Chapter 298: Chapter 261: Living Warship, Sudden Bad News
Byron silently decided the fate of a powerful noble family within the Kingdom.
It was as casual as deciding to kill a chicken, dependent only on his willingness, not capability. This wasn’t because he wanted to make a show of power, but rather because his rapidly growing strength no longer allowed him to drift along with the current.
The Pioneer Guiding Colonial Trading Company now officially had three Third Order Transcendents under its banner: Byron himself, Violet, and the Skeleton Knight Andrew. Added to this was the "Doppler Greatswordsman," Quasi-Sword Saint Herman—a Wild Hunt servant who didn’t speak human language. They had also acquired a Third Order "Shadow Magic" from Velazquez, capable of creating a Grand Wizard in a short period.
There were also three in the team not far from this step. Gourmet "Blood-Red Whiskey" Alfred had already begun to perfect his life’s menu. "Fairy" Rigel was ready to start the Promotion Ceremony at any time. Catherine was the fastest and was entering the countdown to her promotion. Once promoted to Third Order, she would instantly gain Fourth Order combat power with the addition of the "Golden Law" at the International Port. Even if she were just a bottom-tier Fourth Order combatant like "Blue Hair," capable only of bluffing with borrowed power, that would still be more than enough to defend the International Port.
Soon, they would have eight Middle Sequence individuals—not to mention potential Third Order survivors within the Lancaster Party. With such strength, Byron naturally had the confidence to employ somewhat more aggressive tactics without fearing backlash.
"If you won’t give it to me, then I’ll take it myself. When I say there are Lancaster bandits somewhere, there are definitely bandits there. If, while I’m eradicating bandits, I ’accidentally’ drive all the ’bandits’ toward Royal Port and ’accidentally’ fail to rescue them in time, leading to the entire Newman Family perishing, nobody could blame me, right? For the great cause of ever-expanding bandit eradication, as someone who vows to avenge the Newman Family, it’s only reasonable for this ’trusted confidant’ to apply for more military funds and to expand a couple more fleets, right? After all, it’s not like I’ve only taken out a governor-general or a naval rear admiral or two. I’m quite adept at this!"
The Newman brothers suddenly felt an unexplainable chill around their necks.
"And even if I don’t act directly, the higher my Supernatural Rank, the stronger the effect of ’Heartfelt Trouble’ on my superiors. Even without a direct backstabbing, they’ll face incessant bad luck. After I’m promoted to Third Order Storm Admiral, a wave of misfortune will likely erupt for them. I wonder if their frail constitutions can withstand it. It might just be the perfect opportunity for me to find a new boss."
On the surface, Byron showed no exceptional reaction, seemingly resigned to Major General Newman’s arrangement. "Bill," however, slammed his cup on the table, spilling some liquor.
The banquet hall suddenly quieted, though some people inwardly sighed with relief. One could only say the two shared a tacit understanding. They displayed both attitude and a touch of temper, perfectly portraying the simmering, unventable frustration of two capable yet emotional key subordinates. They didn’t go as far as open hostility. Yet, they made others feel the young men were easy to handle due to their apparent lack of deep cunning, causing those others to subconsciously lower their guard. They couldn’t have imagined that the two brothers were already prepared to take matters into their own hands and seize the benefits.
At this moment, Mallory Barton, the Quartermaster General who was also on the death list, tried to smooth things over. "Mr. Sea Hunter, Mr. Bill, both of you are the General’s trusted officers and his son-in-law. You should try to understand the General’s difficult position. Protecting our lives and property from ’Kingmaker’ Warwick is currently the most pressing matter. You both should prioritize the overall situation!"
As he spoke, he raised his glass to the Governor, shifting the topic. "I’ve heard that recently, His Excellency the Governor’s young master Buck went with the Kingdom’s exploration ship, the ’Twin Pistol Ranger,’ to the Celestial Orbital Belt. Their progress is so fast that they are about to break through the Doldrums and enter the Southern Hemisphere—a speed truly worthy of being in the foremost tier among nations. Perhaps we’ll soon hear good news. Should His Majesty be pleased by that, we might all bask in young master Buck’s glory. With enough luck, we can get everything without even asking."
Byron was fully aware of the Newman Family’s domestic circumstances. He knew that Buck Newman was the Governor’s second son, a Second Order "Navigator" of the Lighthouse Sequence, and also the only descendant in the family’s direct lineage with any real potential. Compared to the eldest son, Milton—a First Order "Golden Eye" of the Gold Sequence and heir to the Earldom—Buck was more competent and more restless. The Newman brothers also regarded him as a rising star who might lead the family to greater heights.
This was a typical arrangement for noble families in various countries at the time. The eldest son, the heir, would secure the family’s established interests, while the second son and any younger children had to forge their own paths. They might die quietly in some forgotten place, or they might rise unexpectedly to prominence and fortune. The Lancasters were no different: the eldest son, Henry VI, was a "Law Mage," while the second son, Prince Sorrenberg, was a "Storm Knight." In Byron’s generation, his cousin Prince Edward was also a "Law Mage." If no accident had occurred, he, as the Prince’s only son, would almost certainly not have pursued a path like that of a Storm Knight, which required perilous adventures for advancement. Instead, he would most likely have become a "Law Mage" as well.
"Haha, but we’re all just feeling our way forward, learning from the Kingdom of Castile and the Barbary Pirates. There are always more solutions than difficulties. Although Buck is diligent, the achievements of the Kingdom’s intelligence personnel cannot be entirely dismissed. We, the York Party, have only just taken over the colonies for half a year; we still have to thank the Lancaster Party for laying such a good foundation for us. Let us toast the selflessly devoted Lancasters! Hahaha..."
Hearing the Quartermaster mention his most outstanding son, Governor Jefferson also beamed, lifting his glass to offer a few polite words and, in passing, mock his old rivals.
BZZZ...
A fine "Echo Conch" for emergency contact at his waist suddenly sounded. Byron could tell at a glance that this conch seemed to be of a very high level, capable of real-time communication across thousands of kilometers without any issue.
"Eh? Is it our adventure ship, the ’Twin Pistol Ranger’?" Governor Jefferson had not expected an immediate response, having just discussed his son and the adventure ship with his subordinates. His first reaction was to wonder if there might be some good news. Upon connecting, he quickly asked, "Buck? Why are you signaling so late? Has something happened? Have you discovered a New Continent?"
However, the sound that came from the other side was not the joyful news he had anticipated. Instead, a very noisy and chaotic cacophony burst forth, seemingly a mix of cannon fire, gunfire, and countless screams and shouts.
"That thing’s underwater! Judging by the shadow, it must be a Sea Monster! Quickly, drop all our Dragon Dung Potion!"
With a thunderous boom, it seemed as if some gigantic creature suddenly broke through the water’s surface.
"Creator! A ship! It is a ship! A ship that can dive! A ship bearing the flag of the Kingdom of Castile and covered in barnacles and tentacles! What in the world is this thing?!"
RUMBLE...
Following another round of thunderous cannon fire, someone shouted loudly, "We’ve been hit! Those shell fragments are wrong—they’re not cast iron shot; they look like broken barnacles! Will, what are you doing? Why are you suddenly attacking me? Ah—!"
"First Mate, I’m sorry, I can’t control my body! Help me, please help me..."
"It’s so itchy, so painful, I can’t breathe..."
Realizing that the news from the other end was not good but clearly a very strange and dangerous encounter, Governor Jefferson, no longer caring about the presence of others in the banquet hall, urgently pressed for information, "Buck, Buck, talk to me! What on earth is going on?"
After a few more sounds of firearm shots and the thud of bodies falling to the deck, a young man’s voice finally emerged. Many present immediately recognized the familiar voice; it was none other than Buck Newman, the very subject of their recent conversation.
"Father, it’s bad! We’re in the Doldrums, south of the usual shipping lanes, about to break through, and we’ve been attacked! It’s an enemy ship from the Kingdom of Castile—no, a giant octopus with huge tentacles that can dive—no, that’s not right either! It’s like those Legendary Warships from the tales, the ones that could dominate the seven seas by themselves! That diving enemy ship is alive, like the most terrifying hunter—cunning and ferocious! I saw the name carved on its hull: it’s the ’May Wind,’ an elite adventure ship of the Kingdom of Castile’s first echelon!"
Another round of cannon fire cut Buck off. When the Echo Conch reconnected, the voice on the other end had changed.
"Ah, the barnacles... and the coral... keep them off me... Heh heh... ’Spiral Annals’... has arrived... heh heh..."
Before he could say much more, it was as though something was gradually stuffing his throat, making it difficult for him to make any sound other than a muffled whimper.
Governor Jefferson, powerless to help, was sweating profusely as he kept calling out, "What’s happening to you, Buck? Buck, I’m begging you, don’t scare your dad!"
However, with the sickening sound of a massive ship’s hull snapping apart and the deep roar of some giant Demon Monster, the Echo Conch fell silent.
None of the guests were common folk; they all understood what encountering such a situation at sea meant. Almost certainly, there would be no survivors left on that ship. Especially upon hearing the bizarre term "Spiral Annals," a salty, briny scent seemed to assail their nostrils, causing an involuntary catch in their breath. They sensed that something terrible had happened.
"Oh! My dear Buck—!"
The Governor, no longer young, couldn’t withstand the blow of a parent outliving their child. His eyes rolled back, and he collapsed limply into his chair.
"Your Excellency the Governor!"
A sudden and terrible disaster threw the banquet hall into utter disarray.
Byron didn’t immediately gloat over the calamity; instead, the mention of that familiar name sent a violent shiver through him.
The ’May Wind’ that Governor Velazquez of Havana mentioned has returned from the New Continent to the Celestial Orbital Belt and just annihilated Buck Newman’s ’Twin Pistol Ranger’? What did I say before? That the ’May Wind’s’ days were numbered and the Newman Family was about to face disaster? And ’Spiral Annals’? I’ve seen that term in the ’Bone-Eating Clown’ Koraskin’s Sailing Logbook too!
But more than any smugness from this unexpected ’prophecy,’ Byron, as one of the very few in the Bantaan Archipelago who truly understood how dangerous the New Continent was, felt a deeper concern. What had the ’May Wind’—clearly compromised and contaminated like Koraskin’s vessel—brought back from the still largely unknown New Continent? As a ’Historical Reviser,’ if there was any chance of being inadvertently affected, Byron knew he would inevitably be drawn into the vortex. Only by staying alert could he be prepared.