Starting as dockworkers, they swept through Chongqing.

The room fell silent.

The roar of steam-powered freight cars could be heard from time to time outside the window, and the white steam from the copper pipes slowly dissipated on the damp street.

From downstairs, one could faintly hear the clinking of cups and plates and a woman's soft laughter.

Veronica did not disturb Siron.

She looked down at the ledgers, occasionally picking up a quill pen to make a note next to a line of numbers.

About fifteen minutes later, footsteps were heard outside the door.

There are four footprints in total.

Three of them walked with steady steps, while the other walked with a slightly hurried pace.

Soon, there was a knock on the door.

"Come in."

The wooden door was pushed open.

The first person to enter the room was a middle-aged man in his forties.

He was not tall, but had broad shoulders. He wore a neatly tailored dark gray long coat with a silver badge in the shape of a beluga whale pinned to his chest.

He wore a large black gemstone ring on his right index finger, his eyes were shrewd, and the corners of his eyes bore the fine lines left by years of negotiating business with people.

Behind him were a burly middle-aged man with a dark complexion, an elderly woman dressed simply, and a young clerk carrying a file box.

As soon as the four entered, their eyes all fell on Xilun.

The middle-aged man did not rush to speak.

He first looked at Xilun's face, then glanced at the golden spear wrapped around Xilun's waist, his gaze lingering briefly on the tip of the spear.

The spear, though seemingly worn as a belt around the outside of the clothes, actually exuded a sharpness that was difficult to completely conceal.

Only an exceptionally tough metal could be bent to this extent without damaging the gun.

"Is this Mr. Celen?"

"Exactly."

Veronica closed the ledger.

"Junior Brother Xilun is an inner disciple of the Disciplinary Branch of the Holy Light Monastery, a third-tier extraordinary being."

During the Black Abyss Forest raid, he cooperated with others to kill Blue Sword Hogg, one of the five most notorious members of the Blue Ocean pirates.

She did not mention the innocent Crown Prince.

Hogg's body was brought back to the monastery by Siron and Elena, and this achievement has been recorded, so there is no problem in telling others.

As for the death of the innocent crown prince, the less you know, the better.

The middle-aged man's eyes brightened slightly.

The dark-skinned, burly man behind him also began to scrutinize Xilun, and the subtle scrutiny and suspicion that had been present before faded considerably.

Hogger the Blue Sword's fame extends beyond the Black Abyss Forest.

Those who have been in business for many years know better than anyone how troublesome the five major criminals are.

Those pirates were unruly and skilled at ambushes and raids. Many caravans would rather take a detour and travel for several days than pass through the areas where they frequently appeared.

Being able to participate in the killing of Hogg is enough to prove Siren's combat strength and courage.

"I've heard so much about you."

The middle-aged man took the initiative to extend his hand.

"I am Byrne, the person in charge of the Northwest Trade Route of the White Whale Trading Company."

Xilen shook hands with him.

"Silon".

"This is Matthew, the head of the Bluestone Trading Company's escort service."

Bourne pointed to the dark-skinned, middle-aged man.

"He has been in charge of mobilizing the convoy from Baishihe to Shenwanhu for many years and is most familiar with the terrain along the way."

Matthew nodded to Siron.

His palms were large, his tiger's mouth was covered with thick calluses, and a short-handled harpoon was hanging from his waist.

Although he hasn't reached the third rank, his blood and energy are quite vigorous, making him at least an experienced second-rank extraordinary individual.

"This is Mrs. Maeve from Silver Harvest Pharmacy."

The simply dressed old woman bowed slightly.

Her hair was neatly combed, she carried a faint scent of herbs, and she held an ebony cane in her hand.

"Our three families will soon be traveling along the Northwest trade route."

Mrs. Maeve's voice was a little hoarse.

"In the past, each family had its own guards. But after several groups of people died, splitting up again would only give the creatures in the water the opportunity to defeat them one by one."

The group took their seats one by one.

The young clerk opened the file box and laid out a route map, a goods list, and several blank contracts on the table.

Byrne did not deliberately underestimate Silen because of his youth.

On the contrary, after confirming Xilun's identity, he became extremely cautious.

"Miss Veronica should have already briefed Mr. Celen on the basic situation."

"I've already introduced part of it."

Xilun looked at the route map on the table.

"I need to know all the attacks that have already occurred."

Byrne reached out and pushed one of the documents toward him.

"Seven times in a month."

"The earliest incident occurred in the lower reaches of the Baishi River, where only one small fishing boat went missing."

Three days later, people found the ship's plank five miles away, with huge tooth marks on it.

"The second time was with the herb-gathering boat of the Silver Harvest Pharmacy. Five of the seven people on board died, and the remaining two escaped back to shore. They saw a black spine in the water."

"After that, the attacks began to approach the trade routes."

At this point, Bourne's expression turned slightly somber.

Seven days ago, a convoy of the White Whale Trading Company was attacked on the east bank of Shenwan Lake.

The creature in the water first crashed through a section of the riverbank, flooding the road, and then, taking advantage of the chaos, towed away two trucks loaded with sea monster blood.

Xilun's gaze lingered on the map.

"Will they damage the riverbanks?"

"Yes."

Bourne nodded.

"At first we thought it was just a coincidence, but the guards found claw marks near the riverbank."

Did the sea monster leave the water when it attacked the caravan?

"have."

Matthew answered.

He leaned forward slightly, his rough fingers pressing on a bend in the road on the east bank of Shenwan Lake.

"I was in the convoy at the time."

"The first to rush out were the three smaller ones, which were twelve to fifteen feet long."

They have strong limbs, enabling them to crawl quickly through mud, and their scales can withstand ordinary firearms.

"We killed one."

"While the other two were holding back the guards, something even bigger appeared in the water."

Matthew's face turned ugly.

"I only saw its tail."

"The tail swept out of the water and overturned a steam truck."

The sea monster hadn't completely come ashore, but its tail alone was at least twenty feet long.

"Was that third-tier elder still alive at the time?" Siren asked.

The room fell silent for a moment.

Bourne and Matthew exchanged a glance.

In the end, it was Bourne who spoke.

"To live."

"He disappeared after that attack."

"As the convoy was leaving, he noticed that the giant sea monster was injured, so he chased after it alone."

"Who decided to let him pursue her?"

"Himself."

Bourne answered quickly.

But Xilen did not miss the fleeting unease in the other's eyes.

Whale Trading Company is clearly hiding some information.

Perhaps the third-tier elder did not act on a whim, but had been ordered to use the opportunity of escorting the caravan to find that thunderous sea beast.

However, Xilun did not immediately point it out.

It doesn't matter how much the other party is willing to say.

Contracts only bind interests; they cannot make people honest.

"What are my responsibilities?"

"Protect the caravan."

Bourne looked solemn.

"When encountering an attack by sea monsters, kill them as much as possible to avoid loss of goods and personnel. If an insurmountable danger arises, prioritize the safety of personnel."

Xilun glanced at him.

"It must be clearly stated in the contract."

"nature."

Bourne did not hesitate.

"We are recruiting escorts, not bait to send people to their deaths. If the danger exceeds the third-order limit, Mr. Siron has the right to decide whether to evacuate."

Mrs. Maeve also slowly began to speak:

"We only hope that Mr. Siron will do everything in his power to protect the caravan."

"If we can kill those sea beasts, the three merchant houses will offer a generous reward."

"What kind of generous reward?"

"For each Tier 1 sea beast killed, an additional ten pounds will be awarded; for Tier 2, fifty pounds; and for Tier 3, at least two hundred pounds will be awarded depending on the specific species and level of danger."

Bourne said:

"The body remains yours."

This reward is indeed generous.

Under normal circumstances, the carcass of a third-tier sea beast can be sold for several hundred pounds.

If it possesses a rare lightning-type bloodline, the price will increase many times over.

With the additional rewards from the trading company, Xiren only needs to successfully hunt down one enemy to repay the money he owes Elena.

Xilun picked up the contract and read it clause by clause.

When he encountered parts with ambiguous meanings, he would directly ask the young clerk to revise them.

For example, "protect the cargo with all our might" was changed to "protect the cargo without endangering the lives of the escorts themselves".

"Follow the orders of the merchant" has been changed to "The merchant may arrange normal escort routes, but may not require the escorts to enter the underwater areas of Shenwan Lake or dangerous areas outside the original route".

Bourne's eyes twitched slightly as he looked at the revised text.

He had initially thought that Xilun was a young man who was only good at fighting.

Unexpectedly, the other party was more cautious in reviewing the contract than many seasoned businessmen who had been doing business for many years.

Most importantly, Siren is not greedy.

He did not demand an increase in the fixed offerings, nor did he vie for command of the ordinary guards; he simply pointed out every vague detail that might endanger him.

This kind of person is difficult to manipulate.

But it is also more reliable.

Because he will usually complete the tasks within the scope of the contract diligently.

Half an hour later, the contract was revised and completed.

Bourne signed his name first.

Xilun then dipped his brush in ink and wrote on the end of each of the three contracts.

The two parties exchanged contracts and then left their contact addresses and emergency communication methods.

The White Whale Trading Company will deliver escort notices through the monastery's mission room. In case of emergency, they can also send someone directly to the No. 3 Quiet Room in the East Lake of the Inner Courtyard.

"The first escort is tentatively scheduled for the early morning of the day after tomorrow."

Bourne put away one of the contracts.

"The convoy will depart from the west gate of Xinghuan Island, travel along the Baishi River to Shiqiao Town on the east bank of Shenwan Lake, and the round trip is expected to take four days."

What goods are there?

"Lightning-struck wood, deep-sea silver ore, sea beast blood, and three boxes of low-level medicinal herbs."

"Which vehicle should the lightning-struck wood be placed on?"

Bourne was slightly surprised.

"The third one."

Xilun nodded.

"Keep the sea monster blood and lightning-struck wood separate as much as possible. If the sea monster only chases one type of cargo, you can determine its target more quickly."

Upon hearing this, Matthew's face became more serious.

"I will reschedule the vehicles."

The group then discussed rest stops along the way and the number of guards needed.

This caravan consisted of nine steam wagons, twenty-six ordinary guards, six Tier 1 Extraordinary, and Matthew, as a Tier 2 guard, was in charge of the journey.

With the addition of Xilun, a third-tier extraordinary individual, the visible defensive forces are sufficient as long as they do not venture into the depths of Shenwan Lake.

After finishing their business, Bourne stood up and extended his hand again.

"Mr. Siren, I entrust the safety of the caravan to you."

"I will fulfill the obligations stipulated in the contract."

Xiren shook hands with him.

Matthew's attitude was noticeably more relaxed than when he first entered.

"5:00 AM the day after tomorrow, Westgate White Whale Warehouse."

"I'll be waiting for you there."

Mrs. Maeve also nodded slightly to Siron.

"We hope that Mr. Xilun will protect the caravan and do his best to kill those harmful sea monsters."

"nature."

The four quickly said goodbye and left.

After the door closed again, Veronica leaned back in her chair and looked at Xilen with a half-smile.

"With the contract changed like this, Bourne probably won't be able to sleep tonight."

Whether he can sleep or not is none of my business.

"Aren't you worried they'll replace you at the last minute?"

"If they could find more suitable people, they wouldn't have four people in charge at the same time."

Veronica paused for a moment, then burst out laughing.

"Elena is right."

"You may seem quiet, but you're actually unwilling to suffer even the slightest loss."

Xilun got up and put away his contract.

"Notify me in advance if there are any changes to the information."

"rest assured."

Veronica raised her hand and swirled her teacup.

"I've already received the referral fee, so naturally I'll make sure this deal goes smoothly."

Xilun walked to the door, then suddenly stopped.

"Where is the original piece of that thunder-patterned molted scale?"

"The room where the offerings were made."

"The White Whale Trading Company has sealed away his belongings, including his scales."

Veronica looked at him.

"Are you interested in it?"

"Just checking."

Xilun pushed open the door and left.

He didn't tell Veronica that when he saw the scale imprint, the lightning spirit within him reacted much more strongly than when he faced ordinary lightning-struck wood.

That wasn't just a simple aura of lightning.

It's more like a connection between forces of the same origin.

The sea creatures in Shenwan Lake might truly help Lei Ling complete a transformation.

After leaving Zuihuaju, Xilun did not linger on the street.

It was getting dark.

Gas lamps on both sides of the street lit up one after another, casting a dim yellow light on the damp stone slabs.

A steam wagon, dragging a heavy carriage, passed by him, its iron wheels screeching as they rolled over the puddles.

Siren returned to the monastery along the mountain road.

As we entered the inner courtyard, night had already completely enveloped the lake.

He returned to the No. 3 quiet room in Donghu, lit the oil lamp on the table, spread out the contract, and redraw the route near Chenwan Lake.

Four possible locations for attack.

Three underwater tributaries.

Two narrow river bends near underground water caves.

And the last place where the third-ranking elder disappeared.

Siren memorized each and every one of them.

After doing all this, he finally untied the golden spear that was wrapped around his waist.

The gun body straightened, and the metal surface gleamed with a calm luster under the light.

Although he had mastered the basics of the Cang Lei Spear Technique, his current weapons could only barely withstand the force of the water mines.

When the lightning energy, hidden within the water, suddenly erupts, the gun barrel will always exhibit a slight tremor.

The impact will be minimal in the short term, but with prolonged high-intensity use, internal damage to the gun will inevitably occur sooner or later.

The day after tomorrow, we will escort the caravan.

Xilun lowered his eyes to look at the golden spear, and a thought gradually arose in his mind.

The Blue Tide Sword left behind by Hogg should perhaps not continue to gather dust in the storage space.

That sword was forged from the spine of a sea beast, making it naturally aquatic and far more durable than ordinary third-tier weapons.

If it could be integrated into the golden spear...

Xilun slightly turned his palm over.

The next moment, a long, blue sword, curved like a surging tide, appeared silently on the table.

The moment the Blue Tide Sword touched the air, the water ripples on its spine lit up on their own.

The steam inside the room slowly gathered, making a soft sound like the waves lapping against the shore.

Xilun stared at the two weapons, one gold and one blue, his gaze gradually hardening.

With his own knowledge of weapon crafting, he was unable to complete this level of smelting.

However, the inner courtyard of the Holy Light Monastery happens to have a place specifically for crafting extraordinary objects.

Elder Swain, who taught at Thunderclap Cliff, seemed to have casually mentioned that a weapon truly suited to the Thunderclap Spear Technique must be able to carry both water and lightning.

Xilun reached out and pressed down on the Blue Tide Sword.

The tidal energy emanating from the sword slowly seeped into the palm through the fingertips.

He has made his decision.

Tomorrow morning, go to the inner courtyard's equipment workshop.

The next morning, a thin layer of mist floated on East Lake.

After finishing his meditation all night, Xilun first wrapped the golden spear back around his waist, then wrapped the Blue Tide Sword in a thick black cloth and carried it on his back.

The Blue Tide Sword's appearance is too conspicuous.

Hogger was infamous near Star Ring Isle, and many people recognized the sword.

Although the monastery has awarded Hogger's spoils to Siron, carrying them around in the inner courtyard may still attract unwanted attention.

The inner courtyard instrument workshop is located on the north side of the monastery.

It was far from the meditation room and lecture hall, near a bare, black mountain wall.

Before Xilun even got close, he heard a series of metallic clanging sounds.

clang!

clang!

The sound was deep and rhythmic, as if someone were hammering the mountainside with a giant sledgehammer.

The smell in the air also gradually changed.

The fresh scent of grass and trees in the early morning is replaced by the aroma of charcoal, metal, and refined oils.

Several thick copper pipes protrude from the top of the low building, constantly spewing out grayish-white steam.

There are seven interconnected stone houses at the foot of the mountain.

In front of the stone house lies a wide black stone plaza, with anvils and cooling water tanks of various sizes scattered on the ground.

A dozen or so disciples were busy at their respective furnaces, some using long tongs to hold the red-hot metal, while others controlled their strength to adjust the temperature of the flames.

A steam trailer loaded with ore was parked in the corner.

The gears turned slowly, and the robotic arm fed the ore into the high crushing tank, making a teeth-grinding cracking sound.

Xilun showed his inner courtyard badge at the entrance.

The person in charge of registration was a man with large burns on his face.

He took the waist tag and looked up at Xilun.

"Repair, order a custom-made one, or borrow a stove?"

"Smelting weapons."

"What rank?"

"Third tier".

The burned man stopped writing.

"Third-tier weapons cannot be melted down casually."

"Ordinary disciples in the weapon workshop can only process second-tier materials at most. If you want to modify a third-tier weapon, you need to pay a 20-pound appraisal fee first."

Once it's confirmed that the task can be completed, charges will be based on the cost of materials and labor.

"Can."

Siron took out two ten-pound notes.

The burned man put the money into the ledger, then beckoned to a young apprentice standing nearby.

"Take him to identification station number three."

The apprentice was only sixteen or seventeen years old, his face covered in coal dust.

He led Xilun across the square to a gray stone platform engraved with intricate patterns.

"Put the weapons up there."

Xilun first unfastened the golden spear from his waist.

As the force was poured in, the originally flexible and bent gun barrel emitted a slight vibration and quickly returned to its original shape as a large gun more than two meters long.

Several disciples who were working nearby heard the noise and turned to look.

The golden spear was no ordinary object.

The surface of the gun barrel appears smooth, but it is actually covered with extremely fine dark red lines.

Those were marks left by the Crimson Star Spear after numerous battles and the nurturing of its power.