The Genius Son-in-law of the Swordmaster Household—Blessed by Authority

Chapter 159 : Maintenance (2)

Maintenance (2)

A few days after locking Greenyolf in the magic power extraction facility.

Ian brought Nayuta to the facility's massive underground chamber.

He wanted her to carry out a precise inspection to see whether the ancient Luminari golem could be operated right away.

After a short while, Nayuta, who had been checking the golem's chest circuits, came down with a troubled expression on her face.

"I'm sorry, honored envoy. In its current state, it's impossible to activate."

"Is it because of the heat treatment?"

At Ian's calm response, Nayuta's eyes widened in surprise.

"You knew?"

"To some extent."

He had completely extracted all the information inside Greenyolf's head using Bloodscent Mind Reading.

Naturally, he'd figured out at least some of the problems with the golem that Greenyolf had been researching.

Ian looked at Nayuta and asked,

"As far as I know, the heat treatment issue can only be solved with the 'Essence of the Deep Sea'. Am I right?"

When Ian asked for confirmation, Nayuta nodded and answered with a confident voice.

"A-as expected of you, honored envoy! That's correct! Our clan called it 'Blood of the Sea,' but in human language, 'Essence of the Deep Sea' is accurate."

Essence of the Deep Sea.

A liquid metal that ripples like mercury, tinged blue.

No matter how much heat is applied, it has the property of maintaining a consistently cold temperature.

"So, it's as I thought."

Ian's gaze deepened.

'It'd be easy to solve if I just bought it from the dimensional shop.'

The Essence of the Deep Sea was a pretty expensive item priced in dimensional currency.

It wasn't so expensive that he couldn't buy it, but for that amount, it seemed much cheaper just to make the effort and fetch it himself.

'Besides, I already know where the Essence of the Deep Sea is. I know exactly where Greenyolf set everything up.'

Because the guy was fully aware of both the golem's problems and the solution, he had already taken steps to secure the Essence of the Deep Sea.

Of course he had—after all, his plan was to mass-produce golems and build an army.

Naturally, he would be serious about securing a large supply of such a core material as the 'Essence of the Deep Sea'.

'The supply route for obtaining the Essence of the Deep Sea is the Sapphire Sea in the northwestern part of the continent.'

The Sapphire Sea in the northwest of the continent.

A lawless zone where fierce waves raged all year round and no nation's authority could reach.

There, pirates who had conspired with Greenyolf operated.

Those pirates didn't risk their lives diving into the perilous deep sea themselves; instead, they enslaved merfolk who lived in the sea, forcing them to mine the Essence of the Deep Sea.

They kidnapped merfolk, chained collars around their necks, and if they didn't meet their mining quotas, they'd either throw them to ferocious sea monsters or leave them to dry out and die under the burning sun—a cruel method of control.

'I'll have to clean out that trash while I'm at it.'

Moreover, there was another trophy that he needed to collect there, in addition to the Essence of the Deep Sea.

The boss of those pirates: Blackbeard Barogo.

'Barogo. To think that bastard is there.'

During the Hisperion Civil War in his previous life.

Barogo was the bastard who took advantage of the chaos in Hisperion to turn the eastern coastline into a living hell.

On top of that, during the Human-Demon War, he even became an executive of the Great Cult of Sins and drowned countless heroes fighting for humanity—a villain among villains.

'That guy... as I recall, his magic power capacity is quite something.'

As an executive of the Great Cult of Sins, Barogo was at least at the bishop level.

Following Greenyolf, he was more than worthy of reserving a spot for him at the magic power extraction facility.

'I can get the Essence of the Deep Sea, save on dimensional currency, and secure another usable magic power reservoir all at once.'

In that moment, his next objective was set.

* * *

Salt Grave, the outlaws' port on the shores of the Sapphire Sea.

Untouched by any nation's law, it was a pirate's paradise and a stinking trash heap.

Ian, with his robe pulled deep over his head, opened the door to the 'Black Anchor', a tavern-cum-hideout for pirates.

― Screeeak.

As the rusty hinge squealed and the door opened, the raucous noise inside instantly died down.

A nauseating air—a mix of booze, fish, and stench.

Dozens of pirates all turned their heads to look at Ian.

Blatant scrutiny and hostility toward the stranger they'd never seen before.

"What the hell? Who's this bastard? Never seen him."

"Maybe he's some bastard's kid coming to look for his daddy."

As one pirate snickered and mocked, snide laughter echoed among the crowd.

Ignoring their jeers, Ian walked straight toward a man sitting at the back of the bar.

A rough-looking man with an eyepatch over one eye.

'One-Eyed Jack', Barogo's right-hand man and the manager of this place.

"Hey, string bean."

As Ian approached, two burly pirates blocked his way.

"You pay the entrance fee? This bar's pricey if you're not a member."

"Yeah. If you didn't know, then hand over your stuff and get out while you still can. That'd be best for you."

Ian indifferently glanced down at the filthy hand placed on his shoulder.

"... Remove it."

"What?"

"Before I cut it off."

The pirates blanked for a moment at Ian's cold warning, then broke out in laughter.

"Pwahaha! Hey, did you hear that? Says he'll cut off my arm!"

"This punk's nuts."

"How are you going to cut it, huh? You think it comes off that easy? Ever even tried before?"

The pirate licked his lips as he drew his blade.

Ian's lips clamped shut.

He'd hoped to avoid bloodshed for as long as possible, but that was pointless thinking.

These men all served under Barogo and were trash involved in kidnapping and plundering.

Leaving them alive would only harm the world.

There was no need to give trash a second chance at life.

― Slick.

"...?"

The pirate suddenly felt his body tilting.

He had no sense in the hand he'd placed on Ian's shoulder.

"Huh?"

― Thud.

Something fell to the floor.

Looking down, he saw it was his own arm.

"A- ah...?"

Before the pirate could even scream—

― Whoosh!

The black longsword Ian projected sliced through the air like a comb's teeth.

—Swish! Slash!

The necks of the two pirates blocking Ian's path rolled helplessly to the floor.

"...!!"

Massacre in an instant.

The pub's atmosphere froze, then immediately boiled over.

"Th-this bastard!"

"Kill him! Tear him apart!"

Pirates kicked chairs aside, brandishing weapons as they charged.

The killing intent of dozens of villains filled the cramped tavern.

But Ian didn't even blink.

This number of third-rate pirates was nothing to him.

Less threatening than falling leaves.

—Slash!

Ian casually swept his sword sideways.

Too simple to even be called swordsmanship: just a basic horizontal slash.

But the aura imbued in that strike was disastrous.

—KWOAAAAANG!!!

The sword wind fanned out, engulfing the oncoming pirates.

"Aaaaaargh!"

"Urk!"

Those at the front were torn to bloody chunks, and those behind were thrown against the walls with their limbs and torsos severed.

In an instant, the tavern became a slaughterhouse reeking of blood.

"M-madness!"

"A monster!"

The survivors either froze, staggered back in terror, or charged with a scream.

It changed nothing.

—Slick, thud. CRASH.

Ian moved with fluid, unerring motion, not letting a single one escape alive.

Those who tried to run were burned with a thunder energy-wrapped Sword Ki, and those who tried to hide were sliced through—walls and all.

Just one minute.

That was all it took for all forty pirates in the tavern to be annihilated.

"H-hah... ah...!"

Now, only two remained alive inside the tavern.

Ian. And One-Eyed Jack, who sat in the seat of honor at the bar.

Jack was left dumbstruck by the unreal slaughter unfolding before his eyes.

Ian, covered in blood, stepped across the corpses toward Jack.

"You're Jack, aren't you?"

"H-hiiik...!"

Jack scrabbled backward, pressing himself against the wall.

The man before him looked less human and more like a grim reaper.

Jack realized instinctively—

If he did even one thing wrong, he'd end up just like those corpses on the floor.

Desperate to survive, he blurted,

"Y-yes! I'm Jack! You've found the right guy! Whatever you want, I'll give it to you! Information! Ledgers! Money! Anything! Please, just spare me...!"

Jack had no idea what Ian wanted.

But he believed that if he spilled everything, at least his life might be spared.

However—

"No."

Ian coldly shook his head.

"I don't need it."

"... What?"

Jack wore a blank, dumbfounded look.

Then...

"How could I ever trust that filthy tongue of yours."

Ian had a much surer and faster way to get information than wringing it out of this scum.

—Shh.

Ian raised his sword.

"W-wait! Please! Sir, wai—!"

Jack frantically waved his hands and screamed, but Ian's blade fell without hesitation.

—Slice!

"GAAAAAH!!"

The blade cut deep into Jack's torso.

Blood gushed out like a burst waterskin.

While Jack writhed in agony, Ian reached a hand toward the blood pooling on the floor.

—Hssss.

Then he deeply inhaled the pungent scent rising from Jack's blood.

Bloodscent Mind Reading, the blood imprint ability he'd mirrored from Judy.

In an instant, the memories from Jack's mind flowed into Ian's like a panorama.

'Found it easily enough.'

Jack's recent memories.

Two mornings ago, a messenger from Blackbeard Barogo had urgently requested supplies from Jack.

—Lord Barogo is currently 20 miles south of Owl Shoal! He's getting all worked up because they've run out of lemons and rum! You need to send provisions, quick!

—That damned hairy beast. Didn't I just send several crates only three days ago? He's already wolfed it all down? Son of a bitch. Fine, I'll send it over.

Jack's memories even held clear images of him and Barogo laughing together as they abused the merfolk.

'South of Owl Shoal. 20 miles.'

He'd figured out Barogo's precise location.

Ian opened his eyes.

"Gr—grk... S-spare... me..."

Jack looked up at Ian with terror-stricken eyes.

Ian gazed coldly down at him.

—Thrust!

Ian's blade pierced Jack's heart with precision.

"Gck!"

Jack sagged, not even managing a final scream.

Only one living thing remained in the tavern: Ian himself.

He burned away all the blood on his body with fire energy, then turned and left the tavern without hesitation.

The night wind blowing from the harbor carried a briny smell.

'Considering the distance... there's no need to take a boat.'

He had considered just hijacking a pirate vessel, but it seemed unnecessary.

By boat, it would take quite some time to reach Barogo's location.

But if Ian went himself—

'Much faster. Not even an hour.'

At the deserted end of the harbor, Ian stood.

The dark blue night sea roared with churning waves.

To an ordinary person, just looking at it would evoke terror.

But in Ian's eyes, it was nothing more than a flat road.

—Leap!

Ian vaulted onto the water as though stepping into empty air.

—Fwoosh!

Crossing Water on Duckweed.

A footwork technique that only an expert at the pinnacle could display—walking on water.

—KWOAAAAANG!

Ian's form shot across the surface, tearing through the darkness of the sea.

Destination: Owl Shoal.

It was time to hunt Blackbeard Barogo and the Essence of the Deep Sea.