Chapter 454 - 192: Four... Four Heads?

The sun hung high in the clear, vast sky, and the *Leonard* drifted on the boundless Cordo Sea.

In the distance, ships passed by from time to time, but upon seeing the *Leonard*’s pure white hull with engraved gold patterns and its distinctive figurehead, any vessel that drew near to investigate would invariably turn tail and speed away.

However, some bolder vessels, like a three-masted ship bearing a pattern of crossed swords on its sails, ventured to within just thirty kilometers of the *Leonard* before slowly turning about.

Several men in elegant suits raised their binoculars, carefully observing the vessel they suspected belonged to the Dawn Church. But after a few moments, confused expressions appeared on all their faces.

"What’s going on? I think I see pirates on that ship."

"Joseph, you... you’re not seeing things. Not only are there pirates, but there are also some attractive women. And are they... training in formation?"

"If they’re not from the Dawn Church, why are they flying the Dawn’s flag, and with that figurehead..."

"Wait, wait," one of them exclaimed, lowering his binoculars. He pulled out a cloth bag he carried with him and began to rummage through it. "That is definitely a Dawn Church vessel, and one that departed from Caster City State!"

"Caster?"

"Sir Willow, do you mean the ship Knight Huberto was on when he left Caster City State after meeting with Bishop Naike of the Storm Church? The *Kenzan Frollov*?"

"Found it!" Willow pulled out a newspaper and pointed to a photo on the second page, saying excitedly, "Yes, that’s it! That’s the *Kenzan Frollov*!"

The men gathered around, comparing the newspaper photo with the distant ship, not missing a single detail.

"Besides a missing mast and some damage to the deck, the... the other details are identical!?"

"I’m certain of it. That’s the *Kenzan Frollov*!"

"It looks like the strange storm that appeared in this sea region last night was caused by a battle between these pirates and the Dawn Church!"

"And the result is—the Dawn Church lost? Or, to be more accurate, they were all killed?!"

"That’s right. Other than pirates, I don’t see a single Holy Professional from the Dawn Church on that ship. Not even a trace of the Judgment Knight!"

"Sir, this is a huge story! The ship carrying Knight Huberto of the Dawn Church was plundered by pirates, and all the Holy Professionals on board were slaughtered! This is an absolutely massive scoop!"

"I know, I know." A glint of greed flashed in Willow’s eyes. He licked his dry lips, raised his binoculars again, and observed the distant ship. ’Let’s see just who could pull off something so monstrous.’

According to the rules of their employer, the Cordo Gazette, scout ships that submitted major intelligence or news would receive a handsome reward—a sum in gold pounds large enough to make anyone’s heart pound!

"Pirates... triangular eye, mechanical arm... I feel like I’ve seen that man somewhere... and one of the women, too... Is, is that...!?"

"Sir, have you confirmed their identities?"

"The one with the triangular eye is Ronan from the *Golden Dis*, and that woman... that’s Vian Imma Sayer, the one rumored to have eloped with Sir Massimo from Andrea City State!!"

"What?"

"Sir, is it really Miss Vian, the heiress to the Soyel Clan?"

Willow hissed with excitement, "I’m not mistaken! I know what I saw, it’s her! This is perfect! Her being here means the earlier rumors were wrong. There must be an inside story we know nothing about!"

"Get closer! Damn it, Cavella, get us closer! I need to take their picture, especially Miss Vian!"

"Press on!"

Everyone grew excited. A story this big would absolutely make them all rich.

As they drew closer, Willow’s view became increasingly clear. At the bow stood three rather unfamiliar figures: a little girl with white hair, a Mechanical Puppet, and a Mechanical Transformer?

Among the female guards training on deck, besides Vian, there was an exceptionally captivating woman leaning lazily against the railing, holding a glass of red wine as she appeared to watch the guards drill.

Beyond them were the pirates, busy painting a new emblem on the sails.

’They’re even painting over the Dawn Church’s emblem. There’s no doubt about it. Knight Huberto must have met a disastrous end!’

Willow lowered his binoculars, produced a camera, and disappeared behind it, muttering nonstop, "A little closer, just a bit closer... Look this way, look this way... Now!"

"Hm? That person?!"

Just then, one of the other men spotted something and cried out in terror, "Sir, look! Toward the cabin!!"

"That’s..."

"The killer from Caster City State... Wei’en Loft, the Mutated Mage from the Ghost Soul School! So that’s how it is! I was wondering who could be so brazen as to kill that Great Knight—it was him!!"

Willow snapped the photo and emerged from behind the camera. His face was a little pale, but he couldn’t hide his excitement. "I understand now!"

"Quick, take this down!"

"September 3, 1578, New Calendar. In the X1087 Sea Region, Wei’en Loft, leading a band of pirates under Ronan, plundered and killed the pursuing Dawn Church party, a group which included Judgment Knight Huberto Watson."

"Furthermore, during his flight, he has also abducted the heiress of the Soyel Clan, Vian Imma Sayer. It is also highly probable that Sir Massimo has been murdered!"

"Also, I suspect that the Red-haired Captain previously aboard Ronan’s ship was in fact this same Mutated Mage in disguise!"