The great ship cut through the waves, its immense presence palpable even from a distance.
It was a Kitty Hawk-class Conventional Aircraft Carrier.
However, unlike the aircraft carriers Shen Feng remembered, this approaching vessel had massive black sails. Filled with the sea wind, they appeared to be its primary source of propulsion.
The carrier itself was colossal, and its sails looked more like black clouds drifting across the sea, making them exceptionally conspicuous.
This was also why the aircraft carrier hadn't been spotted immediately.
At the same time, plumes of black smoke billowed from the carrier's hull, soaring into the sky. It was clearly fitted with some sort of high-powered Internal Combustion Engine, one that seemed to rival a Steam Engine in output.
"Where is this ship from? The Cordillera Islands?" Shen Feng asked.
According to the intelligence he'd gathered, humanity in the Water World Apocalypse still possessed some degree of fragmented technology. Piloting a surviving aircraft carrier wasn't entirely out of the question.
After all, it was being used like a Sail Warship.
In the entire former American Region, only the survivors on the Cordillera Islands were capable of something like this.
Witch Tower's brow furrowed. Looking at the massive ship, she quickly said:
"Commander, the Cordillera Islands are too far away. I haven't been there in many years, so I'm not clear on many things. However, according to some rumors I've heard, something happened there. They're becoming self-isolated. This is the first time I've ever seen this ship."
At that moment, Chris, Hezi, and the other two Minstrels approached Shen Feng. Chris gave him a firm chest-thumping salute and said:
"Commander, there's something strange about this ship. The Salvation Army never uses black sails. On the contrary, it's the Ghost Pirate Ships that are known for them. Please be careful…"
Hezi chimed in from the side:
"I'm usually in charge of managing the merchant travelers from the Cordillera Islands, and I've never heard them mention any massive ship with black sails. If a ship like this truly existed, we would know about it."
This ship was simply enormous!
It was even larger than the black Ironclad Ship the Savior had brought. A single glance told you it was an aircraft carrier, a legendary weapon of war from ancient times.
It was said that before the appearance of the Super Giant War Armors, aircraft carriers were the largest man-made weapons in the world.
At this moment, the group of Minstrels looked at Shen Feng with gazes filled with reverence and concern. Everything that had just happened was now in the past; as Minstrels, their primary focus was the Commander's safety.
Shen Feng nodded slightly and said no more, his eyes fixed on the massive ship.
Without its original engines, its power was insufficient. The aircraft carrier's speed was slow; it took nearly half an hour to reach the Glory Market from the time it was spotted.
While they waited, Witch Tower had already directed people to clean up the bodies and bloodstains in the Glory Market. All of them, including Ivanka's corpse, were taken to be used as compost. The damaged tents and houses were also quickly restored. At a glance, one could hardly see any trace of the brutal battle that had taken place.
The people who had already entered the Super Giant War Armor, Steel Glory, stared at the Black Sail Aircraft Carrier with curiosity.
Initially, seeing the sudden appearance of the Black Sail Aircraft Carrier had made many people nervous. But when they saw the steadfast figure of the Savior, their anxiety vanished completely, replaced by anticipation.
As it drew closer, everyone was once again struck by the immense size of the black sails. If not for Steel Glory standing beside it for comparison, the Black Sail Aircraft Carrier would have looked like a small island.
Up close, however, the black sails were not as neat as they appeared from a distance. They were patched together from a large amount of black, dried straw ropes, thick plastic sheets, and iron wire. The surface seemed to have been painted black with cuttlefish ink, and it emitted a fishy stench that could be smelled from far away.
There were no fighter jets on the aircraft carrier's deck. Instead, there was a cluster of sheet-metal shacks welded to its surface.
Figures stood there holding Javelins and bows and arrows. Not only that, but there were also several heavy machine guns and some automatic rifles.
These armed men all had stern expressions, their eyes filled with arrogance and disdain. They stared at Shen Feng, Witch Tower, and the others, the dark muzzles of their guns pointed right at them.
Upon seeing the Sail Warship, they showed a flicker of surprise, but only for a moment. It was quickly replaced by their disdainful gazes.
The leader was a bald black man in a suit. He stood on the high ship's rail with his hands behind his back, looking down on Shen Feng and the others on the deck of the Sail Warship as he spoke:
"I am Earl Berni, Vice President of the Western Minstrel Council. Where is Ivanka Brandt of the Glory Market? Tell her to come out and see me."
Shen Feng's eyebrow raised, but he said nothing. Beside him, Witch Tower was already whispering in his ear, quickly explaining the situation.
The oceans were vast and immense, making crossing the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans far more difficult than before. As a result, human civilization was once again divided by the sea into eastern and western halves. The Minstrels, who carried on the traditions of the Salvation Army, had likewise formed two councils: one for the east and one for the west.
Although the surviving humans on every Floating Island Market and island had a degree of autonomy, the Minstrel Councils were the ones who nominally controlled the Human World.
The headquarters of the Western Minstrel Council was located on the Cordillera Islands.
This Earl Berni fellow claimed to be from the Western Minstrel Council, which obviously meant he was from the Cordillera Islands.
Seeing that the Savior said nothing, Chris tactfully addressed Earl Berni:
"Ivanka has been sentenced to death for disrespecting the Savior!"
She didn't directly reveal Shen Feng's identity as the Savior, since it seemed the Savior himself didn't wish it.
Hearing that Ivanka was dead, Earl Berni frowned slightly, then began to survey the current state of the Glory Market.
When he saw lights still shining from the two arms of Steel Glory that protruded from the sea, as if people were living inside, a look of surprise crossed his face. He said:
"I didn't expect the Glory Market to still be able to utilize the Holy Corpse's arms. That's a bit different from the rumors... Who's in charge here now? According to the council's records, there should be a few Minstrels here."
Shen Feng looked at Witch Tower and gave a slight nod.
Witch Tower immediately stepped forward and said:
"I am the Minstrel Witch Tower. The Glory Market is now jointly managed by myself and four other Minstrels. May I ask what business the envoy from the Western Council has with us?"
The other party was being very impolite, so she didn't bother being polite in return.
'Besides, with the Savior right here beside her, some Western Minstrel Council was utterly insignificant.'
Earl Berni snorted coldly, apparently displeased with Witch Tower's attitude. He said slowly:
"I have come on the Black Ship to inform you of two things. First, from this day forward, the Glory Market is under the complete jurisdiction of the Western Council. Everyone under the age of fifteen is to be relocated to live on the Cordillera Islands."
"Second… the Savior is dead."