Chapter 129: The Smuggler and the Garilin Ironworks...

==Youth Riding Amidst the Plains==

Midnight, New Sopig Town, Pirate’s Nest Guild.

Under the cover of night, New Sopig Town fell under the dominion of the Pirate’s Nest. The head of the smugglers scratched his head as he looked at the young boy before him.

Is this still the timid little fox kid who never spoke up when bullied back then?

“Look at that, after all these years, the great Lord Hanvel has even gone gray.” Vynigo greeted “Ironhook” without a hint of reserve.

“Little fox,” Hanvel said with a bitter smile, “you…”

There was no need to say more. As a seasoned smuggler who had seen many people and events, Hanvel could easily discern the nature of those standing behind Vynigo.

A group of little girls and a cat? Ridiculous. Just look at the burly man, as strong as a giant bear, who stood obediently at the back like a servant. That alone showed that the group of small figures at the front were not to be underestimated.

Whether it was the female knight carrying a blade heavier than an ordinary greatsword, her face a mask of indifference, or the beast-eared girl with twitching ears scanning the surroundings, Hanvel clearly saw the little beast-eared girl casually kicking aside a pile of worn steel armor that blocked her path. Yes, Hanvel swore he wasn’t mistaken—that pile weighed half a ton!

Furthermore, if that little vampire girl hadn’t silently appeared behind him, neither speaking nor moving, just standing unseen in his blind spot… perhaps he could have maintained a bit more composure.

“Great Lord Hanvel, you should be well aware,” Vynigo spoke slowly, “Warlords are not easy to deal with. To them, a mere smuggler’s guild is just a bug beneath their boot, easily crushed. And they care little for how many bugs they squash.”

Vynigo made a barely perceptible gesture of length and continued, “In the eyes of the High Council, smuggler guilds are still just pests. But they don’t kill bugs without reason. And from my experience, the Eight Giants of the High Council can be quite generous in certain respects.”

He lowered his hand and fixed Hanvel with a steady gaze, asking deliberately, “So, Lord Hanvel, have you decided whose side you will stand on?”

“I don’t want to offend anyone, little fox,” Hanvel replied.

“Hey, hey, hey, such irresponsible words really shouldn’t come from your mouth,” Vynigo said. “Perhaps you don’t fully grasp the situation. It’s not that I’m pressuring you in the name of the High Council, but in reality…”

In truth, without the High Council’s power, Vynigo’s strength alone at this moment was enough to crush the Pirate’s Nest guild. The little elemental fire sprite floating curiously behind Vynigo was already eyeing Hanvel, contemplating where would be the most entertaining place to ignite when the fight began.

“Elemental fire sprite…” Hanvel’s insight was sharper than most. He even recognized that Vynigo’s fire sprite possessed a strength unmatched by others of its kind.

—and a blatant desire for destruction!

“What do you want?” Hanvel sighed.

“Simple,” Vynigo handed over a few thin sheets of paper. “If anyone inquires about the Garilin Ironworks, give them these papers mixed in with real intelligence. After that, no matter what they do or say, you’ll receive a long-term contract worth forty thousand gold coins.”

“Forty thousand gold coins… hss…” Hanvel was taken aback.

Vynigo extended his hand without concern, holding a contract signed by Lady Fries. Without a doubt, this contract represented a fortune equivalent to the entire annual income of the Pirate’s Nest for several years.

Without hesitation, Hanvel agreed. Vynigo also told Hanvel what could be done and what couldn’t—of course, the things forbidden were not tasks the arrogant warlords would entrust to the Pirate’s Nest anyway.

That settled the preparations. Once finished, Vynigo and his companions went sightseeing around New Sopig Town.

They visited a nearby orc outpost, which had already been cleared out, leaving only scattered half-orcs and mutated beasts clinging to life. Vynigo allowed Hilda to indulge her pyromaniac streak, turning the stone building into a massive oven.

Then, transformed into a scavenger cat, Vynigo entered a secret passage beneath the outpost, and deep within the underground tunnels, he found what he sought.

Though aware of these rats’ scavenging talents, Vynigo never expected they could uncover such a thing. He found a broken spearhead.

This was no ordinary tip—it was the spearhead of the war banner of the former king of Eracia, the very standard symbol wielded by the king himself, representing supreme military authority.

It bore divine power—pure and neutral, neither just nor evil, but an absolute neutrality forged from the faith and chivalry of countless warriors.

And astonishingly, it wasn’t even kept in the deepest treasure chest; it lay casually tossed in a wooden box at the side!

Vynigo picked up the small spearhead-like object, clasped his hands, closed his eyes, and felt the divine power within it.

This was precisely the power he lacked.

“So that’s it—light and order, darkness and chaos, and neutral divine power. What I need is the convergence of these three divine forces,” Vynigo said, producing the Pearl of Purity and the Pearl of Corruption to place alongside the spearhead.

Character construction, divine power infusion—the sequence was executed with practiced ease. Light shimmered as chaotic black mist and pristine white radiance merged into an eerie pattern upon Vynigo. From within arose a subtle gray aura, silently enveloping the black and white until compressed into a tiny luminous point that sank into Vynigo’s brow.

Character construction… Level 40 Nanoka, breakthrough successful!

Vynigo extended his hand, and a ram-headed impact hammer appeared. The breakthrough unlocked a new ability to modify constructed characters through divine power. Unlike previous three-stage enhancements, divine power modification offered greater freedom, granting Vynigo’s creations higher versatility.

Now, the Nanoka version of Vynigo could forge creations not previously listed in her recipe book. The success rate rose markedly, and randomness diminished significantly.

In other words, if Vynigo now wanted to craft a chainsaw sword, he wouldn’t end up making a bunch of frying pans, spatulas, and tractor engines as before.

“I like this power, very much,” Vynigo said. “Though it does burn through divine power a bit too fast.”

Grumbling, he seized the moment of divine energy and swung the impact hammer, beginning Nanoka’s characteristic “inventions.”

After enough playtime, Vynigo returned to New Sopig Town.

There, at the Pirate’s Nest, a grand spectacle was underway.

As Vynigo expected, Hanvel obediently delivered the gathered intelligence to the warlords, naturally including the few extra sheets Vynigo had slipped in. However, Hanvel had clearly not anticipated the warlords’ intent to leave no survivors.

They deployed two ultimate knights and six attendants to encircle the Pirate’s Nest, while the rest headed straight for Garilin Ironworks. As high-ranking magicians, the warlords ostentatiously used water-walking magic instead of ships, charging toward their target with hardly a veil of secrecy.

They were supremely confident in their strength.

Vynigo and his group arrived just as the ultimate knights launched their assault.

“Sophie, one each,” Vynigo surveyed the battlefield and said, “Akana, Suna, you’re not suited to fight heavily armored foes—handle the foot soldiers. Shirley, Honey, Big Cat, Iru, find a place to lie in wait and watch for enemy reinforcements.”

Akana and Suna responded with obvious displeasure before pouncing on the attendant knights. Sophie gave a slight nod, drew her sword, and charged the nearest ultimate knight.

Vynigo moved as well. Newly acquired toys had to be practiced—how else could one live up to the proud title of poacher?

Character construction… Divine power modification, Haohki, manifest!

Once again, he transformed into a demon. As the divine light faded, a monstrous man emerged from pale gray mist—Haohki.

Divine power modification imbued him with the ability to unleash violent flames amid waves of murderous intent.

Vynigo slowly raised his head; his eyes glowed with an eerie molten red light. Behind him, the red character “Heaven” flickered ominously, exuding a strange oppressive aura.

Haohki’s movements were like thunder! His combat style was purely offensive. He spared no effort in displaying overwhelming power and varied attacks—everything would become a nightmare for his enemies.

Step by step, he approached the ultimate knight.

“As usual, introductions first.” Vynigo pointed a thumb at himself. “Flame Demon Haohki. Remember my name—I will be the strongest warrior in this world.”

He laughed wildly and added, “Destined to be the invincible martial demon.”

“Lysik. Ultimate Knight, Dragon Slayer’s Fury,” the knight replied.

“You’ve killed a dragon?” Vynigo asked with curiosity.

“Just a drake,” Lysik answered dismissively as he gripped the greatsword at his waist and slowly drew it.