Axel

Chapter 270: Infiltrating the Slave Ship

Added 2025-02-17 14:10:00 +0000 UTC

Many of Charlot Mecklenburg’s earlier weapons had long been abandoned.

For instance, the second-hand Magnum Mauler that had accompanied him early on, the vampiric hand axe, and even the magical alchemical staff that could be considered a "costly" creation later on.

There were also some fine pieces of equipment Charlot had never truly used, such as the Assassin’s Dagger, a pair of fingerless-glove-shaped alchemical pistol holsters, a crystal vial, and the Bag of Insects he acquired in Cappadocia, as well as the extraordinary Knight’s Lance he obtained after killing Zolman.

The Assassin’s Dagger, for example, carried anti-space properties, making it an excellent tool for infiltration. However, Charlot had long mastered the Blade of Emptiness, an inherent extraordinary ability far more convenient than relying on equipment.

The alchemical pistol holsters, classified as spatial artifacts, suffered from a major flaw—they could not be hidden. Once discovered during a body search, they could no longer be concealed, making them impractical for use.

As Charlot reviewed his collection of extraordinary items, he recalled three particular artifacts not currently in his possession. The Dark Luxury had been taken by Princess May Guillaume, and Charlot dared not ask for its return. Lion’s Fang remained with Sophia Gallanord, and Charlot planned to retrieve it later. Lastly, the Silver Knight, which Belisa held, could be reclaimed at any time, though Charlot doubted its usefulness in his current situation.

Beyond weaponry, Charlot also sought to enhance his personal strength.

During his time in the South Seraph region, where he engaged in fierce battles with Chloe Hadrian, Charlot had trained relentlessly. His Blood Glory had accumulated to a formidable level.

On the Old Continent, all cultivation systems measured transcendent levels by energy intensity. However, Blood Glory, a system created by Protagoras, was unique in that its early stages were categorized by the number of Blood Vortexes a practitioner opened.

Protagoras’s classification system was imprecise. Most vampires only managed to open one Blood Vortex, and many practitioners of Blood Glory would unlock merely one or two, yet still amass enough blood energy to be regarded as mid-level or even high-level Transcendents.

Charlot, having opened nine Blood Vortexes, had already gone beyond this framework. By transforming Blood Glory into Stardust Battle Energy, his strength surpassed not just the ninth or even tenth rank—he had stepped into the eleventh rank, nearing the threshold of high-level Transcendents.

While further progression in Blood Glory was unlikely within a short period, Charlot aimed to master the Demonflame Horse, an extraordinary ability, within the coming days.

Each advancement in his Adonis Clan Secret Arts delayed the descent of Karnstein. Currently, Karnstein’s arrival was estimated at just over two months. Mastering the Demonflame Horse could potentially delay this by an additional two to three months.

The Demonflame Horse, almost incorporeal, could traverse any terrain—hills, marshes, water, and even fire. It was an ideal mount.

Since losing the Dark Luxury, Charlot had yearned for the Demonflame Horse. His longing deepened further when the current mission presented its demands.

The Demonflame Horse, capable of sprinting across the ocean, was a reliable ally for escaping danger.

To infiltrate Saint Michael Island, Charlot’s top priority was ensuring his survival, and the Demonflame Horse would be a significant boon.

Charlot devoted the following days to intense cultivation of the Adonis Clan Secret Arts, temporarily setting aside other aspects of Blood Glory for refinement.

Despite his efforts, a few days were insufficient to break through and master a new extraordinary ability.

When Menielman Soumet informed him that the slave ship had reached its designated waters, Charlot regretfully boarded a merchant ship prepared for him and departed from Cappadocia.

Menielman’s plan was straightforward. The merchant ship would approach the slave ship under the guise of seeking "assistance," claiming to have lost freshwater supplies during a storm. Regardless of whether the slave ship agreed to help, this maneuver would buy enough time for Charlot, a Transcendent, to infiltrate it.

Though simple, the plan was practical.

Five or six days after leaving Cappadocia, Charlot’s merchant ship encountered a large vessel painted with black seagull insignias.

As the merchant ship drew near, the black-seagull ship immediately opened fire. Though the cannonballs were ordinary, they startled the merchant crew.

Unaware of the operation, the merchant crew had only been instructed to approach the ship. When the black-seagull ship began firing, they panicked and hastily turned the vessel away. The black-seagull ship gave chase for a while before abandoning pursuit and resuming its course to Saint Michael Island.

During the chase, Charlot refrained from action. Instead, he leapt into the sea, using his extraordinary abilities to dive beneath the water and cling to the slave ship’s hull with the Blade of Emptiness.

Charlot clung to the ship until it altered course toward Saint Michael Island. Then, using his skills, he silently climbed aboard.

This slave ship, an ordinary pirate vessel, housed no Transcendents. With Swiftstep Technique x10, Charlot moved like a phantom, unnoticed by anyone on board.

The ship had over a hundred crew members and transported slaves confined in the cramped and suffocating lower hold. Charlot avoided the foul hold, finding a hidden spot aboard to conceal himself. Days later, upon overhearing the crew’s conversation, he learned the ship was half a day’s journey from Saint Michael Island.

Using Beast God Transformation, Charlot transformed into a young Redback Bear barely two pimi high and "frail" in appearance.

Merely showing himself briefly in the hold was enough for a few crew members to mistake him for an escaped orc slave. They immediately restrained him and threw him back into the hold.

The moment Charlot was shoved into the hold, he nearly vomited. The stench was unbearable, and the space so cramped that even sitting upright was impossible. Many of the orc slaves had become numb, their gazes hollow from relentless suffering.

Charlot loathed the slave trade but knew this was not the time to act. He resigned himself to enduring the conditions, curling up like the other orcs.

While confined, he quietly cultivated his Bloodfire Combat Energy, knowing that regaining his human form would restore his full strength. Maintaining some combat ability in his orc form, however, was prudent for contingencies.

Looking at the orc slaves treated like livestock, Charlot’s mind turned to the human victims of the slave trade. He silently vowed that once he escaped, he would destroy Saint Michael Island and eradicate the slave trade from the Aggras Sea.