"Octopus Ghost" Hawkins stood atop the highest lighthouse of the dock, overlooking the entire "White Whale Port." Although he hadn't acted from start to finish, strangely, his presence was still enveloped in a thick, suffocating stench of blood.

Standing silently like a statue, he waited until the cries and screams in the city slowly faded away before turning to inquire of Heimer, who stood beside him:

"How did things go?"

His tone was calm, as if he hadn't just witnessed a city-wide massacre but merely an ordinary play.

"Lord Hawkins, after our direct forces blocked all roads out of the city, apart from a squad of Iron Wall Knights from the Church breaking through to escort a group of clergy and civilians out, there's no one left alive in this city!"

Heimer's eyes flashed with boundless fanaticism, trembling at the Pirate King's shocking power. A top-ranking trade port in the Kingdom, including a large city with over a hundred thousand floating population, had been completely slaughtered!

However, Heimer's expression showed some dissatisfaction afterward: "Lord, do all the wealth looted from the city really have to be given to those scavengers? It's an astronomical sum!"

Witnessing a city's wealth as vast as mountains and seas, Heimer couldn't possibly remain indifferent.

"Oh ho-ho, the most valuable things we've already taken. What harm is there in leaving a few scraps to the hyenas? As long as our plans are realized, worldly wealth is but a trifling matter.

The position of Black Sea Pirate King no longer contains my ambition; the Extraordinary Peak is my future!

Heimer, as my apprentice, your growth is something your teacher greatly anticipates! Oh ho-ho..."

Hawkins laughed as he stroked the volcanic rock statue of "Mother of Sea Monsters," Echet, in his hand.

However, the statue, which should have been entirely black, had now turned into an ominous blood-red color, as if gently squeezing would cause blood to drip down, making the goddess that resembles a beautiful maiden appear especially ghastly and terrifying.

The Pirate King clutched this sculpture as though he were already holding his future!

'Did I summon all these sea trash to White Whale Port just to let them get rich?

With absolute power, we crush, sacrificing every life in the city to provide "Mother of Sea Monsters" with immense power. Soon, I'll have a sea monster army under my command.

These scavengers who think they've struck it big are merely bait to distract the authorities. This city's vast fortune might cost them their lives!'

Beside him, Heimer heard the Pirate King's words and the invisible hints within them, feeling a surge of heat in his heart.

Why did I defect from the Navy to join the pirates? It was for this! The Black Sea Pirate King, "Heimer Remon," ah ha, ah hahahaha...

He bowed even deeper, as if worshipping deities:

"Lord, for your cause, I shall do whatever it takes!"

...

In a very short time.

The shocking news spread like a whirlwind, quickly disseminating across the many nations on the Black Sea East Coast.

"Audacious!!!"

"Sanctions! We must crush the arrogance of the pirates with iron and fire!"

"The citizens of God should not suffer such calamity!"

As the horrendous massacre concluded, the Pirate Alliance swept away the entire city's fortune.

With the execution blade finally falling, those officials, navies, and churches that did not fall victim to it breathed a sigh of relief, but what remained was uncontainable anger!

How long has it been?

Aside from "disaster incidents" caused by an Evil God, when have mere pirates, such scum, been able to bully a grand kingdom of the civilized world?

Moreover, such a mindless act of slaughtering a city!

At that time, many nations along the Black Sea coast had already detected the movements of the Pirate King, "Octopus Ghost" Hawkins, after all, his fleet flagrantly sailed through multiple nations' territorial waters, it was impossible for them to play blind.

Facing the massive Pirate Alliance, out of caution, none of the navies chose to attack. But the audacious launch of "warfare" assaults on a civilized nation by "Octopus Ghost" was completely unexpected.

Indeed, from the perspective of the nations, Hawkins' action was a blatant declaration of war!!!

Yet, at this time.

All nations were watching the reaction of the Ilya Kingdom's titled knight, "Stormy Sea Tide," renowned in his youth for his fiery temper. His reaction to the pirates concerned all the major powers' upcoming strategies against the pirates and... their attitude towards the Ilya Kingdom.

Although as an open port city, "White Whale Port" had casualties from virtually every nation in the massacre.

But Ilya Kingdom was the direct "interest" victim.

If this kingdom guardian, rumored to be rapidly weakening with age, is unable to provide strong retaliation against the pirates, his centuries-old intimidating power may quickly collapse.

Then, besides the domestic factions, many foreign countries and even the so-called "Tulip" allies may begin to stir.

The impact of the event would be magnified infinitely beyond just a simple "pirate city raid!"

The time to test the Ilya Royal Family had arrived.

"Your Majesty, what should we do? Are we really just going to have no reaction? Please let the titled knight intervene!"

The Crown Prince, also "King's Right Hand" and "Kingdom Governor," Yellen Ilya, was filled with rage, bursting into the Royal Palace as soon as he received the news, questioning his father.

If they didn't act soon, the "weak" Ilya would become the laughingstock among nations.

But the kingdom guardian titled knight "Stormy Sea Tide" by now was an ancestor of the Royal Family from many generations ago; familial ties could no longer influence his judgment, only the King could formally request his intervention.

Seated on the throne, the old King, holding the Golden Staff, glanced at his young impulsive son, then closed his eyes again.

"If the guardian wishes to act, there's no need for us to request. And even if he does want to act, I'll prevent it."

Yellen thought his father would agree with him, striving to uphold the honor of the Ilya Royal Family, but the King's words were like a cold shower.

"Why, Your Majesty?

If we don't respond to such an event, the blow to the kingdom's reputation would be fatal! Even a tiger that can no longer show its claws could be bullied by a mere mongrel!"

The Crown Prince couldn't help but shout, his voice growing louder.

But suddenly, as if realizing something, his voice turned indescribably low:

"Could it be... already...?"

The King supported his body with the Scepter, stood, and gazed up at the dome of the great hall, his expression far-reaching:

"Perhaps there's still four or five years left? If today the 'Stormy Sea Tide' titled knight acts, maybe he can indeed slay the 'Octopus Ghost,' but the four or five-year buffer period for Ilya would vanish.

What good would preserving reputation do? The rising nobility, those mongrels who can't be tamed, would instantly turn on us, and 'Ilya' would no longer be 'Ilya'!"

The true health condition of the kingdom guardian, the nation's top secret, hadn't been freely informed even to Crown Prince Yellen. As the young Crown Prince confirmed his long-held suspicions from his father's mouth, he felt as if he'd been heavily struck.

Could the kingdom soon lose its greatest reliance of several centuries? Without a Peak Transcendent residing, can it still be called a kingdom?

"All qualified Great Knights loyal to the kingdom have entered the Secret Realm, receiving guidance from the guardian. The future fate of Ilya is not decided today nor by you or me.

Yellen, my son, feel today's powerlessness with your heart, this is the world of the Extraordinary!"

With a gentle pause, the King's eyes emitted a cold light:

"However, things cannot be left as they are. 'Octopus Ghost' and pirates who dare offend Ilya's dignity must repent their actions in hell! Kingdom pests who dare delay wartime must be severely punished!

The Kings of 'Tulip' nations have just agreed to my 'Navy New Star Plan.' Let those old foxes see that aside from the Peak Transcendent, Ilya is not something hyenas can covet, even with centuries of heritage!"