smaller, and in return, there was another extra room used for storage.

He left his luggage in the storage room.

He heard somebody come inside.

Disedinel smiled.

"Hey, Kaika! Leaving your stuff too?"

Kaika stuffed his luggage in the storage room, too.

"Yeah."

Disedinel gave Kaika a wide smile, offering a handshake.

And Kaika smiled, shaking hands with Disedinel.

"Let's do it!"

"Of course."

To be continued!