"I want a Lumberg bow, the ones made from Trafin, and three high-powered harpoons mounted on a heavy crossbow."
Standing in front of one of the largest shipwright stores near the docks, Nicolas enthusiastically rattled off an entire list of parts without stopping to breathe. His silver eyes gleamed brighter with every item he mentioned, while the shopkeeper hurriedly wrote everything down, occasionally pausing just to make sure he hadn’t misheard.
A reinforced keel.
Replacement sails.
A new steering wheel.
Extra anchor chains.
Specialised ropes.
The list simply refused to end.
"You must have hit the jackpot, huh kid? These things are expensive."
The shopkeeper looked at Nicolas from the corner of his eye before shifting his gaze towards the three standing several metres behind him.
His smile immediately widened.
"So they’re the ones paying."
"Hey, I’m not paying for any of this."
Nicolas pointed shamelessly towards Kang and Vira.
"We have our friends here to thank for that."
His grin couldn’t have been any wider.
He had spent years patching together his ship with whatever materials he could afford, replacing broken planks one at a time whenever he managed to earn enough coin. Half the equipment he owned had been repaired so many times that he barely remembered what the originals had looked like.
Now, however...
Two incredibly wealthy officials had appeared out of nowhere and were footing the bill.
He would be an idiot not to take advantage of the opportunity.
After all...
Who knew if such luck would ever come again?
Kang merely looked away.
Vira pinched the bridge of her nose.
Neither of them argued.
As long as Nicolas could actually take them across the Great Sea, a few extra expenses hardly mattered.
"Haha! I hope you live long enough to enjoy it, kid."
One of the neighbouring shop owners laughed loudly after overhearing the conversation.
Several others joined in.
Among the dockworkers and merchants, squeezing wealthy customers for every last coin had gradually become less of a business tactic and more of a local tradition.
Watching rich people reluctantly empty their pockets always brought a certain amount of satisfaction.
Even those with no stake in the sale couldn’t help smiling.
It filled the masses with a small sense of schadenfreude.
"Give me about five hours."
Nicolas finally rolled up the purchase order before handing it back to the workers.
"Even with the premium service, replacing everything will take time."
He turned towards Kang and Vira.
"So... try to exercise some patience."
Without waiting for a reply, he gathered several workers before marching confidently towards the docks, loudly discussing what should be installed first while waving his hands excitedly.
Watching him disappear into the distance, Ethen couldn’t help shaking his head.
"I need to change my crossbow too."
Leaving those words behind, he separated from the group before heading deeper into the market alone.
Neither Kang nor Vira stopped him.
Both understood his reasoning.
Ever since obtaining the Blood Tyrant class, Ethen’s fighting style had gradually shifted towards close-range combat. Most of his recent battles had involved charging directly into his opponents, exchanging rapid and overwhelming blows before they had time to react.
It suited the class well.
Its abilities rewarded aggression.
But aggression alone wasn’t enough.
Especially not now.
The Great Sea wasn’t a battlefield where enemies politely stood within arm’s reach.
Creatures attacked from beneath the waves.
Some soared through the skies.
Others could be spotted long before they came close enough for swords or spears to matter.
A reliable ranged weapon wasn’t optional.
It was necessary.
Fortunately...
High Hanger was famous for exactly that.
Generations of living beside one of the most dangerous seas in existence had forced its craftsmen to perfect ranged weaponry unlike anywhere else within human territory.
Crossbows.
Harpoon launchers.
Specialised bolts.
Explosive ammunition.
Anything capable of bringing down creatures before they reached a ship had become common throughout the city.
Following the crowded streets, Ethen eventually stopped before a weapon store built almost entirely from dark ironwood. Crossbows of every imaginable size decorated the walls, while racks of bolts filled nearly every available corner.
Some appeared elegant.
Others looked brutal enough to punch straight through fortress walls.
"Hm?"
An attendant standing near the entrance looked Ethen over once before raising an eyebrow.
"You want something?"
"I want to purchase a powerful crossbow."
Ethen stepped inside.
"Something capable of injuring a Tier Five beast."
His words echoed clearly throughout the store.
For a brief moment...
Nobody spoke Several customers slowly turned their heads The attendant stared blankly.
Even the elderly shopkeeper behind the counter paused halfway through polishing a weapon.
Then...
Someone laughed It wasn’t unusual for adventurers to walk through these doors making outrageous requests.
Some claimed they intended to hunt Leviathans Others boasted about slaying mythical sea beasts before the week was over.
The stories changed every day.
One thing rarely changed Whenever they mentioned powerful monsters...They almost never stated the tier, Leaving it vague made their boasts easier to defend.
This young man, however...
Had confidently asked for a weapon capable of injuring a Tier Five beast.
Not a random sea monster A Tier Five Did he even understand what that meant?
This was the Great Sea.
Even experienced captains spent their entire lives praying they would never encounter creatures of that level.
"Even if I decided to humour you, kid..."
The elderly shopkeeper finally put down the cloth in his hands.
"There’s only one weapon in this entire market capable of what you’re asking."
His tone remained perfectly calm despite the curious stares gathering around them.
"And you’d have to pry it from the owner’s lifeless corpse."
"So save yourself the trouble."
"Forget about it."
He wasn’t exaggerating.
Weapons capable of threatening Tier Five creatures were considered national treasures almost everywhere.
Even kingdoms guarded such armaments carefully.
Nobody with any sense would casually place one on a shelf waiting for customers.
The only reason the weapon still remained in private hands...
Was because almost nobody wanted it.
Not because it lacked power, Tvv Quite the opposite, It was simply so demanding that very few people could actually use it.
Otherwise...
Someone would have murdered the old man years ago and stolen it.
"Point the way."
Ethen’s answer came immediately.
There wasn’t even the slightest hint of hesitation.
The shopkeeper studied him for several seconds.
The confidence in the young man’s eyes never wavered.
He wasn’t boasting, He genuinely intended to try.
"You’re persistent."The old man sighed before pointing towards a narrow alley visible through the shop’s front entrance.
"Head down there."
"There’ll be a shack made from Westwood."
"You can’t miss it."
His tone made it clear he expected Ethen to return empty-handed.
Whether because the owner refused to sell...Or because the conversation ended far less peacefully...
Didn’t particularly matter to him.
Ethen gave a small nod before leaving the shop, The busy sounds of the marketplace gradually faded as he made his way into the alley.
Unlike the main streets lined with merchants shouting over one another, this part of the market was strangely quiet. The buildings grew older, the pathways narrower, and even the air seemed heavier.
Few people passed through here, Most simply glanced inside before continuing on their way.
Following the shopkeeper’s directions, Ethen continued deeper until an old shack finally came into view.Its walls had indeed been constructed from faded Westwood.
Age had darkened the timber, while countless scratches and weather marks covered its exterior, giving the small building a worn but stubborn appearance.
He slowed his steps.According to the shopkeeper...
Whatever weapon he was searching for...Was waiting inside.
Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!
Use arrow keys (or A / D) to PREV/NEXT chapter