HoG - Chapter 28

Chapter 28: Mortal Enemy

Despite having successfully retrieved the "Storm Signet Ring," Byron still had a list of tasks to complete.

With a sense of urgency, Byron led Eight Fingers through the winding alleys of the chaotic pirate city. He made a few casual visits to various shops, skillfully converting the other jewelry into pounds or bank deposit slips, showcasing his "professionalism."

The port did not impose restrictions on private small-scale retail transactions, as long as they were not large-scale sales by pirate ships.

Salman had entrusted Byron with the task of exchanging money, which seemed like a gesture of trust. However, Byron knew that failure to do so would redirect the crew's ire towards him. He had no intention of taking such a risk.

Following the four-quadrant management method, Byron prioritized the most critical and urgent tasks. Once completed, he allowed himself a moment of relief before quickly moving on to purchase the necessary items.

"Boss, I'll need 10 milliliters of bear bile, 2 milliliters of horseshoe crab blue blood, 30 milliliters of virgin's blood and a bottle of absinthe, please pour it into a wineskin for easier carrying," Byron requested.

These peculiar ingredients were clearly part of the recipes he had gleaned from "Bloody Mary's Culinary Recipe."

Salman, had made a losing deal. He had intended to use the recipe to dispose of this top-quality "Chef" and concoct the finest "Transformation Blood." Little did he expect that Byron would leverage the vast array of recipes in his mind to trade for a wealth of forbidden knowledge from "Bloody Mary's Culinary Recipe."

In just a few short days, Byron had acquired dozens, if not hundreds, of different "Blood Brew" recipes. Perhaps in a few more days, he would exhaust all the forbidden knowledge contained within the recipe book.

For instance, he had exchanged a tomato and egg soup for one of the most iconic "Blood Brew" recipes, "Bloody Mary":

Main Ingredients: Transformation Blood, pure virgin's blood 15 milliliters, vodka aged for more than three years 30 milliliters, devil's hot sauce 1 drop, life spring water 2 drops.

Auxiliary Ingredients: Lemon juice 15ml, spicy oil 1 drop, black pepper (as needed), salt (as needed), tomato juice, lemon wedge (1/8 cut).

With specialized techniques and spiritual blending, this concoction could create a "Blood Brew" cocktail that would prevent a woman from aging for a year. It could also be used in a forbidden ritual to summon the demon spirit named "Bloody Mary" for divination.

Other recipes included "Hero's Mad Water," which could drive warriors into a semi-berserk state; "Desire's Joy," which could heal various external injuries; "Blue Blood Spring," and so on.

The primary ingredients for these "Blood Brews," aside from the essential base material "Transformation Blood," were the blood or bodily fluids of various creatures, mixed with the six base spirits: whiskey, brandy, vodka, gin, rum, and tequila.

While these concoctions were more rudimentary compared to the professional alchemy system, their diversity and ease of preparation could enhance a supernatural individual's skill set, improving their chances of survival in complex situations. Reality is not a game; there are no do-overs, and survival skills must take precedence.

Although "Blood Brews" were not as potent as alchemists' potions, they were convenient and reliable, easy to learn. Moreover, this shopping trip was funded by the extra money earned from selling jewelry, without spending a single farthing of his own. This made Byron feel even more at ease.

Byron's only concern was the potential cost of learning forbidden knowledge. Once he personally conducted the ritual and used an intelligent being to brew the most basic and crucial "Transformation Blood," he would have to pay a price in the form of "Gluttony" or "Lust," and with bad luck, even both. He might end up like Salman, eating five meals a day and never feeling full, or become an alcoholic, crave blood and raw meat. Or he might become obsessed with sex, unable to resist certain types of women. Even developing strange preferences for ears, fangs, tails, fur, tentacles and so on, which would be hard to accept.

Byron carefully stowed away the various materials he had bought close to his body and exited the shop that sold supernatural, still undecided.

"There's no rush with the 'Blood Brews'; I should go back and complete my initiation first," he thought. "As long as I prepare the materials in advance, I can use them whenever there's an emergency, without delaying anything."

More pressing to Byron than the "Blood Brews" was a piece of information he had just deciphered the previous night: "Bloody Mary's Culinary Recipe" originated from a supernatural organization called the "Bloodthirsty Congregation," and "Blood Eye" Salman was suspected to be a defector from this group.

With this final piece of the puzzle, "Secret: Blood Eye Salman's Unspeakable Secret, Historical Influence 4%" finally reached 100% completion after hovering at 95% for several days. It not only increased Byron's spirituality to 1.5 but also allowed him to obtain a second term beyond the first 'Historical Revisionist',

 'Mortal Enemy.'

"Special Effect: Lancaster, not to be outdone!

While others are the confidants of their superiors, you are the mortal enemy of your superior! The more outstanding your abilities, the more remarkable your achievements, and the more recognition and trust you receive from your superiors, the closer you appear to the role of 'confidant' in the eyes of others. When you launch a surprise attack on your superior, the stronger the ability boost you receive. And in overthrowing your superior, you are not subject to the laws of the system!

The 'Ten Pirate Commandments,' 'Iron Law of Sovereignty,' and 'Silver Law' will all consider it legitimate. Even without a surprise attack, your superior will be very 'loyal' and passively take the fall for you, gradually becoming plagued by bad luck and frequent accidents."

This was also Byron's trump card for targeting 'Blood Eye' Salman with the blood battle ritual, deciding to settle the matter once and for all.

And the plan had already been meticulously laid out.

Yesterday, he secretly stole a bottle of Bacardi rum that Salman had treasured from the warehouse. To cultivate the batch of secondary ghouls, it already contained a portion of 'Transformation Blood' and Salman's own blood. Byron intended to extract the ingredients and use the materials he had bought to recreate a bottle of 'Hero's Mad Water' with beneficial effects and no harm to the body.

When the time came to serve the meal, he would secretly give it to the already critically ill Salman to drink. Then, when Salman went berserk, Byron would use the opportunity to strike with his 'Draw Sword Technique,' and take him out in one strike!

At this moment, the bottle of rum was also stored in a wineskin, hidden in Byron's chest.

"Eight Fingers, let's go back," Byron called out, summoning Eight Fingers, who was gawking at everything like a country bumpkin, to follow him as he led the way into a winding alley. Safety was his priority. Whether it was the thousands of pounds on his person or his sensitive identity, it was not wise to wander around at this time.

"Hmm?"

But as he walked, Byron suddenly raised an eyebrow. He realized that although he had already passed several intersections, a figure he had seen from a distance earlier had changed clothes and appeared in front of him again, now walking towards him. As soon as they stepped within three meters of each other, A prompt appeared on the 'Navigation Log':

"Boatswain of the privateer 'White Crystal,' Finger Monkey, a malevolent and sinister individual!"