The Simpleton and the Madman (Part 1)

When Du Chen returned to his cabin, the students, including Steve and Charles, all cast knowing, speculative glances his way.

Gossip always travels fast. Miss Mina, code-named 'Rose,' often engaged with all sorts of people to gather intelligence, inadvertently cultivating a rather... uninhibited reputation. Now, that reputation had spread like wildfire among the students in the cabin, and the primary culprit was none other than Steve, whose loose lips had blabbered wildly to curry favor with the female students!

Consequently, the students now harbored no doubts about the impropriety of Du Chen and Professor Mina retreating to a bedroom during their very first meeting. Instead, their concern revolved around what exactly had transpired between Du Chen and Professor Mina.

Meeting the students' peculiar gazes, especially those of the young women, Du Chen sought out a quiet spot and settled down.

The colossal ship hoisted anchor and set sail for Battle God Isle in the south.

Along the way, several academy teachers and leaders sought out Du Chen for conversations, all inquiring about how the nonexistent, powerful Battle God had managed to transform his innate talent. Du Chen cobbled together various tales and managed to placate them. In the end, one of the academy's massive ships detached itself to return to the Virtue of Antwerp Port, seemingly following Du Chen's fabricated information to search for the non-existent Battle God. Additionally, several fast boats departed the main fleet, speeding ahead to Battle God Isle to report the news to Zigurd, who was recuperating in secluded meditation.

The entirety of Battle God Isle was crescent-shaped, with a series of deep-water docks lining the inner curve of the crescent. After a day and a night of sailing, the colossal ship slowly pulled into port.

Du Chen stepped onto the deck, admiring the city-like density of buildings on the island. He was secretly astonished; this school was truly enormous.

Just then, the servants from the lower cabins emerged, carrying the students' luggage. Leading the pack was Harry, the Shieb slave Du Chen had recently acquired in the Virtue of Antwerp Port.

“Praise everything, we're finally free!” Harry burst out, gulping down the fresh, sea-scented air. He then found Du Chen and bellowed, “Master, quickly, find someone to help! Aliza isn't well!”

Aliza was in trouble? Damn it, why didn't anyone tell me!?

Du Chen was startled. He quickly borrowed a few Household Guards from his 'big brother' Steve and rushed into the servants' cabin. “Harry, what exactly happened?”

“Reporting, Master! Poor Aliza is seasick! He's been vomiting the entire trip!”

Du Chen didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He shot Harry a glare. “It’s just seasickness, no need to make such a fuss!”

The Shieb said, aggrieved, “But, but he… Master, just see for yourself.”

Inside a cramped cabin, the poor, simple Aliza lay groaning on a bunk. His honest, guileless face was utterly devoid of color, and though his large eyes were open, they held no spark, staring blankly at the ceiling. His once strong, powerful limbs now hung limply, completely bereft of strength.

The room was filled with a putrid, foul stench, and the floor was covered in vomit. Du Chen immediately covered his nose upon entering.

“How could he be vomiting so severely?” Du Chen approached Aliza, patting his cheek. There was no reaction; the boy was completely depleted.

“Master, the priests on board said they’d never seen such severe seasickness. Oh, my poor nose!” The Shieb’s sensitive nose could sometimes be a torment, perceiving the smell of vomit far more acutely than an ordinary person.

Du Chen ordered Aliza to be carried out and chastised Harry, “Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”

Harry froze. His master was so strange. Did he need to report a slave's seasickness? Oh, he understood! Though Aliza was a slave, he was clearly a favored one. He'd have to get along well with him from now on.

Thinking this, Harry chuckled obsequiously, “Merciful Master, your compassion for your servants moves me! But the Shieb heard that you and your classmates were participating in the academy's assessment and speaking with the teachers, so I dared not disturb you. I just helped the strong Mr. Aliza find a priest myself! Oh, I must have made a mistake, please punish me!”

“Shut up, and help me carry Aliza off the ship!” Du Chen glared at Harry.

Once they were ashore on the dock, poor Aliza finally seemed a little better, mumbling a few indistinct words. Du Chen breathed a sigh of relief, astonished that the incredibly strong Aliza, who could defeat lower-tier Fighters bare-handed, had been felled by seasickness.

“Big Brother, go ahead and inform the team leader for me. I’ll report after Aliza recovers a bit!”

Du Chen handed Steve the necessary documents for reporting, then laid Aliza down in an open area and, with Harry, began rubbing his chest and abdomen.

“Hey, this kid’s as strong as a bear, why can’t he get up? Is he about to die?”

Someone approached. Du Chen was looking down, tending to Aliza, so he didn’t see the person, but upon hearing their words, he felt a surge of displeasure. What did “about to die” mean? Couldn't this person speak properly?

He looked up to see a tall, drunken middle-aged man. He wore a linen, sleeveless sailor’s shirt, his messy, light-red hair obscuring most of his face. He clutched a wine jar in his hand, looking every bit like a seasoned old sailor who’d spent his life on the docks.

“My friend is just seasick!”

“Seasick? How dull! I thought he was dying, that’s why I came over to watch the spectacle!” The drunken sailor shook his head, squatted beside Aliza, and patted his cheek. “Kid, do you know what I’m saying?”

“Ugh! Ugh!” Aliza spat out a few garbled words.

“Useless fellow!” The sailor suddenly tossed aside his wine jar, grabbed Aliza’s shirtfront with both hands, and violently shook him.

“Hey, what are you doing?!” Du Chen shoved him away. “That’s not how you cure seasickness!”

“I never said I was going to cure him!” The sailor scratched his head. “I saw he wasn’t dead, so I just thought I’d help him out. Otherwise, how am I supposed to enjoy the show?”

So you’re trying to kill him!

Du Chen was furious. He grabbed the sailor's collar, ready to unleash a torrent of curses, but then, a sudden flash of insight struck him. No, this was the Battle God Academy! A gathering place for the elites of the Three Continents, a veritable den of formidable experts, where hidden dragons and crouching tigers surely lurked. This sailor’s identity was unknown; it was best to be cautious.

“What now? Still want to fight me?” The sailor yawned, reeking of alcohol. He pointed at Aliza. “This is your slave, isn’t he? I think he’s quite amusing. Name your price, I’ll buy him!”

“Apologies, he’s not for sale!”

“Not for sale, eh?” The sailor grinned, revealing a mouthful of white teeth. “Then I’ll just take him!”

With that, he snatched Aliza, hoisted him onto his shoulder, and bolted. Though the man was robust, he wasn’t exceptionally strong, yet he carried the bear-like Aliza, who possessed Beastkin blood, with effortless speed. At that moment, Aliza's seasickness after-effects had not yet passed, and the sudden jostling made him unable to hold it in. With an “Ooh-Waa!” he vomited a large amount of filth onto the sailor’s shoulder.

“Mother of… how unlucky!” The sailor shrieked, seeing Du Chen pursuing him from behind. He spun sharply, leaped high, stomped off Du Chen's shoulder, and used the momentum to bound far away, vanishing into the crowd in the blink of an eye.

Du Chen stood rooted to the spot. Judging by the speed of the sailor’s escape, he was clearly a master. But why would he kidnap Aliza, a simpleton? Wealth, lust, power—he had none of these. So what was he after by taking Aliza? The man was utterly irrational!

At that moment, several old sailors watching nearby burst into hearty laughter. “Haha, brothers, did you see that? That madman has a new toy! We can finally have some peace for a few days!”