Chapter 112 Tulip Duke

Suren used the Eight-Armed Spider Spears to dash across the sea for a while before stopping.

Then, he watched the man in the floral shirt, who had been flying on a broken mast, stomp his foot and land on the sea as well.

The two were separated by dozens of meters. Suren could see his face clearly and confirmed again that he had never seen this guy before.

He sized up his attire. Although he was dressed casually, the workmanship and material of the gaudy shirt were not cheap. It was definitely not something an ordinary family could afford. It looked a bit like the trends in the Lu Ying Imperial Capital. The white hair on his head showed that this person was not young, but the strong and muscular physique gave a strong visual contrast. His vitality was strong, and his whole person was full of energy. He was domineering, majestic, and had a wild and unruly feeling.

Not only his appearance, but also the sharp look that flashed between his eyebrows from time to time, this aura was definitely not something an ordinary person could fake.

He guessed that he was somewhat like a veteran who had been on the battlefield for a long time.

In his soul perception, this guy... was very strong!

A cautious look appeared in Suren's eyes, and he roughly speculated about the identity of the visitor.

While he was sizing up the man in the floral shirt, the other party was also sizing him up.

However, this guy's eyes were not friendly.

He looked him up and down, his gaze like he was looking at a thief who had stolen the cabbage from his garden.

This made Suren feel strange again. How could this old man's demeanor show such an exaggerated and jealous expression?

But he didn't attack immediately, obviously following the rules of a "duel."

Suren felt a little inexplicable, but still asked, "Who are you, sir?"

As soon as he said this, he didn't expect the other party to be polite at all, but instead retorted, "Heh, the appearance is quite good. But I don't know if it can take a beating."

Suren's eyes twitched slightly when he heard this.

The desire to stab someone couldn't be hidden in his eyes.

As the silly bird had predicted, this man in the floral shirt was determined to beat him up.

But Suren felt even more inexplicable. He asked cautiously again, "Sir, do we know each other?"

He wanted to make sure, to avoid any misunderstandings of mistaken identity.

"We don't."

The man in the floral shirt picked his nose, completely ignoring his words, and said directly, "Boy, prepare for a 'duel'. Don't worry, I won't kill you."

"..."

Suren didn't know where this inexplicable hostility came from, but he didn't feel any killing intent.

The "duel" style had been popular in Lu Ying for a long time. It was usually understood that neither side used any external objects, such as biomechs and cursed items.

They would just compete with court swords, or just rely on their fists.

The fight would continue until one side admitted defeat.

This kind of competition was generally not likely to kill people, and it could also determine the winner, so the noble gentlemen liked to play this game.

But in general, this kind of duel was between rivals in love.

Suren felt even more incomprehensible.

But looking at the situation, the other party didn't give him any room to refuse.

The man in the floral shirt was every bit the old gentleman, and said before starting the duel, "Boy, I'm going to attack!"

Suren didn't know how to answer him when he heard this, and his eyes twitched, which was considered a response.

But as soon as he said this, suddenly white waves several meters high exploded on the sea.

With a "slap" sound, the mast where the man in the floral shirt was standing was smashed into pieces by a huge force, and the whole person had rushed over.

"So fast!"

Suren's expression suddenly became serious.

The old man looked unreliable, but his strength was truly terrifying.

The distance of dozens of meters was reached in an instant.

Although the two hadn't touched yet, Suren already felt a mountain-like pressure. As the iron fist rushed, a strange force pressed Suren's body, making him stiff on the spot, seemingly out of control.

If this punch were to hit an ordinary Fifth-Order professional, it would probably be a solid hit.

Unfortunately, Suren used [Teleport] the moment he saw him attack, leaving only a phantom on the spot.

This punch naturally missed.

But before he could breathe a sigh of relief, he watched the guy smash the phantom with one punch, like a cannonball falling on the sea and exploding into white waves.

The beast-like figure suddenly turned on the sea, and when he looked again, the man was already right in front of him.

Suren recognized the footwork that allowed him to stop suddenly and change direction in the air, and exclaimed in his heart, "Extreme Sky-Stepping Art?" (Ji Takong Bu)

He himself knew this footwork, but the gap between him and the guy in front of him was too big.

When the man in the floral shirt used it, it was almost no different from teleportation. This continuous two-stage movement didn't give people a chance to breathe.

Suren teleported again, dodging this punch.

Another punch came, and he dodged again...

Another punch came, and he dodged again...

Suren's void displacement ability was no longer what it used to be. The casting interval of [Teleport] could almost be ignored. No matter how fast the opponent was, the speed of his body could hardly compare with teleportation.

With this move, it was difficult for him to lose.

This was also the confidence that Suren dared to come alone.

In just one or two breaths, the two had exchanged more than a dozen moves.

The man in the floral shirt was annoyed by Suren's slippery methods. He suddenly stopped and shouted angrily, "Hey, boy! A duel is a duel. If you continue to be slippery like this, don't blame me for using my level to bully you!"

"..."

Suren was speechless when he heard this.

Now he could clearly see that this guy's close combat ability was ridiculously strong.

He was a Puppet Master, and he was fighting a brawny man.

Did he want him to not use spatial abilities and just stand there and be beaten?

"Hmph!"

The man in the floral shirt seemed to see through Suren's thoughts. He snorted coldly, and circles of visible ripples suddenly condensed on the surface of his body.

It was as if some strange energy field had distorted the air. The ripples quickly covered a large area around him, and even the sea surface under his feet was dented into a pit with a diameter of more than ten meters by the field. With this big move, a terrifying pressure emanated from this guy.

In an instant, his temperament changed from a fierce brown bear to a terrifying ancient beast!

"Domain?"

Seeing this scene, Suren's pupils shrank sharply: "Seventh-Order professional!"

There were too few professionals above the Sixth-Order, and there were not enough samples for reference, so it was not easy to judge the order through soul fluctuations.

He had suspected that this old man might be more than Sixth-Order. But when he didn't see him release his domain, he thought he might be Sixth-Order.

Unexpectedly, he was really a top professional!

Damn it!

You don't have martial morality!

You can't afford to play!

Suren cursed in his heart. When he saw this field, he immediately knew that he couldn't win.

Originally, he should have teleported away immediately, but after thinking for a moment, it seemed that this fight had to be fought.

Moreover, he didn't have any room to think. The man in the floral shirt suddenly rushed over.

This time, the speed was twice as fast as before.

Short-distance directional displacement was even faster than Suren's teleportation!

Before he arrived, the terrifying pressure swept over, which was the suppression of the order of the overbearing aura and the release of the field.

Suren's scalp was numb from the pressure. Before he could form a hand seal, his body was suppressed by the strange force field, as if he was carrying a mountain of ten thousand pounds on his chest. Even breathing became stagnant, let alone raising his hand to pinch the Warlock Seal.

With this field, ordinary Fifth-Order professionals would probably have no room to fight back.

But how could Suren be an ordinary Fifth-Order?

The moment he realized something was wrong, his eyes suddenly became bloodshot, and he whispered in his heart: "Flesh and Blood Alchemy · Fifth Stage Hormone Berserk!"

After a large number of hormones were injected into his muscles and internal organs, surging power poured into his limbs, allowing him to instantly break free from the pressure.

The moment his hand could be raised, Suren pinched the Warlock Seal with both hands, "Arcane Art · Rune Vajra!"

When he looked again, a layer of dark golden fish scale runes was overflowing on his skin.

After doing all this, the fist wind had already pressed over.

Although he knew he was going to be beaten, this time, Suren didn't use teleportation to escape. He chose to take this punch head-on.

Because he had roughly guessed the identity of this guy!

......

"Boom!"

When the fist touched his cheek, his face swayed like a wave. Even though he tried his best to use Sky-Stepping Art to withdraw and dodge, this punch still hit him firmly in the face.

Suren flew out instantly, smashing out a series of white waves on the sea, rolling for a long time before falling into the sea.

Probably because Suren didn't use teleportation to escape, the man in the floral shirt felt great the moment he landed a punch.

This guy didn't chase after him and put away his field, seemingly preparing for a fair "duel."

He looked at Suren, who was hit by his punch and was completely fine, and saw some clues. He smacked his lips, "Yo~ this Flesh and Blood Alchemy secret technique is a bit interesting. The [Vajra] secret technique is not bad, and there is also the body refining method of the Rune Warlock lineage? Tsk tsk, you have mastered all the life-saving methods."

"..."

Hearing this, Suren stood firmly on the water again after stepping on it twice. Looking at the man opposite him, his eyes were complicated.

The old man in the floral shirt saw his Sky-Stepping Art, and seemed to have discovered something interesting. He squinted and said, "[Extreme Sky-Stepping Art]? Tsk tsk, I improved this martial skill. Apart from those kids in the War Academy, no outsiders have learned it. You have learned a lot, but unfortunately, the compatibility between the martial skill and your body is not enough."

"..."

Suren didn't deny it in his heart when he heard this.

The martial skills were all stripped from others. Although he had enough experience, the compatibility with his body was indeed far inferior to what he had practiced himself.

Although this gap seemed to be no different in the eyes of ordinary people, the difference was great in the eyes of top professionals.

The man in the floral shirt seemed determined to beat him up. Without saying much, he rushed over again.

Suren guessed the other party's identity, and didn't teleport anymore. He braced himself and went up to meet him.

Regardless of the other party's purpose in coming to him, he would definitely be beaten if he didn't go all out.

The two figures intertwined, all punching each other.

This battle was extremely fierce between the two.

How could Suren, a Puppet Master, be able to beat a power-based professional who was two orders higher than him?

He was beaten again and again, and fell into the water again and again. Clusters of white waves exploded on the sea.

He was in a terrible state.

......

Seeing Suren being beaten, the Dawn Mercenary Group on the deck of the Eternal Night were extremely nervous.

Luo Luota: "Why doesn't Mr. Suren use teleportation?"

Kama: "The other party seems to be a Seventh-Order professional? I saw him use his domain just now."

Tani: "Hmph, that old man is too despicable. A melee professional is actually dueling a Puppet Master!"

Abelke: "The teacher knows that melee combat is not his strength, so why does he still want to fight..."

A group of teenagers were indignant and wished they could go up and help.

On the deck, Qian Tiao and Barrett also looked at each other with solemn expressions.

Qian Tiao's hand had been on the hilt of her sword, ready to help at any time.

But as she watched, she became puzzled, "That kid can't beat him, but he clearly has the means to deal with him. Why does he keep getting beaten? Is he really going to duel?"

When Barrett saw the man in the floral shirt's moves, he had already recognized the person's identity. The expression on his face suddenly became strange, and he said, "Suren seems to have recognized that gentleman's identity, so he chose to fight head-on."

Qian Tiao heard Barrett's strange tone, tilted her head and asked, "Do you know that person?"

Barrett sighed and said with a complicated tone, "Yes. That person... was my instructor when I was studying at the Royal Academy."

As he spoke, he muttered with a face full of doubt, "But why is he here? That shouldn't be. Now that he has inherited the title of duke, why would he come to find trouble with Suren?"

Qian Tiao also showed a puzzled expression: "Duke?"

Barrett nodded and said, "Lu Ying's top noble, 'Tulip Duke' Bartolo Lance. You probably don't have to worry. The instructor is a very upright person. But why did he come to find trouble with Suren?"

Qian Tiao's expression suddenly became strange. She seemed to have thought of something and said, "When you say that, I seem to understand why this person is here. Suren once said that he knew a young lady from a noble family and had helped her several times. The last time you rescued her in the Moros City-State, the information was provided by them. But he doesn't know which family the girl is from..."

Barrett seemed to understand something when he heard Qian Tiao's words, "The instructor does have several daughters. Judging from her age, it should be the youngest daughter, Miss Yekaterina."

Qian Tiao seemed very interested in this kind of gossip, and said with a little excitement, "Have you seen her?"

"No."

Barrett shook his head, but said, "But I have heard of her. That Miss Yekaterina is very famous in the Imperial Capital. It is said that she is very beautiful and was known as the 'Most Beautiful Woman in the Royal Academy' when she was studying at the Royal Academy. She is also intelligent, quick-witted, and knowledgeable, and has countless suitors..."

Qian Tiao's eyes were burning with gossip when she heard this, "Yo~ so, Suren teased that girl, and her father came to find him?"

Although she didn't know exactly what the entanglement was between the two, judging from Suren's Casanova physique, the girl was probably at a disadvantage.

The case was solved.

This inexplicable duel turned out to be like this.

His own cabbage was arched by a pig. Did the girl's parents come to see what the pig looked like?

With this statement, the atmosphere of the onlookers on the Eternal Night changed all of a sudden.

Everyone was no longer worried, but instead gathered there with a lively mood, watching Suren being beaten, and pointing and commenting from time to time.

They had always seen their invincible monster, Mr. Suren, killing everyone.

This was the first time they had seen him suffer a loss.

It was also super interesting!

......

Half an hour later.

The duel ended.

The two stood on the sea.

Suren had been beaten black and blue, and looked at the man in the floral shirt opposite him with a helpless expression.

Even though he was already very strong, it was impossible for him to beat a Seventh-Order professional.

Whether he used all his strength or not, he couldn't win.

On the other hand, Duke Bartolo seemed satisfied after beating Suren, and didn't forget to evaluate Suren's performance, "The kid is not bad. I heard you are also a Puppet Master? Tsk tsk, it's not bad to have this physical fitness."

"..."

Hearing this, Suren had no response other than expressing his helplessness with his eyes.

He didn't know that although it was just a few simple words, this Grand Duke had never given such a high evaluation to any young man.

But he still felt inexplicable.

Although he guessed that this was Katyusha's elder, he also felt that this beating was a bit unjustified.

Suren didn't bother to ask in detail. Now that the duel had a result, he asked again, "Senior, what are you here for this time...?"

He was probably Katyusha's father, and it was reasonable to use honorifics.

Putting aside some unknown reasons, this man in the floral shirt gave Suren a good impression. At least that kind of boldness was carved into his bones.

Duke Bartolo didn't mean to talk about private matters, and said directly, "Now the Lu Ying royal family, the Mafa Empire, Voght Raphael, and Oleg are all looking for you. I can say with certainty that if you don't find a powerful enough force to protect you, no matter where you appear, you will encounter a constant stream of trouble. Even the West Sea and the South Sea have a large number of Lu Ying's major nobles' intelligence forces. You can't even be pirates..."

Suren wasn't surprised when he heard this.

The situation that their Dawn Mercenary Group was facing now was like this. They had offended two major empires and were actually enemies on all sides.

It was said that they could be pirates, but in fact, as long as there were people gathered, there would be intelligence agents infiltrated by the two major empires.

The reason why other pirates could survive was only because it wasn't worth paying a high price to capture them.

The Dawn Mercenary Group now had Mafa's submarines, treasures from the Void Ruins, Raphael Grand Duke's neural machinery technology, and also knew the secrets of the Lu Ying royal family...

Each one was a huge fortune that was enough to make top nobles jealous.

It may not be completely exposed yet, but as long as anyone knew any of the information, they would definitely want to take a bite.

This man in the floral shirt could directly call out the name of Raphael Grand Duke, so he was naturally a top noble.

The meaning in these words was also very obvious. He was the "powerful force" that could protect the Dawn Mercenary Group.

But if he really wanted to protect them, it would cause no small amount of trouble.

Not to mention whether it was to win them over, Katyusha's face was more or less involved.

However, Suren naturally had some considerations of his own.

They were not an ordinary pirate group.

Hearing this, he pondered for a moment before responding, "Thank you for your reminder, Senior."

Bartolo raised his eyebrows when he heard that he didn't respond directly. He seemed a little surprised that Suren had rejected the olive branch he had thrown out.

But he had also seen the person, and as an old father, he had also vented his anger.

He had said everything he needed to say, and he didn't say anything more. He said, "Since you have your own considerations, then let's leave it at that."

As soon as he finished speaking, he left without delay.

As unrestrained as when he came.

Suren originally wanted to be polite and ask for more information, but looking at the departing back, he could only give up.

......

Another half month later, the mighty encirclement operation also died down.

The encirclement of the North Sea Fleet had completely become a joke.

They had mobilized heavy troops and lost several organized squadrons, but they didn't even catch a single member of the Dawn Mercenary Group.

If it was so easy to catch people at sea, the pirates would have been wiped out by the official navy long ago.

Moreover, this was under the condition that the warships were different.

The Dawn Mercenary Group's Eternal Night Emperor had a speed faster than any sailing warship in the North Sea. In the vast and endless wilderness sea, it was impossible for them to be caught up.

Moreover, after meeting the Blue Knight Pirates, Suren was beaten up, and they were even more careful.

They had robbed enough supplies, and they didn't continue to erode the North Sea Fleet. Instead, they wandered around the wilderness sea.

The days that followed were very peaceful.

Without pirate blockades, the Dawn Mercenary Group was still very busy.

Because they had brought out detailed experimental data and a large amount of materials from the Void Secret Realm, Dr. Banks developed the first batch of [Void Gene Potion] in a very short period of time.

Suren had the All-Knowing Eye, so he didn't need to wait for any clinical trials. As long as he identified that there was no problem, he could use it directly.

A large number of Dawn Mercenary Group members, including Qian Tiao, injected the potion and almost all successfully obtained Void Affinity. Herbert Silverleaf, the great alchemist of the Dawn Era, left this generous gift to his descendants, bringing the Dawn Mercenary Group's strength to a new level.

Those Void Biomechs and advanced materials also came in handy, and everyone was busy improving their strength.

On this day.

It was drizzling slightly in the sky, and there were waves of several meters on the sea.

On the mast, Suren was meditating cross-legged.

Since discovering that sunbathing could help him better integrate the [Isaac Alchemy Heart], he had been staying on the mast all day.

The days were also leisurely.

If you looked closely, you could still see bruises on Suren's face, which were left after being beaten that day.

He was ridiculed by Qian Tiao for this.

Even after so many days, he still occasionally felt a slight pain.

It was not easy to recover from being hit by an overbearing attack. It was not a serious injury, but it was painful.

It was a memorable experience.

Suren now knew that Katyusha was the little princess of the Lance Duke's family.

That kind of old-fashioned noble family that had controlled the six northern provinces of Lu Ying for hundreds of years really had that strength.

However, although Suren felt that he had a good relationship with Katyusha, it wasn't enough to make the father of that dignified Grand Duke come to him personally.

He couldn't figure it out, and he had no place to ask.

But he connected some of the things that had happened before, and guessed that the Lance family probably had big plans. There were spies in the Mountain Hermitage, the North Sea Fleet, the Lu Ying Military Intelligence Service, and Roman... The strength that the Lance family had hidden beneath the surface was truly terrifying.

His thoughts were flying in meditation. Suddenly, he heard the crow's croaking voice that was as unpleasant as scraping a pot with a saw: "The ship is coming! The ship is coming!"

At the same time, the observer in the lookout tower on the mast was also excitedly shouting down, "Mr. Suren, the ship with the 'White Whale Merchant Guild' flag that you mentioned is coming!"

Suren immediately perked up when he heard this.

Mr. Jing had arrived!