Chapter 179: Everyone Aboard the Airship Is a Villain!

Sheng Lande Airport.

Ta Ke, who had come here for the first time.

With great interest, he eyed those steam-powered airships, big and small.

The large airships, like aircraft carriers, had towering, astonishing builds.

The small airships, like ordinary RVs, had graceful outlines.

Source-energy steam-powered airships!

As a product of the transcendent steam era.

By constructing numerous 【Flight】 characteristics, using source-energy steam engines as the power source and wind-system magic arrays as propulsion, the airships can soar the skies for extended periods.

This made Ta Ke unable to stop wondering when his own magical cottage would grow to such a size, and then he could pilot that magical flying cottage to roam the skies.

No one could refuse a warm cottage that could drift with the wind.

At the boarding gate corridor where people flowed through the airport.

Ta Ke followed the flow of people, examining each of the several airships of the Tianfan Merchant Association not far away.

During the inspection, strange light surged in the depths of Ta Ke's eyes.

Deep within the Tianfan Merchant Association's airship, many overlapping seals were seen.

And among them, often were those terrifying 【Taboo Sealed Objects】.

Not long after, Ta Ke took a deep breath.

His fingers, beneath the gray-white mage robe, lightly rubbed.

"Sealed objects, they look quite formidable."

"This time the water is a bit deep!"

"At the same time..."

Ta Ke rubbed his brow.

"Inside, there is indeed holy light power, although due to the many seals, barriers, and prison hindrances inside, it's not very clear."

"But it can be affirmed that it is extremely holy and pure light attribute."

In his thoughts, Ta Ke silently entered the restroom beside him.

Inside an empty stall.

Ta Ke made a pass through and left the airship port.

……

In a corner outside the airship port.

Deep in an uninhabited alley, a Soul Curtain Shade hid in the shadows of the corner.

Suddenly.

The Soul Curtain Shade came to life.

Ta Ke, wearing a gray-white mage robe and a hood, stepped out from the shadowy corner in leather boots.

A thick layer of shadow, like a mask, enveloped Ta Ke's cheeks.

He glanced at the airport not far away.

Ta Ke plunged into the bustling streets where people came and went.

Ta Ke, moving forward, quickly began to think.

Previously, in the underground black market.

That mysterious person, using light materials as bait, lured Ta Ke onto their black car.

If Ta Ke were an ordinary steam-sequence transcendent.

Participating in this operation would surely make him the scapegoat, the cannon fodder.

Or rather, a unit to share the blame for the subsequent investigation into the Tianfan Merchant Association's grudge.

Unfortunately!

Ta Ke is not an ordinary transcendent.

Since the other party has light materials in hand.

Ta Ke also doesn't mind signing a contract to obtain concrete information on this matter.

If the information is not very reliable.

Ta Ke can choose not to participate in this operation and won't lose anything.

After receiving the news, Ta Ke's first step is to investigate.

If the materials transported by the Tianfan Merchant Association that day are merely ordinary materials.

Then Ta Ke would not take the risk.

Yet the results of Ta Ke's investigation were even more astonishing than imagined.

Not only does it possess an extremely high-intensity holy light attribute.

Moreover, it also possesses mysterious 【Taboo Sealed Objects】.

This truly exceeded Ta Ke's expectations.

"Although the airship's exterior outline appears small, its interior personnel are quite numerous."

"There are two fifth-rank powerhouses guarding, plus over a dozen fourth-rank transcendent beings."

"Additionally, there are over a dozen staff members accompanying."

"Bishop-level powerhouses are generally not dispatched arbitrarily."

"Two fifth-rank powerhouses guarding already amount to about half the strength of the Dark Sun Church Sanctuary."

"This also suffices to show the importance of transporting resources and materials this time."

Ta Ke's second plan was that if it were too dangerous, for example, if bishop-level power were involved.

Ta Ke also probably would not participate.

But for now, it seems.

Even if there were bishop-level power, it would be on our side.

But Ta Ke estimated that there probably wasn't any bishop-level power.

From the fact that the man recruited steam-sequence adepts to share firepower, it could be seen.

They were still wary of being investigated, of being hunted.

Ta Ke's recruited 'temporary workers'—a large part of them were used to bear the interference and distraction of the Tianfan Commerce Association's subsequent divination, retrospection, inspection, and other means.

From this, Ta Ke could roughly judge that this group's strength was not too strong.

After pondering, Ta Ke roughly came to a conclusion.

"Basically, I can participate; for me, the danger level isn't too high."

"That intense light property possesses an extremely strong holy aura; for my impending third-stage awakened angel-sequence ability, it helps tremendously."

"Furthermore, if such top-tier material makes my holy light foundation strong enough, the speed of my comprehension of the light rune profundity will also increase greatly."

While thinking, Ta Ke walked toward the outside of Sheng Lande city-state.

The outlying town.

That was the gathering place for this time's numerous participants in the 【Bandit】 operation.

…………

About two hours later.

A remote border town farther from Sheng Lande.

An somewhat old steam airship slowly rose.

"Woo woo woo…"

Accompanied by a low, hoarse steam rumble.

The old steam airship flew toward the route from Sheng Lande to the East Coast Unfrozen Port Steam Sea City Province.

The old airship was not fast; indeed it was rather slow.

Inside the airship, by the window, Ta Ke quietly felt the source-energy steam engine of this steam airship.

This old fellow, up in years, could at any moment run out of steam and drop anchor.

Although being over a thousand meters high wouldn't kill everyone if they fell.

But those extraordinary beings lacking flight or gliding ability would still be pretty screwed if the airship fell.

And the levels and numbers of the extraordinary beings inside the airship were roughly what Ta Ke had expected.

There was no sixth-rank bishop-level power.

Leading them were two fifth-rank extraordinary beings.

Plus seven or eight fourth-rank extraordinary beings.

Additionally, over a dozen third-rank extraordinary beings.

Their combined combat strength was not weaker than that of the Tianfan Merchant Association's escorts.

Even, Ta Ke felt, the number of extraordinary beings on his side might even be somewhat greater than that of the Tianfan Merchant Association.

Because!

Inside this old steam airship, everyone was a villain.

Yes!

At this moment, the fellows who had boarded this pirate ship.

Almost all of them radiated murderous aura, their blood energy surging.

It couldn't be said to be extremely similar to a bandit's lair; it could only be said to be identical to a bandit's lair.

When Ta Ke looked at his own frail frame, plain mage robe, and unremarkable mage aura.

He couldn't help but sigh to himself: "I often feel out of place among you because I'm not twisted enough."

The slender, fourth-rank assassin sitting kitty-corner from Ta Ke had a faint icy sheen on his cheeks, skin, and even the angles of his fingers, with sharp nails like blades.

The swirling blood energy could not be produced without feeding on hundreds of living lives to yield such a chilling, bloody killing intent.

Across the aisle from Ta Ke, a blood-red battle axe lay on the table, its blood energy surging.

The Bloodaxe of the Sai Li Ang Si Duchy, a B-rank wanted criminal, 'Kang Na Li'.

This guy specialized in targeting nobles and wealthy merchants; at least twenty or thirty rich merchants have died under his axe.

And opposite Ta Ke.

The man who had recruited Ta Ke into the gang, wearing a demon mask, also revealed his appearance.

As for whether he was the real Ta Ke, that remained unclear.

Ta Ke felt this guy resembled a notorious B-rank wanted criminal from a famous sky pirate band.

But it wasn't easy to just ask outright.

One couldn't just say, 'Excuse me, are you the wanted criminal with a bounty of how many demon gold?'

That would be too impolite.

The way to show respect to these wanted criminals is to first chop off their heads, then verify them.

Just then.

"Boom… rumble… rumble…"

The source-energy steam engine suddenly emitted a violent low moan; the airship shook violently, dropped considerably in altitude, and only then stabilized.

Many extraordinary beings inside the airship cabin, although they breathed a sigh of relief.

But their faces didn't look very good.

They came today to rob.

If the airship they're on drops anchor, it will definitely become the industry's top joke.

Just then.

From the forward cabin ahead, a fourth-tier female superhuman wearing a black-and-white checkered corseted long dress that accentuated her figure stormed into the middle cabin, furious.

"Blood Chad, look at the fine airship you found."

"Almost made us a joke."

The fourth-tier female superhuman practitioner, half her body almost pressing onto the calm-faced man opposite Tak.

"If this robbery is delayed, can you bear the responsibility?"

"Blood Chad?"

Upon hearing that name,

Tak finally had no more doubts.

And this name perfectly confirmed Tak's speculation.

Why are there so many wanted criminals on this airship?

Why is almost everyone on this airship evil?

Because!

This damn airship is the sky pirates' vessel.

This time, I've truly boarded a thief's ship.