HoG - Chapter 29

Chapter 29: New Design

On high alert, Byron was about to dodge and retreat. However, the figure opposite him, childlike in stature but incredibly agile, had already lunged at him like lightning. Although Finger Monkey was surprised by the target's quick reaction, launching a surprise attack was his specialty.

As Byron instinctively drew his sword, Finger Monkey suddenly and slyly threw a packet of lime powder. Everything was for the sake of completing the mission; assassins fought with no holds barred.

Whoosh!

Seizing the opportunity, the 'Elbow Swordsmanship' thrust step closed in instantly. A shiny dagger sprang from his palm, slashing fiercely at Byron's chest!

However, this time, unlike when Byron used chili powder to ambush the naval lieutenant with the help of a strong seven-level wind, Byron had enough time to react and promptly closed his eyes. In this critical moment, the 'Spiritual Radiance' suddenly exploded, transforming into a third eye with a broader field of vision than the naked eye.

Following the direction of his sixth sense, he executed a hurricane-like spinning slash with the 'Rooftop Sword Style.'

It was a mutually destructive attack!

All swordsmanship concepts follow four basic principles: judgment, distance, time, and position. In the "time" principle of hand, torso, foot, and footwork, the hand is the fastest, and footwork is the slowest. The so-called "stealing position" refers to the range where one can quickly launch an attack by just moving the wrist.

This is the fighting concept of 'Storm Swordsmanship.'

All stances and sword moves revolve around how to shorten "time" and steal "position." With absolute attack speed, the opponent is killed before they can react!

Finger Monkey's 'Elbow Swordsmanship' is clearly also a master at stealing time, using only the front elbow to attack, bringing the "time" of the hand to its limit. Moreover, he was naturally gifted and, after his spiritual awakening, had never encountered anyone who could swing a sword faster than him.

But the lethality of a dagger could not compare to that of a hand-and-a-half sword. Byron dared to risk injury and let Finger Monkey slash him, but Finger Monkey absolutely did not dare to take a direct hit from Byron's sword. Like a spring, he suddenly crouched down and rushed past Byron.

At the same time, the dagger danced in his fingertips, turning into a shiny silver snake that viciously scraped across Byron's chest.

Blood flashed.

As the lime powder dispersed, Finger Monkey had already darted to the other end of the alley like a nimble monkey. He casually wiped away the bloodstain left on his cheek by the hand-and-a-half sword. He solemnly wiped the red liquid off the dagger with a white cloth and put it in his pocket. He turned back, made a throat-slitting gesture at Byron, smiled smugly, and then disappeared into another dim alley.

"Mr. Byron, are you alright? Are you badly injured?"

The stunned Eight Fingers finally reacted and rushed to Byron's side to check his injuries when he saw a large puddle of red liquid on the ground. However, Byron nonchalantly unbuttoned his blood-soaked clothes and pulled out a shriveled wineskin. There was a narrow, shocking cut on it. But his own skin and the other materials he had bought today were completely unharmed.

"It's not blood, this is rum?!"

The concerned Eight Fingers realized that the large puddle of blood-red liquid, although resembling blood, had a distinct smell of strong alcohol. It was not Byron's blood, but the rum in the wineskin, the Bacardi rum mixed with 'Transformation Blood' and Salman's blood, used to cultivate the secondary ghouls, known as 'Battle Blood.'

At this moment, Byron's focus was not on the wineskin. After wiping the lime powder off his face, he was still somewhat shaken by the recent assassination attempt.

'I had just entered Iron Anchor Bay when I was targeted for assassination. There must be a 'Prophet' or a supernatural individual with similar abilities nearby, locking onto my position at a close enough distance. If it weren't for the 'Navigation Log' warning me in time, the consequences would have been unimaginable. This time, the assassin was just a mortal, but if next time it's a supernatural individual, I might really end up being killed.'

If seeing the wanted poster only made him feel a sense of urgency and resolve to plan the blood battle Ritual, after encountering the assassin, he didn't want to wait even a day longer and planned to take action against Salman tonight! It was just a matter of finding a way to steal another bottle of 'Battle Blood.' Now, dozens of people, including First Mate Miles, drank it every day, and a few missing bottles would go unnoticed.

Even if planning for a second-tier supernatural individual in haste might involve some unnecessary risks, he had to take the gamble.

"Wait!"

But when he rechecked the records on the 'Navigation Log,' he made an unexpected discovery.

"Task: Use targeted ritual to find the target and take his hair or blood.

Limited by his own spiritual level, he couldn't read the information about 'Magic Mirror' Wester, the second-tier supernatural individual.

But it was enough to deduce the cause and effect of the situation. Just like how missing persons cases and homicides are categorized and investigated differently, if someone were killed on the street, the law enforcement team would arrive immediately. But fights without fatalities, or even "missing persons" cases without bodies, would hardly draw a second glance from anyone.

As long as they could achieve their goal without bringing trouble upon themselves. It indicated that they were not some die-hard assassins kept by the York family, willing to do whatever it takes to complete their mission, even sacrificing themselves. They were more like true experts in using the rules to kill!

But.

There always is a "but."

"The blood taken by that assassin belongs to Salman." Then Byron's gaze involuntarily fixed on the second term of the 'Navigation Log,'

'Mortal Enemy.'

Special Effect: Lancaster, not to be outdone.

He stood there in a daze for a while before slowly uttering two words: "Excellent!"

***

The large dry dock facilities in Iron Anchor Bay were very professional. As long as you had money, not only could you get the site, materials, and shipwrights, but you could even buy the high-quality military weapons supplied by the Royal Navy.

When Byron and Eight Fingers returned with their gains, the battered 'Man-Eater' had already been dragged into the dock and was being pumped out with manual water pumps. Old Hans and the non-combat members of the small group had all been stuffed into the dock by Captain Salman. Some served as supervisors, while others were free labor.

After Byron handed over pounds and deposit slips to the first mate, he immediately gathered them together.

"What? Redesign the repair plan and modify the ship to be the fastest in all of the North Sea?!"

Byron's words immediately excited them. Especially Old Hans, the skilled professional shipwright, and his apprentice Little Hans, who were thrilled at the prospect of successful sail lifting. They looked at him eagerly as he unfolded a new design plan and placed it on the table.

Brigantine-type mixed sail ship (suitable for small vessels under 200 tons, three-masted version).

In fact, this decision was entirely a spontaneous idea by Byron. After obtaining the new term 'Mortal Enemy' and accidentally verifying its effect, he also changed his initial plan. He decided to bring forward the modification plan and give it to Salman for free. To further approach the role of 'confidant' in the eyes of others.

"You guys study the design plan first and get a good grasp of it as soon as possible. I'll go to the inn to find Captain Salman. Once he agrees, we can start construction immediately."

Handing the design plan and modification points to Old Hans, Byron rose to find 'Blood Eye' Salman amidst the crew's reverent gazes. To have such a potentially valuable item for building a strong pirate fleet and just give it to the captain for free?

The light around him seemed to be condensing into a shiny halo above his head. These sailors, who roamed the seas, could never become such a person, but it didn't stop them from admiring such individuals.

Especially as companions, entrusting their backs to him was incredibly reassuring!