Chapter 335 - 256: Boarding the Black Ship, Searching for the Ammunition Hold (Part 1)

Chapter 335: Chapter 256: Boarding the Black Ship, Searching for the Ammunition Hold (Part 1)

Ichida Keizai was filled with a boundless yearning, longing to see what this city of Gold looked like with his own eyes.

As his imagination ran wild while gazing at the distant lights, a faint, unusual sound from afar suddenly caught his attention.

Despite the biting sea wind and the splashing waves, he could still clearly distinguish a sound that didn’t belong.

This unique talent was the very reason his family had spared no expense to train him. It was also how he had successfully joined the navy, which was said to be the apple of the Monarch’s eye.

From a young age, his senses had been sharp. Both his sight and hearing far surpassed those of an ordinary person.

That was why he could pick out the anomaly in such a chaotic environment.

He immediately pinpointed the sound’s origin, raising the lamp high and turning its handle to cast a beam of light across the distant sea.

But on the pitch-black surface of the sea, there was nothing unusual—only the churning waves.

Ichida Keizai didn’t lower his guard, however. Instead, his brow furrowed.

He had absolute confidence in his hearing, so there was no way he could have misheard the sound.

With that thought, he no longer hesitated, immediately pulling the signal whistle from his coat to sound the alarm.

But just then, he felt a heavy blow to the back of his neck. His vision went black, and he passed out.

Before losing consciousness, his final thought was one of guilt.

’My family spent so many years training me, yet I’ve only just enlisted. To be attacked like this before I can even repay them... I’ve let everyone down.’

’I’m not going to survive this.’

’Anyone who could sneak aboard this ship so silently must be incredibly powerful.’

’I’m sorry, Grandfather!’

After that thought flashed through his mind, he lost consciousness completely. As his body started to fall backward, Wu Liangchen caught him and silently dragged him into a hidden corner.

Wu Liangchen had just piloted a small boat through the heavy waves to reach this massive ship, but he was almost discovered by this soldier before he could even board. The close call surprised him.

The sound of a boat cutting through water was unavoidable, but with his immense physical strength and control, Wu Liangchen had steered the small craft swiftly and steadily, keeping the noise to an absolute minimum.

Combined with the howling sea wind, the fact that this soldier could instantly detect the anomaly was truly extraordinary.

This posed no real problem for Wu Liangchen, however. When he was still several dozen yards from the massive ship, he kicked his small boat over. He used the force of the recoil to cross the remaining distance in an instant, landing on deck with a light step on the ship’s gunwale.

The entire sequence was blindingly fast, completed in a mere instant.

After knocking the soldier out, Wu Liangchen chose not to kill him. Instead, he dragged him to a corner, intending to interrogate him about the ship.

After all, he was completely in the dark about this giant ship and desperately needed an informant.

But before doing so, Wu Liangchen first searched the soldier and confiscated everything on him. Then, he dislocated the joints in the man’s arms and legs. Once he was sure the soldier couldn’t signal for help, he pressed one of his acupoints.

Having reached the Vein Opening Realm, Wu Liangchen’s knowledge of the human body was unparalleled. He naturally knew which acupoints could rouse a person from unconsciousness.

Soon, Ichida Keizai slowly began to wake.

He was startled for a moment when he saw the gloomy sky above, then he realized he wasn’t dead.

He tried to open his mouth but found his jaw had been dislocated, making it impossible to speak.

Just then, a cold voice reached him.

"Don’t get any ideas. I’ve dislocated every joint in your body. Now, you listen while I speak. If you agree or know something, blink once. If you don’t know, blink three times. If you refuse, just close your eyes, and I’ll send you on your way. Understand?"

Hearing this, Ichida Keizai immediately blinked once. Then, he stared wide-eyed, as if afraid Wu Liangchen wouldn’t notice his eyes were open.

Wu Liangchen smiled faintly at the sight. "Good. You’re a smart man. I’ll ask you now: where is this ship’s ammunition hold? Do you know?"

A chill ran through Ichida Keizai as he instantly guessed the man’s objective, and he couldn’t help but draw a sharp breath.

’This man’s audacity is astonishing! He dared to come aboard alone and is trying to find the ammunition hold.’

’He’s clearly here to destroy this whole ship!’

He immediately blinked three times, then looked at Wu Liangchen with anxious eyes.

"Do you really not know, or is there another reason?" Wu Liangchen pressed.

This time, Ichida Keizai blinked once.

"Very well. I’ll reset your jaw now," Wu Liangchen said coldly. "But remember, if you dare to make any sound to raise the alarm, I guarantee your death will be excruciatingly painful."

Ichida Keizai blinked once again.

CLICK.

Ichida Keizai let out a breath and said hurriedly, "I really don’t know the exact location of the ammunition hold. It’s top secret; only the captain, first mate, and a few others are privy to it."

"Then how do you load the ammunition?" Wu Liangchen asked, frowning.

"When it’s time to load ammunition, they blindfold us. We’re led inside by holding onto a rope."

Fearing Wu Liangchen would kill him for being useless, Ichida Keizai quickly added,

"However, my senses are sharper than an ordinary person’s, so even when blindfolded, I have a rough idea of its general location."

"Oh? And where would that be?" Wu Liangchen asked at once.

Ichida Keizai fell silent, merely looking at Wu Liangchen.

Wu Liangchen instantly understood what he meant and sized up the young man with a flicker of surprise.

To maintain such a clear head in this situation was truly out of the ordinary.

"I can spare your life, but only if you lead me to the ammunition hold," Wu Liangchen stated.

"How can you guarantee that?" Ichida Keizai asked.

Wu Liangchen smiled. "I can’t. You can choose not to believe me, and then I’ll kill you right now."

Of course, Wu Liangchen refused to be manipulated by Ichida Keizai, so his expression remained perfectly calm.

After carefully studying the expression on Wu Liangchen’s face, Ichida Keizai finally deflated.

"Fine, I’ll take you," Ichida Keizai said, his face filled with desperation. "But please, I beg you not to kill me. I won’t resist. I’ll cooperate completely."

Wu Liangchen’s expression was impassive. "Aren’t you East Sea Warriors unafraid of death?"

Ichida Keizai gave a bitter smile. "I’m not afraid of death. What I’m afraid of is failing to meet the expectations of my grandfather and my family."

As he spoke, he recalled his grandfather’s final instructions on the day he left, when he had been called into his room for a private word.

That day, his grandfather had been completely out of character. He made no mention of the Samurai Dao or things like loyalty to the Monarch and patriotism. Instead, he had told him that his life was his own, and that he carried the hopes of their entire family on his shoulders. Therefore, once he reached the front lines, he must not sacrifice himself needlessly. He had to do everything in his power to stay safe.

After all, as long as a man is alive, there’s always hope. Once you’re dead, all that talk of spirit is just bullshit.

Ichida Keizai had taken that lesson to heart. To him, the Monarch might be great, but his grandfather and his family were the most important things in the world.

That was why he had capitulated so quickly.

Hearing this, Wu Liangchen took another, deeper look at the young man.

He realized this young soldier was different from all the other people from the East Sea he had encountered. There was a rare spark of humanity in him.

As for the others—be it Ono Shunyu, whom he’d just killed, or the other common soldiers—they were all like NPCs, brainwashed by rigid ideologies that made them both insecure and arrogant.

So Wu Liangchen gave a slight nod. "Alright. Lead the way."

As he spoke, Wu Liangchen swiftly and cleanly snapped the young man’s limbs back into place.

Sweat beaded on Ichida Keizai’s forehead from the searing pain, but he still managed to struggle to his feet. He then whispered to Wu Liangchen, "Follow me!"