Gode's Sea Chart

Soon, Gode, his face a mask of panic and helplessness, was brought back by the grim Deboning. Having already learned of the events from Deboning, Gode immediately cried out upon seeing Du Chen, “Du Chen, the Divine, be my witness, Francis, I have been wrongly accused!”

With his webbed hands clasped before his chest, the young prince of the Sea Clan appeared every inch a devout follower of ‘Du Chen.’ Yet, his true thoughts were quite different: he’d been performing good deeds daily and had only just managed to earn a sliver of Master Brook’s favor. If this incident were to sour his Master’s impression of him, leading to the refusal to impart the Secret Technique, wouldn’t that be an absolute travesty?

Hmph, in this boundless world, nothing is more important than acquiring true power! He must quickly beg forgiveness from Du Chen, the Divine, whom his Master reveres!

He explained, “Francis, your Newin Port is located at the southeastern tip of the Aethelgard Continent. Behold!” His hands spread, conjuring a hydrostatic map before Du Chen, “I must first clearly explain the distribution of the Sea Clan’s forces…”

The Battle God World boasts three continents, separated by four vast oceans. The connecting line between Antwerp Port on Einz, Yakun's Emir Port, and Golden Sands Cape on the Azure Heaven Continent forms the Grand Delta Sea, controlled by Gode’s father. The King of the Grand Delta Sea is renowned for his might, but to speak plainly, he is merely a grand warlord under Sea Emperor Thanes. He controls the Grand Delta, but only the Grand Delta; no one in the other three sea regions would call him King. On the contrary, there are significant feuds among the four Sea Kings of the Sea Clan…

Du Chen's Newin Port, however, lies in the East Sea Region and is not under Gode’s father’s jurisdiction. Therefore, Du Chen had indeed wronged the young prince; those Merfolk have no connection to him whatsoever!

“That’s the situation!” Gode shrugged, gazing at Du Chen. His expression seemed to ask, *See? You wronged me, didn't you? So why not ask Master to teach me a few Secret Techniques as compensation?*

Du Chen, seemingly oblivious to Gode's expectant gaze, chuckled, “It appears this matter indeed has nothing to do with you. Ha, you know, your Master also contributed to the charitable deeds along the Newin River. If this incident were related to your Grand Delta Sea, it might sour the relationship between master and disciple!”

Du Chen feigned consideration for Gode. The young prince chuckled slyly, pondered for a moment, then spoke with a seemingly difficult expression, “You say, if I can help you resolve this Merfolk trouble, will Master truly teach me a few skills?”

A thought stirred Du Chen’s mind. “I believe he would. Do you truly have a way to deal with Merfolk not belonging to the Grand Delta Sea?”

Gode nodded, then shook his head. “Francis, though I keenly desire to learn the Secret Technique, I will not betray the fundamental interests of our race, nor will I help humans turn the butcher's blade against those born of the same sea… That is why, when you previously inquired about solving the Merfolk problem, I merely gave evasive answers, claiming it was too difficult. But this time, the Merfolk’s assault on human cities has brought too great a calamity—damn them, they slaughtered thousands of human women and children! I… I might be able to help you in part.”

“I completely understand, Your Highness Prince Gode, devout follower of Du Chen, the Divine. Please tell me what assistance you can offer; three hundred thousand common folk along the Newin River will be grateful to you!” Du Chen inwardly chuckled with glee.

Gode hesitated, “I’ve heard about the situation in the southern regions of Einz too. Unlike the information humans possess, I know the Merfolk there are exceedingly strange; it seems even the East Sea King can’t do anything about them! If you wish to completely resolve them, I can show you something that might be of some help!”

As he spoke, he conjured another map with his hands, but unlike the previous one, it was a three-dimensional deep-sea chart, revealing the mysterious scenery beneath the ocean!

“For many years, one reason why humans, possessing the most High-level Battle Gods among all races, are helpless against the Sea Clan is their ignorance of the deep-sea environment—I believe you understand how crucial a detailed map is on the battlefield! Behold, this is a Deep Sea Chart near Newin Port…”

Gode’s expression dimmed as he spoke, his voice much lower. “Originally, the East Sea Chart was a secret even to our Grand Delta Royal family, but ten years ago, my late elder brother obtained it through a stroke of serendipity…”

Du Chen was overjoyed beyond measure, his gaze fixed on the sea chart, not noticing Gode’s expression when he mentioned his late elder brother. He immediately activated his extraordinary memory, committing every location on that sea chart to heart. Gode was right; the sea chart was not exhaustive, covering only a small area and omitting many locations crucial to the Sea Clan. But Du Chen only wished for intelligence on the Merfolk and had no intention of waging war against the Sea Clan, so this sea chart was more than sufficient—it was invaluable. One could say, if Du Chen’s territory were a grand house by the sea, he had now finally glimpsed what lay beyond his doorstep, and gained most of the geographical intelligence on his adversaries—the Merfolk!

Having committed it to memory, Du Chen, without waiting for Gode to speak, said gravely, “Gode, I am immensely grateful for your trust. I swear by the name of Du Chen that I will never reveal this secret sea chart of the Sea Clan to anyone, for my entire life!”

Gode smiled, but said nothing. *If Elder Brother were still alive, what would he say, knowing I gave his sea chart to a human?*

*Alas, Elder Brother, the Grand Delta Royal Secret Arts vanished with you, and all that remains of your legacy is this fragment of the Four Seas Chart…*

…

After seeing off Gode, who was disinclined to confront the Sea Clan, Du Chen immediately sought out Professor Mina, the Holy Church’s spy. From her, Du Chen learned the true situation, details impossible to glean from the old bureaucrats of his territory. Consequently, his fury flared even higher—initially, only Newin Port had been targeted for plunder, but after the disaster, the port officials abandoned the common folk and fled for their lives, all escaping to the safe interior. As a result, with no government personnel to maintain order, the territory plunged into chaos… The Merfolk calamity had mutated into a man-made disaster!

His heart ablaze with urgency, Du Chen settled all his worldly affairs the next day and boarded the Belkus.

On deck, a frowning Du Chen said to Deboning, “What? Flaying said he has something to do and isn't coming with me? Damn it all, now is precisely when I need him!”

Deboning gave a slight nod. “Flaying, I don’t know what he’s thinking. The Young Master going to deal with the Merfolk and bandits in the territory is benefiting the common people of the region, a supreme act of benevolence, praised by the doctrines of Du Chen, the Divine…” He paused there, then changed his tone. “However, Flaying also asked me to relay a message to you!”

“What was it?”

Deboning, mimicking Flaying’s tone, said dispassionately, “Hesitation should not be yours. You should have remembered that phrase. Now, heed the second thing I tell you…” He raised his voice. “Francis, too often you show undue compassion, too often you are overly irresolute… When it’s time to be ruthless, you must harden your heart. To defeat your opponents, you must be even more ruthless than them!”

A sharp glint flashed in Du Chen’s eyes; he rubbed his nose!

Deboning continued, “Slay when necessary! Even the Sage Kings of antiquity, didn’t they all rise to their thrones with blood-stained hands, treading over mountains of corpses and seas of blood!? If you don’t slay your enemies, they will slay you. Sometimes, a butcher's blade is more effective than a thousand stratagems!”

Du Chen’s eyes subtly narrowed, lost in contemplation for a long while. He nodded, then said, his voice measured, “I understand.”

*He understands? What does that even mean?* Deboning’s heart was filled with doubt. Had the Young Master agreed with Flaying’s views, or merely heard them out?

Creak, creak, the sound of Belkus weighing anchor carried over the water. As sails unfurled, Du Chen gazed into the distance at the sea, his thoughts already soaring towards his territory. Just then, someone called out from the dock, “Francis, wait for me!”

Porter, carrying a small satchel and clutching a book, ran from afar, using the momentum to leap onto the dock. Tapping her chest in relief, she exclaimed, “Good thing I made it in time! I apologize, I was preparing some things, so I was a bit late.”

Du Chen looked at Porter in surprise. “Why aren’t you looking after Aunt Sherine? Why are you here with me instead?”

“Why is *this bookworm* coming too?” Cassian, who was assisting Harry with the ship's navigation, shouted, pointing at Porter. Du Chen wished for Cassian to personally experience the hardships of the common folk, so he kept him by his side. Besides, he had the Precious Lotus Scripture on him, so he could always knock him out and stash him inside, without worrying about the boy causing trouble or encountering danger!

Under several gazes, Porter's reaction was different from the shy, introverted figure she used to be. She adjusted her spectacles and smiled. “Can’t a bookworm come along?”

“We’re going to war with the Merfolk! War, this is war!” Cassian excitedly waved his hands, shouting, then looked at the frail Porter with disdain. “Bookworms are useless in war!”

Porter shot him a sidelong glance. “Do you know Merfolk are divided into three types? Do you know Merfolk like immature sea algae, and that this can be used to lure them out? Do you know…” Porter asked a series of questions, then playfully pursed her lips. “Bookworms are useless, little one?”

Cassian was rendered speechless.

Porter then smiled at Du Chen. “Teacher Sherine knows the Merfolk have caused you much trouble, so she sent me to accompany you, perhaps I can be of some help.” She opened a corner of her small satchel, revealing several books on the Sea Clan.

Taking a letter from within, Porter added, “I went to your dormitory first, but it was already locked. Look, I found this letter!”

Du Chen paused for a moment, then chuckled. “Very well, you can come with me; I’ll look after you… But now, who will look after Aunt Sherine?”

…

Belkus set sail. Far in the distance, beneath Hot Spring Mountain, on the observatory at the library, Flaying pushed a wheelchair, in which Sherine sat. “Can this Porter truly help Francis?”

Sherine’s pale face broke into a faint smile. “Glynn, do not underestimate my student. At her age, I was still an ignorant little girl!” She sighed. “This child dislikes being indebted to others. Francis helped her save many children, and she wishes to repay some of that debt…”

“Do not call me Glynn, I’ve told you many times…” Flaying repeated words he had uttered countless times, his voice very soft, almost a whisper.