Unable to repay my student loans, I had no choice but to work part-time as a demon hunter.

Gordon wants to borrow the Hound.

Upon hearing this, Anthony's outstretched arms froze in mid-air, and Cecilia was also taken aback.

"The Hound!" Anthony's expression grew increasingly surprised. "The warship my uncle and Professor Winslow used! What do you want it for?"

"Government official business and research project, top secret." Gordon said solemnly, "Is the Duke of FitzRoy here?"

"The seas have been rather turbulent lately, and my father is overseeing the reorganization of the fleet."

After Cecilia finished speaking, she glanced at Anthony with a hint of helplessness.

The older brother, with his collar open and a cigar dangling from his lips, exuded a nonchalant air, which easily brought to mind two things: the FitzRoy family's affluent lifestyle and the Logris Empire's navy's internal decay, and these two things were likely related.

"Great!" Anthony clapped his hands. "Come on, let's talk inside! Let's play first."

"Brother, Mr. Vic is here to discuss serious business."

"A man's real business is settled at the card table, while smoking a cigar and drinking. Half of the Navy's most important agreements can only be reached after opening two bottles of wine!" Anthony laughed as he walked inside.

Gordon nodded to Cecilia and followed Anthony.

Anthony was indeed somewhat frivolous and had certainly been drained by wine and women. However, he was also a naval captain and currently the head of his family.

To summon the Hound, perhaps all it would take is one order from Anthony.

Gordon desperately needs that ship now.

He recently acquired a lot of things: money, fame, status, the sacred artifact of the Fishing King, and a large, fat fish.

The more he had in his hands, the more he realized that he needed even greater strength to protect it all.

So he found a quiet place to cultivate.

Lundnium has been making headlines lately, with all eyes on him.

He planned to avoid the limelight in the city, take Ningning with him, and go to the coast to calm down before returning.

The Hound could meet all his needs and was connected to Professor Winslow, so there was no reason for him to miss it.

"Brother, you go ahead and make the arrangements. I have a few words to say to Mr. Vic," Cecilia suddenly said.

"you?"

Anthony glanced at his sister, then at Gordon, and his smile quickly turned meaningful.

"Don't laugh like that," Cecilia warned immediately.

"Alright, alright. Always leave some space for young men and women." Anthony walked away.

:

"Is he always like this?" Gordon watched Anthony walk away.

"My brother is obviously an idiot, please don't take his words to heart."

"I'll try my best. He said quite a lot just now, and it will take him a while to forget each sentence."

Cecilia sighed.

"Are you really going to use the Hound?"

"certainly."

Gordon took out the top-secret document issued by King's Mountain. Cecilia saw the sealing wax stamp of the Imperial Government and her expression became serious.

The Imperial government had indeed entrusted Gordon with an important task, which she found incredible.

Thinking of this, Cecilia wondered again what kind of mission Gordon was carrying.

"Could you give me a hint? We're not complete strangers, are we?"

"It is precisely because it is you that I will not let you bear such a dark and heavy secret for no reason."

Cecilia looked at Gordon for a moment and accepted his answer.

Compared to his peers, Gordon's growth rate is truly astounding.

A few months ago, he was a hapless young man, surviving on Charlotte's large bread. Now, he is a Crimson Alchemist and Investigator, possessing secrets that even the Duke's daughter cannot inquire about.

"Then at least you'll know that my brother can indeed help you, but you should also be careful of him."

"Will he kidnap me?"

"He'll let you smoke, drink, gamble, and race horses, and introduce you to a whole bunch of people you shouldn't know. He always thinks he's the most worldly man and is dedicated to getting others to keep up with his vulgar tastes."

"It doesn't sound like it has much of a threat."

"Many people who come to the Far Voyage Palace initially feel this way, then find themselves developing bad habits, waking up the next day with girls by their side, completely forgetting what they were supposed to do."

"Don't worry, I have a good memory." Gordon would never forget his business just because he slept with a pretty girl.

"That would be best. Also, if there's a chance... help me sober him up a bit. Anthony isn't a bad person, and he wasn't this bad when he was working in the Navy. It's just that once he's on land, he doesn't quite control himself."

"I've done my best."

Gordon caught up with Anthony again and they arrived at a long corridor in the Far Voyage Palace.

The corridor is wide and long, lined with historical oil paintings arranged chronologically, recording how the family survived years of blood and fire. Portraits of FitzRoy generals are linked together, all exuding solemnity and authority.

:

As Anthony walked, he casually introduced the paintings to Gordon, occasionally pointing to a particular one.

It all began with the Noon War.

Previously, under the leadership of the Gallia Empire, the various Probian nations established an anti-Logis encirclement network, with royal powerhouses, reclusive experts, and elite armies from each nation entering the battlefield, and the world coming to attack.

Finally, Emperor Albert unleashed unimaginable power before the world for the first time. Radiance pierced through the dark clouds, and all the soldiers were filled with boundless courage and willpower, defeating the allied forces of various nations. Legend has it that even those who had recently died rose from the ground to continue the fight.

Guided by that light, the old Duke of FitzRoy led the Royal Fleet forward, decisively defeating the enemy's naval coalition and cutting off their maritime lifeline.

Other countries are no longer able to fight.

Ultimately, the extremely stringent Lumin Convention was signed, confirming the hegemony of the Logris Empire.

Except for the Rus' Empire, which was too far away to be conquered, other countries no longer used the title of emperor.

The five major powers on the Probia continent—Tauria, Italia, Norheim, Andalusia, and Austeria—were all relegated to insignificant confederations, kingdoms, and grand duchies.

The Gallia Empire across the strait was directly occupied by the Logris Empire, and its royal family members were executed, rendering it no longer a threat.

"This is the most glorious battle of the FitzRoy family. The Emperor and the army protected Lundnium, while we conquered the world by controlling the sea!" Anthony pointed to the painting with his cigar, making Gordon worry that he would burn a hole in the oil painting.

That's arrogant, but it's not all boasting.

Continuing on, Gordon saw an even brighter oil painting.

The emperor launched four great expeditions, transforming Logris into a world empire.

The first expedition defeated the Misr dynasty, subjugated the Elamite kingdoms, and seized the sea route to the eastern continent.

The second expedition defeated the Barat Empire and conquered a vast territory. The local people worked day and night to provide the empire with a continuous supply of wealth, food, and various raw materials.

The third expedition controlled the Malaya Islands, acquiring countless spices, sugar, coffee, and fine timber, which filled the empire's tables and factories.

The fourth expedition ventured deep into the southern continent, where colonists established numerous trading posts and fortresses along the vast coastline and transported locals to various parts of the world to serve as laborers in mines and farms.

Each expedition saw the FitzRoy family's fleet at the forefront, using cannons and giant ships to open the entrance to distant worlds, making it easier for merchants and missionaries to follow. These four expeditions constituted the empire's pioneering era.

"Every time I look at history, I am filled with emotion. The FitzRoy family has made countless contributions to the empire!" Anthony exclaimed repeatedly.

"Incredible." Gordon stopped in his tracks.

The preceding paintings depict a more weathered and ancient landscape.

...The turning point has arrived: the rebellion of New Albion.

It is the largest colonial governorate in the empire, with territory equivalent to the entire western continent.

The people there all speak Logarithmics and appear to be white.

:

However, there are also differences among white people. Due to the vast ocean, people in the New World constantly had thoughts of independence.

Ultimately, a general whom the emperor trusted implicitly betrayed him, raising the banner of rebellion 110 years ago and rejecting the rule of Lundenim.

Although the emperor suppressed the rebellion, the event seemed to cause him great pain, leaving him with a trauma even worse than the Noon War, and causing him to lose faith in humanity.

Ultimately, he delegated more and more affairs to professional bureaucrats such as the Cabinet, Parliament, the nine ducal families, overseas governors, and the seven ministers.

The emperor himself has not appeared in public for a long time... He is in a state of seclusion.

Then came the present world, the era that Gordon was familiar with.

The torrent of more than three hundred years of history has finally accumulated at this moment.

The emperor has gone into seclusion, but the empire remains powerful, and the Logris Empire continues its journey along the path of its former glory.

But it is also at a delicate juncture.

Humiliated overseas nations, oppressed colony peoples, the poised-to-rise Russian Empire, and other hidden cults lurking beneath the surface... could reunite at any moment.

Perhaps they are just waiting for an opportunity, and a second anti-Logli Empire encirclement will emerge, and the next world war will break out.

What could be the trigger? Gordon wasn't sure. But he felt it would be an unprecedented, bloody conflict, surpassing even the Noon War.

Seeing Gordon deep in thought, Anthony assumed he was intimidated by FitzRoy's family history and became happy, so he took Gordon to play a few rounds.

"Come on, Mr. Vic, the FitzRoy family not only has a very glorious history, but also a very wonderful present!"

He pushed open the door to the recreation room.

Sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, revealing a beautiful and exquisite garden outside. Inside, heavy carpets covered the floor, cigars sat on silver platters, and liquor cabinets held spirits from around the world.

Card tables, billiard tables, and sofas were scattered throughout the room, and further back was a semi-open-air bathroom where several beautiful women of different figures and skin tones were peeking out.

Whenever Anthony brought guests to their door, they knew they had something to do.

"Life is short! Enjoy it while you can, Mr. Vic. How about a smoke? A drink? Or..." Anthony glanced toward the bathroom.

"I'm a doctor, so I can only say that smoking and drinking aren't exactly good habits," Gordon said seriously. "As for women... I'm a respectable man."

"Not relaxing enough, Mr. Vic, not relaxing enough." Anthony lit a cigar, slowly savoring the flavor, and then had two beautiful women in maid outfits massage his shoulders.

Another maid knelt obediently at Gordon's feet, holding a plate full of snacks and drinks. She wouldn't stand up unless Gordon took the food.

After a while, Anthony brought out another bottle of amber-colored wine.

"This is a good wine. I opened it for Mr. Vic. It's not from a particularly good vintage, but it's hard to find these days," he announced, before personally pouring Gordon a glass.

"How much?"

:

"88 gold pounds a bottle."

Knowing the price, Gordon couldn't resist trying to get a free bottle; his entire fortune was only enough to buy seven or eight bottles of such top-quality wine.

Now that the bottle has been opened, if he doesn't drink it, the 88 pounds will be wasted on Anthony alone.

[San Marco red wine. They say it has notes of blackcurrant, blackberry, leather, and oak, but it clearly smells of gold...]

Gordon took a sip; the liquor was smooth on the palate, followed by a warm, spicy sensation and the complex aroma of tropical fruits, leaving a lingering aftertaste on the back of his tongue.

He felt like he was floating on air.

extravagant!

Gordon had also visited the Montfort mansion and knew what aristocratic life was like there.

However, the Earl of Montfort's spending was mainly to maintain the family's respectable operation, primarily to avoid being looked down upon by others.

The fact that extraordinary nobles like FitzRoy spent all their wealth on extreme personal pleasures certainly gave Gordon a deeper understanding of how these people could spend money so extravagantly.

"Is the Colonel a collector?" Gordon looked around.

The walls were covered with masks, swords and ritual objects from all over the world, and the display cases were piled high with shells, skulls, gems, statues and manuscripts. The items were so dense that they almost overflowed, reminding Gordon of the scene at the San Barto auction.

"Of course, please feel free to look around." Anthony Babu asked proactively, "These are all genuine and high-quality items. My sister always says I waste money and that she doesn't understand collecting."

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