Lord: I can see loyalty.

Vio stood on the steps of the Earl's castle, gazing at the gray sky in the distance, his brow furrowed.

He felt a little anxious.

Thirteen days have passed.

All those precious materials were used up... the cold iron ore from the North, the dragon blood grass from the East, the sea crystal salt from the West, and all sorts of treasures bought at great expense from the black market.

Valentine's ointment and medicinal bath were completely absorbed into his body.

He has indeed become stronger.

The flow of energy within his body was more than twice as strong as before, and when it circulated, it was like a surging river, continuous and endless.

Every muscle beneath the skin seemed to have been reforged, brimming with power far exceeding its previous strength.

He could even feel that the barrier between the second and third tiers had been pushed open by him, creating a gap.

But that's about it.

The gap was so narrow that he couldn't even see any hope of breaking through to the third rank!

What he needs to do is to push that door open completely, otherwise he will definitely not be a match for Alec Stone, a third-tier Grand Knight.

Vio took a deep breath, suppressing the slight anxiety in his heart.

You can't rush things at times like this.

He knew that it was precisely at times like these that he couldn't rush things.

Many people get stuck at this hurdle their whole lives, not because they don't work hard enough, but because they lose their composure at the most crucial moment.

But Vio's time was running out.

He couldn't really wait until things settled down in the capital. Ulysses's idea was right. Whether a new king ascended the throne or the old king consolidated his power, he would definitely be targeted once he controlled the southern territory and half of the western territory.

He turned and walked back to his study, unfolded the map of the Kingdom of Rovia, and slowly moved his gaze across it.

He could sense that to break through to the third tier, he needed a thrilling duel and materials with strong potency and even better effects.

The southern border on the map.

He has developed this land to its fullest extent.

Mines, pharmacies, black markets—they searched through almost every available material.

The bandits and erosion gods who once occupied the southern border have long been wiped out, and there are no longer any powerful enemies in the southern border that he can fight with all his might.

Vio looked up at the northern border.

The capital is in complete chaos, and the Golden-Maned Griffin Clan is no longer hiding their actions. Going to the Northern Territory at this time would be tantamount to sending oneself into the lion's den.

Moreover, the Brotherhood and the Grey Hyenas have already searched that area once, and all usable materials have been marked.

Although the North is wealthy, the truly valuable things are in the hands of the great nobles and the church, and are not something he can easily obtain.

The eastern border on the other side.

Vio's gaze fell on that unfamiliar land, and his brows furrowed even deeper.

He had never been to the Eastern Territory and knew nothing about its power, terrain, or resources. If he went there rashly, not only would he not be able to find materials, but he might not even be able to come back alive.

Finally, his gaze settled on the western border.

The land he had conquered was now shrouded in dark clouds. Ulysses was entrenched at Eagle's Beak Cliff, with five hundred pirate knights under his command, as well as the third-tier Alec Stone.

Deeper still, there lies the old pirate Finn, who has never shown himself.

There are quite a few formidable enemies in the western border.

The white shark of the northern continent is dead.

Derek, whose combat prowess was quite outstanding, was also dead.

Arnold the Sea Bear was defeated and retreated back to the Northern Continent.

There's another one...

Alec Stone.

Vio gave a wry smile and leaned back in his chair.

He needs a satisfying battle to break through his limitations, not to be beaten.

He could clearly sense that Alec Stone hadn't used his full strength on the battlefield that day.

The third-tier Grand Knight held back his strength with every sword strike, as if he were testing the waters or hesitating.

If it really comes down to a fight, he won't last more than fifty moves.

This kind of battle is not an opportunity for breakthrough, it's suicide.

Vio closed his eyes, his mind racing.

There are no strong enemies in the south, the north is too dangerous, the east is too unfamiliar, and the west is too difficult to conquer...

His fingers tapped the table unconsciously, making a monotonous sound.

Suddenly, he stopped moving.

Western Frontier...

That's right, the West Frontier isn't just about pirates.

That land is different from the southern border, which is a desert and oasis, with scarce resources and a simple environment.

The western region is not only bordered by the sea, with ports, islands, dense forests, and mountains, but also has a complex environment and abundant resources, especially the marine life, which is countless.

Sea creatures are one of the "specialties" of the Western Region.

Vio's eyes suddenly lit up.

Those giant sea monsters that dwell in various parts of the deep sea of ​​the western border are all natural fighting machines.

They are enormous, with thick skin and terrifying strength; some of them are even as powerful as great knights on land when fighting in the sea.

For ordinary people, it's a nightmare to be avoided at all costs.

But for him...

A near-perfect opponent!

A thoroughly enjoyable battle would be a perfect opportunity to test and solidify the results of his thirteen days of training.

The scales, bones, blood, and even the cores of those sea beasts are more precious materials than ores and herbs.

The scales, bones, blood, and even the cores of those sea beasts are more precious materials than ores and herbs.

This fulfilled two needs at once: an exhilarating battle and precious materials.

Vio stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the shimmering sea in the distance, a slight smile playing on his lips.

Vincent.

"Yes, sir," the captain of the guards outside the door replied immediately.

"Prepare a fast boat, I'm going to the West."

"Yes, ma'am."

The following morning, in the western region, at the port of Frido.

As dawn broke, a thin layer of mist still shrouded the sea.

The dock was quiet, with only a few early-rising sailors tending to their fishing nets.

A small speedboat was quietly moored at the edge of the dock. Its hull was long and narrow, its draft was shallow, it was fast, and it was agile, making it a boat type suitable for fast sailing.

Vio stood by the ship, facing an old pirate with dark skin and a wrinkled face.

The man was about fifty years old, lean, but the muscles on his arms were clearly visible, indicating that he was a veteran who made a living on the water all year round.

"My lord," the old pirate grinned, revealing a few chipped, yellow teeth, "as you wish, Miss Timothy sent me to guide you. I know the locations of most of the sea creatures in this area."

Vio nodded and glanced at him.

"What's your name?"

"Old Ballow," the old pirate patted his chest, "I've been sailing these seas for forty years, I've seen it all. Don't worry, follow me, and I guarantee we'll find something big."

Vio didn't say anything more, jumped onto the speedboat, and Old Barlow also untied the mooring ropes, hoisted the sails, and the speedboat slowly sailed away from the dock, heading towards the open sea.

A sea breeze began to rise, dispersing the thin mist.

The distant sea shimmered with golden light in the morning glow, sparkling and stretching to the horizon.

Vio stood at the bow of the ship, gazing at the vast sea, a long-lost excitement welling up in his heart.

Sea creatures...

He gripped the Southern Will tightly in his hand, a slight smile playing on his lips.

Let me see what kind of monster is lurking in this sea.