Chapter 658: Fleet

In the forsaken land, Silver City, a deep bolt of lightning streaked across the high sky, illuminating the whole of Silver City, but it did not last long; it soon faded away, returning the world to darkness.

Daerik opened his eyes and instinctively scanned the room, then rolled out of bed and headed straight for the door.

He walked on, then suddenly slowed his pace. Mr. "White Tower" surely needs many materials and properties; hunting in the dark is already dangerous, and it would also waste a lot of time, slowing the exploration of the Giant King's Court. He wondered whether the chief would agree.

After pondering for a long while, he could not reach any useful conclusion, shook his head, shouldered his newly swapped weapon, opened the door, and headed toward the central round tower of the city.

Along the way, he saw many Silver City residents with brighter smiles and sturdier bodies; the normal food obtained through the Tarot market greatly improved the citizens' living standards. Although the traded grain could not fully replace the city's black grass, it at least guaranteed a normal meal each day.

Mr. "White Tower" seemed to be embroiled in war, and it was unclear whether he still had time to help us gather food. With this worry, Daerik quickly reached the base of the round tower, and via a messenger, arrived at the room at the tower's top belonging to Chief Ke Lin Yiliate of the Six-person Council.

This "Demon Hunter" sat as usual behind a dim desk, his graying hair rather disheveled, unkempt; deep nasolabial folds marked his face, and numerous old scars—some deep, some twisted—still lingered. His pale blue eyes were deep and world‑worn, as if they could read a person's heart.

After Daerik bowed, he nodded and asked, "How is your grasp of the Priest of Light's demon elixir?"

"Just a bit short," Daerik replied calmly. He had only recently been promoted and could not yet properly contain his spirit nor skillfully wield the corresponding extraordinary abilities.

"Hmm, no need to rush; many members of this expedition team are still unprepared,"

He gave a brief remark, and Ke Lin Yiliate brushed aside the topic, turning to ask, "According to the schedule, you should have already attended a gathering today. What special deal was there that made you come here immediately?"

Daerik nodded, then recounted the deal he and Rekton had proposed.

After listening to Daerik's account, Ke Lin Yiliate nodded heavily, rose from his seat, walked to the window, and spoke as if both questioning Daerik and answering himself:

"'Silver Knight' and 'Honored One' are conditions Silver City cannot refuse; with the demon elixir formula, Silver City could obtain a Third‑tier Saint, even the legendary Angel."

"How do you think we should verify the authenticity of the demon elixir formula? And how many monsters in the darkness must we hunt to gather materials?"

"War that only exists in general‑education textbooks is far more brutal than you imagine; based on your earlier descriptions, this may be a game among the gods."

"This," Daerik swallowed, his expression a bit downcast, said, "I don't know."

Ke Lin Yiliate, with a complex expression, looked toward the training grounds and streets outside the window, at the smiling Silver City residents, and said in an unusually calm voice:

"I don't know either; this matter requires convening the Six‑person Council. The Honored One's formula is of great significance to us!"

After pausing briefly, Ke Lin Yiliate turned back to Daerik and asked, "Do you have any other matters?"

"Nothing."

Daerik shook his head, then took his leave and exited the chief's chamber.

In the northern district of Bei Ke Lan De, within a luxurious manor near the outskirts, Ai Mu Lin sat on a single armchair in the reception room, idly twirling a gold coin stamped with a four‑leaf clover, his curious gaze scanning the furnishings.

This is the home of blood‑line baron Lu Si Ba Tuo Li, a lover of antiquities who collects many odd items; although most come from the Southern Continent, some belong to the Northern Continent, from the Fourth Era's Terunsost Empire.

Through a servant's messenger, Lu Si Ba Tuo Li soon arrived in the reception room. He appeared as a refined middle‑aged gentleman of average height, very upright, his jet‑black hair meticulously groomed, and his eyes a vivid blood‑red.

Ai Mu Lin, upon seeing Lu Si Ba Tuo Li, smiled, rose from the sofa, and politely bowed slightly, greeting, "Good afternoon, Baron Lu."

Lu Si Ba Tuo Li looked at Ai Mu Lin with some surprise, then returned the bow and said, "Good afternoon, Viscount White, what kind of collectibles do you wish to purchase from me?"

Lu Si Ba Tuo Li skipped further small talk and got straight to the point.

Ai Mu Lin was momentarily stunned, then let out a light laugh, flicked the coin from his hand and caught it again, and began in a calm tone:

"I thought you would, like Ounes and Kasimi, refuse me outright once you knew my purpose."

Lu Si Ba Tuo Li smiled and shook his head, saying, "I prefer to collect odd items from the Southern Continent; that's something all the blood‑line of Bei Ke Lan De know."

"But I'm still curious—why are you suddenly interested in items from the Terunsost Empire period?" "I've been studying blood‑line history, precisely the glorious era when the Blood Moon Queen reconvened the scattered blood‑lines worldwide," he replied, "I hope to learn more through Terunsost Empire artifacts."

Ai Mu Lin smiled and gave the pre‑planned excuse he had prepared.

Lu Si Ba Tuo Li gave a slight nod, neither showing belief nor doubt, paused, and continued:

"I must remind you, although during the Fourth Era's Terunsost Empire our blood‑line and humans were close, that doesn't mean you can casually find blood‑line records on any artifact."

"You have to try, don't you?" Ai Mu Lin replied with a light laugh.

Lu Si Ba Tuo Li nodded, turned, and led Ai Mu Lin toward his collection room.

In the Southern Continent, Oleson Port at the northernmost part of the Pas Valley, one of the main harbors built on a safe shipping lane.

Influenced by the raging sea, the area is perpetually shrouded in storms, with the sea surface churning.

On the darkened sea, a steam‑powered vessel whose hull glittered with metallic sheen broke through the violent swells, appearing in the eyes of the port's onlookers.

It was a ship entirely forged of Steel, two hundred meters from bow to stern, armed on both sides with multiple large‑caliber cannons; on deck stood a main gun engraved with numerous strange symbols, larger and more imposing than the purification cannon on the Golden Dream.

Each side of the bright‑yellow hull bore a triangular holy emblem filled with symbols of steam, gears and levers, and a badge of a flaming bow and sword; they represented the God of Steam and Machinery Church and the Indis military, respectively.

At Oleson Port's dock, Yi Sang and Fei Ni Ke Si Ai Ge Si stood side by side in black wizard robes; his gaze was solemn as he stared at the distant sea, his complexion slightly pallid.

In his eyes, a faint violet glow flowed, weaving one strange symbol after another.

His throat vibrated twice as he muttered a low incantation, scattering a handful of colored powder.

The powder fell in a cascade, spontaneously forming a vivid, colorful scroll that depicted the distant sea scene, only clearer and more detailed.

As the first vessel appeared, more ships followed one after another, breaking the waves and entering view like massive Steel monsters, exuding great pressure.

Fei Ni Ke Si Ai Ge Si looked at the colorful scroll, let out a long sigh, turned his head toward Yi Sang, and asked with hopeful tone:

"Is it true that no prince has come this way?"

Yi Sang gave a wry smile, shook his head, and said, "Ms. Ge Lan is stationed at the rear, President Ke Mi Er is in the Northern Province, but there is also one of the Ten Pillars who oversees the relics here."

"I think a single relic might not withstand those cannons; the Steam Church has no shortage of such consumable magical items and ammunition. With just bullets they could flood Oleson Port."

Fei Ni Ke Si Ai Ge Si watched the growing number of Steel giants on the distant sea, his complexion not looking good as he said.

Beside him, a pale‑blue "gate" materialized out of thin air, and Ai De Wen Na, wearing a cinched beige coat, dark knee‑length skirt, and dark brown leather boots, stepped through from the other side.

Behind her followed Ao Er Fu Si, the second mate of the Golden Dream, along with the boatswain Daniels, Daniz, and recently‑arrived Anderson who had been wandering the ship.

Anderson gazed at the increasingly clear Steel giants on the distant sea, let out an exaggerated shout, then looked at Fei Ni Ke Si Ai Ge Si and Yi Sang, waved his finger and said:

"Bullets alone are impossible, but if we add those extraordinary‑effect shells, with enough quantity even the Silver Knight's protective barrier could be shattered."

Daniz watched the monster‑like Steel giants on the magical scroll created by Yi Sang and couldn't help but exclaim, "Damn, thank goodness the Golden Dream hasn't come over; otherwise I might be out of a job."

"Corpses never lose a job. No, if you're on a ship, you wouldn't even leave a corpse behind," Anderson mocked Daniz.

"Damn," Daniz glared at Anderson. He had no goodwill toward the man who constantly lingered on the Golden Dream; the fellow spent more time in the captain's cabin in a day than Daniz did in a week.

"The real main force has arrived," Ai De Wen Na looked up at the sky above the dock, her eyes a pale blue, and said in a very calm tone.

(End of chapter)