Chapter 79: Setting Sail, Hunting Whales

After soaking in the bathtub for a full day and night, Lin Qi and Enzo absorbed every bit of the medicinal power from the deep purple-black liquid until it turned into a faint, diluted pink. The terrifying treatment was finally over. They scrambled out of the tub in a sorry state and, with the servants’ help, scrubbed themselves thoroughly clean.

They washed away the pungent medicine, wiped off the inexplicably thick layer of black grime—almost as thick as pigskin—that had accumulated on their bodies, and, feeling utterly refreshed, each accepted a vial of secret elixir from Blackbeard and downed it in one gulp.

During their soak, the dreadful wounds on their bodies had already healed by ninety percent. Now, with the potent elixir, a wave of heat surged across their remaining injuries, erasing even the slightest trace of harm. Not even a scar was left behind.

Dressed in fresh, clean clothes, Lin Qi settled comfortably on the highest terrace of the ancestral mansion.

Just like at the Emerald Rose Hotel, the terrace at Lin Qi’s family home was enclosed in a glass conservatory constructed from massive panes imported from the Viathias Commercial Federation. There were no flowers or plants inside, only a simple round table and a few stools.

From here, one could gaze through the glass at the distant mountains. Especially to the southwest, where a sheer white cliff stretched for miles, standing hundreds of meters tall like a city wall rising from the mountains—a truly spectacular sight.

Blackbeard sat at the table. Having just bathed, the bruises on his face had already vanished, a testament to the miraculous power of a Grand Knight. He took a sip of tea, leaned back in his chair with satisfaction, and said with a broad smile, “Everything is going well. Dunork is already singing the praises of you two young heroes. With this, the mayor’s seat is secure.”

Enzo sat upright beside them, marveling at the newfound strength coursing through his body. He had broken through from red to yellow battle energy—gaining two levels at once—and was still struggling to control this force. Not only that, but his muscle and bone strength had increased dramatically. By his estimation, his raw physical power had doubled, even without using battle energy.

The potion was astoundingly effective—a doubling of strength! If he had relied on his own training, how many arduous years would it have taken to achieve such progress? Furthermore, he could sense the medicinal energy had cleared many key energy nodes within him. His future progress in battle energy would be swift, leaving his peers far behind.

There was no doubt that this potion had been acquired at great expense by some royal family in the east, meant for cultivating the elite of their house. Unfortunately, the escort they sent wasn’t strong enough, allowing Blackbeard to profit greatly from their misfortune.

Clenching his fists, Enzo looked at Blackbeard with respect and deep gratitude.

Blackbeard returned Enzo’s gaze with a warm nod, clearly fond of him. Bold and brave, yet unpretentious—such a friend for Lin Qi gave him peace of mind. After all, he and other elders like Ironhammer would grow old, and Lin Qi would need his own band of brothers at his side.

The family could provide Lin Qi with plenty of outstanding young men, but he needed fresh blood from outside to join them. Only with a constant influx of newcomers could they truly grow and thrive. Stagnation would only lead the family into decline and eventual ruin.

Lin Qi took a sip of tea, cleared his throat, and said, “Since the mayor’s seat is secure, then, dear father, what about those two women?”

Blackbeard’s brow furrowed. He rose and declared, “Ah, I remember now—those damnable women! I’ll lead the team myself to hunt them down! Don’t worry, son, I’ll clean up your mess and see this through. Trust your honest father!”

He was about to stride out of the conservatory when Lin Qi suddenly leapt up and grabbed him by the belt. Staring him down, Lin Qi ground out through clenched teeth, “Dear father, do I care about whether those women live or die? It’s the gold notes, the jewels, all those valuables they carry! I want eighty percent!”

Blackbeard’s face darkened instantly. He hissed, “Forty at most. Look at all the men your old man has to deploy!”

Lin Qi roared, “I’ll have mother crawl out of bed in the middle of the night and strangle you, you greedy old scoundrel! After all the wounds you’ve given me, seventy percent!”

Blackbeard bellowed, “You unfilial son! Would you disturb your mother’s rest for a bit of money? Fifty—it’s final!”

Lin Qi raised his voice to a shout, “Aunt Lily! Dearest Aunt Lily!”

Blackbeard let out a long sigh, his face crumpling. “Sixty. See how hard your old man works? And with all these men going out, you’ll have to give them something for a midnight snack.”

Enzo was stunned by their haggling, his jaw dropping wide as he stared, speechless, at the pair of outrageous, unreliable father and son. Lin Qi and Blackbeard exchanged a grin, bumped fists with gusto, and shouted, “Deal!”

With the spoils divided, Blackbeard—who seconds ago had been set on personally leading the hunt for Ya and Ling—sat back down as if nothing had happened. He crossed his legs and said with a careless laugh, “So, you and Enzo should take a few days off. Head out to sea for a while. I’ll tell everyone you’re too injured, recovering in the mountain villa, where the air is better.”

He raised his eyebrows and smiled slyly. “The worse your injuries seem, the more your old man can gain—and win more praise. Everyone loves a tragic hero! If you two had died fighting those thieves, maybe I could even run for provincial governor! Pity you’re my son.”

Lin Qi and Enzo’s faces turned black as thunder. If only they could take Blackbeard on together, they’d surely give him a good beating.

Suppressing his anger with a cough, Lin Qi rubbed his nose and muttered, “Fine, I’ll spend a few days at sea. I have no wish to hide here, unable to step outside, and I certainly don’t want to hole up in one of your ‘villas’ in the mountains with that gang of idiots. They’d only corrupt pure, innocent me.”

Pure and innocent Lin Qi? Enzo shuddered involuntarily.

Blackbeard burst into hearty laughter and waved his hand. “Settled, then. The Windmill sails at noon. It’s the perfect season to hunt the unicorn whales. You’ll spend half a month at sea, and when you return, we’ll welcome the New Year together!”

A chill ran down Enzo’s spine—sailing in this cursed season?

Thinking of the monstrous waves and icebergs of the northern sea, Enzo’s knees began to tremble.

Damn it all, Enzo was a top student at the Army Academy—in other words, Enzo couldn’t swim!