FVN Chapter 50 The Hunt: Madman at the Harbor
Chapter 50 The Hunt: Madman at the Harbor
The whispers of the public, once quiet and fleeting, began to grow louder, swelling into open slander against the Duke.
"A servant, of all people, had somehow managed to woo the Duchess. If that simpleton can win the Duchess's favor, perhaps I should try my hand at it.
Maybe I should work as a servant in that Mansion—who knows? Perhaps the daughter will find me just as irresistible."
"Looks like the pirate king will be having a rather enjoyable night..."
"HAHA, the rich Duke must be sad for having a small dick."
The harbor had become a breeding ground for rumors, each one more outlandish than the last.
The air was thick with gossip, as traders, sailors, and dock workers whispered in hushed tones.
What had once been a place of lively commerce and hearty conversation now buzzed with mocking laughter and cynical jabs at the Southern Duke.
The people fueling these whispers were spies—agents planted by rival noble houses, sent to the harbor with one singular goal: to ruin the reputation of the Southern Duke.
Swoosh!
A red spear, long and gleaming, descended from above, slicing through the air with terrifying precision. The first to feel its weight were two of the loudest voices in the crowd, whose jeers had been the most venomous.
Their mocking laughter was abruptly silenced, replaced by a sickening gasp as the spear pierced their bodies and stayed there, losing its force.
The sharp point drove through them both, skewering their hearts in an instant. Their bodies trembled, blood staining the cobblestones below, but their lives were already snuffed out.
The next second, a man suddenly appeared and grasped the end of the spear's shaft. A massive surge of aura radiated from his hand, flowing along the spear that was lodged in the two dead bodies.
SPLAT!
"Only the Duke has the money to hire someone who is known for only eliminating the most difficult dungeons all over the world,"
...
The Mercenary Queen landed on the ship with the grace of a predator. She dropped the man onto the deck effortlessly, his body slumping onto the wooden boards with a dull thud. He quickly scrambled to his feet, his eyes darting around to take in the scene before him.
The Duke stood near the wheel, his regal bearing unshaken despite the chaos that surrounded them.
Beside him stood the Head Butler, his composed demeanor a stark contrast to the tumultuous situation.
A knight, clad in armor bearing the emblem of the Southern Duchy, likely the Knight Commander, stood resolute and ready for whatever lay ahead.
At the far end of the ship, a single man stood alone, his gaze fixed on the sky. It was Cassius, his face etched with a blend of resolve and sorrow.
"Just another one except you?" the Duke inquired, looking towards the Mercenary Queen.
"We are more than enough."
The Duke didn't offer any further comment. He turned away from the Mercenary Queen and moved toward the ship's steering wheel.
The warship, a towering colossus of wood and metal, appeared far too massive for the small group aboard. The number of people present was nowhere near sufficient to manually operate such a grand vessel.
However, once the Duke extended his hand and gripped the wheel, a soft hum of power filled the air. Then, with a barely noticeable motion, the anchors—massive and heavy—dropped into the water, the chains clanking down with a resounding splash. The ship, as if it had come alive at his touch, began to move.
"Mana-powered engine!" muttered the man, astonished. Together with the engine, the amount of mana stones required to power such a ship would be enormous.
The meaning was simple: the Duke was running the ship on money, even after he promised to give a sum of one billion gold coins to the queen.
The warship began to slice through the waters, leaving the harbor behind. The ship glided forward silently, its immense size belying the smoothness of its motion.