HoG - Chapter 46

Chapter 46: Phantom Blade

The pressing need to tend to Bruch's wounds served as the catalyst for Byron to embark on the ritual to refine the 'Transformation Blood.' The influence of the first term, 'Historical Revisionist,' rendered him unable to evade the impending maelstrom that was set to reshape the entire North Sea landscape. Yet, he was not only shielded by the first-tier artifact, the 'Storm Signet Ring,' but also held the ace of the 'Sacred Relic' for survival, contingent upon the level of interpretation. Byron resolved to seize the initiative, let go of his hesitations, and make a bold move.

His ambition was not merely to clip the claws of the York family but also to thwart the Navy's designs on Iron Anchor Bay, ensuring they felt a genuine sting! It would be ideal if he could also unravel the 'Secret: Shadow of the Red and White Rose War.' At the very least, he would offer himself once more, aligning with their faction, and become their devoted "confidant"!

Before setting his plan into motion, Byron required the assistance of a well-informed local to unearth the privateer captains loyal to the Kingdom. Fortunately, he had a perfect candidate in mind.

"Eight Fingers, fetch Guss for me. I need to have a word with him," Byron commanded.

The loyal Eight Fingers, who had been standing guard nearby, looked puzzled at the mention of the name. "Guss? Captain, who might Guss be? Didn't we set out alone today? There doesn't seem to be anyone named Guss among the slaves we brought back, is there?"

It was evident that he had completely forgotten about Guss in an instant.

Guss, ever driven by his love for money, hadn't strayed far. Just as he was about to leave, the crew of the 'Golden Hind' was enjoying their meal, and since he had been famished all morning, he joined them at the dining table. When Byron found him, he was savoring the 'Golden Hind's' signature dish—flatbread with black pepper mutton soup—a meal reserved for the crew, not the captain.

With one hand clutching the flatbread and the other wielding the soup spoon, he ate with gusto. As expected, no one else had noticed the extra person among them, save for Byron himself.

"Ah, Captain, you're here!"

Guss hastily gulped down the mutton soup, patting his belly in contentment. He glanced up and saw Byron seated quietly beside him, regarding him with eyes brimming with... a look that suggested he was a "rare commodity to hold onto." He quickly set down the soup bowl and greeted Byron with a hint of awkwardness.

"That... your cooking is just too delicious, I couldn't resist, truly couldn't resist. But I never partake in a friend's food without compensation."

He gestured towards the long fir table in the inn, where Eight Fingers' two copper pence, still warm, lay.

Despite not being discovered by anyone and not planning to dine and dash, perhaps the words he had once spoken, "Actually, I don't like money; what I truly cherish is freedom and dignity. It's just that money happens to bring freedom and dignity," were indeed his heartfelt sentiments.

Byron believed that if he had possessed such an ability since childhood, he might not have had the self-control that Guss exhibited, eating only at the slave guild. If someone else had this ability, they might frequent shops, banks, or even... women's bathhouses.

Who wouldn't want to befriend someone with such principles? Even the unsavory might prefer the company of such an individual.

Byron collected his two copper coins and extended a hand to Guss with a smile, speaking with frankness and sincerity, "Mr. Guss, would you be interested in joining the 'Golden Hind' and working for me?"

Mishaal was not adept at reading people, but Byron's discernment was unparalleled. The 'Navigation Log' clearly stated, "Born with the awakened 'Assassin' profession's 'Screen Presence,' but tragically lost his only 'anchor' during his formative years! Not only is he unable to become a supernatural individual, but he might also vanish from this world one day unless he finds someone who can always remember him, at which point everything might return to normal."

Finding such an individual and securing a sufficiently stable anchor is no simple feat. Otherwise, Guss wouldn't have suffered 887 consecutive failures. Byron, too, would have been incapable of achieving this, were it not for the mystical properties of the 'Navigation Log,' which was intertwined with his spiritual essence.

In Byron's own words, Guss's body was akin to a function that automatically purged "cache." The moment someone averted their gaze, the information he imprinted upon their consciousness would be erased. As time marched on, even those who had known him since childhood, with anchor chains far more robust than those of strangers, began to forget him. When the world ceased to remember Guss, he might vanish entirely from existence.

However, Byron could access external historical records at any time through the 'Echoes of History,' as if recalling them from memory. It was the distinction between an internal and an external hard drive.

"Captain, I am willing to serve you!"

Confronted with Byron's offer of employment, Guss accepted without hesitation and promptly rose to shake Byron's hand with determination. He had yearned for someone who would not forget him. He had initially planned to take his time, using his unique talent to endear himself to Byron, but the surprise came swiftly.

Once he completed the anchoring process with Byron through the 'Pirate Ten Commandments,' he could prepare for the promotion ritual and attempt to actively control his ability. He would no longer have to fear being forgotten by acquaintances.

"Excellent, I can finally assume my role and become a true 'Assassin.'"

The 'Gladiator' sequence's 'Assassin.' The most emblematic of this sequence are the 'Gladiators,' one of the oldest professions still in existence today. They are divided into three branches—Murmillo Gladiator, Thracian Gladiator, and Retiarius—based on their fighting styles and weaponry.

It is said that the first assassins emerged from the gladiatorial arenas of the First Empire era. The Thracian Gladiators, adept with short swords and daggers, banded together to suddenly strike down the dignitaries who came to amuse themselves. They became the forebears of all modern assassins. Sequence maxim: Live towards death!

Guss, with his potent 'Screen Presence' talent, was destined to be either a great thief or the king of assassins, a perfect fit for this sequence. However, upon recognizing his rare talent, Byron guided him toward a different path.

Centuries ago, in the heart of the continent, the Eagle's Nest Assassin Group forged a formidable new profession: 'Eagle's Nest Assassin.' With their fearsome assassination skills, they nearly dominated an era, and their assassination campaigns sent tremors through the continent's nobility. Swordsmanship, disguise, assassination, theft, traps, explosives... they excelled in all.

One of their most emblematic abilities was the 'Eagle's Leap,' allowing them to jump from any height without perishing, as long as they landed on a cushioning material! After being eradicated by the church-organized knight orders during their Western Expedition, the Eagle's Nest Assassin Group's preliminary knowledge, training manuals, and promotion ceremonies were confiscated. They fell into the hands of the continent's elite and underwent adaptive modifications over the centuries.

One of the legacies the Lancaster family held was the 'Phantom Blade.' It granted the ability to control presence at will. At lower sequences, they could manipulate illusions; at mid-sequences, they could imbue illusions with presence, transforming a small dagger into a sword the size of a door, killing with the power of imagination. They were not merely assassins but also ideal scouts and intelligence officers.

Byron, now impoverished, possessed only the wealth of supernatural knowledge in his mind. He would never miss an opportunity to convert it into power or wealth. He was about to paint a bright future for Guss as an "assassin king" and motivate him to work diligently for him when—

"Right!"

Guss suddenly looked up at Byron, rubbing his hands together with a sycophantic smile, "Captain, now that I'm part of the team, could you perhaps return the... two copper coins for my meal?"