I Heard You Were Looking for Me? [2.4k]

Translator: CinderTL

Under the daylight sky, seagulls sliced through the air.

A steam-powered iron warship docked at the shore, a stretch of red and gray buildings sprawling from the port toward the mainland.

Black chimneys stood tall, gray smoke billowing endlessly, staining everything around it.

"Cough, cough."

"Old Gerr, your cough is getting worse."

"Yes. I feel like I might not see next spring."

The sounds of coughing and conversation echoed near the streets of the garden district, where a white-haired old man in a thick coat leaned on a cane, holding a handkerchief stained with blood.

Chen Feng walked past with an expressionless face, making his way toward the villa where Lei Long's family resided.

Gata had informed him that the fleet had successfully returned to Banli Port.

Time flowed faster here, so Chen Feng knew that this had happened several days ago.

For the sake of the Blue Heart Stone, he pondered for a moment and decided to enter the dream again that night, intending to elevate Steel Bones another notch.

Although he was limited by his severe injuries in Qinggang City, which left him in poor condition, he could still enter the dream with a power level just over the fourth tier.

With the Holy Shield Colossus capable of staying in this realm for a long time, these issues were not a problem.

Tap, tap.

He approached, but suddenly halted, a frown creasing his brow.

The standalone villa before him was locked with an iron gate, sealed with a stamp.

In the small garden behind the iron bars, the flowers and plants had withered, and the white flowers planted by Andi were covered in a layer of black-gray, as if they were about to be crushed by dust.

His perception expanded quietly, and Chen Feng glanced inside the entire villa.

No servants were in sight, not a trace of them.

The empty house contained only overturned tables and chairs, shattered porcelain bowls scattered on the floor, and brown coffee that had long since dried and stuck to the carpet.

Frowning, Chen Feng soon heard other voices.

"Old Gerr, try to think positively."

"Look at the Lei Long family; not only will they not see next spring, but they might not even make it through this winter."

"What a good family they were."

As the voices rose, Chen Feng turned his head toward the speakers.

But before he could approach to inquire, he sensed movement; a shadowy figure was sneaking down the alley behind the villa.

As the figure moved, he quickly took a detour and stood in front of the hurriedly approaching person.

A little boy dressed in a tattered sweater and black pants, his freckled face framed by short brown hair.

Deliberately wearing a patched woolen cap, his face was anxious and pale, with bloodstains and a foul odor clinging to him.

In an instant, a shadow loomed over him, and the boy, who had been walking with his head down, trembled as if frightened and tried to evade.

A large, solid hand caught him.

"Tulin."

In a low voice, the boy's terrified expression froze, and he looked up in disbelief.

The stains and freckles mingled, and the fear in his eyes dissipated, replaced by excitement and tears that began to glisten.

"Master Feng Chen!"

"You finally came! I've been waiting for you for so many days; I knew you would come!"

He burst into tears, sobbing with emotion.

"What happened?"

Chen Feng furrowed his brow and asked in a deep voice, already fearing the worst.

"Master! Master Lei Long is in trouble!"

Tulin spoke through his tears, and before Chen Feng could ask further, he rushed to explain everything in one breath.

"Captain Lei Long was captured shortly after returning from sea by Young Master Lund and his men."

"And Aunt Susan, Andi, my mother, and sister!"

"I found out halfway and didn't dare to show my face because I knew only you could save them! Please, I beg you to save my family and Captain Lei Long!!"

As Tulin spoke, he attempted to kneel, but it felt as if an invisible force lifted him up.

Before he could gather his thoughts, the low voice sounded again.

"Why did that Lund Charles capture them?"

Chen Feng asked, casting a barely noticeable glance at an empty corner of the alley.

Tulin was oblivious, simply wiping away his tears with his sleeve, his eyes red as he explained, "Young Master Lund said that Captain Lei Long colluded with pirates and, together with the Blood Sea Vice Admiral's third mate, Great White Shark - Tiger, ambushed the kingdom's merchant ships and stole their goods."

"All the members of Captain Lei Long's crew were captured and are to be executed at the guillotine this afternoon."

Chen Feng fell silent upon hearing this; he knew he might have implicated Lei Long.

"What is the evidence for the charges?"

"The ring!"

"They found the Great White Shark - Tiger's ring in Captain Lei Long's home!"

---

Tap, tap.

The sound of hooves echoed crisply near a large square adorned with a statue of judgment.

A convoy of horse-drawn carriages bearing the tuna flag passed slowly, with Duke Charles seated among them in a silk suit.

He unfolded a newspaper in his hand, while a brown-haired young man in a black gentleman's suit adjusted his bowtie and lifted a corner of the curtain to gaze at the indifferent faces of the commoners outside.

"The factory issue has already been resolved, hasn't it?"

Suddenly, Duke Charles spoke.

The young man's indifference faltered for a moment before quickly transforming into respect as he turned to accept the newspaper handed to him.

It reported on the large-scale outbreak of an infectious disease.

It even speculated that it was caused by the seemingly unquenchable gray smoke from the Sark Factory.

After a brief pause, Lund quickly smiled and explained, "Father, this was just an accident."

"Prince Seth added an order at the last minute, and those goods need to be produced around the clock."

"You know, this can greatly enrich our land and warehouses."

"And this reporter?"

"I'll make sure he stays silent forever."

"Mm."

Nodding lightly, Duke Charles did not inquire further about the matter but turned his gaze toward the many passersby outside the carriage.

Respectful, fearful, obsequious. Everything in Banli Port belonged to the Charles family; the lives of a few commoners were hardly worth mentioning.

"Did you kill that Sequencer from Tule? Are you sure it's related to Captain Lei Long's fleet?"

"Yes, Father."

Lund's expression grew serious as he spoke truthfully, "Although Captain Lei Long is tight-lipped, some of his crew were drunk at the Red Orchid Tavern and let slip some information."

"Combined with previous investigations, it seems only Captain Lei Long's fleet visited Merman Bay during that time."

"Mm, and what about that Sequencer?" Duke Charles asked with a detached gaze.

"Captain Lei Long refused to reveal that person's whereabouts, and I even captured his family to give him a chance, but unfortunately, he did not appreciate it."

"What about those crew members?"

"Most of them are the same; some have been pried open, but what they said was of no use. All we know is that it was a black-haired man, somewhat resembling a Warrior Sequencer."

Pausing, Lund speculated, "Father, do you think that Sequencer will appear again?"

"I feel he may have already left Banli Port. Should we delay and continue to spread the news?"

Without answering immediately, the middle-aged man withdrew his gaze from the ragged commoners. "Whether he appears or not, anyone who dares to offend the Charles family will need to be cleansed with blood."

"No need to delay. Since the execution is set for today, let it be so."

"Yes!"

Lund nodded, but soon saw the other party ask again.

"I heard a little fellow managed to escape?"

"Yes." Lund replied honestly, "That child may have seen that Sequencer."

"But it seems someone is intervening, hiding him away."

"Father, do you think this could be related to Master Adler?"

Lund asked cautiously, sensing that someone seemed to be targeting the Charles family.

Especially since Master Adler had come to Banli Port, it felt as if someone was lurking in the shadows.

"That's fine; it's just that some people don't want to see my Charles family grow stronger."

"But unfortunately, they seem to have forgotten how we, the Charles family, established ourselves."

A cold light flashed in his eyes, and Duke Charles remained calm and imposing.

Lund, hearing this, nodded in agreement, for he understood how powerful his father was.

Looking across the entire Steel Kingdom, aside from the rare sixth-tier Saints, no one could threaten him.

Even Adler could not contend with him, and the infamous Blood Sea Vice Admiral never dared to act recklessly near Banli Port.

Instantly, a hint of worry dissipated within him. Watching the tuna flag fluttering in the wind, Lund gently adjusted his gentleman's suit and smiled at the pig-like commoners.

The carriage passed through the parting crowd and slowly approached the stone platform behind the statue of judgment.

Square and measuring several dozen meters in size.

Behind it was a seat resembling a judgment stand, occupied by the great nobles of Banli Port, the chief of security, naval commanders, and the newly appointed bishop of the Frost Church invited to witness the proceedings.

Soldiers belonging to the kingdom, dressed in deep brown military coats, stood with rifles, separating the crowd from the judgment execution platform.

The congregation of the Frost Church wore blue hooded robes, praying nearby and murmuring words about punishing the evil doers who colluded with pirates.

"Look, Duke Charles has arrived!"

"The Lei Long family is doomed!"

"Hey, why do you think Lei Long colluded with pirates?"

"I feel like there's something fishy about it."

"Shut up, are you trying to get yourself killed?"

Outside the area separated by soldiers near the execution platform, shadows had already crowded in.

A young man in a sweater, an old man wrapped in a wool coat, or a middle-aged man scolding others to be quiet.

Some were still coughing, and as they witnessed the carriage stop, some knelt nearby, acting as a stirrup.

Thud! Members of the Charles family stepped down from the carriage, and a squad of soldiers respectfully welcomed and escorted them toward the main seat.

"Duke, it's getting late; what do you think?"

"You can preside over it."

"Alright."

The plump chief of security in Banli Port wore a fawning expression as he welcomed Duke Charles to the central position, then ordered a squad of soldiers to bring out the prisoners.

Clang! Clang! The sound of shackles and chains clashing filled the air as more than ten people, their heads wrapped in black cloth, were brought onto the gray execution platform.

Whispers filled the air as the black cloth was torn away, and the blinding sunlight momentarily dazed the middle-aged man with a beard.

Brute force surged from behind the bindings, forcing him to kneel on the ground.

The Storm Sequence Spirituality within him had long been sealed, and he knew he might not escape this calamity.

"Daddy."

Suddenly, a little girl with brown curly hair appeared beside him.

She shrank in fear between her mother and him, wailing loudly, her hands bound with rope, her once clean sweater now covered in dirt and grime.

"Don't cry, Andi."

Lei Long spoke bitterly and with guilt, wanting to remember his daughter's appearance one last time.

Her tears felt like daggers to his heart, but before he could move closer, footsteps approached.

"You have one last chance."

Lund, dressed in a black gentleman's suit, stepped forward to the platform, surrounded by soldiers.

The light was blocked, and a long shadow loomed over them.

Perhaps due to the stench emanating from them, Lei Long saw Lund wrinkle his nose in disgust.

"Tell me where he is."

Standing above him, Lund's tone was cold and indifferent.

Lei Long struggled internally, glancing over; his daughter's cries were so disheartening.

"Ha, what a lovely little girl."

Deliberately pausing his words, Lund slowly crouched down, looking at his daughter beside him.

"Too bad."

"She has a cruel father."

With a mocking tone, Lund reached out to touch Little Andi's hair, causing Lei Long's eyes to redden, and thoughts raced through his mind.

Betray his savior? Or watch his daughter accompany him to the grave?

"Daddy, no!!"

Little Andi, crying hysterically, suddenly struggled and shook off the reaching hand, curling up in tears beside him.

Seeing this, Lei Long's heart trembled, and he met the indifferent gaze of the young man.

"I don't know."

His final answer, how could such a cold and cruel noble let them go? As if sensing his decision, Lund's smile faded, and his expression turned icy as he stood up.

"I gave you a chance, but it seems... you don't cherish it."

With a mocking remark, he lost all patience.

Turning his head to look at his father in the distance, the older man nodded slightly, as if in agreement.

"Execute them."

With a gaze that seemed to regard them as mere pigs, he swept his eyes over Lei Long and the others, including the crying little girl.

Turning to leave, but suddenly... whoosh!!! A gust of wind surged, as if a beast had awakened within the crowd.

Blood-streaked wings trembled under the vast sky, the blue-black horn piercing the blazing sun and the heavens.

The world froze, everything seemed to quiet down because of it.

Young Lund clearly saw the sudden change in his father's expression.

At the same time, he noticed the ground before him, a shadow like a monster looming over him.

"Are you looking for me?"

A low voice echoed from behind, and Lund felt his body stiffen, a chill running through him.

Struggling like a puppet, he turned his head to see the scarlet eyes of fiberglass glaring down at him, as cold and merciless as he had been earlier.

Slap!

A thick, blue-black hand seized his head, and he opened his mouth to speak.

Bang!!

With a brutal grip, blood gushed forth.

A violent punch shot out like an arrow, piercing everything, emerging from the left side of his chest where his heart lay.

All vitality dissipated, and Chen Feng looked down at Lei Long and the others.

"Sorry, I'm late."

(End of the Chapter)

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