“Move out!”
Following Viscount Finn’s command, everyone took on a solemn expression as they marched out of Stormveil City, heading toward the Dusk Sea.
Including the warriors of the Stormveil City warband, this was a punitive force of nearly seven hundred people.
Although it included non-combatants like nobles and mayors, the combat power of the remaining six hundred plus warriors was more than enough to deal with the merman pirates under the Mad Shark King.
However, the outcome of this campaign would ultimately be decided by the battle against the Mad Shark King himself.
As long as the Mad Shark King could be killed, the expedition would be a success.
But if the Mad Shark King managed to escape, it would be futile even if all the mermen under his command were wiped out.
In just a month or two, the Mad Shark King would be able to recruit enough mermen once again to rebuild his pirate forces and continue harassing the towns and villages on the fringes of the Heron Empire’s Dusk Sea.
“Priest Leon.”
Within the ranks, Miles, dressed in a white-and-gold priest’s robe, greeted Leon.
Just as Miles was about to speak, he took a closer look at Leon, a flash of surprise crossing his eyes.
“What is it, Bishop Miles?” Leon asked.
Miles stared at Leon and said, “Priest Leon, it’s only been three or four days since we last met, hasn’t it?”
Leon nodded.
Seeing this, Miles sighed with emotion. “But the change in your aura... it doesn't feel like it’s only been three or four days. In just this short time, your aura has grown by more than ten percent!”
“Has it?” Leon smiled upon hearing this. “Perhaps it’s because I’ve been practicing Sacred Light Meditation day and night without fail, so my aura has undergone such a change.”
During these past few days, Leon had been silently practicing Walking Meditation. He had never stopped, and his mental strength had grown steadily.
Although Walking Meditation had not yet reached Lv2 and the mental strength boost it provided wasn't powerful, Leon also possessed Sacred Light Meditation.
Under the dual effects of the Arduous Meditation trait and Divine Art Resonance, even a small increase in mental strength could act like a lever, triggering a far more significant surge in his overall power.
The enhanced traits he gained from leveling up his divine arts were helping Leon achieve rapid and stable growth in strength.
“As expected of a genius of the divine arts who even the Pope admires.”
Hearing Leon’s answer, Miles sighed once more with sincere admiration.
If Leon continued to increase his aura at this rate, he would likely reach a level comparable to Miles in less than two years, and might even surpass him.
Of course, Miles felt no resentment; instead, he was happy to see it.
To him, the emergence of such a peerless talent within the Holy See was undoubtedly a miracle manifested by the God of Sacred Light.
Not only should he not feel the slightest jealousy, but he should also feel deeply proud.
With a figure like Leon leading the way, the faith in the Sacred Light would surely spread further and wider.
Miles reined in his emotions and glanced around Leon’s vicinity, but he didn't see Alicia, who usually followed Leon everywhere. He asked:
“Priest Leon, where is little Alicia?”
Leon glanced at his own shadow and asked, “Bishop Miles, you haven't noticed Alicia?”
Miles looked puzzled. What did he mean he hadn't noticed her?
Or rather, should he have noticed her?
But he didn't see Alicia guarding Leon anywhere nearby.
‘Even Bishop Miles hasn't noticed Shadow Watch, so it seems the Mad Shark King won't either.’
‘Mm-hmm! Shadow, Watch... very devious!’
‘...’
Leon suppressed the urge to complain in his mind. He shook his head at Miles and said:
“Please allow me to keep it a secret for now. You’ll know where Alicia is when the time comes, Bishop Miles.”
Though Miles was curious, he didn't press further since Leon had put it that way.
...
The punitive force arrived at Ashen Bay, located southeast of Stormveil City. At the bay, a giant vessel, approximately five hundred meters long and fifty meters wide, was already waiting.
This giant ship was named the Typhon, built by an alchemy master a century ago. Its hull was cast from Post steel, while the keel was made of red ironwood, and it was equipped with twenty-four ultra-large caliber heavy cannons.
In terms of sailing speed, bombardment power, and hull durability, it was of the highest caliber.
Seeing this giant dragon-like ship lying on the sea, the previously worried nobles and mayors breathed a sigh of relief, instantly feeling full of confidence.
“It’s actually the Typhon! Isn't this warship usually not allowed to be deployed at will?”
“You said it yourself—usually. Now that Young Master Leon holds a Royal Decree, how would the Imperial Navy dare to disobey?”
“With the Typhon’s assistance, punishing that Mad Shark King will surely be a breeze!”
“Hmph! If the Mad Shark King dares to appear within the Typhon’s firing range, we’ll make sure he never returns!”
The nobles and mayors discussed animatedly, boarding the giant Typhon with curiosity and excitement. They instantly felt that with the Typhon involved, this punitive action would be an easy success.
However, hearing their words, Leon only shook his head.
The Typhon was impressive, but it was still an alchemical product from a hundred years ago; it certainly couldn't compare to modern ships.
It was just like modern warfare in his previous life—twenty years ago it was precision missiles and super heavy tanks, and twenty years later it was all information warfare and suicide drone strikes.
Even in this era, the power of the Typhon’s heavy cannons was still formidable.
However, modern ships were generally equipped with magic shields, and the Typhon’s heavy cannons were not inscribed with mana-breaking runes, nor did its shells possess mana-breaking properties.
If these heavy cannon shells hit the Mad Shark King’s ship, the Sardine, they would all be intercepted by the magic barriers and fail to cause any damage.
Therefore, the battle with the Mad Shark King would ultimately depend on the outcome of the boarding actions.
Woo—!
Once everyone was on board, the Typhon let out a roar and sailed out of the bay, heading toward the Dusk Sea.
Aboard the Typhon.
Viscount Finn, carrying a greatsword, approached Leon with great interest:
“Young Master Leon, how should the battle deployment be arranged later?”
After his old injuries were healed, Viscount Finn had regained his former glory. He was now able to battle with the Viscountess from night until morning, and his entire demeanor had shifted from dejected to spirited and proud.
After regaining his strength, he hadn't been in a hurry to announce the news to the citizens; instead, he played it cool and kept his cards close to his chest.
His purpose was to take this opportunity to set an ambush and see if he could catch any enemies off guard.
As it happened, the empire’s wars were flaring up, and the mermen of the Dusk Sea were watching greedily, intending to cause trouble amidst the chaos. Leon was also planning the expedition against the Mad Shark King at this time.
Viscount Finn, who had been silent for so long, was already impatient. He longed for a battle against a strong enemy to restore the prestige of the Finn family.
He wanted those colleagues in the military who had looked down on him because of his unhealing injuries to know:
Even if the “Burning Sword” had once flickered, it would eventually burst forth again with a fierce flame capable of blotting out the sky!
“You’ve come at the right time.”
Leon took Viscount Finn and called Miles over, bringing them into a cabin that had already been set up with soundproofing magic stones.
He looked at the two of them and said:
“The Mad Shark King doesn't know that you have fully recovered, Viscount Finn, so he will inevitably be lax toward you.”
“When the time comes, Bishop Miles and I will create an opportunity for you. We will... you must seize the chance and strive to heavily wound the Mad Shark King in one blow.”
After hearing Leon’s deployment, Viscount Finn’s eyes lit up. “That’s possible? That’s too devious... I mean, that’s too much combat wisdom!”
Leon glanced at him, calmly withdrew his gaze, and continued:
“The Mad Shark King is a Gold peak mage, and his survivability is extremely strong. Heavily wounding him will be far from enough.”
“At that time, you two will burst forth with your full strength to stall his escape. I will use the divine arts from the Power of the Three Saints and the Red Fairy Tale to get close to him, creating an opportunity for Alicia’s strike.”
“Alicia?” Viscount Finn and Miles looked at Leon in confusion upon hearing this.
Leon gave a slight wave, and a head popped out from his shadow—it was Alicia.
Miles’s eyes widened at the sight, and only then did he realize why Alicia had been nowhere to be seen.
It turned out she had been hiding in Leon’s shadow all along!
This technique of hiding in shadows was incredibly sophisticated. Even a Gold bloodline warrior like Viscount Finn and a Gold priest like Miles hadn't sensed her in the slightest!
Leon waved his hand, and Alicia shrank back into the shadow. Leon said:
“As long as we create an opportunity for Alicia to get close, the Mad Shark King is as good as dead.”
“However, that is not the focus of this operation.”
Leon looked at the two of them and said, “The focus is that after killing the Mad Shark King, the four of us will quickly withdraw and then—”
“Strike the Endless Bay directly and annihilate the forces of the 17th Prince of the Merman Court!”
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