"Then, Lady Giada, is there any way I can be of assistance?"
Vatler smiled with well-tid courtesy.
"You've co to , presumably because I possess sothing you need."
"Oh?"
Giada humd softly, her eyes showing approval.
"I intended to tell you, but you've spoken first—however, before that, we must deal with a little tail!"
Mid-sentence, her tone suddenly shifted, turning cold and sharp.
A little tail?
Just as Vatler showed a puzzled expression, Giada lightly waved her hand.
"Zap—!"
A massive bolt of lightning shot from her fingertips.
The imnse thunder radiated astonishing heat and light, streaking toward a certain corner of the harbor!
A small figure hiding in the corner among the containers was startled. The sudden attack caught her off guard, striking her body head-on.
The intense heat lasted only an instant.
But even that brief mont was enough to completely vaporize her body, simultaneously sending over a dozen surrounding containers flying in all directions.
"Ahhh!"
The salvage team working by the harbor cried out in alarm, scattering in panic.
To avoid disturbing the holy presence, Gila led his n to calm the panicked crowd.
"What was that just now?"
Vatler's expression darkened.
He hadn't detected being followed at all?
"A liquid tal lifeform, the work of an alchemist."
Giada retracted her extended hand, her erald eyes fixed aggressively on that patch of ground.
"Liquid tal lifeform? Doesn't that require the Philosopher's Blood to achieve?"
Vatler was visibly shaken.
Ordinary alchemists could at most perform material transmutation, converting any substance into tal and manipulating tal at will. To beco a liquid tal lifeform, one absolutely needed the legendary "Philosopher's Blood."
Only by transferring one's soul into the Philosopher's Blood could one beco a liquid tal lifeform possessing immortality and magic power rivaling that of a True Ancestor!
This also ant abandoning the human body and transforming into a non-human monster.
That was the ultimate technique at the pinnacle of alchemy—no one in the modern era should be capable of it, right?
"But high temperatures remain their weakness!"
Giada indifferently swung her hand again.
Snake-like flas roared from her fingertips, the astonishing blaze illuminating nearly half the harbor.
From the spot that seed already vaporized, a shiny silver tal suddenly leaped up, attempting to flee into the sea. But the flaming serpent swiftly caught her body, lting it completely.
"Now there's no problem."
Only then did Giada show a satisfied smile.
Though it was just a casual strike, the high temperature released by her familiar was at least tens of thousands of degrees!
No substance on Earth could withstand such an attack—anything hit would inevitably be burned to ashes!
"Who exactly is spying on ?"
Vatler's face showed no emotion, but his eyes were filled with killing intent.
"As far as I know, the most recent alchemist in history capable of refining the 'Philosopher's Blood' was the great alchemist Nina Adelard over 270 years ago, but she has been missing for many years..."
The liquid tal lifeform had clearly been tracking him; otherwise, the Third True Ancestor would have dealt with it long ago.
"Thinking too much is pointless. If that liquid tal lifeform is determined to hide itself, even I wouldn't be able to find it!"
Giada shook her head, feeling it was aningless.
It could freely alter its form, transform matter with ease, and had no weaknesses except for extre high and low temperatures. Once it went into hiding, no one could locate it.
Vatler fell silent. Upon careful consideration, he realized it was indeed true.
"Back to the main topic—what's the na of this ship?"
Giada didn't care at all and steered the conversation back on track after it had strayed for over a dozen exchanges.
"Deep Ocean Tomb."
Vatler shook his head, refocused his attention, and replied smoothly.
"How much is it worth?"
Giada pressed further.
"If Lady Giada has use for it, feel free to take it!"
Vatler suddenly understood and smiled indifferently.
"I'll rent it for so ti and compensate you with sothing of equal value afterward."
Giada got the answer she wanted but had no intention of taking advantage.
"Leave so of the ship's servants behind as well."
"Aside from my close aides, I'll leave everyone else."
Vatler bowed to show his understanding.
"The way you say that—you're not planning to leave the vessels behind too, are you?"
Giada gave him a strange look, as if seeing him in a new light.
"There's no safer place than by your side. Even if the Warring Lord finds out, I doubt he'd bla ."
Vatler nodded nonchalantly.
"After all, no matter which side resurrects the Fourth Primogenitor in the end, the result is the sa for the True Ancestors, isn't it?"
Indeed, the Japanese governnt took this matter very seriously, hoping to keep the Fourth Primogenitor in their country.
But the three True Ancestors didn't really care who resurrected the Fourth Primogenitor. This was evident from the fact that they didn't appear in person, only sending their subordinates to participate in the "Blazing Banquet."
Giada had co to resolve the doubts she had held for four years.
What the True Ancestors cared about wasn't the Fourth Primogenitor itself, but the aning hidden behind the Fourth Primogenitor.
Moreover, given Giada's character, she wouldn't keep the vessels for herself.
"Don't you care either?"
Giada narrowed her eyes, speaking aningfully.
"If you were to devour all the vessels, you might even gain the power of the Fourth Primogenitor, you know?"
"That would be far too boring!"
Vatler replied dismissively.
"The vessels are still too weak—at best, they only hold one-twelfth of the Fourth Primogenitor's power. If I were to devour anything, I'd rather devour the Fourth Primogenitor directly. Now that would be interesting, wouldn't it?"
A wild, unruly battle fervor surged in his crimson eyes. Vatler exuded the aura of a madman who would stop at nothing for a good fight.
"The rumors are true—you really are arrogant. No wonder the Warring Lord of Oblivion values you."
Giada readily agreed.
"Very well. As compensation for borrowing this Deep Ocean Tomb, I'll help you protect the vessels."
Not long after, Vatler escorted Giada into the massive, over-400-ter-long luxury liner, the Deep Ocean Tomb.
He left most of his subordinates behind, taking only two close aides with him as he boarded a passenger ship and returned to the Warring Lord's domain.
Without anyone's knowledge, the Deep Ocean Tomb had already changed ownership.
Late at night, a crescent moon hung high in the sky.
After dismissing the trembling servants, Gada stood alone at the ship's bow.
From the cruise ship's height, ordinary buildings posed no obstruction to her vision.
Moreover, her eyes shimred with the glow of magical power.
Her gaze swept back and forth across Itogami Island, as if searching for soone.
"I linger here to throw obstacles in the Japanese governnt's path,"
she murmured to herself.
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