"Impossible--!"

Victor, sprawled on the deck, had his left fingertip just a centimeter away from Swift Sword, but the brave captain's body suddenly froze.

The fact that the young, excessively youthful captain behind him was also a Peak Knight seemed more shocking to him than the defeat and capture.

His psychological defenses finally broke, completely abandoning resistance after being mercilessly crushed in what he excelled and took pride in throughout his life.

Aiven had no time to care about his thoughts. Possessing the "Data Visualization" monitoring function, Aiven's control over his body was not inferior to any Peak Knight in the world, as he mastered every slight attribute change.

After acquiring Gel's insights, his Physical Liberation progress accelerated remarkably!

Moreover, having consumed "Holy Baptismal Water" for a perfect foundation, his physical prowess already surpassed that of this enemy nation captain.

Flap flap flap--

At this moment, a flock of White Seagulls flew out from the porthole of the opposing ship "Dolphin," most clutching a piece of silver shining ore in their claws.

Thump thump thump...

In no time, a small pile accumulated on "Storm Horn's" deck.

These were silver ore samples collected by on-board geologists.

"Ha, Mr. Victor, could you please tell me, what are these things? Was the temple you found the 'God of Silver Mines'?"

"Tsk--"

With a sneer, Victor turned his head, ignoring Aiven's words.

He had calmly accepted his failed destiny, but betraying the King was an impossibility.

"Someone, someone, attend to this gentleman."

Aiven gestured, and immediately a group of wolfish Navy soldiers dragged Victor, suspending him on the mast, while several ship board recognized interrogation experts swooped in.

Slap! Slap!...

"Ugh..."

However.

Even after being restrained with the Alchemy School's specialty "Extraordinary Shackles" and undergoing a round of indescribably unpleasant interrogation, the captain remained silent, head stubbornly held high.

His willpower and loyalty were remarkably strong.

"Every country has warriors! Forget it, take him down for now."

One warrior was quite normal, but it didn't mean everyone on the ship was a warrior.

Subsequently.

Boom! Boom! Boom!....

"Storm Horn" only fired a few shots for intimidation.

Without much effort, it easily captured the "Dolphin," whose captain and first mate were detained.

The soldiers separated and interrogated the exploration ship's personnel, swiftly extracting the desired intelligence.

Especially one of them, a surveyor who was evidently not a military man, spilled everything he knew like beans from a bamboo tube as soon as the interrogation began.

"It's not just the Northern New Continent, but possibly an unprecedented colossal silver mine for the entire New Continent.

Estimated reserves are twenty-five thousand tons!

Located at the intersection of Atlant and Sak's colonies, even the nearest Tulip colony is less than 1,000 kilometers away in a straight line!"

Upon hearing this explosive information, Aiven and the ship's officers exchanged looks.

Right after.

"We've achieved greatness!"

"Struck gold! This could be the world's largest silver mine!"

"..."

The officers chattered excitedly, collectively envisioning an extraordinary merit and unimaginable wealth.

"This is clearly going to turn the world upside down!"

As a wizard possessing reason, Milan, standing next to Aiven, instinctively foresaw not benefits but a series of potential issues linked to the silver mine.

"By the way, I heard this silver mine was first discovered by the 'Netherlands Bank Group'.

They didn't have the strength to take it, so they struck a deal with Our Majesty the King. They gave us a nautical chart recording Potosi Island's location.

But somehow news got leaked, otherwise I'd have already commenced further exploration."

The survey expert then recounted the rumors he'd heard from the three exploration team leaders, conveying them without missing a beat.

Aiven also realized the problem's complexities.

Consider which stakeholders are involved in this affair?

Netherlands Bank Group was the starting point, albeit their exact role remains ambiguous.

Hilus, the reigning sea power nation, claims: Silver and gold are the Kingdom's lifeblood, presently actually holding most precious metal deposits identified in the New Continent.

Atlant and Sak, both top tier second-echelon powers, also occupy favorable geographical advantages.

Though we also received the information, biting into such a tempting chunk of meat can't be simple!

Moreover, as events unfold, the silver mine becomes a Great Vortex, swallowing every force on the New Continent—willingly or not!

"We'll sail back to 'Dierben Castle' at full speed. The ramifications of this exceed our handling capacities. Let's report this, leaving it for Vice Admiral Gustav and the garrison commanders to worry about."

Soon, the Hilus people from the exploration ship were transferred entirely to "Storm Horn."

To prevent leaving any traces that could lead back to us, Aiven dispatched several crew members skilled in swimming to dive into the water and completely sink the already struggling "Dolphin" expedition ship.

Along the way, a bunch of severely injured Hilus soldiers from the sea battle, who were clearly beyond saving or whose treatment would cost a fortune, were also thrown overboard.

Even if they could endure the long journey, the high-level management at the base wouldn't choose to heal them. On this vast ocean, things are harsh like that.

They simply utilized these circumstances to create an illusion that the "Dolphin" unexpectedly capsized in this sea area without any relation to outsiders.

"Milan!"

"Leave it to me!"

Having long established a seamless cooperation, Milan took out the transparent crystal ball she carried with her.

Her fingertips continuously traced over the surface of the crystal ball while she muttered under her breath, quickly spreading a faint, white flowing light perceptible only through Spiritual Vision across the entire warship.

[Witchcraft: Divination Countermeasures]

This particular witchcraft from the "Prophetic School" has already erased all traces of this warship in the Spiritual World within the past and future hour.

Unless they find a Great Wizard specializing in prophecy far surpassing Milan in ability, it's nearly impossible to find evidence through prophetic means that the "Storm Horn" was ever here.

Consequently, the "Storm Horn" rode the prevailing northeast trade winds, sails filled, heading southward, not even bothering with the final inspection task that was already quite near.

On board, Aiven issued another command:

"Cancel all leaves, the entire crew enters combat readiness, seize every moment to enhance your skills!

Especially the ability to crew the guns and individual combat strength must be adjusted to their optimal state in the shortest time.

Our time may be running short."

"Understood, Captain!"

After Aiven and Milan's reminders, the officers gradually realized the gravity of the situation and solemnly adhered to the orders.

"We can wait no longer!"

Turning back to the north, Aiven could feel a massive storm brewing, a single misstep by him could very likely lead to an end with no remains!

Even though Aiven commands a battleship and possesses the prowess of a Peak Knight, he cannot guarantee he will survive unscathed through this storm.

The stakes are incredibly high, enough to make any power exert their utmost effort.

Thus, to prepare for the "Silver War" that could arrive at any moment, the promotion of Official Wizards cannot be delayed any longer!!!

....

Whoosh whoosh whoosh—

From the northernmost point of the colony sailing south, without any stops, it normally takes about 15 days at average merchant ship speed, even at the "Storm Horn's" speed it requires about 12 days.

Therefore, embarking on the return journey with such a secret, one can imagine the uneasy feelings they have already realized the seriousness of the matter.

Being the Kingdom Navy, they've never traveled so cautiously within their own territory.

In the meantime.

Aiven temporarily put aside his witchcraft research and Physical Liberation training, both at a critical point, to personally guard the Peak Knight Victor.

Even with the Extraordinary Shackles, Aiven remained uneasy.

Because alchemy tools are inanimate, people are alive; if a Peak Knight were to escape, no one on this ship could suppress him.

If this guy were to escape, not only would we have gained nothing but also attracted trouble. There's a real possibility that Hilus's attention will turn to Phaletis, and while the top-level attitudes are unclear, this would not be a success but rather a potential failure.

Simultaneously, he sent his Sea Bird Reconnaissance Network far ahead, attentive to every change in the winds and grasses along the way.

"It's futile, even if you know about the silver mine, what does that change? Wealth is always determined by national strength.

This ocean belongs to Hilus, it did! And it will in the future!"

Other than the initial routine interrogation, Aiven did not really torture the Peak Knight, though he was heavily shackled, he was allowed to stay in the captain's cabin.

By now, with the recovery ability of a Peak Knight, his sword wounds and interrogation lashes are already healed, once again displaying his unwavering loyalty and confidence in Hilus to Aiven.

Truthfully, Aiven also acknowledges from the depths of his heart the towering control of Hilus.

Only by leaving the "comfort" of the homeland and coming to the New Continent did Aiven truly appreciate the might of the Hilus Kingdom.

They've built fortresses, large and small, like the Great Wall along the established main sea routes, capturing the finest ports, trade hubs, and marine landmarks.

This is the reality of the Great Navigation; the scripts of the sea, written on the land.

On the Eastern Line (Southern Continent... Peacock Islands... Antana Strait), Western Line (Suvi Islands over Black Sea... New Continent... Exploratory Broken Star Sea's bridgehead Torch Cape), Hilus spent two hundred years step by step defending their naval supremacy with over a hundred fortresses large and small.

No other nation has achieved what Hilus has.

However.

"Ha! No one is an eternal protagonist; the Holy Rosar Empire that once ruled the entire Source Continent is not, and Hilus certainly won't be.

Mr. Victor, it would be best to seriously consider your situation. Your attitude could cause difficulty for the Kingdom Navy receiving you, which isn't favorable for you...."

"Coo coo coo..."

Bess suddenly interrupted Aiven's words with a reminder.

Through the reconnaissance network's forefront bird, he clearly saw a fleet composed of three battleships and five cruisers, energetically bypassing at a direct distance of merely about 120 kilometers.

Even with the birds' vision at this distance, one could only perceive the Flame Banner belonging to Hilus.

That is reinforcements from the Hilus Colony!

Evidently, the prelude to the storm's arrival is earlier than many anticipated!

And Aiven and his crew are still three days away from reaching Dierben Castle.

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