Chapter 38 - 24-35

Chapter 24: The Gang and the Harbor Town

The harbor town lay to the east of the entire Sekas Empire, renowned for its proximity to the vast Sea of Mists.

Thanks to the temporary calm brought about by the effects of Moonday, the deadly whirlpool known as the Eye of Death had stilled. Countless cargo ships, laden with spices and ores, were now able to sail directly to the capital city of the Sekas Empire, Vikniel.

This was the busiest time for the harbor.

However, this year was somewhat different. To capture the devilish cultists causing chaos in the Nordland's territory, the entrance to the harbor town had extra guard posts. Caravans had to line up and endure inspections amid a chorus of complaints.

"Shouldn't be a problem, right?" Lynn, who was skillfully disguised, felt somewhat nervous. He continued to adjust his voice, attempting to mimic the struggling and shouting he had heard during the rescue last night.

It wasn't a particularly challenging task. The essence of sound was nothing more than waves propagating through mediums like air, causing vibrations in the eardrum. 071 had already recorded Lotte's vocal characteristics. All Lynn had to do was imitate it.

Now, it was time to test his composure.

With mixed feelings, Lynn, adopting the most natural demeanor, crossed the line of waiting caravans, nodded at the guards, and stepped into the harbor town.

A few stationed guards hesitated but did not dare to intervene.

"Who was that just now?" Priest Adan, stationed at the checkpoint, noticed Lynn's departure and furrowed his brows, asking.

"That was His Lordship Lotte, the son of Baron Pedrol. He's been quite generous to the Church in recent years, probably to ensure Lotte's smooth passage through the knighthood test. I remember him a bit," the guard truthfully replied.

On the other side, Lynn, who had successfully entered the harbor town, was now drenched in cold sweat. At the moment he passed the guard post, he even prepared for a physical altercation. Fortunately, everything went as planned.

His current identity was the legitimate son of a hereditary baron. While it might not mean much in all of Nordland, in the small harbor town, this status offered him significant advantages.

Having passed the most challenging test, Lynn was able to ease his guarded posture somewhat. However, the unfamiliarity of the harbor town soon became a headache. He had to spend a considerable amount of time wandering the harbor, silently committing every location to memory, all while pretending to be familiar with the surroundings.

After hours of wandering, Lynn carefully entered a shop with a circular emblem on its façade.

If he wasn't mistaken, this was the emblem of Lame Loude's gang, known as the "Gang of the Ships."

The shop's owner was an elderly halfling. As Lynn stepped inside, he was busy moving a large barrel of heavy yellow-black ore to the other end of the room.

Due to his short stature, the heavy iron barrel pressed against the halfling's face and constantly swayed as he walked. The small pieces of ore on top quickly tumbled to the ground.

Seeing this scene, Lynn stepped forward to lend a hand, and together, they piled the ore from the large barrel into a corner.

"Thank you so much... guest!" The elderly halfling, speaking with a pronounced nasal tone, vigorously wiped his dust-covered hands on his pants before turning to Lynn and said, "Alright, let's get down to business. Welcome to Bill's little shop... I mean, what can I help you with, Lord Lotte?"

After getting a good look at Lynn's appearance, the halfling Bill's casual attitude immediately turned obsequious.

He practically lunged toward the counter and retrieved several ornate boxes from a drawer, each containing red and blue gemstones. "You can have a look at these; they're the finest goods this year... and we also have a whole shipment of exquisite spices that you won't find anywhere else," Bill rambled on.

Lynn, on the other hand, waved his hand with a lack of interest, interrupting the halfling's words. "I'm not here to buy anything. Quite the opposite, I have a valuable shipment that I want to send through the Sea of Mists to reach Vikniel."

"I heard that you have the ability to arrange a ship for long voyages and ensure the safety of the cargo, is that right?" Lynn asked tentatively.

"Of course, everyone in the harbor town knows the reputation of the Gang of the Ships, and even those vile pirates wouldn't dare to intercept our vessels!" Bill puffed out his unruly beard and assured Lynn.

"But renting an entire ship for cargo transport requires a lot of crew and guards..." Bill cautiously observed Lynn's reaction, ready to determine the price based on his expression. This was a golden opportunity to make a big profit.

"Money is not a problem!" Lynn said without hesitation, tossing out a substantial sum. Then, with Bill's exuberant expression, he changed his tone and continued, "However, this shipment is of utmost importance. I need to meet Loude in person, preferably face to face!"

Bill's expression became somewhat hesitant.

"What? Do you think I'm not qualified to meet Lame Loude?" Lynn furrowed his brow and his tone grew stern.

"No, no, no," Bill shook his head frantically. He definitely didn't dare to say that.

After a moment of hesitation, Bill looked around and cautiously said, "In fact, very few people in the Gang of the Ships know the entire truth. Mr. Loude is currently not in the harbor town."

"How convenient," Lynn clearly hesitated for a moment, scrutinizing the halfling in front of him with a suspicious look before asking, "Do you know where he went?"

Bill smacked his lips and helplessly said, "I'm not sure. Normally, around Moonday, Mr. Loude stays in the harbor, but this year seems to be an exception."

Lynn stared at the elderly halfling for a while, then suddenly spoke, "Forget it. If Loude isn't here, I'll seek help elsewhere."

The elderly halfling immediately became anxious. "Lord Lotte, maybe you should reconsider. While Mr. Loude is not in the harbor town, I can contact Rabel for you. He is Mr. Loude's most trusted subordinate and can handle all matters for the Gang of the Ships..."

"I've said it already, this cargo is extremely valuable. I need to speak with Loude personally. Notify me when he returns," Lynn said, ignoring Bill's continued calls as he walked out of the shop.

Outside, on the well-kept docks, dozens of massive sailboats were moored. Dockworkers in gray attire were busy moving crates filled with goods from the decks to the wooden platforms by the docks, amidst the noisy hubbub of the crowd and the overseer's shouts.

Lynn surveyed the bustling scene of the harbor town, his mind filled with doubt.

In recent days, this was the busiest time for the harbor, and according to Jonny's description, the passage to the land of the wizards would briefly open. It was the only chance each year to transport goods to the land of the wizards. At such a critical juncture, Loude should not be leaving.

Chapter 25: Son, Learn to Exercise Restraint!

Where did the problem arise exactly...

Lynn pondered continuously. Using his noble status as an introduction, he had planned to meet Loude through a trade, considering it the quickest and safest way. However, he unexpectedly hit a roadblock at the very first step.

This left Lynn somewhat perplexed. He even began to wonder if Loude had received some unfavorable news, prompting him to hide deliberately.

If that were the case, things might get complicated. Finding someone who wanted to remain hidden was not an easy task.

While Lynn was contemplating this, the crowded harbor abruptly descended into chaos. Amidst a series of screams, a finely decorated carriage rushed through the narrow road towards them.

Which noble family is being so ostentatious?

Lynn furrowed his brow, ready to step aside. But the carriage stopped right in front of him.

In no time, a well-dressed, tall, slender middle-aged man descended from the carriage and bowed politely.

"Finally found you, Young Master Lotte. Please, come with me immediately. Lord Pedrol has something very important to discuss with you."

Faced with this unexpected invitation, Lynn almost didn't react, but after a moment's recollection of Lotte's diary, he quickly determined that this person before him was the steward of the Pedrol estate. A bead of sweat appeared on Lynn's forehead.

This identity was only meant for temporary use, as a way to enter the harbor town and secure a meeting with Lame Loude. He never expected the real master to show up at his doorstep.

And even faster than he had anticipated!

To go or not to go?

Countless possibilities flashed through Lynn's mind. After a pause of one or two seconds, under the steward's respectful yet unwavering gaze, Lynn nodded and drew aside the curtain, taking a seat in the carriage.

Clip-clop, clip-clop...

The stagnant carriage slowly began to move, navigating the muddy road of the harbor. The constant swaying made Lynn somewhat uncomfortable.

"Before entering the mansion, you'd better tidy up a bit. If Lord Pedrol sees you like this, he'll be quite displeased!" The carriage curtain was lifted again, and the tall, slender steward reminded Lynn, gazing at his hands.

Lynn lowered his head and noticed that his hands were covered in a yellow-black powder, most likely from when he had helped the halfling Bill move barrels.

Wait a minute... Lynn suddenly raised his hand and sniffed it.

This scent is reminiscent of...

Sulfur?

Pedrol Manor stood in the northwest part of the harbor town, perched on the most bustling street. The imposing dark iron gate towered over the entrance. As the carriage glided through the gate, Lynn quickly noticed something hidden beneath the surface.

Sparse weeds extended from the gaps in the stone pavement, and the flower beds along the road had withered halfway due to lack of maintenance.

But it was to be expected; the Pedrol estate hadn't hired a gardener to tend to the flower beds for a long time.

After a brief wash, Lynn was led by a servant to the front hall of the estate. Baron Pedrol was already seated at the table, which was adorned with a deep red tablecloth.

Sitting at the same table was a brown-haired teenage girl, about sixteen or seventeen, who stared at him with an inexplicable gaze, presumably Lotte's sister, Ivina...

Lynn silently observed and took a seat at the only vacant spot. On the table in front of him lay a steaming plate of steak and a few unidentified leafy greens. Clearly, this was to be his dinner for the evening.

Compared to water-soaked black bread, this was considered quite sumptuous!

"Where were you, my son? I intended to find you last night, but you were nowhere to be found in the estate," Baron Pedrol inquired disapprovingly after Lynn had taken his seat. His gaze, however, shifted to the tall, slender steward who had entered with them.

"I found the young master at the harbor docks," the steward responded without averting his eyes.

Baron Pedrol's face immediately darkened. He spoke sternly, "I should have reminded you, Lotte. It's fine to relax, but never spend the night in such disreputable places, mingling with dirty harlots!"

Lynn was left speechless. So, you thought I went whoring, huh?

What made it even more uncomfortable was that he couldn't easily retort. He couldn't say that your son didn't return home last night; he probably drowned himself in the sea, could he?

Anticipating Lotte's expected response, he hung his head, remaining silent.

"I don't want there to be a next time!" Baron Pedrol's tone was quite severe. After a pause, he continued, "Furthermore, in the next few days, all of you need to be cautious. Harbor Town has not been peaceful lately."

"I heard that Archbishop Anluke recently took a large contingent to Ur Town to apprehend those devil-worshipping cultists. The losses were severe; out of a hundred elite guards, only a little over ten returned alive. Not only that, even Archbishop Anluke himself was seriously injured..."

"These wizards are really that powerful?" Ivina, who had shifted her gaze away from Lynn, asked in astonishment.

It should be noted that in the entire Secas Empire, though it was ruled by kings and lords, the real authority lay with the church. Or rather, with the great Lord of the Stars, the Goddess of Creation, Eira's emissary on Earth.

And figures like Archbishop Anluke in the Nordan Domain were undoubtedly the voice of the gods. The stark contrast of seeing such a significant figure fail in the pursuit of wizards made Ivina temporarily unable to accept it.

"These wizards have been corrupted by demons and possess unimaginable magic. They are not easy to deal with," Baron Pedrol said, shivering involuntarily.

A year ago, he had met Archbishop Anluke, and the man appeared to be roughly his age, maybe even a bit younger. But tonight, when they met again, he saw an elderly man in his eighties or nineties. He couldn't fathom what kind of magic could transform the powerful Archbishop into such a frail-looking figure.

What Baron Pedrol couldn't imagine even more was that one of the key players in this story was sitting silently at his side, calmly cutting into the steak with knife and fork.

For Lynn, the fact that Archbishop Anluke was still alive was somewhat unexpected. He thought, given the circumstances, the bishop had only three possible outcomes.

Either he was poisoned, crushed to death, or sacrificed to complete that ritual.

Or could it be that the so-called projection of Eira saved him?

However, it was apparent that the rescue wasn't quite complete, given that Baron Pedrol mentioned that he was seriously injured...

Chapter 26: The Imprisoned Devil Worshipers

Baron Pedroel noticed that Lynn and Evina remained silent and anxious for a long time. After some thought, he spoke to reassure them.

"You don't need to worry too much. According to Archbishop Anluke, most of the devil worshipers have been executed, and the Church has secretly stationed three thousand guards in the port town."

"Three thousand?" Lynn's eyebrows furrowed. That seemed like an excessive number for a small town like the port town. In times of peace, towns like this usually had only a few hundred troops stationed. The sudden influx of so many troops raised suspicions.

Lynn couldn't help but wonder if Lame Loude's identity had been exposed, and the Church was planning to wipe out the entire Gang. "Father, what does Archbishop Anluke mean? Is he preparing for war?" Lynn inquired cautiously.

Baron Pedroel shook his head. "It should have nothing to do with war, but I have limited information. I've heard that on his way back to the port town, Archbishop Anluke captured a wizard's apprentice who had escaped before. They're currently imprisoned in the port town and scheduled for a public execution on Monday."

Upon hearing this, Lynn's expression became grave. Could it be that Jonny and Dove had been captured? Lynn couldn't help but consider this possibility. When he had parted ways with the two witches, their conditions were far from ideal. He couldn't even be certain if they had stayed together amidst the swift currents.

If the Church had immediately organized a large-scale search after the recent battle, there was a chance they could have been caught.

"Father, do you know who these imprisoned devil worshipers are?" Lynn couldn't contain his urgency. He quickly added, "I've heard that witches are usually very beautiful. Is it true?"

"Nonsense! Who told you that?" Baron Pedroel scolded. "These are all rumors! Listen to me, under no circumstances should you be associated with these devil worshipers in any way!"

In the Sekast Empire, wizards were an absolute taboo. These devil worshipers possessed numerous strange magical abilities and had caused chaos everywhere, akin to living disasters.

Under Baron Pedroel's stern reprimand, Lynn reluctantly suppressed his doubts for now. It wasn't the time to ask questions.

After delivering a few more harsh words, Baron Pedroel returned to the main topic. "This time, to deal with these devil worshipers, two priests lost their lives in battle. While that's certainly a cause for mourning, it's also an opportunity for us!"

"In other words, there will be at least five slots available in this year's knight assessment!"

At this point, Baron Pedroel looked at Lynn with great anticipation. The formal assessment was just two months away, and if Lynn could successfully pass it, there might be a chance for the Pedroel family to rise once again.

"After we finish eating, you and Evina should spar again. I want to see how much progress you've made over the past few months," Baron Pedroel said straightforwardly.

Spar again? Lynn couldn't help but glance at Evina, who was sitting across from him at the dining table.

The young woman wore a fitted black dress with a slightly open neckline, revealing her fair neck and collarbone. Her shoulder-length hair was pulled back, leaving only a red ribbon to cascade down her shoulder. She looked quite composed, but her eyes were ice-cold, as sharp as knives.

Maybe I should hold back a little this time, Lynn thought silently. After all, apart from having had an absolute advantage in terms of strength and stamina a few years ago, he had never defeated Evina once. On the contrary, the gap between them seemed to be widening rapidly.

His best record so far was losing within twenty-three moves...

...

"Right here!" After dinner, Baron Pedroel led the two to the practice grounds in the backyard of the estate and gestured for them to begin.

Lynn changed into a training uniform and assumed the standard sword-fighting stance.

However, the moment Baron Pedroel spoke, Evina had already dashed over.

So fast!

Lynn's pupils contracted, and he only had time to block her incoming strike with his wooden sword.

But unexpectedly, when their wooden swords clashed, a sound reminiscent of metal striking metal resonated.

The young woman shifted her body, and her dress swayed as she executed a whip kick.

Lynn tried to dodge, but Evina was faster. She followed up by spinning her wooden sword, sending Lynn's wooden sword flying before bringing hers down from above.

The sharp sound of the wind in Lynn's ears made him sense a hint of danger, which meant that her attack was far from holding back.

If he got hit, it wouldn't be a simple injury...

[Right hand up at a 37-degree angle, grab the wrist, take the sword back...]

Lynn's gaze became serious. Thanks to his brain's analysis, he almost instantly identified the flaw in her attack. Faced with her vertical strike from above, he chose to meet it head-on instead of dodging.

"That's enough!" Baron Pedroel bellowed, interrupting Lynn and Evina's duel.

Both of them stopped simultaneously. Lynn's right hand extended forward, and his wooden sword was now hanging above his head.

Baron Pedroel first gave Evina a harsh glare and then turned to Lynn, clearly irritated. "Lotte, what's gotten into you? Concentrate during battles! If you stay in this state two months from now, you won't even pass the first round of the knight assessment!"

Lynn silently retracted his hand, realizing that he had underestimated her strength. Even though Lotte referred to himself as a "useless" in his diary, he had undergone more than a decade of rigorous training. Evina, who could easily defeat him, was undoubtedly stronger.

"Get back to your positions and continue!" Baron Pedroel said darkly, his expression extremely displeased.

Evina remained motionless, as if she hadn't heard Baron Pedroel's words. Lynn took a few steps back, intentionally creating some distance.

At the same time, the notification from his brain sounded in his mind.

[Do you want to activate overload mode?]

No! Lynn didn't hesitate to decline. This wasn't a life-or-death battle, and there was no need to waste energy here. Although the brain's analytical function was useful, its effectiveness ultimately depended on his own abilities.

Evina wasn't like Archbishop Anluke or the witch hunter he had encountered before. She was far from reaching the level required to overwhelm him.

This was merely a suitable whetstone...

The battle quickly resumed, and with the foundation laid by his original self, along with the experience from numerous life-and-death duels, Lynn successfully blocked Evina's surprise attack...

Chapter 27: Are You Finally Going to Attack Me, My Brother?

"Ding~ Ding~"

In the evening, in the backyard of the Pedroel Manor, Lynn struggled to defend against the relentless attacks of a young girl, Jonny, who continuously pressed on.

Despite being mentally prepared, Lynn found Jonny's ruthlessness surprising. She showed no mercy, striking for vital points with every move. It felt less like a practice and more like a life-and-death battle.

After the twenty-first exchange, the brown-haired girl once again struck horizontally, causing Lynn to lose his grip on the wooden sword.

They had fought several rounds, battling for nearly an hour. Both Lynn and Jonny were on the verge of exhaustion. Their arms and shoulders hidden beneath their clothing were covered in bruises, and their energy was almost depleted.

Lynn, not skilled in close combat, couldn't break Jonny's record. Baron Pedroel, who was observing, didn't seem too concerned. He could see that Jonny's swordsmanship had improved, which was the whole point of the exercise.

What made him even happier was that Lynn had finally taken his advice to heart. During the fight, Lynn was no longer as clumsy as before; he fought with more determination.

"Stop now, it's over for today," Baron Pedroel waved his hand and put an end to the fight. His gloomy expression finally revealed a hint of a smile.

"Well done, my son. You've finally made some progress. If you continue to practice and refine your skills like this, you'll have a seventy percent chance of passing the knight's examination."

This year, there were two extra slots in the knight's examination, so the standards were likely to be lowered. Plus, he had made some generous donations to the priests of the Church, so he should be able to negotiate a bit.

With these thoughts in mind, Baron Pedroel's mood improved, and he turned to address Jonny.

"Jonny, your swordsmanship is excellent, but you can take a break from practicing it in the future and focus on other areas."

"The Duke of Nordland's son is indeed obsessed with swordsmanship, but if you appear too dominant, it may not sit well with him..."

Baron Pedroel earnestly advised Jonny on how to use her shared interest to gain the Duke's son's attention and protect his fragile ego.

He was quite satisfied with his daughter. She not only had exceptional looks but also had outstanding swordsmanship talent. If she could use this as an opportunity to marry the Duke of Nordland's eldest son, the family would have a chance at revival.

Listening to Baron Pedroel's words, Jonny gritted her silver teeth, her delicate face filled with frustration and resentment.

However, Baron Pedroel didn't notice Jonny's expression. After giving his guidance, he left.

Considering the chaos caused by those devil worshippers, many important figures who were rarely seen in the port town had appeared. This was a great opportunity to make a good impression!

After the Baron left, Lynn looked at Jonny, a bit pityingly.

To have such strong swordsmanship at the age of sixteen, Jonny had clearly put in a lot of effort. She probably wanted to earn her father's approval and change her destiny.

Unfortunately, Baron Pedroel always saw his daughter as a tool to curry favor with the powerful.

Perhaps Jonny's situation would improve once Lynn left.

Lynn thought for a moment, then put away his wooden sword and prepared to offer a few comforting words, fulfilling his duty as an older brother.

He remembered from the diary that Lotte cared a lot about this sister.

However, before Lynn could speak, Jonny raised her head and coldly said, "Are you finally going to make a move on me, my brother?"

When the radiant light of the full moon once again illuminated the night sky, a bewildered Lynn returned to his room under the guidance of a servant. Despite thinking about it the whole way, he couldn't quite grasp the meaning behind the young girl's final words.

Who would have thought that even in a small baron's mansion, relationships could be this complicated?

"Never mind, it's not my business to meddle in," Lynn shook his head helplessly. He was merely temporarily assuming Lotte's identity, not a family mediator. Otherwise, he'd have a massive headache.

In comparison, he was more concerned about what Baron Pedroel had mentioned, the devil worshipers captured by the Church during their return journey.

Lynn couldn't be sure whether it was Jonny, Dove, or perhaps both who had been captured by the Church.

But one thing was certain: Archbishop Anluke, who had suffered greatly at Lynn's hands, was prepared for a showdown. He had secretly stationed a guard of three thousand soldiers inside and outside the town, most likely to deal with Lynn.

Lynn guessed that in a few days, the Church would announce the public execution of devil worshipers, probably on Monday, to lure him into rescuing them.

Lynn couldn't help but shudder when he thought about rushing into the Church's trap with no preparation.

Without a doubt, if a thousand crossbowmen fired in unison, he would turn into a pincushion instantly.

Planning an early jailbreak seemed like a good idea since he could use his shapeshifting magic and disguise skills to infiltrate.

As long as he knew precisely who had been arrested and in which prison cell, Lynn was confident he could rescue them.

Then he would have to figure out how to escape from the port town.

The more Lynn thought about it, the more overwhelmed he felt. He wasn't truly Carl, and he had no emotional connection with Jonny and the others. Still, after going through life and death together, he felt compelled to help if he could.

"071, is there anything that can help me go up against three thousand elite soldiers?" Lynn asked in his mind.

The next moment, a long list appeared in his mind.

["Dongfeng-180 missile, plasma railgun, antimatter bomb, high-energy beams, intergalactic long-range warship..."]

"I only have a few days. Give me something more realistic!" Lynn sighed. If he could produce these items, he would have already kicked the Pope off the throne and transformed this dark, otherworldly realm into a bright medieval one.

With this request, the lengthy list was condensed into a few lines, and Lynn was quickly drawn to an image in particular. He immediately thought of something he had seen in a store in the port town but had forgotten.

After some contemplation, Lynn had a plan. However, it was clear that he couldn't handle everything on his own. It would be best to find some reliable allies.

Lame Loude...

The familiar name leaped into Lynn's mind once again. He was the most accessible help in the port town, deeply involved with wizards and highly unlikely to betray Lynn.

The remaining challenge was how to flush out this cunning old fox!

Chapter 28: The Empty Box Trap

The next day, Lynn, who had spent the night without sleep, woke up early. He casually picked a fancy-looking empty box and tucked it under his arm before leaving his room.

In the spacious training ground outside, the constant sounds of sharp strikes filled the air. Lynn turned his head and saw his "sister," Jonny, who had been here for quite some time.

The young girl wielded a wooden sword, delivering rapid and precise strikes to the vital points of a target. There was no hesitation in her movements, and tiny beads of sweat slid down her forehead and neck.

Lynn couldn't help but admire her diligence. Considering the unpleasant events from the previous night, he didn't bother with a greeting and walked straight over. He didn't notice that Jonny, who had been diligently training behind him, had stopped and was now watching him with a complex expression.

Why...

How could she remain so composed after what had happened last night? Jonny's face displayed a puzzled expression, but when she recalled Pedroel's words, her gaze turned resolute. She gripped her sword tightly and struck horizontally, shattering the sturdy wooden target in front of her.

...

Lynn, who had already left the mansion, was unaware of what had transpired there. After purchasing some necessary supplies in the market, he returned to the harbor shop he had visited the day before.

"Welcome to Bill's... Oh, it's Lord Lotte!" The elderly halfling greeted him in the usual manner, but as soon as he recognized Lynn, he immediately became excited and approached him enthusiastically. "About the shipment you mentioned yesterday, we can discuss it again... There's no better partner for cooperation in the whole port town than the Ship Gang!"

Lynn didn't rush to respond. He looked around the shop, feeling somewhat disappointed, and said, "What? Is Mr. Loude still reluctant to meet me?"

Bill hurriedly explained, "No, no, I'm sure Mr. Loude is very eager to meet you! Unfortunately, he's not in the port town right now. Even if we use the fastest messenger raven, it would take several days to relay the message!"

"If Lord Lotte is concerned about security issues, the Ship Gang can offer goods of equivalent value as collateral!" Bill, the halfling, patted his chest like a drum.

Lynn pretended to hesitate for a moment, then waved his hand and said, "Well, if that's the case, I can accept... for now."

"Who's in charge of the Ship Gang now?"

"Of course, it's Labul! Please wait for a moment. I'll call him..." Bill, the halfling, said as he hurriedly left the shop and called over a dockworker. He whispered a few words and then returned, eagerly standing on a small stool to pour fruit wine for Lynn.

Lynn took the glass but didn't drink. He gestured toward a pile of iron barrels in the corner of the shop and asked, "What are these?"

"They're worthless yellow ore, dug up by a group of prospectors from a barren hill near the port town. They've filled up a whole ship with it." The halfling Bill said with frustration.

These minerals were usually only purchased by herbalists, but this year, the yellow ore market in Vicnil had saturated. In other words, they had to stockpile these minerals until next year when they could sell them.

"If Lord Lotte is interested in these yellow ores, I can offer you a cost price. A whole barrel costs only nineteen copper coins, and it's said to be quite effective for worm repellent!" The halfling Bill rubbed his hands and enthusiastically promoted.

"No, I've just never seen them before. I'm just curious." Lynn shook his head, replying calmly.

As they chatted, a tall, muscular man with a few gang members entered the shop.

"It's a great honor, Lord Lotte. I heard from Bill that you have some very important matters to discuss with me?" Labul walked in, a genuine smile appearing on his meaty face.

"Yes, I'm planning to rent a large ship to transport some very important cargo." Lynn said, while taking the matter seriously, he took out an exquisite box from his sleeve and placed it on the table. "This is a sample. I need a private place to talk to you."

All the people in the room unconsciously focused their attention on the palm-sized exquisite box.

Halfling Bill secretly speculated whether there might be some extremely rare gemstone inside the box. However, he quickly dismissed the thought when he considered that Lynn needed a large ship to transport it.

Labul, who stood nearby, appeared solemn. Unlike Bill, he had been a member of the Ship Gang for over a decade and occasionally assisted noblemen in handling unsavory matters.

For instance, Duke Nodlann had been secretly trafficking an addictive soul-shattering herb. If the Church were to catch wind of it, the small-fry like them would likely be held accountable.

Of course, risks and rewards coexisted. If the cargo was delivered successfully, the profits from this single ship would suffice for the Ship Gang for half a year.

"No problem! We can discuss it in a private room!" Labul's mind was racing, but his smile grew even warmer.

Lynn put away the box and followed Labul out of the shop. They crossed over half the street, finally stopping in a seemingly ordinary house.

Labul, acutely aware of the importance of secrecy, left a few gang members to guard the entrance and took Lynn alone to a well-hidden underground chamber.

The room was spacious, with only a few rudimentary tables and chairs, but it was impeccably clean.

Observing how Lynn had been scrutinizing his surroundings since they entered, Labul felt more confident in his assumptions. He smiled reassuringly and said, "Please, have a seat, Mr. Lotte. This place is very safe and quiet, and there won't be any disruptions from outsiders."

"Since that's the case, I can rest easy!" Lynn also smiled, pushing the box he held towards Labul, gesturing for him to examine it. "You can take a look before we discuss further."

Labul, a mix of nervousness and excitement, placed his hand on the box, wondering what kind of contraband it might contain.

Soul-shattering herb? A Heimstone? Hopefully, it's not some idol of an evil deity. I heard that nobles in the Secas Empire in the west are quite fond of those strange things.

However, as soon as he opened the box, Labul's expression froze instantly.

Because the box was completely empty, there was nothing inside!

Was he tricked?

Labul immediately sensed something was amiss and instinctively reached for the dagger hanging from his belt, but it was already too late!

The moment he opened the box, Lynn had entered a brief overload state. His right hand quickly and accurately grabbed Rabul's elbow, bending the entire arm at the most precise angle.

Accompanied by a dull dislocation sound, excruciating pain overwhelmed Labul's mind. But before he could cry out, his entire body was slammed to the ground, his neck gripped with force.

Chapter 29: This Is Simply Devilish!

The sudden, unexpected attack caught Rabul completely off guard, leaving his mind in a daze for a moment. He was filled with anger and fear, and he finally managed to speak up, questioning with a mixture of fury and apprehension.

"Lotte, what are you doing? The Ship's Gang has never provoked the Pedroel family before... Remember, the harbor is our turf. I advise you to think carefully..."

Rabul's threats were forceful, but before he could finish speaking, Lynn swiftly grabbed his other arm and then threw the burly man, now curled up like a shrimp, to the ground.

"I'm asking you, answer me. Do you understand? Cooperation is in everyone's best interest!" Lynn crouched down, staring at Rabul and speaking directly.

The towering man was already drenched in cold sweat from the pain. He clenched his teeth and remained silent, fixating his gaze on Lynn as if he could swallow him whole, his thoughts racing, yet he couldn't fathom why the son of Baron Pedroel had attacked him.

Could it be that some fool from the Ship's Gang had accidentally offended him?

Just as he pondered this, Lynn's voice resounded.

"The first question... Your name!"

Rabul stared with wide eyes, feeling deeply insulted. Wasn't it obvious enough?

"Answer!" Lynn's voice was cold and emotionless. After waiting for two seconds, he swiftly drew a dagger from Rabul's waist and decisively stabbed it into Rabul's right hand.

"Rab... Rabul..."

The burly man screamed hoarsely, not wanting to lose his precious right hand over such a foolish question.

Lynn's actions continued without pause. Under Rabul's terrified gaze, the dagger was thrust into the gap between his closely clenched fingers.

"You have only one second to answer each question, no second chances!" Lynn said coldly and proceeded with the next question.

"Gender!"

"Male!" Rabul replied through gritted teeth, regarding the man before him as nothing short of a lunatic.

"Place of birth... Well, your hometown!"

Lynn continued to ask Rabul a series of questions, starting with the straightforward ones and then progressing to more tricky ones. The questions ranged from the daily tasks he performed to the Ship's Gang's trade goods and routes.

If Rabul hesitated for even a moment, Lynn would break one of his fingers.

In just a few minutes, six of Rabul's fingers were broken, and the pain left him in a daze.

"All right, since you can't even remember which foot you stepped out of your house with three days ago, I'll ask you a simpler question." Lynn sighed in resignation, and then his tone changed. He suddenly asked, "Where is Lame Loude?"

"In..." Rabul was about to answer reflexively, but in the next moment, he stopped and shook his head, looking terrified. "I... I don't know."

"I told you, cooperating would be in everyone's best interest." Lynn sighed in resignation as well. In fact, he wasn't skilled at interrogations, and he had crammed all the little he knew last night.

But Rabul clearly had no intention of talking, so Lynn had to resort to more radical methods.

Lynn's gaze sharpened. The Ship's Gang was originally formed by a group of reformed pirates, and according to Rabul's confession, they engaged in various illegal activities in addition to their legitimate maritime operations.

These activities included pretending to be pirates and raiding ships, human trafficking, smuggling contraband, murder, and more. If this were his previous life, the things Rabul had done would have been enough to enrage the public a hundred times over.

"Do you know about the art of flaying?" Lynn asked in a leisurely manner.

Flaying?

Rabul shivered and listened as Lynn continued, "First, you make an incision below the spine, splitting the skin on the back into two halves. Then, you slowly cut along the grain of the muscles. The action has to be swift, completed before the target dies from blood loss..."

Lynn provided a vivid and detailed account of a gruesome ancient torture method from a foreign land, including details like how to make the cuts, how much blood would flow, and how each step needed to be completed within minutes.

Rabul was now on the ground, trembling with fear. He had no doubt that the madman before him would actually flay him alive. He stammered, "My Lord Lotte, I truly don't know where Leader Loude is."

"Is that so? But I heard that you were Lame Loude's most trusted subordinate!" Lynn sneered.

"In truth, Mr. Loude doesn't trust anyone..." Rabul explained in a terrified, uncertain tone. "I only know that he left the seaport town three days ago..."

"If you're not willing to talk, that's fine. We have plenty of time to play." Lynn stood up and brushed the dust off his pants. Last night, while researching interrogation techniques, he had come across many interesting yet non-lethal methods. Now was the perfect time to give them a try.

Half an hour later, Rabul was nearly broken, both mentally and physically, under the dual torment. He was now willing to divulge every detail to Lynn, even admitting to smuggling an entire ship's worth of goods and disguising it as a shipwreck.

However, when it came to Loude's whereabouts, Rabul remained clueless. After experimenting with various methods to break his spirit, Lynn had to admit that Rabul was likely not pretending.

According to the information Rabul provided, Loude had left the harbor town two days ago, which coincided with Archbishop Anluke's attack on Urn Town with his men. Furthermore, the Ghost's Tavern, where Lynn had been, was raided on the same day by the Church, and Old Hawke had gone missing ever since.

It was highly likely that it was during this time that Lame Loude received a warning and went into hiding. Only a handful of high-ranking members of the Ship's Gang knew that he was not in the harbor town.

"It seems that your most trusted assistant is nothing more than a decoy!" Lynn sighed, shaking his head in resignation.

Rabul indeed knew many of the Ship's Gang's secrets, but when it came to the secret transportation of goods to the Wizard's Land, his knowledge was extremely limited. He only knew that on Mondays, Loude personally oversaw the transportation of several large ships, but he had no idea where these ships were headed.

Lynn pondered for a while. Loude's caution and cunning had taken him by surprise. Loude might have already prepared for the possibility of high-ranking members of the Ship's Gang betraying him or being captured.

However, Loude alone couldn't sail across the sea. There must be some more core figures within the Ship's Gang responsible for this. The other peripheral members acted as cover, following Rabul's orders and being abandoned as pawns in times of danger.

Lynn recalled the names and backgrounds of the Ship's Gang's leaders and members he had learned from Rabul. Every one of them seemed like a potential spy planted by Loude.

As he contemplated, a thought suddenly popped into Lynn's mind: If he couldn't find Loude, why not make Loude come to him instead?

Chapter 30: Conflict and City Guards

With this in mind, Lynn looked down at Rabul and asked, "In the Harbor Town, who do you have the most trouble with?"

"It's Blackhand Bob..." Rabul didn't understand why Lynn was asking this, but he spilled the beans about their conflict.

"Very well, lend me your clothes!" Lynn didn't hesitate and forcefully stripped Rabul of his attire.

The burly man instinctively thought the demon in front of him was about to use a cruel skin-stripping spell on him, so he desperately pressed his body to the ground, resembling a young girl being assaulted.

In the end, Lynn had no choice but to knock him out and, after changing into his clothes, stared at Rabul's face and used a transformation spell.

This was a shape-shifting spell he had learned from "Fundamental Magic Studies," capable of altering a wizard's external appearance.

Buck, who had died at the hands of Archbishop Anluke, had once used this magic to transform into a giant bear, briefly delaying his opponent's actions.

However, this kind of magic wasn't foolproof. It required a deep understanding of the creature to be transformed into, and it had various risks associated with it. "Fundamental Magic Studies" documented many cases of wizards failing to learn shape-shifting magic, making mistakes, being unable to return to their original form, or suffering fatal backlash from magic.

One could say that wizards daring to learn shape-shifting magic were a bold and fearless bunch.

Fortunately, Lynn's knowledge of biology was excellent, and 071's database contained complete three-dimensional models of the human body. Skin, muscles, blood, internal organs, even the internal cells, were all crystal clear. This knowledge minimized the chances of unexpected situations.

Of course, compared to Lotte, who had a strikingly similar body type, age, and hair color, Lynn disguised as Rabul was only about ninety percent identical.

But it was enough to deal with unforeseen circumstances.

Lynn casually wiped some dirt on his face, tied up Rabul, who had fainted, and stuffed him into a sack in the basement. Then, he headed outside.

"Damn it, Bob!"

Lynn cursed as he stormed out the door. Several guards on duty saw Lynn's furious appearance and cautiously asked, "Did it not go well, Boss Rabul?"

"A whole shipload of goods, and they only want to pay 60 Sekas gold coins!" Lynn raged. "It's all because of that scoundrel Bob. He had already contacted the Pedroel family before us. To snatch our business, Bob is willing to transport their goods at an extremely low price."

Upon hearing this, the workers present were all filled with righteous anger. After all, a single round trip of a large ship at sea cost at least 50 Sekas gold coins, not to mention the crew's expenses at sea. Wasn't this a waste of everyone's time for such a small amount of money?

Blackhand Bob and his workers had always been at odds with the Ship Gang, but usually, it was limited to secret sabotage. However, this time, they had gone too far. They were willing to take a loss just to snatch their business.

It was downright nauseating.

"Let's go, gather the men, and find him!" Lynn waved his hand and shouted loudly, rallying dozens of people to march towards the docks.

At the same time, on a massive sailboat, Blackhand Bob was berating a few lazy workers with his long whip. When he saw Lynn storming in with anger, he frowned and grumbled, "Rabul, why did you bring so many people here?"

Lynn couldn't be bothered with small talk and punched him directly, knocking Bob to the ground.

The workers on the sailboat stood frozen in place, but Lynn's crew had already charged forward, followed by a series of blows with clubs.

The previously calm dock turned into chaos, with cries and smashing sounds echoing non-stop. Finally, a shrill cry rang out after a few minutes.

"The city guards, the city guards are here!"

The hands of Lynn and the workers on the ship came to a halt simultaneously. About a dozen guards, armed with blades and clad in armor, had surrounded the large sailboat.

Lynn raised his hands, signaling everyone to cease resistance, his expression devoid of any worry.

Because Captain Teris of the Harbor Town guards was an old acquaintance of Rabul. The last time they had some missing cargo, Teris had profited handsomely!

"What's going on here?" Teris strode onto the sailboat, taking in the scattered cargo on the ground and the workers lying in disarray. He turned to Lynn with an impatient tone.

"Lord Teris, these people inexplicably barged in, overturned the stored cargo without any reason, and even resorted to violence against us..." Bob, who had lost a tooth in the scuffle, shouted angrily. He felt wronged and couldn't fathom why he had been attacked.

"It's just a minor disagreement, Lord Teris, and many present can testify that Bob was the one who struck first!" Lynn took a few steps forward, his smile brimming with goodwill, and slipped a small bag of coins into Teris's hand.

Over a hundred ship workers on the dock joined in the uproar, drowning out any feeble protests from Bob and his companions.

In the Harbor Town, the Blackhand's influence was far inferior to that of the Ship Gang. If not for Bob having an imperial count as his backer, Lame Loude would have kicked him off the docks a long time ago.

"Arrest them all!" When it came to the tensions and friction between the two major factions in the Harbor Town, Teris was well aware. After weighing Lynn's sincerity, he quickly categorized this conflict as a brawl.

According to the laws of the Sekas Empire, those causing a public disturbance received ten lashes!

...

"Ouch, that bastard really hit hard..."

Half an hour later, Lynn walked out of the dock, his brow furrowed in annoyance.

He had overestimated Rabul and Teris's "friendship." When Teris had taken action, he showed no mercy, applying full force to those ten lashes.

Lynn could only hope that he hadn't suffered those lashes in vain, as he had done everything he could.

Given Lame Loude's cautious and cunning nature, Lynn guessed that he wouldn't be hiding too far away. He would be keeping a close eye on the happenings in the Harbor Town.

What Lame Loude feared the most was drawing the Church's attention.

So, he had planned this conflict to attract the city guard's presence, and then controlled its intensity, keeping the cause of the conflict related to the faction's interests. If everything went according to plan, this matter would soon reach Lame Loude's ears.

As the top figure of the Ship Gang in the public eye, no one but Lame Loude himself could manage him. So, it was easy to anticipate what his next move might be.

It might be possible that one of Lame Loude's trusted subordinates would convey a reprimand. Still, the most likely scenario was...

"Boss Rabul, Mr. Loude has an important matter to discuss with you. Please follow me," a plain-looking ship worker suddenly whispered in his ear a few minutes later.

"Alright, I'll go right away!" A sly smile curved on Lynn's lips.

As expected, it had arrived!

Chapter 31: I've Come to Rescue You

Under the guidance of the boatman, Lynn left the bustling harbor and traversed several streets until they reached an abandoned, run-down house in the northern part of the city.

"Please come in, Lord Raebel. Mr. Loude is waiting for you inside," the boatman gestured, inviting Lynn to enter.

Lynn nodded and pushed open the door, only to discover that the dilapidated exterior was but a facade. The interior of the house was an entirely different world.

The walls were built with heavy stone blocks and adorned with precious oil paintings and sculptures, giving the place an air of elegance and the faint scent of perfume filled the air.

In stark contrast to this elegant setting, burly men wielding large axes stood on either side of the room, eyeing Lynn like a lamb being led to slaughter.

Lame Loude, his wooden leg clearly visible, stood by a long table. He appeared to be around fifty, with a head full of white hair and a thin, hunched figure. His most striking feature was, of course, his wooden prosthetic leg.

Upon seeing Lynn, Loude's anger welled up, and he scolded him vehemently, "Raebel, have you gone mad? I've told you not to cause any trouble for me recently..."

"But today, you got into a brawl with Bob at the harbor over a cargo shipment! Do you know that the Church is likely to have noticed us by now? Two batches of sea vessels have been confiscated in the past three days..."

Loude chastised him, deeply troubled. However, he soon realized that something was amiss with the Raebel standing before him. Despite his reprimands, there was no fear or panic in his demeanor. Instead, Raebel was steadily approaching him.

"Wait... You're not Raebel!" Loude's thoughts raced, and he realized this. With a look of shock, he took several steps back and ordered the guards by his side in a loud voice, "Stop him!"

Only Loude's most trusted guards were allowed into this room, so upon hearing the order, they, along with the burly men around, didn't hesitate and raised their axes, attacking Raebel from all sides.

[Initiate Overload Mode, time is three seconds!]

Just a moment before the axes struck, Lynn silently chanted in his mind.

In an instant, the positions and movements of everyone in the room were displayed as data in his mind.

Lynn effortlessly sidestepped one of the burly men's attacks, disarmed him, and then kicked him away. He swiftly turned and struck another guard in the stomach with the back of the axe, before charging forward, defeating the remaining guards.

During this brief moment, Loude had managed to flip over the long table in his path. His wooden prosthetic leg was incredibly agile, more so than a real leg. With a whooshing sound, he covered a considerable distance in just a few steps.

Lame Loude... was surprisingly fast!

This spectacle left Lynn momentarily stupefied, but he quickly snapped out of it. He raised his hand, and several sparkling ice blades materialized in the air.

At the same time, Loude felt the intimidating presence behind him, but he paid it no mind, for the secret passage was right in front of him, within arm's reach.

However, the ice blades were faster. The one that had been launched earlier struck his prosthetic leg, causing him to lose balance and fall to the ground. Then, another [Icy Blade] flew and embedded itself in his robe.

"Keep running!" Lynn closed in step by step, coldly instructing. He had spent the past few days putting in a lot of effort to find Loude and wasn't about to let him escape easily.

Lynn quickly realized that his words might sound somewhat like those of an antagonist, but he changed his tone and explained, "In fact, I've come to rescue you, Mr. Loude!"

Lame Loude, feeling the chill around him and looking at the seemingly "friendly" Lynn, nervously swallowed a mouthful of spit.

Well, he would have to trust him for now!

After a friendly exchange, the previous misunderstanding was resolved. Loude called a few of his subordinates to clean up the somewhat messy room, and then invited Lynn to take a seat.

"Wizard, is there something specific you came to discuss with me?" Loude inquired cautiously.

"Of course, I've come to rescue you!" Lynn declared without hesitation. "As far as I know, the Church has secretly dispatched three thousand guards to Harbor Town, and they seem to be targeting the Dockside Guild."

"That may not be the case..." Loude shook his head, as he had also received this information but did not share Lynn's judgment.

"Just three days ago, the Archbishop of Nordland and his forces launched an attack on the town of Uhl and encountered a powerful wizard. It was only after paying a heavy price that they managed to drive the wizard away. These three thousand guards are likely here to guard against that wizard."

At this point, Loude suddenly looked at Lynn, and a speculation emerged in his mind.

"Yes, I was the one who fought against that Archbishop," Lynn nodded, not hiding the fact.

Seeing Lynn admit it, Loude couldn't help but be amazed. Based on the information he had received earlier, Archbishop Anluke managed to drive off the wizard but suffered from severe, incurable injuries himself.

Rumors had it that the place where they clashed had been turned into a white wasteland, and the horrifying blaze had not been extinguished to this day.

This illustrated the immense power and mystique of this magic.

Could it be that he was sitting across from a grand wizard?

No, that was highly unlikely.

Loude quickly dismissed this notion. He had witnessed the power of grand wizards before. A grand wizard could even temporarily freeze the cataclysmic vortex known as the "Eye of Death" with their full power. If Lynn possessed such power, Archbishop Anluke would have been the one to flee.

Given this, Loude immediately deduced that Lynn was a powerful wizard of the third circle.

Unaware of Loude's thoughts, Lynn continued to explain. "If you think that the Church is making all this noise just for me, that would be foolish. Archbishop Anluke's real goal is to find the route to the Wizards' Sanctuary. Otherwise, he wouldn't have gone out of his way to come to Harbor Town."

"Furthermore, I've received information that on his way to Harbor Town, Anluke captured several wizard apprentices."

"They are all disciples of Kora and are well aware of this route and its connection to the Dockside Guild. The Church has not yet taken action against them, most likely because they haven't extracted enough information from them."

"I don't have much time left for you!" Lynn said solemnly.

Chapter 32: We Have No Other Choice!

Listening to Lynn's words, Lame Loude's expression changed abruptly. He silently cursed Kora in his heart for revealing such vital information to a few apprentices, implicating him in the process.

He didn't believe Lynn was deceiving him, given that the actions of the Church in recent days were a clear signal.

It was precisely due to this concern that he had chosen to observe the situation from the shadows, ready to flee at any moment, but he hadn't expected to be exposed.

"The Dockside Gang has been operating in the Harbor Town for many years, and their information network should be quite extensive. Do you know who the Church has captured?" Lynn inquired, his voice tinged with anticipation.

Lame Loude hesitated, then shook his head, replying with some frustration, "The Dockside Gang is under intense scrutiny right now, and my knowledge is limited. I'm afraid the Archbishop has blocked the information. Only the town's priests have the authority to access such classified information."

Corrupting and controlling a priest was no easy task; they possessed powerful divine magic, unwavering faith, and no shortage of wealth, making them formidable adversaries.

So, even though the Dockside Gang had been operating for decades in the Harbor Town, Lame Loude always kept a safe distance from these individuals, avoiding any connections with the Church's clergy.

Lynn's brow furrowed, taken aback by the revelation that Lame Loude was as clueless as he was. This was completely unexpected.

"Wizard, are you planning to rescue the captured wizard apprentices?" Lame Loude tentatively asked.

"Indeed, that's important for you as well, isn't it?" Lynn replied nonchalantly.

"It's going to be challenging. The town is swarming with guards, and they might not even be imprisoned at the harbor. Even if we miraculously manage to rescue them, we won't be able to escape the town," Lame Loude argued. "It would be easier to eliminate them. The difficulty would be much lower!"

Since the other person knew the Dockside Gang's secrets, making them disappear seemed like the simplest solution. In this dark, otherworldly realm, a single life didn't hold much value, especially when it involved the secrets of the wizard's territory.

Lynn wasn't surprised by Lame Loude's ruthlessness. In this grim world, a single life was expendable, and this was closely tied to the secrets of the wizards' territory. However, Lynn didn't share the same perspective, and he sneered as he replied, "Mr. Loude, are you still under the illusion that once this matter is over, the Dockside Gang can continue to prosper in Harbor Town without any repercussions?"

Since Archbishop Anluke had chosen Harbor Town as their base, it undoubtedly meant they had discovered some clues. Even if Dove and Jonny were to die now, sooner or later, they would trace it back to Lame Loude.

After all, most of the town's cargo transport was connected to the Dockside Gang!

Lame Loude's face became increasingly grim. He naturally understood this, but he had been unwilling to admit it. In all, he had spent a full two decades in Harbor Town, and it could be said that all of his efforts and investments had been poured into this place.

"You're a clever person, Mr. Loude. Our only way out now is to cross the Sea of Mist on a ship and head to the wizards' territory. Otherwise, with what you've done, no matter where you hide, the Church will find you," Lynn stated bluntly. "Taking a ship now allows you to salvage a portion of your accumulated wealth. But if you wait for Archbishop Anluke to act, you might not even survive!"

Lame Loude cast a deep, searching look at Lynn, as if he wanted to say something but ultimately sighed in resignation. "It's too late to set sail now. The Harbor Town has already tightened control over incoming and outgoing cargo ships. Today, two large vessels were supposed to transport goods to the Imperial capital, but they were both seized."

"So soon?" Lynn paused for a moment, realizing that the situation was worse than he had imagined. However, he quickly regained his composure and inquired, "But you must have a solution, right?"

During his time in the Harbor Town, searching for this sly old fox, he had been bewildered by various pieces of information, some true and others false.

If it weren't for the formidable illusion magic that allowed him to disguise himself as the leader of the Dockside Gang, he wouldn't have been able to flush Lame Loude out.

This cautious individual couldn't possibly be unprepared for the day when the harbor would be sealed.

Lynn swiftly considered the various pieces of information he had gathered in the past few days...

Since the harbor was in a semi-blockaded state, during this period, the only ships allowed to leave freely were the warships responsible for patrolling the waters!

"Sanctus, Celestial, Watcher... which one of these ships has your people?" Lynn curiously asked.

Lame Loude's expression twitched for a moment, as he didn't expect Lynn to figure this out. He even suspected that one of his trusted confidants had betrayed him. He could only reluctantly admit, "It's... the Celestial."

Impressive!

Lynn was astonished by Lame Loude's abilities. To actually have the confidence to take control of a warship. He had only intended to test the waters earlier.

Lame Loude retorted with frustration, "It's not as simple as you think. Even though the captain of the Celestial is under my command, the ship has to report and undergo inspection every time it departs or returns. If it deviates from its course, it'll likely be spotted by the lookout posts."

On the Sea of Mist, their warships could only rely on archery or close-quarter combat with boarding, while the enemy's ship had priests on board. With a few divine spells, even the sturdiest warship could be torn to shreds.

Moreover, large-scale personnel and cargo transfers weren't easy tasks.

"You don't need to worry about that. They won't have time to bother with us when we cross the sea." Lynn said confidently.

"I have a plan, and if it goes smoothly, no matter how many military units there are, they won't pose a threat. However, I need the Dockside Gang's assistance..."

Lynn looked at Lame Loude, waiting for his response. The Dockside Gang consisted of over a thousand shipworkers, even though they were a ragtag group. If they could be put to good use, it would be a formidable force.

"You better not rely on them to fight against the Church's guards..." Lame Loude sighed. While the Dockside Gang had many members, most of them were just trying to make a living under his command.

Dealing with gang fights on a regular basis was one thing, but if they were thrown into battle against a regular army, it was likely that half of them would turn against him before the fight even started.

"Don't worry; I only need you to do some small tasks." Lynn took out a piece of parchment from his sleeve and slid it in front of Lame Loude. "Can you gather these items? The more, the better!"

Chapter 33: Have You Ever Seen the Beauty of Fireworks?

Lame Loude curiously took the parchment from Lynn and skimmed through it, an expression of surprise appearing on his face.

It wasn't that what Lynn was looking for on the parchment was exceptionally valuable. Quite the opposite, the parchment contained a list of readily available materials, even some items considered worthless...

"Can you tell me, what's the purpose of these things?" Loude asked, thoroughly perplexed.

Lynn didn't give a direct answer but instead suddenly asked, "Mr. Loude, have you ever seen the beauty of fireworks?"

"What's that?" Loude frowned in confusion and shook his head.

"It's something that can send the entire town guard soaring into the sky. I guarantee it'll be the most spectacular sight you've ever witnessed!" Lynn said with a smile.

Loude's expression froze, his face filled with disbelief. Initially, Harbor Town had an eight-hundred-strong guard, and Archbishop Anluke had brought three thousand elite guards from the Northern Lands. He couldn't fathom any force that could obliterate such a massive army in a short time.

Could it be related to the materials needed for a potent alchemical array?

Loude immediately considered this possibility. Kora had once told him that some wizards proficient in alchemy could amplify the power of certain spells through an array. If that were the case, they might have a fighting chance.

With this thought, Loude lost interest in probing further, as the secrets of magic were typically closely guarded by wizards.

"Besides these materials, I also need a map of Harbor Town, the patrol routes of the town guard, and most importantly..." Lynn paused and continued gravely, "I need to know the appearance, personality, and daily routines of every clergy member in Harbor Town, the more detailed, the better."

Loude contemplated for a while, without immediately responding. Maps and patrol routes were easy enough to obtain, but uncovering the secrets of the priests wouldn't be an easy task.

"Sometimes, to survive, one has to pay a price, isn't that so?" Lynn reminded.

"Alright! I can provide you with all that you've asked for. But I need to know how you plan to rescue that wizard's apprentice," Loude finally agreed. The harbor was sealed off by the church, and creating sufficient chaos was necessary for a successful escape. The rescue mission was a part of that plan.

Lynn no longer withheld information and explained the entire plan, with the specific role The Dockside Gang would play being the most detailed part.

After listening to Lynn's account, Loude couldn't help but break into a cold sweat. However, the relief was that the most dangerous part of the rescue operation was Lynn's responsibility. The Dockside Gang was only tasked with providing assistance, and, most importantly, it didn't require his personal involvement in most scenarios, meaning he would mostly be in a safe zone.

"So, here's to a fruitful partnership!" Lynn extended his hand casually, and Loude didn't hesitate to shake it. Their palm-to-palm contact was brief, but it left a faint tingling sensation, causing Loude to instinctively withdraw his arm and inspect it. He found a fiery mark on the back of his hand.

"What's the meaning of this?" Loude demanded, covering his hand, his tone stern.

Lynn retrieved his hand with a casual smile and replied, "I've heard from Rabur that you never trust anyone around you."

"That's a good habit!" Loude retorted.

"Well, it just so happens that I'm the same," Lynn replied with the expression of finding a kindred spirit.

Loude's face darkened, and in his mind, he was already planning to give Rabur, that scoundrel, a good talking to.

The sight of the fiery mark on Loude's hand reminded him of the horrors outside Ur Town. He had sent an intelligence operative who had accidentally caught a few embers and was subsequently sentenced to death. Even jumping into the river couldn't save him from the devouring flames of hellfire!

"By the way, your subordinate Rabur is left in a secluded house within the port. It's The Dockside Gang business, and I won't interfere," Lynn said as he rose to his feet, bidding farewell.

After Lynn's departure, Loude's suppressed emotions finally erupted, and he angrily swept valuable vases and utensils from the table to the floor.

The guards outside heard the commotion and rushed in, standing in bewilderment as they watched their leader lose his temper in the room.

After several minutes of venting, Loude, out of breath, sat back down and looked at the guards in front of him.

"You, go and bring Rabur back to me immediately!"

"I'm going to skin him alive!" Lame Loude gritted his teeth.

...

As Lynn left the dilapidated house, the midday sun hung high in the sky. Successfully convincing Lame Loude and gaining the assistance of the entire Dockside Gang had lifted a great burden off Lynn's shoulders. At least now he didn't have to go it alone, and there was a good chance of rescuing Dove and Jonny.

As for the magical mark he left on Loude's hand, it was merely a ruse and had no real effect. However, Lynn was aware that the recent battle outside Ur Town had already demonstrated some of his capabilities. This was undoubtedly a form of deterrence! People like Loude would never trust him, even if he spoke the truth. Instead, they would believe that their lives were in his hands.

This was precisely what Lynn wanted to achieve, as when the real action began, the most critical parts needed to be handled by him personally. Loude would always remain behind the scenes, and the risks on both sides weren't balanced, a significant concern in their collaboration!

So, some balancing measures were necessary!

In the following two days, the news of the public execution of Devil's Disciples by the Tribunal, scheduled for after Monday, had spread throughout the entire Harbor Town. Almost everyone was discussing the topic.

Lynn reaffirmed his previous assessment. Aside from sparring with Ivina in swordsmanship during the day, he spent the rest of his time dealing with the materials that were transported to him.

Within seventy-two hours, he had released the "Basic Material Deconstruction" spell thousands of times, and he was on the brink of exhaustion.

Each time he returned to the mansion, the Baron's steward would cast a strange look at him. Unable to resist one day, the steward advised him not to deplete his body at such a young age.

Lynn brushed off the advice casually, as he couldn't find a better explanation for why he was out all night.

After all, it was Lotte who would ultimately suffer the embarrassment and disgrace.

The smooth progress of these events was largely due to the fact that Baron Pedrol was often absent from the mansion, busy attending various noble banquets. It was a good thing to show his face in front of these important figures.

In the midst of this orderly bustle, Harbor Town welcomed the final night of Monday...

Chapter 34: My Brother, You're in My Way

As the night fell completely, the bustling port town was bathed in a serene and tranquil atmosphere.

A pristine full moon rose above the sea's horizon, casting a soft, silvery glow that seemed to drape the entire harbor town in a fine, shimmering veil.

At this moment, Lynn stood on the rooftop of the Pedrohl estate, gazing down upon the entire town. It felt unusually peaceful today, as if not a single insect's chirp could be heard. This abnormality made him sense a hint of danger in the air.

"Report energy reserves, 071," Lynn silently inquired in his mind.

(Energy remaining: 40.2 percent...)

"Unfortunately, it's still a bit low..."

Lynn thought to himself. The full moon tonight had increased 071's energy reserves by about thirty percent in four months, which was remarkably fast, but it could only sustain an overload mode for about two hundred seconds.

In this state, he could unleash the full power of white phosphorus flames. Despite his unease, Lynn had no intention of changing the plan. Tonight was their only chance to rescue Dove and Jonny. After all, the passage to the land of the wizards only opened on Mondays, and tomorrow was the scheduled public execution.

Lynn took out the diary belonging to Lotte and placed it on the table. After today, he could no longer stay in the harbor town, and the identity of Lotte would have no relation to him.

This diary would serve as Lotte's final message to Baron Pedrohl and Ivina. Though he didn't expect it to change anything, it was the only thing he could do.

After packing his belongings, Lynn walked out of the room alone, recalling the information gathered by the Guild of Ships.

Yadan, a recently transferred priest in the harbor town, Archbishop Anluke's right-hand man, a noble by birth, and the champion of the previous Nordlan Knight Exam, possessed formidable sword skills.

Most importantly, Yadan had a very predictable routine. He would go out at this exact time every night, his destination unknown, presumably to attend some noble's evening banquet.

As for the rescue plan, Lynn had considered several approaches, and the smoothest one was to directly capture and replace Yadan.

This would not only allow them to extract information about the captured individuals, their location, and other critical details but also make use of Yadan's role as the Archbishop's right hand.

When the full moon hung high in the sky, The Dockside Gang' crew would create chaos at the harbor, driving away all unrelated individuals and igniting white phosphorus powder prepared in advance, causing uncontrollable "Hellfire." Once it spread, even hundreds of garrison troops wouldn't be able to quell it, and it was one of his signature spells.

At that point, Archbishop Anluke would likely intervene personally to extinguish the flames or capture Lynn, possibly mobilizing his elite guards hidden in the shadows.

The cargo piled up on the docks had already been discreetly replaced by The Dockside Gang with specialized black powder. Once ignited, it would send both the warships docked at the harbor and the arriving reinforcements into the sky in an instant.

If they could kill Archbishop Anluke in the explosion, that would be the best outcome. Even if they couldn't, the Archbishop wouldn't return anytime soon.

Meanwhile, Lynn could use Yadan's identity to access the location where Jonny and the others were held. With the harbor town in chaos, he could falsely convey the Archbishop's orders and transfer the prisoners to a safer place.

Once they were out, Lame Loude's trusted subordinates would be there to pick them up.

Of course, this plan relied on everything going smoothly. There might be countless unforeseen circumstances along the way.

Perhaps the worst-case scenario would be Archbishop Anluke choosing not to act and allowing the "Hellfire" on the dock to spread rapidly. In that case, Lynn would have to step in to quell the flames to prevent the involvement of numerous innocent residents.

If left uncontrolled, the entire harbor town would be engulfed in a sea of fire.

Lynn continued to mentally calculate the possible events that might unfold. Suddenly, an unpleasant 'creak' echoed closer and closer, emanating from the corridor ahead.

Alert, Lynn immediately halted his steps and looked up. Soon, he spotted the figure at the end of the corridor.

A brunette girl stood in the shadows, holding a slender blade that trailed on the ground. Her red and black attire appeared eerie under the moonlight's silver glow.

"Ivina, what are you doing here?" Lynn asked in confusion. Her room should be on the second floor.

"Why?" the brunette girl spoke softly. "Why is it that no matter how hard I try, no matter how excellent my performance, Father will never acknowledge me, while you, who couldn't even pass the Knight's Exam, fail repeatedly but always effortlessly obtain everything I desire..."

Ivina lowered her head, her words filled with suppressed anger. She clenched her teeth, seemingly struggling to contain her fury.

However, her expression soon returned to a calm demeanor, and her tone became icy.

"My brother, you're the obstacle to my progress..."

Lynn's pupils contracted. Just as Ivina's words fell, she had already rushed forward with her slender blade.

Clang!

Accompanied by the crisp sound of clashing metal, Lynn drew his steel longsword from his waist to parry the incoming blade. It was clear that the girl possessed greater strength and speed than during their practice sessions, indicating her true strength.

In Ivina's amber eyes, a cold and murderous glint flashed as her slender blade, like a streak of cold light, slashed through the air once more.

"You always have this carefree attitude..."

"Tell me, why haven't you told Father about this?" she continued. "You know very well that I've always wanted to kill you!"

With each sentence, Ivina's blade swung faster, her gaze complex as she stared intently at her brother...

Chapter 35: Too Insignificant, Ivina

Lynn parried Ivina's attacks, still not answering her questions.

Because he was utterly confused by the complex relationship between these two siblings, Lotte's diary didn't mention this at all.

The clash of sword blades echoed through the silent manor. If this were any other time, it would have surely alerted the butler and servants, but right now, there was no one in sight.

That's why Lynn refrained from using the overdrive mode or resorting to magic just yet.

"Is it very strange, my brother? Father isn't at the estate tonight, and I've led all the servants away. They'll only know that the devil worshiper the Church is hunting broke into the manor tonight..." Ivina appeared to be driven to madness, her sword relentlessly striking against Lynn's, as if she needed to vent all the built-up anger and frustration.

Lynn's expression became odd, for the wanted devil worshiper the Church was after seemed to be him...

Boom!

During a brief pause in their battle, an abrupt explosion rang out in the distance. Through the window on the third floor, a faint fire glimmered on the western side of the harbor town.

Why would this happen so quickly? Lynn's expression changed abruptly. It wasn't time to act yet. Could it be that the members of the "Ship Gang" couldn't wait and had already taken action?

"Where are you looking, my brother?"

Seizing Lynn's distraction, Ivina launched a spinning strike that sent his longsword flying, embedded firmly into the gap in the wall.

Then the brown-haired girl raised her sword once more, this time for a downward strike.

"Die!"

Murmuring to herself, Ivina's amber eyes locked onto Lynn, yet his face revealed no trace of fear.

Why?

Why was he not afraid of death?

A hint of hesitation and doubt crossed the brown-haired girl's face.

Over the years, no matter how terrible her attitude had been, this man before her always looked at her with an extraordinarily compassionate gaze.

But she never needed his pity.

What she wanted, she'd take for herself.

A myriad of thoughts flashed through the girl's mind, while on the other side, Lynn sensed the threat and extended his arm.

In that instant, it was as if the first time they had fought was replayed.

Only this time, there was no one to stop them, and with a sharp gust of wind, the slender blade had reached above Lynn's head.

However, Lynn's movement was even quicker. His right hand extended, seemingly at an unusual angle, and grabbed Ivina's wrist holding the blade.

Then, he exerted a twist, and a faint sound of a dislocated bone resonated through the silent corridor.

Outside the window, the moonlight intermingled with the rising flames, creating a devilish picture. Lynn took advantage of this and raised his leg, sending a fierce kick towards Ivina's abdomen.

Thud!

With a dull impact, the girl's body arched backward and crashed heavily against the wall.

How was this possible?

Struggling to get back up, Ivina's lips slowly oozed a trace of blood. She couldn't afford to be concerned with the pain in her right wrist or abdomen. She looked at Lynn with an expression of disbelief.

She had used her full strength and had been easily knocked down.

Ivina found it difficult to accept this reality, and her undamaged left hand once again lunged with the sword.

"Sorry, Ivina, but my time is limited..."

Lynn dodged Ivina's horizontal slash, took the slender blade from her, and then delivered an elbow strike that knocked her down once more. Finally, he swung the blade towards her fair neck.

Ivina's pupils contracted, and she could only watch as the silvery blade came closer and closer, her mind going blank.

Am I going to die?

The girl slowly closed her eyes.

Recalling all the effort he had put in, only to have his fate determined by a Duke's son, he found it particularly laughable. Perhaps seeking release through this would end his suffering?

Ding!

The soft sound of a sword's tip touching the floor echoed in Ivina's ears, and she opened her eyes in confusion, seeing Lynn behind her, taking out a piece of leather rope to bind her hands and feet.

"You're not planning to kill me?" Ivina stared at her familiar yet unfamiliar brother, puzzled by his actions.

"No need to do that. After tonight, you won't see me again... I think that should suit you well." Lynn casually explained, dragging the rope that had been prepared for Yadon, and tossing Ivina into his own room.

He wasn't really Lotte, and he couldn't handle such a complex sibling relationship. But since Lotte had chosen to end this karma by taking his own life, Lynn didn't plan to interfere.

He also understood where Ivina's resentment came from. She struggled but couldn't resist her predetermined destiny; she had been born to be a sacrifice for the Pedror family's revival. However, she had clearly targeted the wrong source of her resentment. What truly tormented them both was the stubbornness of Baron Pedror and the ignorance of the feudal system in the Secas Empire.

Since she had cleverly sent away the housekeeper and servants from the mansion, she could take some time to reflect on her actions.

After tonight, everything about the Pedror family would no longer concern him.

Lynn turned to leave, but Ivina's voice sounded once again from behind.

"Why do you have such power but can't pass the Knight's examination or even a sparring match with me?"

"Are you pitying me?" Ivina maintained her last vestiges of pride, asking in a tone mixed with shame and anger.

"Too insignificant, Ivina..." Lynn turned his head to look at the disheveled and bewildered girl on the floor.

"Your talent in swordsmanship is excellent, far better than anyone I've ever seen. However, your vision is limited to the small harbor town, and you're fixated on inheriting the title of a baron that even the territory can't hold."

"Beyond the harbor town is the Nordland domain, beyond Nordland is the Secas Empire, and beyond the Empire, there is a much broader world..."

Lynn muttered softly, realizing that this world held the existence of magic and divine arts, along with countless secrets waiting to be explored.

"Forget it. You probably can't understand," Lynn said, shaking his head before Ivina could respond.

For most of the world's inhabitants, a town, a village, a family was everything, and this matter had nothing to do with him.

"Can't understand?" Ivina gazed at Lynn's departing back with a complex expression, until the door was firmly closed.

The girl fell silent for a while, then suddenly lowered her head and bit into the leather rope binding her hands, struggling to break free.

However, the rope was made of a tough material, and biting it with her teeth was futile. In her struggle, her legs hit a nearby table leg.

A black book that had been left on the table fell to the ground, rolling to Ivina's side.

The words on the pages were hastily written, but Ivina recognized her brother Lotte's handwriting immediately.

"Perhaps, without me, everything will get better..."