Chapter 199: Mutation

Chapter 199: Mutation



A long convoy of carriages slowly made its way along the winding path in the hills, resembling a gray serpent from a distance.

As they drew closer, one could see that each carriage bore the same emblem of a double-headed wolf, indicating that this was undoubtedly a noble convoy.

Inside one of the carriages, Dennis's eyes were still slightly red, clearly still grieving over the death of his father, Baron Norman.

To avoid potential oppression from Lein's side, Dennis wasted no time and decided to leave the county town, returning to reside in one of his family's estates in the countryside.

Thus, after packing most of his valuable belongings, Dennis hastily organized this slightly bloated convoy and set off at the fastest speed possible.

Suddenly, a cavalryman on horseback swiftly rode ahead of the convoy and approached the carriage where Dennis was located.

"Hey! Young Master, the scouts just reported that there have been many bandit gangs in this area recently, and they've spotted some bandits. So, do you want to take a detour?"

"Damn it! How is this possible! By the Goddess!" Dennis exclaimed in terror, his face contorted with fear.

Where am I?

Each of those people looked stronger than this Dennis.

How dare these bandits be so bold as to attack such a large convoy? Dennis frantically pulled open the curtain and saw dozens of bandits charging from all sides, armed with crossbows, slaughtering his family's guards mercilessly.

Lein defeated even my father, and with his help, I still couldn't defeat them! Dennis thought to himself.

The ponytailed girl, clearly impressed by Lein, immediately stepped out from behind the counter with a sweet smile and said,

This pushed the town to the brink of collapse.

As Dennis's thoughts wandered, he suddenly heard cries for help and sharp piercing sounds from the front and rear of the convoy.

"Then tell me."

At this moment, Parix took a closer look at Dennis, who was still undergoing the mutation process, and said, "It should be mostly successful. Once he completes the mutation, send him directly to the city of Meister County to create chaos."

"Kid, you're running away like you're moving house, probably to escape from Lein, right?" Parix, the Captain, looked down at Dennis, who was lying at his feet.

"Revenge?!" Dennis felt like he had gone from hell to heaven. He never expected that this powerful Great Knight, a 'bandit,' would be willing to help him take revenge!

"The Sixth Fleet's detachment should be coming for you in a few days."

And then there were the bandits.

"Sir, your Water Film Steel Armor is inside." The ponytailed clerk opened the box and gestured with her hand.

"Alright, you go ahead."

Hearing that the burly man wouldn't directly intervene, Dennis's mood plummeted like a rollercoaster, sinking even lower.

The last few hundred experience points were from killing the Nightmare Draconoid.

Lein picked up the quill and swiftly signed his name.

After this battle, the Extraordinary Knight's level reached lv5 (1789/2000), just a step away from lv6. His Thunderclap Hammer Technique also reached lv10 (6205/20000).

At this moment, as Lein looked at his attribute page, he suddenly remembered that after the battle with the Nightmare Draconoid, he had been busy inquiring about wizardry matters with Naya and had forgotten to check the system prompts: 【Your Tokadal Punch Art has improved, +32 experience points】

A powerful individual is urgently needed to stabilize the situation.

"Great, sir. If I consume the potion and still can't defeat Lein, I hope you can help me eliminate him."

【You have experienced a battle, +18 experience points for Extraordinary Knight】

A pink test tube with tiny bubbles appeared before Dennis's eyes.

Just as Lein returned to the supply office from the blacksmith shop, the knocking sound rang out again! "Knock knock knock!"

【Your Thunderclap Hammer Technique has improved, +1889 experience points】

Dennis dared not lift his head, and as he followed the line of sight along the ground, he saw a pair of polished plate armor boots that dominated his vision. These boots hadn't even touched a speck of mud after killing four family knights.

Lein not only learned the truth about the elusive silver-gray color but also understood the prerequisites for wizardry transmutation. Additionally, he made a substantial profit.

The shackles clanged shut!

This caused Lein to frown slightly.

Facing Lein in his shiny silver knight armor, the ponytailed clerk blushed, glancing at Lein frequently but quickly lowering her head.

Parix's words gave Dennis a glimmer of hope. Suddenly, an idea flashed through his mind, and he blurted out, "There's a new baron named Rein, who just made a fortune. And there's also the Crowley family, who recently made a substantial profit of at least tens of thousands of gold. Many people in the county town know about this. You can go and verify it."

Could it be that they want me to go to Fishing Harbor Town?

Dennis couldn't help but sigh as he witnessed this scene.

Lein nodded and said, "The situation is indeed dire, but not right now. I'll set off after the navy arrives, probably in the next day or two."

"What, you don't trust my judgment?"

"Darling, a messenger from Count Habsburg just delivered a letter for you.

"A beautiful lady entered with a smile, holding a letter in her hand.

First, maintain the peace and order in Fishing Harbor Town and prevent it from deteriorating further.

It seems I need to speed up the forging process.

'Detour?' Dennis peered out the carriage window, seeing over twenty carriages stretching for more than a hundred meters. There was no way they could turn around in such a short time.

A male servant bowed politely and said, "Baron, the supply office informed us that an item has arrived, but they require your personal signature for the receipt."

But what choice did he have now? Dennis lowered his head and glanced again at the family knights lying dead in a pool of blood, their eyes still open.

'Additionally, the user must have a strong will to survive. Once these two conditions are met, the success rate will significantly increase.' Captain Parix explained to his trusted aide.

The letter inside read:

What Dennis couldn't bear the most was Baron Alonso, who had tried to win him over after his father became a Great Knight. But now, he couldn't even see Alonso's face. At this thought, Dennis's hands clenched involuntarily.

After using it.

But upon hearing these words, Dennis's soul trembled. Instinctively, he shouted, "I'm useful! Don't kill me. Aren't you bandits? I know which nobles in the county city are the richest. If you rob them, you'll have a bountiful harvest."

Firstly, the fishermen are unable to go out to sea for fishing, causing fear and panic in Fishing Harbor Town. Additionally, pirates occasionally land and raid, resulting in the consecutive deaths of two town security officers.

After some thought, Ren decided it would be better to retrieve it as soon as possible.

The tasks assigned to Ren by Count Habsburg in the letter were twofold.

Calculating the time, it should be about right.

'There are too many people here. Clean up the scene and then escort Young Master Dennis to our base.'

'Of course! Sir, can you help me take revenge?'

Ren didn't stay long in his manor and headed to the blacksmith shop, ready to utilize the box of Ice Iron Ingots he acquired at the auction.

Although his height was a few centimeters shorter back then, he had left some allowance, so the fit was just right.

The figure before him was not human; it was a giant frilled lizard standing on two legs! Sharp claws, pale green scales, and pointed spikes along its spine—there was no trace of its human form.

The bandits leading the attack included several burly men with the strength of Full Knights! Two, no, three Full Knights? Wait, this... this is... "This is a Great Knight!" Dennis's pupils contracted, his eyes widened, and he blurted out.

Dennis, feeling a bit dazed, nodded subconsciously.

Have Great Knights become so 'cheap' nowadays? With the Great Knight's participation, the battle quickly turned one-sided, and the Norman family's guards suffered heavy casualties.

'Your wisdom, sir!' The squad leader-like burly man had an expression of sudden realization and flattered, "As you wish, sir!"

He knew that what the burly man in front of him was saying couldn't be entirely true, or perhaps only partially true.

But the next second, as he felt the power within him about to erupt like a volcano, his regret diminished.

'Alright, Lord Ren, please follow me to the fitting room. After you try it on, if there are no issues, you can sign the receipt.'

Secondly, locate the Sea God Cult and the pirates hiding on a nearby island along the coast, making it convenient for the Imperial South Sea Fleet to dispatch an elite force for a decapitation operation.

At this moment, a knock on the door suddenly sounded.

'Hiccup~'

'This is a 'Mutation Potion' that only a Squire can consume. It also requires a strong will to survive. Only then can the user smoothly gain powerful strength after consuming it.'

This instantly made Dennis's heart skip a beat.

When Ren, dressed in a black Noble Hunter Outfit, entered, the office lady with a ponytail seemed to sense something and immediately looked up at him.

'Oh?' Hearing this, Captain Parix couldn't help but smile slightly.

A burly man wearing half-plate armor, despite being under fire from the guards' crossbows, advanced step by step, killing as he went, seemingly unhurried but swift.

It was night, and there was no moonlight, only faint starlight, yet everything appeared so clear to Dennis, as if it were broad daylight! As Dennis stood up and saw himself in the silver mirror on the wall, he froze for several seconds, then let out a strange cry, "Hiss~ Hiss~"

'As you wish, sir!' The burly man responded. 'Also, have the bandit gangs we're working with start moving. Increase the intensity of raids in various areas. Soon, the situation in Master County will become chaotic.'

At the same time, he keenly sensed that he could control some function of his skin.

Taking the letter from the beautiful lady, Ren opened and read it.

'This...' Dennis's face showed doubt as he extended his hands helplessly towards the burly man who approached with heavy shackles.

'Very well.' Captain Parix waved his hand, and the burly man beside him handed Dennis the pink test tube.

'This...' Dennis's face showed contemplation.

Seeing Ren's slight frown, the beautiful lady asked with concern, "Dear, did Count Habsburg send you to Fishing Harbor Town? I've also heard about the situation there these days."

'Enter!'

'Alright.' The messenger thought for a moment, seeming to agree with his young master's words.

Dennis shook his head, then suddenly felt something amiss.

"I've received the notification, and this is just a pickup," Ren said to the ponytailed office lady, who nodded in agreement.

"I have a way to grant you immense strength, but it will be a little painful," Captain Parix contemplated, using the word 'painful'.

The correct version can be read on Book 69! 6=9+Book_Bar First Release.

It's important to know that he was about to become a full-fledged Knight!

Extending his claw-like hands, Dennis waved gently, and a faint whistling sound tore through the air.

[You have experienced a battle, Apprentice Wizard (Beyond Normal) +25 Experience Points]



Dennis instantly let out a painful scream! His veins bulged, and his entire body began to develop fine scales. Dennis felt an excruciating pain that penetrated deep into his bones!

"Thud, thud!"

"That's fine, sir," Dennis realized. It was better to take the potion sooner rather than later, and at least he could gain a sliver of the other's goodwill.

Huh! The reflection in the silver mirror seemed to 'disappear'. Was this a color change?

Is this just a little pain? Liar!!

"Please come in!"

Additionally, Ren noticed that the silver leg armor had a separate crotch guard in the center, a special addition according to his previous request.

Although Ren was now an Armorer himself, he had the skills to craft this Advanced Knight armor. For instance, the Ice Iron Suit he was currently working on was of similar quality to the Water Membrane Steel Armor, both being Advanced Knight armor.

I will make everyone tremble beneath my feet!

Half an hour later, Ren arrived at the County City's Supply Office in the northern part of the city, riding in a carriage arranged by the Lady.

Captain Parix observed this scene with satisfaction, nodding and saying with a smile, "There will be a little pain. To avoid injuring yourself, I'll need to put a pair of shackles on you."

The messenger immediately took control of the horse and rode ahead to inform the caravan.

He knew that if he dared not agree, a new body might soon lie on the ground.

"Hey, do you think Dennis has gone crazy?"

At that moment, Captain Parix waved his hand, and a burly man brought over an exquisite carved wooden box, which he immediately opened.

The air in the room seemed to stagnate, and Dennis felt like he could hear his own heart beating faster and faster!

"Not bad, I'm satisfied."

As each Ice Iron Pauldron was crafted, hours passed. Ren's Armorer experience points reached level 6 (1221/3000).

About half a minute later, a burning pain erupted from his stomach! "Ahh!"

The guards, upon seeing the noble crest on the carriage, allowed it to pass without hesitation. Ren didn't need to show his crest or anything; this was the privilege of the nobility.

"Sir, should we kill this young man?" The burly man dressed as a squad leader hesitated for a moment, unsure of his master's intentions.

At least before leaving, he had to raise his Armorer level to level 7! - So painful!

"Actually, the more noble, the more afraid of death. Dennis's will to survive is stronger than most. And his physical qualities are among the best for a Squire."

If they really turned back, according to the outposts, wouldn't it give the bandits a chance to attack?

Ren was taken aback but quickly understood.

"Are you ready?" Captain Parix asked with a mischievous smile.

"Sir Ren, you've arrived. Your ordered Advanced Knight Armor has arrived."

Dennis, who had been thrown around, heard the burly man and the burly man say, "Sir, this is the heir of the Norman Family, the eldest son of Baron Norman."

So he had no choice.

Ren's current focus, Kadar Martial Arts, had also reached level 4 (77/1000).

"Okay, I'll trouble you with this."

Ren's crafting speed was impressive. The simple shoulder armor of the Ice Iron Suit was crafted to quickly raise his Armorer level, not to create a full set, which was a different concept.

Just as he was about to curse his guards for their incompetence, he suddenly sensed something amiss.

"Painful?" Dennis was puzzled.

"This 'Shadow Lizard Mutation Potion' is an experimental potion from the Eagle Federation. The conditions for taking it are quite strict. It's best for Squires, not full Knights. Full Knights who have taken advanced potions find it difficult to complete the mutation."

Not far away, in the grass, two skilled Resistance fighters were lying down, using a copper monocular to observe Dennis's mutation.

Huh! Is the custom-made Knight armor made of water membrane steel ready?

Dennis opened his eyes and looked around. He was in an empty room, but it seemed familiar—it was the manor where his family lived in the county city before he left.

How did he end up back here? Could it be that those people sent him back?

The Sea God Cult and the pirates, upon seeing the imperial army's attack, played a game of hide-and-seek. Once the South Sea Fleet withdrew, they resumed their activities, developing believers and launching attacks along the coast.

As Dennis's gaze lifted, he saw the Norman Family Knights lying in a pool of blood a few meters ahead, which made his heart sink.

I will have my revenge!

"Sir, he's a noble heir. Can he endure it?" The burly man dressed as a squad leader, seeing Dennis rolling on the ground in pain, asked.

With the help of the ponytailed office lady, Ren tried on the armor and found that it fit quite well.

How did you know about the Bloody Duel?

And he knew so clearly that Ren had defeated my father? Dennis was momentarily stunned.

"Snap!"

It could be said that this trip to the Usman family was indeed fruitful.

Minutes later.

He couldn't believe it, there was actually a Great Knight in the bandit gang?

Dennis felt the metal shackles made of special materials on his wrists, which were unusually heavy.

Dennis pulled out the stopper without hesitation, and 'gudong gudong' he drank the pink liquid clean.

"Do you want revenge?" Parix continued to ask.

What's the use of help?

In Ren's new mansion's study.

Why would the bandit gang be surprised? Nowadays, in every county of the Empire, there are bandits on the roads. So, Dennis, who thought he understood everything, said impatiently, "Are you all made of paper? Can a bandit gang have a full-fledged knight? Even if they do, it's probably the best they can do, and you have four of them!"

Because the faint glow on the surface of the man's body was even more obvious than that of his father, Baron Norman.

[You have experienced a battle, Knight (Beyond Normal) experience +455]



[You have experienced a battle, Knight (Beyond Normal) experience +16]



The test tube was corked, but he could still smell a faint sweet scent.

Dennis burped and his eyes lit up! He didn't expect that this 'Mutation Potion' would be so delicious!

"As for side effects... just a little pain." Parix explained with a 'kind' face.

What the hell, aren't you bandits?

But making the whole set is still a time-consuming and laborious task.

"Yes, sir."

However, he glanced at his confidant and noticed that his confidant's expression seemed a little skeptical about Dennis's ability to endure.

After all, he had spent a thousand merit points to exchange for the advanced knight armor, which was quite valuable.

"Also, send a few skilled men to keep a good record during Dennis's survival, this experimental record is very important, and it can be exchanged for many good things from the Eagle Federation."

He didn't want to die!

".I'm currently in Rosby City, coordinating the Imperial South Sea Fleet's Sixth Division. Soon, they will launch an attack on the Sea God Cult and the pirates from the sea, but I need your cooperation on land."

What the hell is this lizard potion pretending to be a mutation potion?

Looking at himself in the silver mirror, Dennis realized that he had been tricked by that burly man!

"No, no, you're mistaken. Of course, revenge is something you do yourself, but I will help you."

The previous dozen or so points, twenty or so points of Knight (Beyond Normal) experience were all from killing those Dream World Black Tumor Monsters.

[Your skill Tokadal Punch Art has improved, experience +37]



He was still young.

Minutes later, Dennis was thrown to the ground in front of the burly man in half-plate armor, like a dead dog.

"Huh? Just a squire?" Captain Parix, who had been quite expectant, looked disappointed after seeing Dennis's low rank.

"Haha, interesting. Did Ren just win a Bloody Duel against your father?" Captain Parix burst into laughter after hearing Dennis's answer.

"Baron Ren: The situation in Fishing Harbor Town has worsened further. A cult called the Sea God Cult has rallied multiple pirate gangs, not only blocking the sea route but also launching raids on Fishing Harbor Town from time to time."

Upon seeing the beautiful lady, Ren's furrowed brows relaxed, but upon hearing her words, his heart stirred.

Additionally, the Imperial South Sea Fleet's previous deployments had not been very effective.

The letter was quite long, and Ren carefully read it to understand the situation in Fishing Harbor Town.

"Of course, this is just a minor matter for me."

"It shouldn't be that bad, and he will surely notice the change in his strength. Watch, soon he will launch an attack."

As Ren entered the army supply office again, he noticed that the clerk who had measured his height and weight before was working behind the counter.

"But I'm no match for Ren, you know, my father was promoted to a Great Knight, yet he couldn't defeat Ren." Dennis said politely.

They had tried the potion on several people before, but none had endured it.

Ren nodded and took out the Water Film Steel Armor, which had a silver surface that was different from regular silver, with a thin film-like water pattern on the surface, making it look very eye-catching.

After his father's defeat in the duel, the nobles who had been friendly with him immediately turned to fawn over the newly promoted Baron Ren, who was once a commoner."

"Then, Baron Ren, if there are no further changes needed, please sign the receipt here." The girl handed Ren a thin wooden board with an item receipt form on it.

Immediately, Ren followed the ponytailed clerk into the fitting room next door, where a staff member pushed over a heavy box with a small cart, placed it down, and then left.

It seemed like he had blended into the surrounding environment.

This made Dennis feel a lot better.

Ren, just you wait! Hehe! Even if I can't kill you, I can secretly get rid of all your family members! Swoosh!"

A nearly transparent figure flashed by, dashing towards the outside of the mansion!

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end