The Scent of an Old Friend

The Belkus sailed, cutting through waves, yet Du Chen felt a pang of disappointment. The letter Porter had given him was from Arthur. Coincidentally, Crown Prince Reno was also returning to his homeland today, and in a great hurry. He had gone to Dormitory Number Eighteen by Water River to bid farewell to Du Chen but found him absent. He had no choice but to leave the letter with the intention of having the administrator pass it on, which Porter happened to see and brought along.

The letter stated that Arthur's strength had reached the level of a Fifth-Grade Battle-Warrior. However, lacking battle qi, continuing his studies in the academy's fifth-year courses, which were designed to cultivate Battle Soul, held no practical meaning for him. Thus, his student days were effectively over. Du Chen's assistance had also reached its limit; Arthur would have to forge his own path from now on—after all, Du Chen himself didn't know how to cultivate a Battle Soul using External Arts.

With this farewell, Arthur was now far away on the Azure Heaven Continent, and who knew when they would meet again. However, Arthur's letter also mentioned that his first priority upon returning home was to enlist in the army at Golden Sands Cape, located at the northern tip of the Azure Heaven Continent. He intended to acquire military knowledge in preparation for his future ascension as King Reno. Golden Sands Cape and Newin Port faced each other across the sea, so perhaps he might have the chance to cross the ocean and visit his good friend from their student days!

After reading the letter several times, Du Chen placed it within his Precious Lotus Scripture, then stepped onto the deck to breathe in the refreshing sea breeze.

Alex stood proudly at the prow, hands on his tiny hips, surveying the seascape. The imposing air of The Master spontaneously appeared on his small face. Andy slept beside him, his two paws unconsciously covering his nostrils in his slumber… "If not for this damned Merfolk calamity, how pleasant it would be for my entire family to peacefully enjoy this leisurely sea journey!"

Du Chen sighed inwardly, nodding a greeting to Porter, who was emerging from the ship's cabin.

Porter, carrying a thick rolled map, approached Du Chen. "I've compiled intelligence regarding the Newin River's banks," he said. "According to Gode, even the East Sea King finds those Merfolk very troublesome, so it will be even more difficult for us humans to resolve the situation…" He tilted his head slightly. "Considering the resources and information you've provided, I believe you can now focus your attention on one particular direction…"

"Oh? Elaborate!" Du Chen looked at his junior in surprise, never having imagined Porter possessed such military and political acumen.

Porter's face flushed slightly under Du Chen's gaze. He said shyly, "Uh, Francis, this incident involves inland bandits colluding with Merfolk to plunder human cities. However, Merfolk are generally like beasts; it's impossible for them to orchestrate such organized, premeditated military actions. Therefore, I suspect there's another mastermind behind this event. The Merfolk are merely pawns!"

Du Chen chuckled, patting Porter's shoulder. "Exactly! The masterminds most likely capable of using the Merfolk as pawns are two possibilities: the East Sea King, and those inland bandits!"

Porter slightly sidestepped, letting his shoulder evade Du Chen's "demonic claw," and nodded. "The East Sea King resides deep within the ocean. His Sea Clan doesn't lack wealth; rather, due to the constraints of their living environment, they lack ambition concerning the land. I truly cannot fathom why the East Sea King would attack your territory, so…"

"So the key, or rather, The Clues, lie with those land-based bandits!" Du Chen said chillingly.

Porter cast a sidelong glance at Du Chen, suddenly sensing a trace of coldness emanating from him, and couldn't help but quicken his pace. "Yes, this is precisely the direction I suggest for our investigation!"

"I will not let those bandits off the hook, but as for the Merfolk…" Du Chen touched his nose, his voice low. "For my people to no longer suffer harassment… they must be eradicated!"

A chill ran through Porter's heart, yet his face remained perfectly serene. He turned his head and looked to the west. "Indeed, the Merfolk deserve to die…"

Suddenly, Porter gazed at the sky in surprise. "Francis, look, what is that? It seems to be…"

Before he could finish, a thunderous shout echoed from the sky, "Young Master!! I've finally found you!"

"It's Aliza!" Du Chen exclaimed, delighted. He looked up to see a black speck streaking rapidly across the sky, moving so fast it was about to vanish in a blink. "Brook, take me after them, let's see!"

Aliza's voice came again, slightly choked. "Young Master, Master is taking me to fight a giant dragon… Oh, he won't let me say any more! Young Master, wait for Aliza, Aliza is already a Battle God, and will graduate very soon!"

Deboning rushed to Du Chen's side, his body suddenly trembling upon hearing this. "Aliza… became a Six-Star Battle God?"

Du Chen also stared at Deboning in shock, both seeing the disbelief reflected in the other's eyes.

One year and five months, just over five hundred days, and a naive boy had advanced from a battle qi-less slave to a Six-Star Battle God… If Charlemagne were still alive, what would he think?

Back then, even the Foremost Battle God beneath the Starry Sky, the top individual on the Academy's Heroic Rankings, had taken a year and a half to achieve the same feat!

Roland, clutching Aliza, had already flown far away in the sky. At Roland's urging shouts, Du Chen gave up the idea of pursuing them, instead breaking into a smile and playfully punching Porter's chest. "Hey, did you hear that? The three-hundred-year record held by Charlemagne, the Foremost Battle God beneath the Starry Sky, has been shattered! But damn it, why is Roland taking Aliza on such a dangerous adventure!"

Porter, however, was frowning in thought, murmuring, "Teacher said that Mount Miglio and the Papal Curia are in conflict because of the rebellious giant dragon, Constantine. Dean Zigurd traveled far to the Eye of Heaven Forest to participate in negotiations… Could it be that the situation has deteriorated to the point where Sword Emperor Roland needs to personally intervene and provide support?"

The relationship between the Papal Curia and Mount Miglio was a matter of the highest echelons across the Three Continents, and Du Chen had no means to participate in it yet. Carrying both joy and concern for Aliza, the Belkus arrived at Antwerp Port. Subsequently, Du Chen changed out of his noble attire and, with his entourage, entered the Newin River territory anonymously by land.

He wished to see his territory with his own eyes, to witness its condition firsthand, rather than returning to the capital and listening to the reports of bureaucrats, reports that undoubtedly concealed countless truths!

As they journeyed along the road to Newin Port, Du Chen's expression grew increasingly grim. While the territory wasn't quite a scene of widespread desolation, it was certainly scarred. Everywhere his eyes fell, he saw desolate farmlands and commoners with despondent and forlorn expressions. The closer they approached Newin Port, the more pronounced this situation became.

The plundered port resembled a war-torn ruin fresh from a brutal street battle, utterly dilapidated. The once-bustling port now stood sparsely populated. After this great catastrophe, a portion of the commoners, who had only just settled down after a recent flood, had once again embarked on a journey of escape. The remainder lived in constant apprehension and fear, dreading each passing day. In the streets, a few scattered engineering teams belonging to the Charitable Foundation were repairing damaged buildings. A handful of commoners either watched or stepped forward to help, but their efforts were far too meager for an entire city.

"How come there isn't even a single open inn? Hmph, Senior Brother won't even let us stay at the Lord's Manor…" Cassian grumbled, glancing around at the ruined Newin Port. Catching sight of Du Chen's gloomy expression, his eyes darted to a street corner.

There, several filthy beggars huddled beneath a broken wall, groaning incessantly. One, whose leg had likely been bitten off by a Merfolk during the great disaster, was covered in pus and blood, slumped weakly against the wall, while his companions fed him cold food they had begged for.

Upon seeing the beggar's state, Cassian was unexpectedly delighted. He chuckled sinisterly, "Heh, Senior Brother, you weren't wrong. Beggars truly come in grades, haha! You'd never see such an unfortunate beggar on Battle God Isle!" He pulled out a portion of food from his backpack and ran over. "Senior Brother, surely giving alms to a beggar like this counts as an even greater good deed, right? Ugh, damned beggar, you reek!"

He covered his nose, tossed the food down, and scampered back. Seeing the beggars ravenously devour the food he had given, he burst into laughter.

"Find this amusing, do we?" Du Chen leaned down, staring menacingly at Cassian, who immediately clamped his mouth shut in fright.

Du Chen scrutinized his Junior Brother from head to toe, then smiled. "Cassian, my Junior Brother, Senior Brother has thought of something quite interesting. I wonder if you'd be interested?"

"No, I'm not interested! Senior Brother, could you please stop smiling at me like that…?"

"You may not be interested, but I, however, am intensely so!"

Du Chen suddenly seized Cassian by the nape of his neck, dragged him to a secluded street corner, sealed his legs with battle qi, and then bound his mouth. "Don't you despise these beggars? Then why don't you be a lame, mute beggar right here!" With that, Du Chen tore Cassian's clothes, smeared a layer of mud all over him, then abandoned him and walked away.

"Woo! Woo!" Cassian slumped against the wall, staring wide-eyed at Du Chen's retreating back, trying to shout, but only producing indistinct, muffled noises.

"Senior Brother, don't leave! If you go, who will I get the antidote from? Without it, I won't be able to be a man anymore!"

Du Chen paid no mind to Cassian's protests. He returned to the others and called Harry. "You stay here and secretly look after Cassian. The rest of you, come with me to a more populated area to inquire about the situation!"

"Yes, Master. I already inquired; the situation in the North City is somewhat better… Heavens!" Harry suddenly gasped in surprise, his mouth wide open. He earnestly sniffed the air for a moment, then hastily lowered his voice. "Master, I detect the scent of an old friend of yours…"