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40.47% Horizon of Glory / Chapter 45: HoG - Chapter 45

Bab 45: HoG - Chapter 45

Chapter 45: Venture Capital

At the entrance of the Golden Palm Trading Company, Merchant Mishaal's gaze followed Byron and his entourage as they departed, a playful glint dancing in his eyes. "Just a few days ago," he reflected, "this pirate gentleman was merely the warehouse manager of the 'Man-Eater'. Now, he's ascended to the role of captain. The fate of the former captain is crystal clear. This pirate is far from ordinary. Even without a title, I wouldn't be surprised to see his name on a first-level wanted poster one day. My instincts suggest he's a promising venture capital project, worthy of our company's special fund support."

Within the framework of the 'Silver Law,' an individual's supernatural profession is not only their societal role but also an integral part of the human world's functioning. Advancement is contingent upon adherence to professional norms and responsibilities. To progress, one must be a 'model worker' for life.

Consider pirates, for example. Even if the sea wearies them, they must continue to sail unless they are content with stagnation or a decline in rank. Few are those like the ancestors of the Lancaster family, who forged new professions from piracy and established kingdoms on land. The significance of 'choosing the right profession' cannot be overstated.

Gold Sequence supernatural individuals are no exception. Their 'Golden Eye' ability grants them the power of appraisal, akin to the navigation log's might but less potent. Through engagement with treasures and the completion of appraisal, collection, and trade, they augment their strength. Appraising inanimate objects is the simplest task, followed by living goods such as horses and hunting dogs, with appraising people being the most formidable challenge. This explains the high-return scenarios of 'holding onto a rare commodity.'

Despite their abilities being a product of the 'Silver Law,' it is not always apparent who is a supernatural individual. Mishaal encountered this difficulty with Byron. "I cannot discern his profession. Last time, I perceived a faint spiritual radiance, but now, there is nothing. My appraisal is futile against him."

He pondered Byron's demeanor. "A craftsman from the High Tower Sequence? A prophet? A historian? A naturalist? With the maxim 'Use knowledge to dispel ignorance'? No, a supernatural individual from the High Tower Sequence would not turn to piracy easily."

A first-tier supernatural individual merely excels in their field compared to ordinary people, who can achieve similar feats with experience and training. Distinguishing them is nearly impossible.

Mishaal's efforts to appraise Byron were in vain. His 'Venture Capital Assessment Report' remained unfinished. "We shall meet again," he thought. "Until then, let us monitor him. Should he show promise, we will invest."

Money often speaks louder than truth. In this world, investments shape numerous aspects, not just the church, but also commercial groups, pirates, overseas companies, nobles, and small countries. The web of investments is vast and potent.

An attendant approached Mishaal. "Mr. Mishaal," he whispered, "that guest was incredibly wealthy. He bestowed a precious potion upon the 'raw material.' Indeed, all the guests today were generous. A third of the new slaves were sold before noon."

Mishaal nodded thoughtfully at the attendant's words. "Indeed, Captain 'Woodpecker's' resolute demeanor was also somewhat unusual. I sense that the overall direction of Iron Anchor Bay has been somewhat askew of late. It's normal for the population to swell as the parliamentary elections draw near. However, some pirates are indiscriminately clearing the market without regard for cost, recruiting soldiers, and purchasing materials to enhance their strength. Even for the sake of competing in the combat segment of the marshal's selection, it seems a bit excessive. This month, the crown changed hands, and soon after, the Iron Anchor Bay parliament, which shares the same origin, also exhibited signs of unrest."

His eyes circled, and his mind swiftly processed the information he had observed with a detached coolness. Then, he issued a decisive command, "Spread the word, we will not sell the remaining items at the planned higher prices. We will clear them out at past prices and aim to completely deplete our stock by the end of October. All the local banks are operated by us Remits. This time, do not retain their deposit slips; convert them all into gold and silver for me! Captain James and his 'Rainbow Trout' were due to return with some of the valuable goods we acquired this month. Send the two most beautiful female slaves from the shop to him and request that he extend his stay. The parliamentary elections are scheduled for mid-November, at the latest, he should stay until early November, and we will all depart with him, the 'Treasure Guardian'!"

Some have calculated that nearly 45% of the 'Charles Rich List' in Iron Anchor Bay consists of Remits. The majority of them have managed to avoid becoming part of the one-fifth that vanishes each year, clearly possessing their own exceptional foresight for crises. In a world brimming with supernatural power, besides being "money-minded," their keen sense for wealth and crises allows this group to etch the art of "adapting to the wind" into their very bones. At the slightest hint of disturbance, they are ready to flee on the spot.

The attendant was about to obey and leave when he was suddenly stopped by Mishaal. "First, catch up with the captain from earlier and give him my business card, inviting him to our upcoming clearance sale."

"The profits I didn't earn enough from the last transaction, I can always earn back in the next one! In this world, no one can take advantage of me, Mishaal, forever. That's my way of doing business!" He smiled, and his signature gold tooth shone brightly in the sunlight.

***

On the other side, Byron, who had been handed a business card along the way, had already brought Bruch and the dozen or so slaves he had bought back to the Rosemary Inn, which offered relatively better conditions. He arranged the best room for his Oath Knight. He also paid a high price to hire a second-tier professional from the Hospital Sequence, a 'Crow Doctor,' to clean Bruch's wounds, set his broken bones, and accelerate his healing. But that was all he could do.

Despite trying everything, he still couldn't wake Bruch up. Under the 'Silver Law' system, all humans share knowledge and experiences, greatly improving the efficiency of knowledge and experience accumulation, rather than creating knowledge that has never existed in the world out of thin air. Additionally, various 'Forbidden Knowledge' have a strong affinity for human flesh and instinctual negative desires. Under the deliberate suppression of the church, this also invisibly added many obstacles to the development of medicine.

To be honest, humans' level of research into the soul and the spiritual world is still far above their research into material bodies. Even the core ability obtained by this 'Crow Doctor' at the second-tier professional level is just 'Stimulate Vitality.' It can help external wounds heal quickly but will also correspondingly shorten the lifespan of cells.

Byron watched as the pain between Bruch's eyebrows finally eased a bit, but his mood didn't relax much. "The only two bottles of 'Blue Blood Spring,' along with a 'Crow Doctor,' can only keep Bruch alive. Initiating the 'Ritual: Blood Grail' must be put on the agenda immediately."

Bruch's family, as the most loyal stewards, has served the Lancasters for three generations, far more loyal and reliable than anyone else. Bruch is only a year older than Byron, but he is a true genius who awakened independently at the age of sixteen. Otherwise, he wouldn't have become Byron's Oath Knight. Loyalty, potential, and the top education he received are enough to make him Byron's right-hand man and the perfect first mate to soar with.

Besides, Byron couldn't forget the prompt from the 'Navigation Log': "The great flood of this world has never receded, you must firmly secure your 'anchor'!" And Oath Knight Bruch is already one of the few anchors Byron has left in this world.

However, Byron's expression also stiffened slightly. Initiating the ritual means that the unknown side effects he has resisted for so long are finally coming.


next chapter

Bab 46: HoG - Chapter 46

Chapter 46: Phantom Blade

The pressing need to tend to Bruch's wounds served as the catalyst for Byron to embark on the ritual to refine the 'Transformation Blood.' The influence of the first term, 'Historical Revisionist,' rendered him unable to evade the impending maelstrom that was set to reshape the entire North Sea landscape. Yet, he was not only shielded by the first-tier artifact, the 'Storm Signet Ring,' but also held the ace of the 'Sacred Relic' for survival, contingent upon the level of interpretation. Byron resolved to seize the initiative, let go of his hesitations, and make a bold move.

His ambition was not merely to clip the claws of the York family but also to thwart the Navy's designs on Iron Anchor Bay, ensuring they felt a genuine sting! It would be ideal if he could also unravel the 'Secret: Shadow of the Red and White Rose War.' At the very least, he would offer himself once more, aligning with their faction, and become their devoted "confidant"!

Before setting his plan into motion, Byron required the assistance of a well-informed local to unearth the privateer captains loyal to the Kingdom. Fortunately, he had a perfect candidate in mind.

"Eight Fingers, fetch Guss for me. I need to have a word with him," Byron commanded.

The loyal Eight Fingers, who had been standing guard nearby, looked puzzled at the mention of the name. "Guss? Captain, who might Guss be? Didn't we set out alone today? There doesn't seem to be anyone named Guss among the slaves we brought back, is there?"

It was evident that he had completely forgotten about Guss in an instant.

Guss, ever driven by his love for money, hadn't strayed far. Just as he was about to leave, the crew of the 'Golden Hind' was enjoying their meal, and since he had been famished all morning, he joined them at the dining table. When Byron found him, he was savoring the 'Golden Hind's' signature dish—flatbread with black pepper mutton soup—a meal reserved for the crew, not the captain.

With one hand clutching the flatbread and the other wielding the soup spoon, he ate with gusto. As expected, no one else had noticed the extra person among them, save for Byron himself.

"Ah, Captain, you're here!"

Guss hastily gulped down the mutton soup, patting his belly in contentment. He glanced up and saw Byron seated quietly beside him, regarding him with eyes brimming with... a look that suggested he was a "rare commodity to hold onto." He quickly set down the soup bowl and greeted Byron with a hint of awkwardness.

"That... your cooking is just too delicious, I couldn't resist, truly couldn't resist. But I never partake in a friend's food without compensation."

He gestured towards the long fir table in the inn, where Eight Fingers' two copper pence, still warm, lay.

Despite not being discovered by anyone and not planning to dine and dash, perhaps the words he had once spoken, "Actually, I don't like money; what I truly cherish is freedom and dignity. It's just that money happens to bring freedom and dignity," were indeed his heartfelt sentiments.

Byron believed that if he had possessed such an ability since childhood, he might not have had the self-control that Guss exhibited, eating only at the slave guild. If someone else had this ability, they might frequent shops, banks, or even... women's bathhouses.

Who wouldn't want to befriend someone with such principles? Even the unsavory might prefer the company of such an individual.

Byron collected his two copper coins and extended a hand to Guss with a smile, speaking with frankness and sincerity, "Mr. Guss, would you be interested in joining the 'Golden Hind' and working for me?"

Mishaal was not adept at reading people, but Byron's discernment was unparalleled. The 'Navigation Log' clearly stated, "Born with the awakened 'Assassin' profession's 'Screen Presence,' but tragically lost his only 'anchor' during his formative years! Not only is he unable to become a supernatural individual, but he might also vanish from this world one day unless he finds someone who can always remember him, at which point everything might return to normal."

Finding such an individual and securing a sufficiently stable anchor is no simple feat. Otherwise, Guss wouldn't have suffered 887 consecutive failures. Byron, too, would have been incapable of achieving this, were it not for the mystical properties of the 'Navigation Log,' which was intertwined with his spiritual essence.

In Byron's own words, Guss's body was akin to a function that automatically purged "cache." The moment someone averted their gaze, the information he imprinted upon their consciousness would be erased. As time marched on, even those who had known him since childhood, with anchor chains far more robust than those of strangers, began to forget him. When the world ceased to remember Guss, he might vanish entirely from existence.

However, Byron could access external historical records at any time through the 'Echoes of History,' as if recalling them from memory. It was the distinction between an internal and an external hard drive.

"Captain, I am willing to serve you!"

Confronted with Byron's offer of employment, Guss accepted without hesitation and promptly rose to shake Byron's hand with determination. He had yearned for someone who would not forget him. He had initially planned to take his time, using his unique talent to endear himself to Byron, but the surprise came swiftly.

Once he completed the anchoring process with Byron through the 'Pirate Ten Commandments,' he could prepare for the promotion ritual and attempt to actively control his ability. He would no longer have to fear being forgotten by acquaintances.

"Excellent, I can finally assume my role and become a true 'Assassin.'"

The 'Gladiator' sequence's 'Assassin.' The most emblematic of this sequence are the 'Gladiators,' one of the oldest professions still in existence today. They are divided into three branches—Murmillo Gladiator, Thracian Gladiator, and Retiarius—based on their fighting styles and weaponry.

It is said that the first assassins emerged from the gladiatorial arenas of the First Empire era. The Thracian Gladiators, adept with short swords and daggers, banded together to suddenly strike down the dignitaries who came to amuse themselves. They became the forebears of all modern assassins. Sequence maxim: Live towards death!

Guss, with his potent 'Screen Presence' talent, was destined to be either a great thief or the king of assassins, a perfect fit for this sequence. However, upon recognizing his rare talent, Byron guided him toward a different path.

Centuries ago, in the heart of the continent, the Eagle's Nest Assassin Group forged a formidable new profession: 'Eagle's Nest Assassin.' With their fearsome assassination skills, they nearly dominated an era, and their assassination campaigns sent tremors through the continent's nobility. Swordsmanship, disguise, assassination, theft, traps, explosives... they excelled in all.

One of their most emblematic abilities was the 'Eagle's Leap,' allowing them to jump from any height without perishing, as long as they landed on a cushioning material! After being eradicated by the church-organized knight orders during their Western Expedition, the Eagle's Nest Assassin Group's preliminary knowledge, training manuals, and promotion ceremonies were confiscated. They fell into the hands of the continent's elite and underwent adaptive modifications over the centuries.

One of the legacies the Lancaster family held was the 'Phantom Blade.' It granted the ability to control presence at will. At lower sequences, they could manipulate illusions; at mid-sequences, they could imbue illusions with presence, transforming a small dagger into a sword the size of a door, killing with the power of imagination. They were not merely assassins but also ideal scouts and intelligence officers.

Byron, now impoverished, possessed only the wealth of supernatural knowledge in his mind. He would never miss an opportunity to convert it into power or wealth. He was about to paint a bright future for Guss as an "assassin king" and motivate him to work diligently for him when—

"Right!"

Guss suddenly looked up at Byron, rubbing his hands together with a sycophantic smile, "Captain, now that I'm part of the team, could you perhaps return the... two copper coins for my meal?"


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