Extraordinary Voyage-Chapter 626 - 547: Escape

Northern New Continent, Ilya Kingdom Colony, Buffalo.

For ordinary citizens, it is mostly due to unavoidable reasons that they leave the Kingdom Mainland and come to the New Continent to find a way out, almost impossible to return home.

Once upon a time.

On this land, though perilous, yet wide enough, they still had some hope. As naturally "superior" Nimansite People, as long as they were not lazy, it was not too hard to make a living.

However, recently... the situation has changed somewhat.

"Johnson, have you heard? Yesterday, two lumberjacks went into the pine forest and haven't come out yet; they probably met some mishap."

"Mr. Mayor, I've heard. This should be the third disappearance in half a month, right?"

In a not luxurious but warmly decorated wooden house, a burly, bearded man poured a cup of clear water for a well-dressed elder beside him.

Without tea or coffee, it seemed this family could manage basic needs but wasn't affluent enough to purchase luxury goods for guests.

Taking the cup, the elder frowned deeply in thought:

"Yes! It must be some man-eating beast lurking near the town again.

I've decided to organize a hunting party to enter the forest and kill those beasts, so that this home, established since your father's generation, can return to peace.

As the town's best hunter and militia captain, this mission relies on you."

Hearing this, Johnson patted his strong chest resoundingly and agreed heartily:

"No problem, Mr. Mayor, rest assured, I'll gather people to scout the forest tomorrow."

Hearing the man's words, the old mayor finally relaxed his tightly knit brows and let out a deep breath:

"Then I'll leave it to you, Johnson!"

After chatting a bit more with the burly man, the mayor donned his pearl-encrusted hat and grabbed his silver-handled cane, standing up to bid farewell.

Once the elder's figure completely disappeared from sight, the seemingly straightforward and hearty hunter's expression changed, a hidden sharp glint flashed in his eyes, and he spat fiercely:

"Bah, man-eating beast? Wouldn't I know if there were a beast in the forest capable of killing and eating two grown men at once?

Since the colony governor completely fell, and those weirdoes from Siracusa City came to town, people have been disappearing nonstop for half a month. You think others are fools?

Organizing hunters to enter the forest is not to eliminate 'beasts,' but to add a meal for some unknown 'monsters', isn't it?"

After venting slightly, knowing time was pressing, Johnson turned swiftly and rushed back inside the house.

After the "guest" left, his wife, wearing a coarse cloth dress, had come out of the bedroom with their son.

"Quick! Sandy, pack up immediately, staying in Buffalo is not an option anymore.

That old fellow is clearly targeting us, wanting to eliminate unstable elements, turning the whole town into reserve food for those 'monsters'!"

They might be somewhat out of touch with distant news, but since the Kingdom's original governor fell, and the governor of the nearest major city, Siracusa City, quietly changed hands,

A group of pale-skinned, cold-aura people, as if capable of freezing others, has grown increasingly numerous.

Disappearance incidents in the colony have surfaced endlessly, a mysterious sense of panic has gradually spread throughout the neighboring towns, something everyone can deeply feel.

Johnson, as a militia captain, is a well-informed figure, and he sensed the unease long ago and has made some arrangements.

Today's "request" from the old mayor made him instantly aware of his dangerous situation, leading him to make the final decision.

But his ten-year-old son was yet to realize that this was a journey to completely say goodbye to the hometown where generations had settled; looking up curiously, he asked:

"Dad, where are we going?" 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Gently hugging his son, the man looked into his eyes seriously and said:

"We are going to Long Island Port, not far from here, where a free sea ship can take us to the stable Phaletis Colony in the south. On this dangerous land, only powerful leaders can ensure our secure living.

Little Dick, do Dad a favor. Go find your uncles, Duwa, Eden, and Kim, and tell them to gather at our house immediately."

"Okay!"

...

Five kilometers west of Long Island Port.

Clang! Clang! Clang!...

In the night sky, sparks constantly blossomed, as the Boatswain of the "May Wind," Official Knight Chris, and Life Tree Totem Warrior of the Level 5 Battleship "Rowing Song," Zinaro, swung their long knives, besieging a tall and agile figure.

However.

Even facing an attack from two official extraordinaries, the figure holding two thin-bladed straight swords appeared at ease whether advancing or retreating, being far more powerful than the two.

Even as he constantly dodged, he kept on spewing provocative words to further agitate his already furious opponents.

"Oh, can't hit me, still can't hit me!"

"Oh my, too bad, you missed my round and perky buttocks by only a centimeter!"

"Admit it, you're just jealous that I can squeeze jugs at will! And my jugs are bigger than all of yours! Ahahaha..."

No doubt, this foul-mouthed fellow was none other than the tool... oh, Clockwork Billy, whom Aiven had dressed in a layer of biomimetic skin.

With his "venomous tongue," he had managed to offend all his new colleagues completely clean in just a month.

So far he hasn't been "clubbed, bagged, and sunk into the sea" simply because he's too powerful!

As for why they are here?

Aiven used the treasure he plundered from "Oathbreaker" Bradley as the startup capital for the territory.

Pigens Town in the north of Georgia Territory, specializing in marble; Ceramic Town in the center; Steel City in the Cumberland Mountains to the west; and two deep-water ports, Savannah and Brunswick, next to the Black Sea in the east, all have at least begun to take shape.

The other main line of the cotton textile industry, large-scale cotton plantations.

With the initially set strategy and the expansion of promotional efforts, plus excellent shipping conditions, many pioneers from Ilya are gradually flocking to Georgia Territory with their families.

Although cotton is generally planted in April each year, the plantations will not be able to provide raw materials this year. But thanks to the subtropical monsoon climate, tobacco can be planted in September and harvested in early winter, ensuring the land isn't left idle.

The main causes of this situation are firstly the collapse of the former Governor's rule in the Ilya Kingdom and the ravaging of the "Ghouls"; secondly, Aiven's rising fame, widely renowned among the Tulips.

Apart from Phaletis, due to the Galliot family's connections, the people most concerned about him are likely the populace of Ilya.

With many having to become contract slaves for 4-7 years to afford the passage, once they arrived in the New Continent, they practically had no means to traverse the Black Sea and return to the mainland.

Leaving the increasingly dire Ilya Colony, choosing an appropriate destination becomes particularly important. The famous name Aiven Galliot is just what can exert the desired brand effect.

Thus.

After breaking "High Cliff Castle," Gel had already brought the "May Wind," the "Rowing Song," and two two-masted mixed sail ships separated from the Privateer Fleet to Ilya's Long Island Port.

The near-total annihilation of the "Oathbreaker" Pirate Gang was a great achievement that made Vice Admiral Gustav proud in front of the Queen and the Military Department. So, everyone gave each other face, and Aiven occasionally using public resources for private matters wasn't a big deal.

Therefore, with a Tier 3 Extraordinary now in command, as long as the freemen of this colony wish to leave, no one can forcibly stop them.

Chris, Zinaro, and Clockwork Billy as backup personnel, guard this camp outside the city, merely as precautionary measures to prevent Ilya's new masters from breaking the rules.

In fact, not only Aiven is doing this; the other five member states of the Tulip Alliance are doing it too. With the Kingdom Guardian "Tempest Tide" nearing the end of its lifespan, Ilya internally has become a mess.

The entire Kingdom has reached its most turbulent time, and where does an isolated New Continent Colony get its sovereignty and territorial integrity? The allies temporarily leaving this land untouched was merely a face-giving gesture to the Kingdom Guardian's last breath.

With Aiven's current identity, status, and strength, he is more than qualified to take a share, and no one would consider him unworthy.

Suddenly.

Bang!

A sudden gunshot in the wilderness startled the three in melee.

Clockwork Billy, whose strength had already surpassed a Tier 2 Peak Knight, reacted the fastest, abandoning the two and charging straight out.

"Ahahaha, finally something interesting! Not playing with you boring guys anymore."

About two kilometers further west into the continent.

Two somewhat shabby wagons had come to a stop, with three vigorous hunters dressed in deerskin half-squatting on top, confronting five large but very emaciated hyenas closing in from the darkness.

The hands holding the guns were slightly trembling, as they watched with their own eyes as a few greenish-white-skinned humans transformed into hyenas, completely shattering their worldview.

Only the hunter leader, Johnson, with two Kentucky Rifles slung across his back, managed to temporarily intimidate them with his smoke-emitting rifle and the feat of killing one hyena with a single shot.

However.

"Woo...woo..."

While continuously pacing, scraping the ground with claws and growling low, this pack of "hyenas" obviously wasn't planning to let them go.

At this moment.

From the direction near Long Island Port in the darkness suddenly came a hearty laugh:

"Hahaha, come on, let's have a showdown! I just want to kill you all, or be killed by you!"

As the pack of "hyenas" turned abruptly and leapt high to pounce.

Whoosh!

A figure wrapped in wild wind shot forth, the two straight blades in hand transforming into a shining curtain of light, with blood splashing everywhere.

Bang—

By the time the five "hyenas" hit the ground, they'd already reverted to five blue-white-skinned figures wearing robes, clearly not real hyenas, but rather ghouls with both human and hyena forms.

Clockwork Billy flicked the blood from his blade before sheathing it, not forgetting to add a sarcastic remark:

"Oops, sorry, looks like I'm the one who killed you."

As he spoke, he walked over to the wide-eyed hunters.

He stretched out and patted the butts of these "Ghouls" one by one, as if confirming whether they were truly dead.

Slap! Slap! Slap!...

Uh, not only had Clockwork Billy returned to his original self, but it seemed he'd awakened something remarkable.

In the night, his faintly lingering voice could be heard evaluating:

"This one's too dry."

"This one's too lean."

"None of these can compare to my..."