CHAPTER 230: CHAPTER 208: GLORY OF REVENGE, MITHRIL DRAGON SOUL

Byron looked down at the piece of flesh, which only had a nose left yet still sprouted writhing, pale tentacles and brimmed with vitality. After being contaminated by the opponent, Koraskin obviously obtained an ability related to physical transformation. Detaching his own nose to attach it to a puppet allows him to control it remotely and exert his own strength. It has some similarities to my Wild Hunt Servants. Encountering such a hard-to-kill enemy is indeed troublesome.

As he was lost in thought, the nose emitted a buzzing sound, as faint as a mosquito yet still wildly defiant, "Sea Hunter? You are Byron Tudor, the Sea Hunter? Your name is in the intelligence reports. I know you; you’re just a Second Order Pirate. You’d better release me quickly! Even if my body is torn apart, my consciousness remains connected to my main body. The main body has already seen the treasure map and your faces. If you don’t release me soon, once I recover, I’ll chop you, that ignorant woman, and your entire International Port into mincemeat!"

Byron sneered. This guy clearly isn’t thinking straight anymore. Who would be foolish enough to release a tiger back into the mountains?

He said provocatively, "Captain Koraskin, aren’t you going to Silvergold Island in search of treasure? Then let’s settle things—life or death—on Silvergold Island. Whoever doesn’t go is nothing but a ship maggot."

Forcing himself to suppress his...appetite for the tentacle, he pulled out a small box made from Law-Breaking Stone from his Snake Skin Bag and sealed the nose inside.

Although he hadn’t needed to act throughout the entire ordeal, Catherine alone had successfully suppressed the turmoil in the port. However, gaining an unkillable, madman-like enemy was clearly not a pleasant development.

A murderous light flickered in Byron’s eyes. Diego Velázquez, Governor of the Castilian Royal Port of Havana! We’ve truly made a formidable enemy of each other now. I originally only intended to temporarily suppress the influence of the two maritime overlords, never considering targeting you specifically. But you dared to set your sights on us and actively resist?

The Clown Pirate Group’s choice to attack the International Port was evidently no coincidence. Byron knew, without needing confirmation from Rigel, the ’Fairy,’ that the one spreading rumors among all the major intelligence agencies about the International Port’s inadequacy had to be that Governor of Havana.

Principle: The one with vested interests is the prime suspect.

Previously, Byron had been amused by the Newman family’s impending misfortune; they were soon to face immense pressure from Earl Warwick from the Kingdom’s mainland. I hadn’t expected that I would be the first to be affected by this "vested interests" principle.

Before this, he had leveraged various powers to gather people and establish the International Port, set rules, and partially monopolized the East-West trade routes. Relying on the major native city-states, he made Torrent Fortress the first Colonizer fortress on Yucatan Island, securing "exclusive operating rights" from the natives. Each of these accomplishments was something the People of Castilia had wanted to achieve but had failed to do. Naturally, he had become a thorn in their side, an eyesore.

Direct confrontation wasn’t the Skinning Cult’s style; shadow warfare was. Spreading rumors, fanning the flames, conducting assassinations, and manipulating relationships between the major powers had easily pushed the International Port into the eye of the storm. If Catherine hadn’t been so competent, the Bone Gobble Joker could have shamed them today, and a second or third adversary could do so tomorrow. And by then, the real clown would turn out to be me.

Velázquez, since you want to make a move against me, to make an example of me by killing the chicken to scare the monkeys? Then don’t blame me. It’s time to play the card I’ve been holding.

Thinking this, Byron immediately connected with Cortes, who was currently acting as the emperor of the Aztec Empire. Unlike Alvin, the ’Falcon,’ who was often out on missions, Byron fully utilized the initiative of this former Third Order Knight Commander and Navy Rear Admiral. He was given complete free rein.

It turned out that the Conqueror had done a pretty good job. With the support of Torrent Fortress, he had already re-consolidated the remnants of the three core city-states, regaining some of their former strength.

"My master, good day," a young man wearing a feathered Crown bowed respectfully before him.

Byron said heavily, "Mr. Cortes, I’ve recently heard some rather disturbing rumors from the Castilian Colony, which I feel obliged to share with you. You need to be prepared for what I’m about to say. I’ve heard that your wife, Dalina, and her brother-in-law—none other than Governor Velázquez of Havana... Yes, they weren’t discreet at all. The garden, the swing, the grape arbor... Alas, more than one or two servants saw them. I don’t know what you think about such things, but even as an outsider, I’m filled with righteous indignation. It’s simply intolerable."

"What? You’re saying you want to lead the Aztec people in a glorious revenge? You’re volunteering to take advantage of Velazquez leading his forces away from the colony to launch a surprise attack on Havana and destroy his den? And you’re also going to pay a visit to his wife, your sister-in-law? Excellent, excellent! As your master, I certainly support you. I’ll arrange for the Torrent Fortress armory to send you an emergency supply of top-grade munitions. Our steel production has increased, so our equipment will definitely keep getting better. As for the Aztec Empire’s military funds, just send them to the usual place."

Having arranged the revenge plan, Byron hung up the remote communication with satisfaction.

He looked up at the port city and saw a brilliant silver light rising there, like a falling galaxy. He felt overjoyed. A Mithril Dragon? It seems Sister’s title ability has finally awakened.

It wasn’t only Byron who noticed the celestial phenomenon. After the battle ended and martial law was lifted, many people saw the pillar of silver light erupting skyward from Catherine at the very center of the battlefield, and within that column, a huge, majestic, and ethereal creature appeared.

They couldn’t help exclaiming, "A dragon! It’s a Silver Dragon!"

In this battle, Catherine, the [Mithril Dragon], successfully reminded those ambitious individuals of the Gold Sequence’s maxim: When money talks, truth is silent. When a Mithril Knight possesses enough Wealth, their ’cash-powered’ abilities can unleash extraordinarily terrifying combat capabilities. The title of Mithril Dragon became associated not just with Wealth, but with unmatched violent force. Possessing endless riches, as well as Power to match that Wealth.

This resounding victory, witnessed by all, finally raised the Legend Score of her [Title: Mithril Dragon] to 20 points.

"CHIME—!"

A silver-white Dragon phantom stretched above her head, letting out a melodious dragon roar that sounded like the jingle of a money bag. Its body, seemingly crafted from Mithril, was long and elegant. Its scales resembled slender, polished mirrors, reflecting a brilliant silver light, as if a cluster of moonlight had fallen into the mortal world. Golden horns, like a Crown, grew upon its head, and its vertical Dragon Eyes also shone with a brilliant, pure gold.

The first impression was one of majesty! Beauty! Elegance! Dazzling! Wealthy!

After three seconds, the only impression left was: Wealthy!

A single Mithril helmet could easily be exchanged for a sizeable plantation. This entire Mithril Dragon, tsk tsk...

Catherine, the center of attention, her long hair billowing, examined her newly acquired capability.

[Title Effect: Mithril Dragon Soul]:

"As a Third Order Mithril Knight, using her own Mithril Hand, it is easy to create a Mithril Dragon that is mere form without substance. But a created Giant Dragon would be no different from an ordinary Mithril Guard, only larger and harder to control. However, once blessed by a Dragon Soul, it would possess both form and spirit, allowing her to personally transform into a young Mithril Dragon by harnessing a vast amount of Mithril. Her strength, speed, and defense would be greatly enhanced, and she would gain three spell-like abilities: Dragon’s Might, Flight, and Breath."

Just like Byron’s title ability, at 20, 25, and 30 Legend Score points, it would further improve and expand its powers. She would inevitably evolve step by step from a young dragon to a young adult dragon, and then transform into an adult dragon. At that point, she would likely gain the qualification to contend with a true Mythical Creature, a Giant Dragon. Of course, the prerequisite for all this was that Catherine must possess Wealth proportionate to the size of a Giant Dragon.

Byron, carried by the gale winds, dashed in two steps to his sister’s side. Looking at Catherine, who couldn’t suppress her impulse and transformed into a five-meter young dragon in mid-air to test her new abilities, he was dazzled and muttered, "Beautiful, truly beautiful. Dragons indeed perfectly combine Power and Beauty!"

The faint Dragon Blood within him from Reinhardt—founder of the North Sea Empire, the [Bathed in Dragon Blood], [Kingly Title: Blue Dragon King]—seemed to have been activated. I’m itching to leap onto the dragon’s back... for a test ride. A knight without a mount is definitely incomplete. And without a doubt, Dragon Knights are the most prestigious among them. In an age where Giant Dragons have long since vanished with the Mythological Era, this Mithril Dragon... is indeed the dream dragon of all knights. If this thing... if it would let me, the Storm Knight, take it for a ride... HISS. I can’t think about it anymore. I’m afraid of being beaten into a pulp by that frolicking dragon.