He was born in the Jade Federation, a comrcial federation where the rich live lavishly and the poor are like dust.
People there regard money as blood, with social class almost engraved into their bones.
rian’s brother was sold to pay off the family’s debts, becoming a chanting puppet, a slave transford by alchemy, stripped of will.
That scene cast a lifelong shadow over him.
He was different from his brother, showcasing an astonishing mory from a young age.
The Green Tide Guild discovered him, took him away, praising his extraordinary talent.
In his youth, the Green Tide Guild selected him to take away, and since then, he has been confined to a laboratory among reagents.
Decades have passed, and now he is nearing sixty, nominally a Great Alchemist of the Jade Federation, with considerable academic prestige.
But before the guild, he remains just a researcher who obeys orders.
rian is timid, never debates, and doesn’t dare to resist.
Wherever the guild sends him, he goes, never asking why.
When the Northern Territory sampling task was issued, he didn’t even dare hesitate, just nodded, signed, and was taken aboard a ship.
That obedience had long beco instinct, like a deeper shackle.
And this ti, setting out, rian never imagined trouble would arise.
On the day the ship set sail, the sky was overcast; he just held the sample box in his room, silently praying for the task to end quickly.
Afterward, things beca blurry, only fragnts remained in his mind.
Collisions, screams, firelight, dense fog, and that scorching bloody sll.
He doesn’t rember how he survived, only recalls that mont, his mind went blank.
All reason, research, companions, dignity, were subrged by fear, leaving only one thought, which was survival.
Now he can only stare blankly at the iron chain by his feet.
The mory surged back repeatedly like a tide, making him afraid to breathe too deeply.
Suddenly a low explosion sounded from outside the ship, like soone ignited thunder under the sea.
The entire cell shook violently, dust and wood chips fell from the ceiling.
rian lifted his head, eyes fixated on the door’s crack.
Outside ca short footsteps, followed by tal clashes and agonizing screams.
His breath stopped, throat parched, that sound chaotic, hurried, like the whole ship being torn apart.
Countless possibilities flashed through his mind.
Could it be other pirates? Or perhaps the Federation sent soone to rescue him?
The thought barely erged and his heart briefly held hope, but it was soon drowned by new fear.
What if it’s not a rescue?
If the attackers outside saw him, deed him useless, would they kill him outright?
The footsteps grew closer, accompanied by heavy impacts.
rian curled tighter, body pressed against the cold wooden wall.
The iron chain beside him shook uncontrollably, only then did he realize it wasn’t the ship swaying but himself trembling.
Soon, the door was smashed open, firelight flooding in.
He instinctively squinted, only to see a group of iron-clad people walk in.
The sound of tal plates scraping echoed in the cramped cabin, their footsteps steady and orderly.
Soone stretched out a hand to unlock his chain, not roughly, yet without warmth.
rian was lifted up, almost supported as he was led out of the cell.
He looked up wanting to see their faces, but saw only shadows under the visors.
These were neither Federation soldiers nor pirates. He had never seen this armor style, faintly red amidst the black.
......
As the fog dispersed, fragnts of wood and charred canvas still drifted on the sea surface.
Dawn Port’s dike remained intact, a night-long battle hadn’t inflicted any damage on the port.
Because the battle happened not in the port area but in the offshore undercurrent belt.
Marine soldiers and craftsn were orderly preparing salvage work, several small boats glided along the sea mist, retrieving debris to see what could be found.
By the next day’s noon, Eliot hurried with a report.
"The battle results have been cleaned up, sir," Eliot said, with a barely contained excitent on his face.
"This experint was highly successful, all data recorded. Dawn’s main cannon accuracy maintained at over ninety percent, armor pressure test passed, ship operation stable, no instance of loss of control."
Louis nodded slightly: "Very good."
"Additionally," Eliot opened a scroll, "the captured pirates have all been interrogated.
They co from the Steel Tooth Mad King’s fleet, this action was an independent fleet of his, aiming to seize a Jade Federation rchant ship and transfer the cargo and personnel to the Mad King."
Louis raised an eyebrow: "Jade Federation?"
"The target might be so kind of alchemy material, we’ve also taken it, and one person claims the Mad King is hiding around the Ice Abyss Islands in the Northern Sea, but the intelligence is uncertain.
And this attack on Dawn Port was a private action, lacking the Mad King’s official orders."
"Display those executed for all to see." Louis’ tone was flat, "Hang them outside the port, could reassure the residents a bit, letting them know this port is not sothing anyone can touch."
"Understood, sir."
Louis turned, his tone becoming lower: "After winter next year, we should take the initiative to strike. If Steel Tooth Mad King’s forces are not eradicated, the route to the Southeast New Province will never be safe. Eliot, make solid preparations."
Eliot’s expression jolted, then he straightened up: "Yes, sir. I believe the Dawn’s fleet can withstand any enemy."
Louis smiled faintly, refocusing his gaze.
Just then, Eliot recalled another matter, hesitated briefly before speaking: "There are also a few rescued Federation Comrce Association personnel, sir.
Per your orders, they’ve been arranged to rest in the port administration’s infirmary, we haven’t conversed much with them. If you’d like to see them, I can arrange it now."
"I’ll go after the eting concludes."
"Yes." Eliot nodded, bowed, and retreated.
......
Louis rode along the port road, wind blowing from the sea carrying salt and fishy scent.
Dawn Port lood in the morning mist, the sound of hamrs striking still audible from afar.
It was becoming a rising port city, dikes firm, docks aligned, new workshops’ rooftops still emitting white smoke.
Hooves clacked crisply on cobblestones; Louis’s mind was calculating that intelligence.
[1: rian Schmidt, an Alchemy Master from the Jade Federation Bi Chao Guild, on the pirate ship near Dawn Port.]
Beyond that, the system provided no further intelligence.
Yet the term Alchemy Master was enough to tempt any Lord, such people barely appeared in the Northern Territory, let alone for him to encounter.
If truly retained, the Red Tide City’s alchemy systems could advance ten years.
Louis had already decided, even if he doesn’t want to stay, he must be retained.
But he knew pressing too hard could backfire.
If such a timid researcher were frightened, even the smartest mind would be useless.
Thus he decided to employ gentler thods.
The infirmary was suffused with the scent of herbs and sea salt.
A few rescued wounded from the pirate ship leaned against the wall, faces pale, lowly groaning.
While rian sat in the corner, expression dazed, fingers unconsciously rubbing his clothes.
Louis recognized him at once; after all, the others were young, clearly alchemy apprentices.
On the other side, rian sensed soone approaching, slightly lifted his head, used peripheral vision to scrutinize the young man in black noble attire.
The man bore a smile, yet conveyed an undeniable sense of pressure.
rian imdiately lowered his head, dared not look further but began calculating internally; this person should be the leader here and appears not to be bad.
If he interrogates, should he use a fake na? Then use money to ransom himself out? He had already composed several argunts ntally.
But the young man stopped before him, directly stated: "rian Schmidt, Great Alchemist. Alchemist under the Jade Federation Bi Chao Guild, correct?"
rian stiffened completely, facial color changed drastically.
User Comments
0 comments from readers