Chapter 1 The Assassination

The sounds of battle had disturbed most of the night, the flames of war engulfing all of Husterlin and alarming hundreds of thousands of people.

This assassination was clearly premeditated. Besides Vincent F. Van Gogh, the "God's Painter" (one of the Ten Bounty Hunters), there were also dozens of assassins ready to die.

Even a squad leader from the North Sea Fleet had participated in the assassination.

That guy seemed to be an undercover agent of Luying. Using the excuse of rescue, he got close to Skadi and unleashed a barrage of attacks.

Unfortunately, he didn't succeed.

Marfa's mechanical legion demonstrated its astonishing combat power. The Frost Moon Princess Skadi's guard legion was worth a hundred ordinary soldiers. The hundred-man mechanical legion withstood various firepower and explosions, protecting the princess like an iron barrel.

Even though the arena was bombed into ruins, they remained safe and sound.

The assassination failed, but such a serious political event as the attempted assassination of Princess Marfa naturally required a search for the culprits.

None of the assassins who took action were captured alive. Oleg, the King of the North Sea, was furious and personally ordered a city-wide search.

Unfortunately, compared to the intelligence organizations and well-trained security personnel of the two great empires, the pirates' professional abilities were far inferior.

The law enforcement system was not perfect, and the accountability system was practically non-existent, resulting in low efficiency in the siege.

Moreover, the pirate city was already a mixed bag, with forces from all sides, wanted criminals, retired pirate bosses, and strange believers... No one dared to thoroughly investigate everything.

After a period of chaotic searching, the matter eventually fizzled out.

...

On the other hand, Suren and Qiandiao had withdrawn from the battlefield smoothly because they hadn't participated in the battle.

The Frost Moon Princess had been assassinated, and the arena had been bombed into ruins, so it wouldn't be open for business anytime soon. Kai was temporarily safe.

But in the short term, they probably wouldn't have a chance to save him.

This assassination also made Suren realize one thing more clearly: taking action in a pirate city was absolutely impossible.

They still needed an opportunity.

Qiandiao arranged for people to keep an eye on things, and Suren returned to the Shark Inn.

He handed the petrified sample of Tani's mother to Dr. Banks for research.

He also bought a pile of materials today, and Suren began working on the mechanical octopus.

This went on for several days.

...

Because he bought enough materials, Suren hadn't left his room for several days.

To facilitate communication, the rooms 205 and 206 of the inn were connected, each serving as a temporary laboratory for Suren and Dr. Banks.

Right now, in room 205, various mechanical parts and forging equipment were hanging everywhere. The coating instrument on the workbench was working, coating the parts with runes already drawn on them, making tiny "kacha" sounds.

On the wall of the workbench, densely packed data drawings covered the entire wall.

Suren didn't look up, but was engrossed in embedding the energy core into the mechanical octopus's energy system. He almost remembered every detail of the drawings, and could create them perfectly without even looking at them.

Most striking were the three large glass jars in the room, where the Eight-Armed Spider Spear was simultaneously performing the final assembly of three semi-finished mechanical octopuses.

Suren carefully pieced together the armor plates engraved with runes and coated, like building Legos, into the shape of an octopus according to the drawings.

Each mechanical octopus had more than three thousand parts, which was a very mentally exhausting task.

Even with the Eight-Armed Spider Spear + two arms, progress wasn't fast.

Because there were no molds for mass production, Suren had spent a lot of energy hand-crafting the mechanical octopus steel armor, piece by piece, these past few days. Fortunately, he had the ability to multitask, and his mental power and concentration were far beyond ordinary people, so he could almost work non-stop to produce the mechanical parts for three mechanical octopuses.

Fortunately, the quality of the hand-made mechanical parts was meticulously crafted, and the finished product would be better than the three he had seized.

Suren comforted himself for his "low efficiency" in this way.

At this moment, he pieced together the last part of the octopus, and the octopus in the tank came to life.

He tried to control it with Mental Tentacles, and the octopus machine tentacles in the petri dish made various winding, adsorbing, and strangling movements according to his brain's instructions.

After some operation, Suren found that one tentacle was slightly stiff.

He clearly felt the problem with the nerve signal feedback, picked up the tool and adjusted it slightly, and it immediately became smooth.

A look of joy appeared on Suren's face.

The mechanical octopus that had completed the initial test could soon be used in actual combat.

Having successfully manufactured three mechanical octopuses, Suren let out a long sigh of relief, unable to hide his fatigue, and lamented in his heart: "Alas... if only there was a large mechanical factory."

...

These past few days, thanks to Dr. Banks's help, several of the live octopuses he bought had successfully mutated into "immortal octopuses."

Dr. Banks's [Eternal Life Cells] fused with his body were very special. When living organisms were infected, as long as they survived, their vitality would become extremely tenacious. This also solved the drawbacks of the high mortality rate of "neuro-mechanical technology" transplantation from the source.

In other words, the three mechanical octopuses that Suren had manufactured were much stronger than the three he had seized, both in terms of materials and vitality. They were not easy to kill, and they had a super healing ability after being injured.

Otherwise, it would probably take him several months to manufacture these three mechanical octopuses on his own.

Just then, Dr. Banks next door suddenly said, "Little friend Suren, are you free now?"

Suren poked his head out and glanced through the doorway he had chiseled open, replying, "Doctor, what's the matter?"

"I've analyzed the sample you gave me."

Dr. Banks pointed to an instrument and said, "Petrification caused by Medusa's gaze is a high-level law energy that transforms the form of matter. Theoretically, it can be completely restored with the alchemical principle of equivalent exchange. However, this requires a sufficient understanding of that petrification spell. If you reverse it from a biological perspective, there is also hope, but it may take a long time... All I am confident in right now is stopping the petrification from continuing to spread."

"Mm. Okay."

Suren listened and pondered the meaning of that sentence slightly, then nodded.

Being able to stop the continued petrification was already an ideal result. Tani would be very happy to hear this news. At least it would save his mother's life.

Naga have special lifespans; she's been petrified for decades and hasn't died, so there's no rush. Being able to stop the petrification from continuing, he could think of other ways later.

Suren asked again, "Doctor, is there hope for mass production of the [Eternal Life Tolerance Potion] you mentioned earlier that targets octopuses?"

Banks replied, "The probability is very high. The octopus's own rich neuron structure has a strong tolerance for eternal life cells. I've broken down some of the two's cell gene chains and am doing fusion culture experiments. According to the current progress, the effect is within expectations. At most, the first batch of Aberrant Tolerance Potion can be cultivated in a month or two, and it should be used for mass production by then."

Hearing this good news, Suren's fatigue was swept away, and a look of joy appeared on his face. "Haha. Thank you for your hard work, Doctor."

Sure enough, having such a top biologist by his side brought him too many conveniences.

Suren had only thought of forced transplantation before, and with that mortality rate, the production efficiency would be very low.

Now that he really had that [Tolerance Potion], the speed at which the "Mechanical Octopus Legion" took shape would be instantly reduced.

Moreover, the final product would be much stronger than Grand Duke Raphael's original version!

...

Kai had been imprisoned, and there was no chance to rescue him for the time being.

Qiandiao had been sending people to keep an eye on the arena's movements.

They were waiting for an opportunity.

Suren also stayed at the inn, not going anywhere.

He and Dr. Banks had many common topics in research, and the two researchers could stay at home, so time passed quickly.

According to Suren's idea, as long as nothing else happened, he really planned to stay at home until he had created the mechanical octopus legion.

But things didn't go as planned.

One day later.

Suren was in the room debugging the three mechanical octopuses he had just made when he suddenly sensed something and reminded, "Doctor, the Frost Moon Princess's people are back at the inn."

Banks frowned. "They're back?"

The Shark Inn was a mid-to-low-end inn. They chose it because it was remote enough not to attract attention.

Moreover, almost everyone living here now was one of their own, and few outsiders would come in.

One was to avoid being disturbed, and the second was to avoid Marfa's people.

The Nineteenth Squad of the Fourth North Sea Fleet controlled by Dr. Banks was the same group of people from the "Steam Party," one of the three major black gangs in Old Lindon's outer city.

The president, "Mechanical Butcher" Banner, was now the squad leader.

They had "limb mechanical implants" with unique Old Lindon characteristics. The level of technology wasn't that high, but it was unique in Luying.

The North Sea Fleet pirates couldn't understand these technologies before, and they weren't interested in understanding them.

But now that the Frost Moon Princess had married over, a group of experts proficient in mechanics had arrived, and they were really "knowledgeable" experts.

Dr. Banks was afraid that some of the high-end technologies inside would be discovered, which would lead to some unnecessary trouble. In particular, once the "neuro-mechanical technology" was exposed, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Unfortunately, even if they tried to avoid it, their mechanical squad was still quite famous in the North Sea Fleet.

He didn't know through what channels, but the Frost Moon Princess's people had learned about the situation of the Nineteenth Squad, and people had been coming to investigate and ask some technical questions these past few days.

The more they asked, the more they exposed.

And Banks and the others were still nominally a direct squad of the North Sea Fleet, and they couldn't go to sea without orders.

Some problems couldn't be avoided.

...

Suren's soul perception could cover the entire inn. He clearly sensed several familiar soul fires, and several mechanical warriors were all guards of that Luying princess.

Listening closely, a dispute had already broken out downstairs.

"This is Dr. Bacher, the princess's chief mechanic, and he is interested in your implants. Where is your captain? Call him out."

"Reporting, sir. Captain Banner is still at the Empress Bathhouse."

"It was the same last time, and it's the same this time! Is your captain stuck to some woman's stomach and can't get up? Go call him back! The doctor has some questions to ask you."

"..."

Suren frowned as he listened to the other party's arrogant attitude.

Dr. Banks also looked slightly solemn as he listened.

He pondered for a moment, then directly sent a message via communicator, "Tell them 'Captain Banner is now a senior officer with the rank of Colonel, and according to the latest decree issued by Prime Minister Zoras, no one but His Majesty Oleg can command him'."

Suren listened from the side, and this response was a bit tough, but it was normal.

There was no superior-subordinate relationship between pirates before.

Even the squad leader and the fleet leader were partners, brothers, and friends with ordinary members.

In the aristocratic class, the concept of class was very obvious.

Nobles were nobles, enjoying absolute rights, and commoners should obey absolutely.

The Frost Moon Princess had married over, and Marfa's people had also brought this habit over.

The pirates were used to being undisciplined and didn't accept this, and there had been no shortage of conflicts with the pirates because of this.

As soon as this conversation came out, there was indeed a fierce quarrel downstairs.

Not long after, the uninvited guests left in disgrace.

The inn returned to calm.

...

The crisis had been temporarily resolved, but Banks's frown didn't relax.

This time, the other party had named Banner, and it was clear that they were coming for him.

He looked at Suren and said, "If we stay in the pirate city any longer, I'm afraid we'll attract trouble. We have to find a reason to leave here."

"Mm."

Suren also nodded, but leaving the port privately would also attract trouble.

He couldn't think of a good way for a while.

Thinking carefully about the conversation just now, Suren thought of something and asked, "Doctor, what is the background of that chief mechanic? I haven't heard of him before?"

Dr. Banks replied, "There have been rumors that Princess Skadi of the Frost Moon brought an entire mechanical research team, and even a secret mechanical research base, when she married over from Marfa. However, because it was confidential information, no one knew the specifics. Now it seems that it's true."

Marfa had technical assistance, and this was no longer a secret.

Suren, however, captured another key word and thought, "Mechanical research base?"

His eyes turned, and the relevant clues in his mind were automatically connected.

He suddenly thought of the scene where the mechanical octopus intercepted the Marfa submarine before.

The route from Marfa to the North Sea was almost blocked by Luying, and it was almost impossible to get any large research base from the surface of the water.

Could it be that the secret research base was in a submarine?

"That's the only possibility..."

Suren concluded in his heart.

In addition to technical support, there must also be some equipment support.

But at the same time, a certain thought germinated uncontrollably in his heart.

It really was, what he thought, was what he got.

Suren was calculating in his heart, and a dark light flashed across his eyes.

He was now lacking a large mechanical factory, so that many mechanical parts could not be completed.

Combat mechs, mass-produced mechanical octopuses, would be limited.

And according to the current situation, Marfa wanted to raise the technological level of the North Sea, so they must have brought mature technology and equipment.

Wasn't this the best target?

If he could get the specific information about that submarine, he could make a move.

Don't look at how Grand Duke Raphael of neuro-mechanical technology had overtaken on a curve, the mechanical level of the Marfa military was far superior to that of any organization in the world.

For example, the structure and energy core used by the mechanical octopus, if the technology of Marfa was used instead, it could be improved by several levels!

Thinking of this, Suren's thoughts diverged.

He had a strong interest in that "secret mechanical research institute".

...

Suren's thoughts had already flown away.

But Dr. Banks was still thinking about the present.

He frowned and pondered for a moment, and said, "Marfa must have discovered some clues, otherwise the chief mechanic wouldn't have come to the door in person. If it doesn't work, let Banner hide first."

Suren thought that what he said made sense and nodded.

Suddenly, a thought flashed in his mind, and he said, "But... I think the other party must know that we will hide. They should force Banner to show up..."

Speaking, Suren thought of something and said something meaningful, "I think... we may even have to prepare to go out to sea and fight."

Dr. Banks: "Oh? What do you mean by that?"

Suren narrowed his eyes and said slowly, "That Frost Moon Princess is very scheming..."

Marfa and the North Sea were married for the sake of profit.

That Marfa princess obviously had selfish motives.

Even if she guessed that "neuro-mechanical technology" had leaked out through other channels, she would never contribute this news to Oleg.

The most likely thing was... to "eat it" secretly!

Therefore, Suren was sure that she would never notify the high-level officials of the North Sea Fleet because of her suspicion.

Otherwise, they would have no reason to refuse if they came directly with the order of the fleet leader Gal Popoff to meet Banner.

Suren's brain was running rapidly, eliminating some possibilities, and thought of the most reasonable situation, and said, "Super mechanical warriors have appeared on the battlefield, and the Marfa military must have a certain understanding. Banner has taken action, and he will definitely be noticed by interested people. Now it seems that they at least suspect that Banner has a part of neuro-technology. If I'm not mistaken. We will receive an order soon to go to sea to another place."

"It looks like we have really been noticed."

Dr. Banks also felt reasonable after hearing Suren's analysis, and said, "Are you saying... that Princess Skadi will find an excuse to transfer us out to sea, and then take action?"

Suren's eyes became deep, "Mm."

Hearing this, Banks also looked very solemn, "Then we really have to prepare early."

...

Suren and Dr. Banks discussed for a while, and began to clean up the temporary laboratory.

No matter what the situation, they couldn't stay in this inn any longer.

Sure enough, not long after, a messenger came to the Shark Inn, bringing the personal order of Fleet Leader Gal Popoff, informing them that the Nineteenth Squad was ready to replenish supplies and set sail tomorrow.

It didn't say what the reason was, or what the mission was.

It only said it was confidential.

This was very abnormal.

As soon as the messenger left, in the room, Dr. Banks, who was cleaning up the laboratory, looked at Suren and smiled, "Little friend Suren guessed very accurately. This 'secret mission' is probably to escort the Frost Moon Princess to prepare to attack us."

If it was patrolling or robbing, they would usually know some news in advance.

Suren shrugged his shoulders indifferently, his expression was not relaxed, and said, "After going to sea, we have to find a chance to get away from the main force before they take action. If the preparation is not sufficient, we will definitely be suspected. There may be a big battle."

Marfa's people might just be suspicious, but they really have technology in their hands.

Once inspected, they definitely couldn't hide it.

Neither of them had any luck.

Banks also analyzed, "If that Marfa princess really wants to 'eat' us, there may not be many pirates traveling with the team. The main enemy we have to face is her mechanical guard legion..."

"Mm."

Suren had already thought of a tactic in his mind, "I have a plan..."

Now he had the secret weapon of six mechanical octopuses in his hand, which had a natural advantage in sea pursuit.

Mechanical armor was strong, but it didn't have much advantage in sea chase.

They could probably escape.

Suren thought about it and decided to inform Qiandiao.

With her there, it wouldn't be said that safety was greatly guaranteed. If the other party had few people, there might even be a chance to counter-kill.

It was a coincidence that just as Suren thought of a countermeasure and was preparing to notify Qiandiao, Qiandiao took the initiative to contact him.

"Suren, I just got a message that Kai was taken away by the Frost Moon Princess Skadi's people. My people saw the Marfa quartermaster's ship preparing to replenish supplies, and it seemed that they were going to sea, but they didn't know where. What should we do now?"

Hearing Qiandiao's message, Suren was not surprised, but suddenly realized, "So it really is that princess who is going to leave Husterlin..."

After encountering the assassination, there was also an excuse to leave.

Tsk tsk...

Hearing this information, Suren instantly completed all the causal connections.

That princess was probably interested in Kai's second-stage talent awakening.

Kai's combat power was unparalleled, and he could almost 100% advance to the sixth level. He was not Oleg's direct descendant, and this was the best target to win over. With the resources of the Marfa royal family, he would definitely be a strong man in the future.

He replied, "Sister Qiandiao, prepare to set sail. We may have to do something big."

...

The movement of a large fleet setting sail could hardly be concealed.

Because the ship had to replenish a lot of fresh food and water, it would only be purchased when it was close to sailing.

Moreover, the royal family's pomp was even greater.

The amount that needed to be replenished would be surprisingly large.

After Suren asked Qiandiao's people to confirm the amount of replenishment again, he could almost be sure that it was the Frost Moon Princess Skadi who was going to sea.

Then the problem also came.

It also meant that if they wanted to escape from the princess's accompanying fleet, they would encounter more powerful enemies. That would almost be the entire Luying Royal Guard Corps.

But, misfortune and fortune depend on each other.

Suren also guessed a favorable situation!

That princess was traveling, and in addition to the mechanical guard legion, the "secret mechanical research institute" would probably follow along.

Now the relationship between the North Sea and Marfa looked ambiguous, but it was actually a relationship of mutual use.

Even if it was a "dowry", the core technology was definitely in the hands of that princess herself.

If Suren guessed correctly, that "secret mechanical research institute" was a submarine.

Maybe...

That submarine was currently in the seabed near Husterlin.

The princess was leaving, so wouldn't it have to leave with her?

Although Suren was now paying attention to that research institute, it was tantamount to pulling teeth from a tiger's mouth.

But... dreams still had to be had.

He had the mechanical octopus, the "submarine killer", in his hand, what if there was a chance?

Thinking of this, Suren thought of another plan besides escaping...

This time, maybe he really had to do something big!