Chapter 294

Everything in this world is beautiful when it stays in its rightful place.

When the sun brightly illuminates the world, the daytime sky is blue, and the darkness of night gently envelops the weary ground, people can live their daily lives with a sense of stability.

Ssssss.

Thus, the darkness slithering like a serpent along one side of the corridor of the Tempesta had clearly left its rightful place.

Its essence was to shatter human stability and kick toward the extraordinary.

The corridor of the flagship was lit by several bright magical lights, but that darkness remained utterly unilluminated.

Finally, the darkness stopped in front of a cabin.

The darkness undulated and gradually formed a human shape.

“……”

Long hair was tightly gathered, and the nose and mouth were covered with a hood, while a deadly glint shone in her sharp eyes.

She wore a clingy, tough fabric armor and draped a stiff, wide outer garment over it; the sleeves of the outer garment and the cuffs of her trousers were bound with bandages to cling closely to her body.

Sayah Yan, a long-time friend of Tarti and an assassin from the Eastern Continent, slowly reached for the cabin door handle.

The door was not locked and opened silently.

On the bed lay a knight fast asleep.

He was the chief of the prison area guards.

Like a man of the eastern seas, he had a slightly exotic appearance; his hair was cut medium length and tied into a ponytail, and his body, hardened through rigorous training, was as strong as steel.

Having not shaved for several days, a bit of stubble was present, and his face bore the signs of living in the sea breeze, but even considering all that, he was objectively handsome.

Sayah Yan slowly opened her palm.

A needle, the thickness of a pin, was grasped tightly in her hand.

When assassinating a knight, she must never gather mana, nor should she reveal her intent to kill.

Even the slightest detection of mana would prompt him to spring up and unleash a violent counterattack, representing failure for an assassin like her, regardless of victory or defeat.

Thus, Sayah Yan thought of her target as a log, as she always did.

At that moment, she even forgot the loathsome Valenciaunos.

Instead, she thought of her long-time friend and lord, Tarti.

She recalled the man wearing a deer-horn helmet, whose hearty laughter left an impression.

She thought of the pirate admiral who must be groaning somewhere in this massive ship.

How many years had it been since her family fell and she began plundering alongside him?

Perhaps, she might even like him.

Sayah Yan aimed the needle at the knight’s heart.

She avoided the steel-like bones, found the place where the skin, akin to a ten-layer leather shield, was maximally taut, and precisely struck between muscle bundles that resembled bindings of wire.

To kill a superhuman without using mana required effort.

Thud!

The needle, made of the finest silver iron mixed with meteoric material from another world, trembled as if it might break.

Sayah Yan bit her teeth down against the sensation of resistance in her wrist and pushed the needle in.

That night, a knight of the Eastern region died.

* * *

Swish.

In the distance, the horizon met the sky, a speck of blue in the cloudless expanse, and whenever waves flowed, the sunlight reflecting off the sea dazzled brightly.

I stood beside Lady Trentia, gazing at the sea.

Looking at the expansive view filled my heart with exhilaration.

“Hahaha.”

As I burst into laughter, Lady Trentia mumbled, slightly displeased.

“Your Excellency, are you not tired? We have been floating on water for days now.”

Standing next to Cariosa, Duke Jul expressed a peculiar smile of triumph.

“How weak, my lady.”

Cariosa lightly hit Duke Jul on the head, then dramatically raised her hands as if to say she had no words left.

“Lady Trentia, naval battles are not that different from land warfare. Often, it becomes a battle of who can form a siege and endure longer.”

Lady Trentia raised her eyebrows, seemingly flustered.

“Then we are at a disadvantage, are we not? They can farm, after all.”

Cariosa shook her head.

“It’s newly reclaimed land. To yield a proper harvest, it will take at least three years, or even five. Crops that can’t adapt to the sea breeze will die.”

“Ah.”

“I’ve issued a maritime blockade. I didn’t just come out with the storm fleet. Four fleets in total—Black Dragon, White Lin, Storm, and Steel—are encircling the archipelago.”

“You’ve put in quite an effort.”

Lady Trentia looked impressed as a knight, and Cariosa revealed her sharp teeth, laughing heartily.

“Of course. It will surely succeed. That’s why I’ve even called my precious Duke here to sit.”

She looked up at the Tempesta’s flag.

The white shark flag of Asenorta fluttered magnificently.

“My family has fought against the Undersea People and pirates for hundreds of years. It’s almost time. I will finish it in my generation. At least, I will definitely finish off at least one pirate.”

“Remarkable ambition.”

“I heard from Seberik. The North is nearly settled as well, right?”

I nodded.

“In a few years, all magical realms will close, and the breeding grounds of monsters will be burned.”

Cariosa made a grim expression.

“Years, you say? I’ll need to work harder to catch up.”

“Work harder?”

“When the war ends, I’ll chase away the Captain of Mercenaries. The Northern Duke, who is afraid of being purged by His Majesty, might bring his sister or cousin to abduct my man.”

“Seberik is not that sort of person.”

“The Northern Duke likely is. The individual tendencies do not greatly impact the family’s movements.”

As I pondered how to rebut that point, an officer approached with a serious expression.

He whispered something to Cariosa.

“Your Excellency……”

How discreet it was that I couldn’t even hear it.

Casting a quick glance at Lady Trentia, she subtly shook her head as if she couldn’t hear it either.

“How dare!”

Cariosa furrowed her brows deeply.

She seemed to be caught off guard by something unimaginable.

She nervously clicked her tongue several times, bit her lower lip, and clenched and relaxed her fists.

Whoosh!

Suddenly, the wind blew, and dark clouds began gathering from the distant clear sky.

“Cariosa!”

I shouted urgently, and she finally realized, her hand gesturing toward the clouds.

The dark clouds dispersed again.

“Ugh. I’ve shown an unseemly sight. It was a poor attitude as a Great Lord. I’m sorry. Yes. Are you both uninjured?”

She said inappropriately, rambling.

I nodded, while Lady Trentia seemed to shake her head, as if something was bothering her.

“Actually…… since a few days after the pirate extermination, I haven’t been feeling well. I thought it was because we were on the ship, but judging by Your Excellency’s reaction, it seems otherwise.”

Cariosa gritted her teeth in frustration.

“Valenciaunos. It seems we have an assassin on this ship. It looks like they were mingling among the Eastern pirates.”

Upon hearing that, I immediately thought of the woman with dark attire.

“Ah.”

I had sunk Tarti’s pirate ship, but I had not confirmed her death.

Since the Eastern warriors could run on water, it was only natural that she would possess a similar magic tool.

This was an unexpected turn of events for me as well.

“I’m sorry, Cariosa. It seems she has come to retrieve the pirate I captured.”

I apologized, letting out a sigh, and Cariosa shook her head.

“It’s not something to apologize for. I also never thought anyone would survive that fire. This is becoming troublesome.”

“Yes. We need to conduct a search of the ship immediately—”

“It’s pointless.”

Cariosa shook her head.

“Valenciaunos. This ship is over 150 meters long. There are over 1,000 crew members; five decks, with hundreds of cabins and storerooms. It’s possible for siblings working on the same ship to not encounter each other even after a year at sea. If an assassin hides, we won’t find them.”

I felt a strong urge to grab her nape.

“It would be better to take the pirate captain hostage as leverage.”

“She’s already hidden. Or, she might be waiting for us to unlock the prison door to take a hostage. The best option is to keep it firmly locked.”

“Is there no mage capable of using lifebinding magic?”

“Would an assassin sharp enough to kill a knight lack a single magic tool of subtle power? This is becoming exhausting.”

I recalled the presence I had felt when I met Laurelai not long ago.

If I felt it that faintly, then in reality, a search would be nearly impossible.

I gazed intently at the flagship, Tempesta.

Swish.

An indestructible battleship made from colossal trees that could not even be scuttled by waves.

Somewhere within, there was an assassin aiming for us.

“Duke. One cannot live knowing there are parasites on board.”

“You can keep calling me by name. Yes, that’s right.”

Then I proposed an outrageous solution.

“Let’s burn it.”

Cariosa’s expression went blank.

Her jaw dropped, revealing sharp teeth, and her vertical pupils dilated in disbelief.

It was such a rare sight that I made an effort to remember it well.

She stuttered in response.

“Valenciaunos. You must realize that not everything that comes out of your mouth makes sense, don’t you?”

Duke Jul too looked alarmed.

“Your Grace, a ship like this is priceless. The pure construction cost alone amounts to 18,000 gold coins. The colossal trees were taken from the Asenorta territory, and the magical circuit was inscribed by the family wizards themselves. And still, it costs 18,000 coins.”

“Hm.”

“In fact, only a high noble like Her Highness Cariosa could build such a ship. It is an heirloom passed down through generations. We cannot simply burn it down to catch an assassin.”

I grinned as I replied.

“They will surely think the same.”

* * *

Among the Eastern assassins, there exists a technique known as the Great Technique of Quiet Breathing.

It was the art of mimicking death by lowering heart rate, body temperature, and hiding mana.

Though it had significant side effects, it was essential when needing to hide for long periods in a confined space.

Breathing was regulated as well, and while using this technique, one felt drowsy as if in deep sleep.

In a corner of the darkest and deepest storage area, Sayah Yan thought hazily.

‘The ones left on the island should be holding up well.’

‘At least five ships should have returned. There are remaining ships. With that level of force, they might be pushed from power but won’t starve.’

‘I must protect my clan. I will definitely rescue Tarti and return.’

That was a branding etched in her subconscious, serving as the key to waking up from the Great Technique of Quiet Breathing.

Thud, thud.

She felt the gradual return of her breath and heartbeat.

Although she felt a bit fuzzy today, it was not a significant issue.

‘Today is the day I mix poison into the central water tank on the third deck. I have twelve vials of poison left…… No, nine vials remain. Then that means I’ve already completed the work for the third deck?’

When just awakening from the Great Technique of Quiet Breathing, the senses were odd, and she couldn’t recall what had happened right before.

She mentally pieced together the things she had done the day before or the day prior based on the medicine in her pocket and the scribbled writing on her palm.

‘The third deck is done. If they weren’t aware, they would die slowly. Of course, I don’t expect that. I only need to distract them for the crucial moment. Having killed one knight, the search would begin soon. In fact, this works to my advantage. If they act against me, the existing surveillance system will certainly be disturbed. That would be the time I head toward the prison.’

At that moment, a pungent odor wafted.

The assassin’s senses gradually returned, warning of danger.

Tap, tap.

A foul odor that stung her eyes and nose.

‘This is the reason for my dazed state!’

The ship was on fire.

Sayah Yan gritted her teeth and lunged towards the outside of the storage.

Realizing she had almost suffocated to death without knowing it sent chills down her spine.

‘The area near the prison has the bulkheads down, so for now, I should be safe from the fire and smoke. First, I need to assess the situation.’

Whoosh!

She ran like a silent cat.

Tap, tap!

The sound of the flames grew louder.

‘No one is here. They must have decided to abandon the ship. This enormous battleship should not easily catch fire! What has Crown Prince Valenciaunos done?’

There was not a single soul to be found in the central area lined with cabins.

The colossal ship was empty.

By the time she reached the fifth deck, the flames began to make their presence known.

Whoosh!

The reds and yellows seemed to tear the world apart, flicking their tongues at her.

“Ugh!”

Whoosh!

A powerful heat wave rushed in, making it hard to breathe.

All the air was being drawn upwards.

Sayah Yan pinched her breath and sprinted down the stairs.

She leaped over the blazing hallway, ran along the walls, and flipped planks off the ceiling to reach the deck above.

‘I’m almost there.’

At last, she spotted the staircase leading to the upper deck.

Since the stairs were blazing ferociously, she kicked the ground and leaped.

Thud!

The assassin’s agility soared toward the sky, and Sayah Yan finally stood on the upper deck.

“Ha.”

Fresh air rushed into her lungs.

Dark clouds were visible in the azure night sky.

At that moment, an unforgettable voice reached her ears.

“Have you finally come out? I’ve waited so long.”

Infuriatingly, it sounded as if he had been waiting like a lover.