Chapter 286: Chapter 251: Breakthrough to the Third Stage - Storm Admiral!_2
But if luck was not on one’s side, it was entirely possible to randomly inherit a heap of useless abilities. Therefore, what abilities one could inherit from the Great Pirates truly depended on fortune.
I hope Flint lives up to his illustrious reputation and doesn’t let me pick any junk abilities, wasting a golden opportunity.
Byron’s consciousness gently touched upon the Silver Law.
A piece of knowledge from the Forbidden Book, titled "Life Alchemy," settled into his heart.
The moment he saw the contents of the book, his body jolted fiercely.
Just as "Bloody Mary’s Gourmet Cookbook" was divided into different versions, so was the Alchemy of Transmutation, each clearly distinct.
The treasure hunters had only obtained a low-quality version with significant side effects, where one had to become grotesque to reap mere scraps of byproduct.
Flint possessed the version of Black Sorcery that one could actually learn from.
A quick scan of the content confirmed that this knowledge stemmed from the same source as his "Bloody Mary’s Gourmet Cookbook."
Using the Blood of Transformation or the blood of those symbolic of "transformation" as ingredients, one could ultimately brew the Blood of Immortality or create the Philosopher’s Stone.
But the excitement didn’t linger on his face for too long.
Regrettably, even after inheriting Flint’s version of Black Sorcery, I dare not attempt to craft the Philosopher’s Stone before I complete the second ritual, ’Blood Banquet Holy Grail,’ and become something other than human. I wouldn’t dare engage in lower, half-tier practices like human or blood beast alchemy either. Otherwise, I might inadvertently become material myself, reduced to a puddle of filthy blood.
The transformation time of the Wild Hunt Knight had come to an end.
Byron, having reverted to his normal state, lightly descended with Violet to the top of his lighthouse like a floating leaf.
This lighthouse, growing in sync with Byron’s Spirituality to 11 points, had also reached the 11 meters representing the Middle Sequence.
In the sea of collective human subconsciousness, among all its lighthouses, it was no longer one of the shorter ones.
He turned to look at the top of the lighthouse that had belonged to Flint.
Velazquez’s face was dark with fury as he clutched a torn black sheepskin Faustian Contract, glaring fiercely at them and bellowing, "In these seas, we People of Castilia have never failed to obtain what we desire. You are fundamentally just a fledgling pirate who broke through with the ’Pirate’s Treasure Chest.’ Mad Hunt, you charlatan, you are courting death!"
The Promotion Ceremony for a [Storm Knight] and a Pirate resembled each other, so Velazquez evidently hadn’t recognized Byron’s true profession.
At that moment, a figure as light as smoke emerged from Byron’s white contract, reminding him, "Hurry and sign the contract to become the new [Lantern Carrier], and secure your lighthouse. Only then will you have the authority to control the treasure cavern maze and summon your crew to protect you. I can no longer hold on. The Evil Spirit within me has stolen most of my strength and has completely degenerated into an [Evil Spirit - Faustian Devil]. If possible, I hope you can put an end to me, preventing the Evil Spirit from harming others. Then I, Flint, can die without regret."
The unfaded aura of Law above them cast a holy and imposing glow on his increasingly translucent face.
Byron and Violet couldn’t help but give a solemn salute to this [Lantern Carrier] who upheld his duty to the very end.
If everything were to end here, it would have been an honorable and dignified exit.
Regrettably, the final farewell was not without complication.
The parrot first mate Thomas, who had been hiding in Captain Byron’s hat, saw his old master for the first time in hundreds of years. And it was a goodbye for eternity.
Overcome with sorrow, tears streamed down as he flapped his wings and cried out, "Flint, before you left me, a mere bird, behind, we had a deal to take care of the sheep business together. How could you just leave on your own? It was you who led me onto this path, who opened the door to a new world.
"Do you know how I’ve lived all these years, alone as a bird without you? Back then, even your favorite A’Flower didn’t get to see you one last time before she died full of regret. How could you die so easily?"
The reverence in Byron and Violet’s eyes instantly dissipated.
Whether others believed Thomas’s words or not, they did.
There’s a saying: like master, like pet.
If no one had taught Thomas, how could it possibly develop such indecent hobbies that it couldn’t mention to humans? After all, it was still just a kid... oh, a bird.
When Flint heard its words, he opened his mouth at the very last moment before he dissipated, "Tho~mas~, I fuck..."
At the same time, he reached out forcefully towards his parrot first mate.
It is said that one fears not the shattering of bones, only the stain on their legacy.
Byron believed Flint’s last emotional cry and grab were not driven by an old master’s endless yearning for his beloved pet, but purely an attempt... to take Thomas with him, to destroy the last piece of evidence!
Unfortunately, before his hand could reach the macaw, he had completely faded away without a trace.
The automatically recorded [Nautical Logbook] also put the final period to his life.
The dead have no right to refute claims made against them, and so this Great Pirate’s last shred of good reputation was utterly erased.
Joy and sorrow among people do not intermingle.
Byron no longer hesitated.
The mark of the feather pen emerged on the back of his hand, and he signed a golden name on the white [Faustian Contract] in his hand.
—Sea Hunter Byron Tudor.
The mark of the feather pen on the back of his hand vanished, and in its place, appeared another mark: that of a blue Whale Oil Lantern.
As he inherited all of Flint’s wealth, he also took on the responsibilities of a [Lantern Carrier], firmly anchoring his own lighthouse here.
The brightness of his light far surpassed that of Flint, shining far into the distance.
However, the "Faustian Contract," now with its new master, was unaware of this saying:
"False Outlaw Madmen: lawless and reckless, heedless of consequences. True Outlaw Madmen: beyond the net of law, untouched by sentencing. When the net of law descends, you are forever within its mesh."
The [Law Mages] of the Tribunal Sequence generally believed that law was akin to contract, also known as a social contract.
For Byron, this Outlaw Madman, exploiting the loopholes in the contract was naturally easy.
As a member of the lawful camp, if he could continue, he would. But in critical moments, he must ensure a way out. If he found it impossible to proceed, there was still the possibility of breaking the contract.
Taking it a step further, he could also seek help from the Lighthouse Union and look for an even more powerful [Lantern Carrier].
But the future was the future, and the present was the present.
With only a third of the contract in hand, Byron was not very satisfied.
Looking up, he roared at Velazquez, who had also signed his name on the black Faustian Contract, "Why did you sign your name on my contract? Pay up!"
He opened his palm, and a raging storm howled forth, condensing into a giant bow in his hand.
Drawing the bow and nocking an arrow, its tip crackling with electricity, the storm arrow shot towards Velazquez in an instant, screaming as it flew.