Under the same night sky.
Byron, unaware that Red Beard had marked him as an associate of the Gunpowder Artists, returned to the Red-Light District, once again seeking a suitable replacement target.
He activated ’Cognitive Revision,’ transforming himself into a roadside tree.
As Bruh fully recovered, his ’Anchors’—the metaphysical tethers representing his interpersonal relationships—gradually stabilized. The texture of his Spiritual Radiance also grew increasingly rich.
During the day, aside from the slaughter order, Byron also learned from Bruh that all the female relatives of the Lancaster Family, including his own aunt, Queen Margaret, had been handed over to the Church after the war. They were confined in a monastery on a solitary island. Most of them were foreign nobility married into the Lancaster Family, not recognized by the Royal Iron Rule - Great Charter. Thus, their lives were assuredly safe. Unless something unexpected happened, it was highly likely they would die alone in the monastery.
As for the surviving female relatives of the core vassal families of the Lancaster Party, Bruh was unsure.
Whether it’s advancing in rank or delving into forbidden knowledge, stable enough ’Anchors’ are a prerequisite. Apart from those family members confirmed dead, the core vassals being actively hunted probably can’t escape either. But I only have so many Anchors representing interpersonal relationships; I absolutely cannot abandon them! Infiltrating the York Party is imperative. The vortex at Iron Anchor Bay is my best opportunity.
In contrast to these closely related individuals, Byron had never worried that the non-core vassals, officers, and soldiers of the Lancaster Party—who formed the majority—would be subjected to purges and slaughters.
It wasn’t that Byron was utilitarian or cold-hearted. It was because even his uncle, Henry VI, who suffered from intermittent bouts of madness and was better known as the ’Mad King,’ would not do something so insane.
Anyone who had lived in the countryside would profoundly understand. How much influence can an influential local family wield in their area? What about the Lords who monopolized local politics, economy, culture, and justice, and even commanded local military forces through Knights and private soldiers? The saying "A large tree has deep roots, its branches intricately entwined" was by no means an empty phrase for them.
Dying in war was normal, but being killed in a non-wartime purge would undeniably provoke further rebellion. After all, even the centralizing emperors of the great imperium could not control the domestic Noble Clans; what more could a King limited by the Magna Carta do?
No matter who ascended to the throne, they needed the support of these people. Byron knew that during the war, Lancaster had used a significant amount of its lands and wealth to bribe nobles, hoping to earn their support. It was not unheard of for a family’s eldest son to be with Lancaster while the younger son served York. If there were truly a complete purge from top to bottom, the entire nation’s ruling order would be shaken, and the King himself would be doomed.
Byron believed that once he possessed the strength to strike back at Hightins, these individuals could all potentially become his strength, as well as his potential ’Anchors’! As long as... he could bring them greater benefits.
His most urgent task now was to focus entirely on enhancing his own strength.
He waited until the night grew deep. After letting several Second Order Professional Level Transcendents from the Privateering Alliance pass, Byron finally saw two staggering First Order Servants emerge, two minutes apart, from a Red Mill theater and a bar respectively.
One went east, the other west.
After weighing his options, Byron signaled to the shadows and quietly followed the one heading east. His reasoning was simple: after the dancers’ enthusiastic attention, this one would surely be more exhausted!
Omnitrix Franklin Joshua, a Naturalist of the Tower Sequence.
Sequence Proverb: Employ knowledge to dispel ignorance!
Naturalists were undoubtedly among the most knowledgeable people in this world, possessing high adaptability to various transcendent abilities. At the Attendant stage, they could ignore knowledge, sever inscriptions, and chant. They could also use sorcery artifacts, Miracles, and Sacred Relics of the same rank without any prerequisites. At the very least, they could unleash their basic abilities. If it was a universal Transcendent tool, they could achieve effects far beyond those of other professions and greatly reduce side effects.
Stored in their brains was a public library called the Key of Omniscience. Like the strata of law, it was divided into seven levels. The higher a Naturalist’s Class, the higher the layer of knowledge they could access. They could even search all existing human knowledge.
Unfortunately, while this Omnitrix knew everything, he was clueless about human relationships!
The Privateering Alliance accepted the mission issued by Redbeard Edward. However, they were genuinely worried they might be assassinated in the confusing aftermath. They restricted almost all First Order Servant-level Transcendents from going out, yet they let him and another unlucky soul roam about.
As a Naturalist, how could he not know why?
Even a deaf person would be aware that the Mad Hunt was relentlessly hunting the Pirates of the Privateering Alliance. This morning, even the Mid-Sequences Transcendent Captain Redbeard Edward was attacked in plain sight, demonstrating the assailant’s madness.
The Privateering Alliance decisively initiated ’Operation Beast Cage’ to capture the Mad Hunt. And these two First Order Servants were precisely the bait.
The Captains, worried that sending only one person might arouse the Mad Hunt’s suspicion, sent two. They also arranged for the Faceless Man and the Ripper to lie in ambush separately. As long as either party made the Mad Hunt take the bait, this Heartfelt Trouble would undoubtedly be eliminated!
Franklin, who fancied himself one of the few scholars among pirates, was also unfortunately too aloof. He always looked down on other uncouth pirates, many of whom couldn’t even read. Yet he was particularly fond of prying into others’ secrets, especially the side effects of various kinds of forbidden knowledge. This desire was almost intense enough to be considered a ’cost.’ In just a few days, he had offended many people.
When the Omnitrix inquired earlier today why Captain Redbeard couldn’t be killed, he was decisively pushed out as bait.
I’m just an ordinary scholar, more interested in treasure hunting than arson and murder. I just want to follow Redbeard to witness the Great Secret Treasure from Bayfolk legends. Please don’t come looking for me; go look for Hunter Black!
At this moment, Franklin, who was not a combat Class to begin with, was like a spooked bird, suspicious of everything as he walked. He didn’t know where the enemy was, nor where the ’yellow bird’—the protector assigned by the alliance—was located. He clutched the few whalebone talismans he had bought at great expense in his pocket.
In the darkness, where normally only the pounding of his own heart could be heard, a distinct footstep suddenly echoed. Franklin cautiously observed behind him with the silver mirror he carried but found absolutely no one there. He couldn’t help but recall the Bayfolk legends about the Mad Hunt.
The Privateering Alliance had come to Iron Anchor Bay with ill intent. Even knowing the attacker was most likely human, not some local Sprite or ghost, he couldn’t help but grow more frightened the more he thought about it.
Like the six predecessors who had fallen to Byron’s sword, the Omnitrix gradually lost his composure, his pace quickening as he fled. And the footsteps behind him relentlessly pursued.
First, Gus, eager to complete the ’Ritual: Phantom Killer’s Serial Murder Case,’ quietly followed. Then came Byron, who had activated ’Cognitive Revision.’
A tactic already proven effective would only be refined, not casually discarded, until it truly failed. Their hunting method was no exception. However, this operation was slightly different from the previous ones.
Just as Byron signaled Gus to make his move, he suddenly heard... another footstep behind him!