Chapter 23: Wash the seas red!

Access to an energy tower, medicine, professional combat practice, and equipment—these were things that Fang could only dream about, but now, he could finally achieve those coveted conditions!

Such an approach to becoming strong would cost an unimaginably large amount, and if Valeria was serious, covering the expenses as a long-term investment would surely make a noticeable dent in her wealth.

Fang breathed deeply; he couldn’t let such a big temptation trap him in an irreversible deal. He wondered, did Valeria know him? He was confident they hadn’t met before, so why would she lavish all this money on him, and not her brothers or relatives?

Fang looked straight at Valeria. “Lady Valeria, I want to know. What is this ‘thing’ you want me to do?”

“Wash the seas red with the blood of the Ragged Pirates!”

“What?” Fang nearly fell off his chair at her words, but the shock in Valeria’s eyes was even greater.

Sweat began to form on his forehead. “Lady Valeria, are you serious?”

The Blue Sea was a vast body of water stretching beyond the country’s borders. On the desolate isles scattered across it lay the inhuman pirates. Mercy didn’t exist; savagery and blood ruled the vicious world filled with monsters and barbarians. And standing as the apex predators were the Ragged Pirates. Sightings of discolored arms, gorged bodies, and blood—so much blood that it had dyed the sandy shores crimson—had deterred most merchants from crossing the treacherous waters, despite the astronomically higher costs.

“I’m absolutely serious.” Valeria’s eyes turned mercilessly cold. “A few years ago, during an urgent shipment, the Wind Company encountered them and was cruelly slain. Their rotting remains were carelessly washed up on the shore!”

An intense hatred accompanied her words, and her body trembled with extreme animosity.

Although it sounded like a tragic disaster, Fang could only feel sympathy. “Lady Valeria, I’m sorry, but you seem to have the wrong person. You should seek out a master for this task, not a rookie like myself.”

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Valeria took some deep breaths to calm herself, then spoke. “I certainly did so, but contrary to what it may seem, the chamber of commerce isn’t that wealthy. After that failed shipment, where countless experts easily died, the department lost too much money, and our reputation took a turn for the worse. Over the last two years, although I’ve asked many of the strongest, none were willing to risk their lives for the meager amount of money offered. So, all I can do is train someone to seek revenge!”

Ashamed, Fang replied, “Even if I could be trained, Lady Valeria, you should find a better candidate. To tell you the truth, I’ve only just reached the intermediate level—there must be others better than me.”

She waved her hand and asserted, “No, judging solely by energy is too trivial. In the entrance examination, you were a 9th-grade novice in an environment without favorable conditions. Now, you’ve grasped the intermediate level. This speed of progress is beyond anything I’ve seen before. Also, despite your low level of energy, you were able to comprehend and use instant parry, which only a few people in this country can proficiently use. Additionally, your power and speed are excellent, and your energy efficiency potential is frightening! That is why I chose you. Although you’re weaker than most people of your age, your talent is extraordinary. Therefore, I believe that, given the best conditions, your achievements would be immeasurable!”

Fang was appalled; this lady knew so much about him—even the tests at the training grounds yesterday hadn’t escaped her notice.

“I’m sorry. I had to research and observe you closely to make sure you were the person I was looking for. After all, this matter is my last gamble, my final chance to take a bet.”

As the table was fully cleaned, she stood up. “We didn’t sign a contract, and you have no obligations or commitments to me. This was just a request—that if one day you reach the level of the strongest, you would destroy those malicious beings. I believe you have a good heart and want to help people. You’ve lost your parents; you understand the pain of losing loved ones. But your parents died at the hands of monsters; they didn’t have to suffer. The people in the company were tortured to death—missing tongues, ears, noses, and eyes, long thin splinters impaling their skulls, some even boiled alive and hacked into pieces. For the poor families of the victims, the only relief they could get is the extermination of such evil.”

Fang fell silent, paralyzed in his chair.

“Fang, I know it must be shocking—you’re still only a 16-year-old boy and haven’t even left the safety of the country. You can go back and think it over. I’ll be waiting at the gates next holiday, and if you don’t show up, I’ll assume that you’ve rejected my request. Of course, I hope we have the opportunity to work together.”

Having said those parting words, Rhodes returned Fang to the quiet camp.

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Fang entered the residence in a trance. Anxiously, Blue had been waiting outside on the sofa, curious as to why Valeria had invited Fang. As the door swung open, Blue, pretending to be calm, casually asked, “Hey Fang, why did Valeria want to meet you? Did she tell you anything?”

Fang shook his head. “She didn’t say anything; we only had dinner together.”

“That’s strange. You didn’t know Valeria, right? Why would she call you to dinner without any reason?” Blue didn’t believe Fang and knew he was hiding something, but no matter how much she probed, Fang remained tight-lipped.

Even though Fang hadn’t signed the contract, the matter concerned personal hatred for many, and it wasn’t something he could share.

He suddenly remembered that Blue seemed to know a bit about Valeria. “Blue, do you know anything else about Valeria other than her being the head of the chamber of commerce?”

“I know a thing or two. In Minuet City, the chamber of commerce used to be one of the major influential powers among the departments, but then came a disaster that shattered the situation.” Blue said reluctantly. “Valeria was attending Garden College, in her last year, and had recently become a 5th-grade expert. Graduating at the expert level was very rare throughout academia’s history, but not one, but two girls had reached that level. Yume, daughter of Kingsley, and Valeria. At graduation, everyone thought they would become the two strongest women in the entire country!”

Fang frowned. “Why is Valeria like this now, and how did her face become ruined?”

“Did you see her face? Ah, right, she must have taken off her mask during dinner. Valeria is quite a tragic figure,” Blue continued ruefully. “Her father and brother were killed in that disaster, and filled with revenge, Valeria tried to accelerate her training, only for her relinquished body to break out of control.”

No wonder she wanted to kill off the pirates—her father and brother had experienced that misfortune.

Noticing an unfamiliar term, Fang questioned, “A relinquished body?”

“A type of special dark physique that rarely appears when a mutation causes darkness to mix with a person’s essence. Found perhaps once every couple of centuries, this body allows the user to practice and absorb dark energy exceedingly fast. However, this very strong body is dangerous—a slight mistake could cause the person to become a toxic, disfigured, cruel monster beyond redemption, hence the name ‘relinquished.’”

Blue sighed. “Valeria, because of her missing father and brother, was filled with an unforgettable hatred that resulted in taking in too much darkness, which the relinquished body greedily absorbed. Those black markings on her face are the result. If she tried to force it and absorb more energy, the situation could have spiraled out of control, so she immediately requested to withdraw from the school. Upon withdrawal, she took over her father’s chamber of commerce. In the business world, she is a rare woman who miraculously managed to save the fallen chamber of commerce and gained a bit of fame in Minuet City for that reason. However, it would never be the same glorious department as it was in the past.”

Saddened, Fang angrily whispered, “If the disaster hadn’t happened, Lady Valeria surely would have become one of the strongest!”

Blue nodded. “Of course, she’s my idol.”

“Idol? Did you meet Valeria before?”

Frantically, Blue explained, “Well, um, no. I just think it’s admirable how she endured so much suffering but still managed to remain unyielding to sorrow.”

“Ah,” Fang thought it made sense, considering Blue’s previous traumas. “It is really impressive. Despite her beloved ones being gone and her ability to gain energy being at an end, she managed to bring the chamber of commerce back to a path of recovery…”

After talking with Blue, Fang had a better understanding of Valeria.

Previously, when Valeria was a stranger, he thought she was just another wealthy person acting on a whim. Now, however, Fang began to feel a bit of sympathy and respect.