Chapter 134: Return to Blue Whale Town

Chapter 134: Chapter 134: Return to Blue Whale Town

「The next morning.」

Sunlight pierced through the clouds, spilling onto Blue Whale Town.

But today, Blue Whale Town was unnaturally lifeless. The gentler the sunlight, the colder the air felt.

Guards patrolled the streets and between the houses of Blue Whale Town, preventing any opportunistic individuals from causing trouble in the aftermath of the Pirate invasion.

Most of the Guards’ clothes were stained with blood, and their Armor was tattered and broken. It was clear they had endured a brutal battle and still hadn’t had a moment’s rest.

At a certain street corner, Dane was leading a dozen or so Diamond Town Guards on patrol.

His expression was grim, and his upper left arm was wrapped in a white, blood-soaked bandage, a clear sign he had been injured previously.

When the Green Shell Pirate Gang invaded yesterday, Dane had also led a portion of the Diamond Town Guards to resist. He was relatively lucky, not encountering too many or too powerful enemies, so he survived the disaster.

However, not all the Diamond Town Guards were so fortunate. Over thirty of them had been killed during yesterday’s massive raid.

According to the prior agreement between Baron Kels and Jarvis, once the Diamond Town casualties exceeded thirty, they could return on their own accord.

But yesterday, when Dane sent someone to report this to Baron Kels, the Baron unexpectedly ordered the Diamond Town Guard to remain here.

Although Dane didn’t understand, he chose to obey.

With Vili currently absent, he, as the highest-ranking officer of the Diamond Town Guard stationed in Blue Whale Town, shouldered all the responsibility.

"Sir Hephar!"

Dane was on patrol when he suddenly saw Hephar, the man who had escorted Baron Enton’s family to safety yesterday, returning.

He was walking briskly with a few people, seemingly in a hurry to get something done.

"Sir Dane."

Hephar slowed his pace slightly and gave Dane a stiff smile.

In the past, given his status in Blue Whale Town, he naturally wouldn’t have been so polite to Dane. But now, with Baron Enton dead and the government of Blue Whale Town destroyed, his own standing had plummeted. No one knew how Count Lumbar would handle Blue Whale Town, or who would be enfeoffed as its new Baron.

"Why are you back?" Dane asked doubtfully.

Hephar shook his head. "Lord Baron Enton died in battle. As his once most-trusted subordinate, I can’t just hide away in Diamond Town. Even you reinforcements are still garrisoned in Blue Whale Town, so what reason do I have to run away?"

Dane heard the resignation and sorrow in Hephar’s voice and couldn’t help but sigh with emotion.

He used to envy Blue Whale Town. It was near the ocean, with beautiful scenery and abundant resources, making it a desirable place. But now, he realized that for all its surface beauty, there was an equal measure of cruelty hidden beneath.

The once-glorious Blue Whale Town had fallen overnight.

"What are you going to do now?" Dane asked.

"The reinforcements sent by Count Lumbar are about to reach Blue Whale Town. I’m going to wait and receive them," Hephar replied.

Dane nodded silently at his words.

The fall of Blue Whale Town must have sent Count Lumbar into a rage. The reinforcements he sent were surely elite troops, their objective undoubtedly the complete annihilation of the Green Shell Pirate Gang.

"In that case, you should hurry."

Dane exchanged a few more pleasantries with Hephar, and then they went their separate ways.

’I wonder when the Captain will be back...’

A thread of worry appeared in Dane’s heart. There were many unknown risks out on the open sea.

「Half a day later.」

’As I expected...’

As the fishing boat Vili was piloting neared the coast, he saw that all the ships were moored at the docks. No one had gone out to sea.

Along the coastline, armored Guards stared nervously out at the sea, constantly watching for any potential enemies.

"Who goes there! Stop your boat!"

Suddenly, a Guard spotted Vili approaching in the fishing boat.

At his shout, nearly ten Guards immediately gathered, ready for a fight.

At this critical moment, everyone was on edge. No suspicious person could be overlooked.

"It’s me," Vili shouted back.

"It’s Captain Vili’s voice!"

One of the Guards was the first to realize.

Hearing this, the other Guards also relaxed.

Originally, they hadn’t known that Vili and Jarvis had gone out to sea. After all, their mission had been assigned directly by Baron Enton and was highly confidential.

But during yesterday’s battle, neither Vili nor Jarvis had appeared, which people found strange.

To prevent Vili and Jarvis from being branded as deserters, Hephar had wisely released the news that the two had gone out to sea, which cleared up everyone’s confusion.

Vili’s fishing boat slowly pulled ashore. A few Guards were already waiting to help moor it.

"Captain Vili, yesterday, Blue Whale Town..." a Guard began hesitantly.

Vili’s expression was grim. "I already know. Who’s in charge of Blue Whale Town now?"

The Guard was a little surprised that Vili already knew everything that had happened, but he immediately replied, "Lord Hephar was in charge before, but Count Lumbar sent reinforcements yesterday. Now the leader of the reinforcements, Lord Kirk, is in charge."

"Kirk..." Vili frowned slightly. "And what about Knight Condas?"

"Lord Condas fell in battle..."

A flash of sorrow appeared in the Guard’s eyes. Condas had a very good reputation.

"Where is Lord Kirk now?"

Vili could guess that this Kirk must be the person Count Lumbar sent to completely annihilate the Green Shell Pirate Gang. His strength was surely not to be underestimated.

"In the Personal Guard Bureau," the Guard responded.

Hearing this, Vili wasted no more time. He borrowed a horse and rode directly for the Personal Guard Bureau.

"Knight Vili!"

Vili had just walked into the Personal Guard Bureau when he saw Hephar hurrying out, apparently on his way to handle some official business.

Hephar looked up, his face lighting up with pleasant surprise when he saw Vili.

"Sir Hephar."

Vili greeted him as well.

"Blue Whale Town..."

Seeing that Vili had rushed here, Hephar was certain he already knew about the tragedy that had befallen Blue Whale Town.

"Is Lord Kirk here?"

Vili got straight to the point.

Hephar wasn’t surprised at all. The news that Kirk was temporarily in charge of Blue Whale Town had already spread.

"Yes, he’s just upstairs. I’ll take you up."

Hephar nodded.

Led by Hephar, Vili was brought to the office Baron Enton had occasionally used.

When the door was knocked open, Vili’s eyes immediately fell on a thin man of about thirty.

"Lord Kirk."

Vili nodded slightly in salute.

"Lord Kirk, this is Knight Vili from Diamond Town."

Hephar introduced him to Kirk.