Chapter 424: Chapter 252: Six Catastrophe Levels? A Transformed Brigade (Bonus Update 1/10)
The night grew deeper, and even the vehicles on the Rainbow Bridge had dwindled, leaving Tokyo Bay in silence.
Xia Pingzhou and Bloodline leaned against the railing on the sidewalk, gazing at the sea and chatting.
"By the way... You and the young lady left early, so you don’t know yet," she suddenly said. "On the night of August 1st, a hacker released everything from the database at Bergen’s underground bar. The captain has been inventorying the treasures in the Terrarium Royal Vault these days and found quite a few good things."
"What good things?" Xia Pingzhou turned to look at him.
"There are plenty..." Bloodline rested his elbows on the railing, cradling his face in his hands. "First, there’s dragon blood."
"Dragon blood?"
"That’s right. It’s said to be from an extinct ancient dragon species belonging to the Whale Terrarium. This dragon was part of a group of magical creatures known as ’Remorseful Winged Dragons.’" Bloodline casually remarked, looking at Tokyo Bay illuminated by neon lights.
"Then what? What’s it good for?"
"I successfully integrated the dragon blood with my original blood using my superpower, significantly enhancing the strength of the blood in my body." Bloodline lowered his head, glancing at the pulsating blood on his fingertip. "I don’t feel weak even facing a Catastrophe Level opponent now."
"Really?" Xia Pingzhou asked curiously. "Did the dragon blood enhance you that much?"
"What else? Want to give it a try?" Bloodline turned to look at him, smirking.
"Let’s skip that and talk about what other good things are in the Royal Vault."
The young girl in a red dress hugged her shoulders and spoke softly:
"The captain also found an ’Endless Tome.’ The book’s pages generate infinitely for unknown reasons, which is a great thing for the young lady... The captain said it means she now has an endless supply of pages. With her control over her superpower, she might be able to create more powerful objects or even stir up a storm."
"Sounds perfect for her. Was the Endless Tome in the hacker’s database?"
"No, the hacker took everything out earlier. He placed the treasures underground in Bergen, and the captain only recently unearthed the tome from the mountain of treasures." Bloodline said, "I came here to apologize to you, and also to hand this tome over to the young lady."
She pursed her lips, turned to Xia Pingzhou, and seriously instructed, "Don’t be a greedy cat and swallow the tome. Hand it to the young lady; it’s the captain’s order."
After speaking, the vampire girl squeezed out a drop of blood from her fingertip and retrieved a booklet from the flowing blood. The cover of the booklet was pure grayish-white, and upon opening, one found that each page was similarly grayish-white, its overall tone somewhat oppressive.
Xia Pingzhou took the Endless Tome and glanced at it, then asked, "What other strange treasures did the captain find?"
"The captain also discovered the ’Demon Crown.’"
"Demon Crown?"
"As the name suggests, it’s a crown that only demons can wear. It can temporarily amplify a demon’s power, though wearing it for too long results in uncontrollable rampage." Bloodline introduced, "According to the captain’s tests, Bai Tanlang reached Catastrophe Level strength after donning the crown."
"That’s outrageous," Xia Pingzhou sighed. "Sounds like it’s not a safe item."
"That’s not all. The captain found a good thing for Anluns called the ’Lucky Dice,’ which reportedly enhances his luck." Bloodline said, "The higher the roll, the more Anluns’s luck will improve in the short term."
She yawned, the bright lights on the edge of Tokyo Bay reflected in her pupils like a sea of stars.
"Can this dice make Anluns’s slot machine yield a specific result?"
"Maybe," Bloodline shook his head. "If it can, our slot machine guy would be no different from a Catastrophe Level, perhaps transforming overnight into the strongest member. After all, if his slot machine can roll three matching patterns, regardless of the pattern, it would be terrifyingly strong."
Xia Pingzhou shrugged, "Sometimes I envy abilities where risk and opportunity coexist, a good roll can take down a Catastrophe Level."
"Don’t envy it. The captain has personally designated you as a genius Exorcist on par with Jack the Ripper." Bloodline smiled, glancing sideways at him. "The captain even says your potential surpasses hers."
After all, I’m a limited Superpower User; my potential wouldn’t be high? Xia Pingzhou thought to himself, I’m not getting stronger, just lifting limits, gradually returning to my original strength.
He thought for a moment and then asked, "Who else received enhancements from the treasure vault?"
Bloodline supported her chin, her blood-red eyes drooping, staring motionlessly at the rising and falling waves.
"Hmm... Lastly, it should be Andrew. After absorbing most of the dragon blood, I handed the remaining blood to him to craft bullets. He was thrilled, excitedly saying: Dragon blood can forge two enhanced versions of the ’Embers Gun.’ Despite not having crafted them yet, he’s already named the new bullet ’Dragon Embers.’"
"Andrew’s a bit forgetful when it comes to naming, but the Embers Gun is already strong, isn’t it? If I remember correctly, it nearly shattered the Royal Court’s cube defenses."
"So, I can’t imagine how extravagant the dragon blood-enhanced version will be."
"It seems like using this bullet to take down a Catastrophe Level enemy isn’t much of a challenge." Xia Pingzhou shrugged, "Everyone’s gained enhancements from the Royal Vault... What about Jack the Ripper? Did the captain find her any supreme sword?"
Bloodline smiled subtly: "Jack the Ripper sister said she doesn’t need it and isn’t interested in the Royal Vault’s contents."
"Alright then, did the captain find anything suitable for me? Like a chessboard or something?"
"No, the majority of the treasures in the King’s Vault are quite mediocre, with gems and pearls. The good items I mentioned earlier are few and may not necessarily be useful to us."
"So disappointing," Xia Pingzhou said blandly, "Forget what I said earlier. Actually, I’m just like Jack the Ripper; I don’t need external items to easily break through to Catastrophe Level, unlike you guys."
"Did you change your tune because you found nothing useful in the King’s Vault?"
"We are indeed a band of thieves—others improve through hard work, while we improve by ’robbing’."
"Isn’t that also a way to become stronger?" The vampire girl said calmly, "There’s a saying in China, ’fortune favors the bold.’ If we hadn’t breached Whale Terrarium, we naturally wouldn’t have gotten the King’s Vault treasures."
"Makes sense," Xia Pingzhou thought for a moment, "Does that mean we already have hope for revenge against Lake Hunting?"
"Hard to say, considering Lake Hunting is beyond comparison to typical Catastrophe Level individuals. You saw Zhou Jiuya’s prowess, right?" Bloodline asked, "He’s number three in Lake Hunting, and the remaining three are naturally monsters among monsters."
"Better to keep gathering strength," Xia Pingzhou said expressionlessly, "It’s getting late, let’s head back."
Bloodline flipped over the railing, stretched lazily, her red dress caught in the sea breeze.
"We should go, otherwise the young lady will scold you again." She said, smiling slightly, turning to Xia Pingzhou, "Just say you took yourself for a walk, saving her the trouble of walking the cat."
"Shut up, Longevity Love-Chasing Old Lady."
"The hacker said you’re like a hound without its master, wandering aimlessly; seems it wasn’t unfounded."
Chatting as they walked down the Rainbow Bridge pedestrian path, they followed the sparse road back to Oda Takashige’s library, luckily without encountering any mafia members. Since the auction event, about half a month had passed, and the underground mafia had relaxed their vigilance.
Back inside, Xia Pingzhou couldn’t see the hacker or Robert’s shadow; they likely went back to the hotel since they couldn’t find anyone to play cards.
He bid farewell to the vampire old lady, then locked the glass door, climbing the old circular stairs with creaking steps, arriving at the familiar yet strange attic.
The attic was dimly lit; only slivers of moonlight cut by the window spilled onto the wooden floorboards. Ayase Origami lay on the pillow, her eyelids clasped shut, breathing evenly.
In the play of light and shadow, Xia Pingzhou crossed the mottled floorboards, sat on the bed on the ground, and opened the "Endless Manuscript" that Bloodline had handed him.
"Where did you go?" the kimono-clad girl suddenly asked.
Her eyes remained closed, with a curved line of moonlight separating them like a demarcation.
"Went for a walk, here’s a gift for you," Xia Pingzhou said, turning to hand her the Endless Manuscript.
"What is this?" The kimono-clad girl opened her eyes, the Endless Manuscript flying into her hands.
"Found in the King’s Vault of Whale Terrarium, it’s called ’Endless Manuscript.’ As the name suggests, it has limitless pages, perfectly matching your superpower."
"Really?" She gazed down at the manuscript.
"Why don’t you try it?"
"I trust you..." the kimono-clad girl shook her head gently, yawning, "Goodnight, little cat."
"Goodnight," Xia Pingzhou said.
He watched Ayase Origami close her eyes again, then lay on the bedspread on the floorboards himself.
Staring at the ceiling, Xia Pingzhou’s thoughts wandered.
He realized, with Ayase Origami having the "Endless Manuscript," Bai Tanlang equipped with the "Magic Crown," Bloodline merged with "Dragon Blood," and Anluns acquiring the "Lucky Dice," these Royal Court items complimented the abilities of White Crow Travel Brigade members, potentially crafting four Catastrophe Level individuals.
Counting Andrew, who made the premium bullets, that adds up to five; plus Jack the Ripper, already Catastrophe Level, the brigade totals six Catastrophe Levels.
Not to mention, soon the second unit will advance to Catastrophe Level;
The leader, being both an Exorcist and a Superpower User, naturally has the potential to advance.
Counting all, the White Crow Travel Brigade ultimately sums up to eight Catastrophe Levels. Even if the Salvation Society wants to make a move quickly, they’ll have to consider the brigade’s strength.
Faced with inadequate information, it’s quite likely the Salvation Society will suffer losses against the White Crow Travel Brigade, losing crucial members.
Who would imagine one trip to the Terrarium would result in the brigade creating so many monsters in such a short time?
"Of course... once I kill Jack the Ripper, the brigade’s Catastrophe Level count will drop from 8 to 7." With that thought, he glanced at Ayase Origami.
Gazing at the sleeping girl’s face, after a moment of silence, Xia Pingzhou placed his right arm beneath his head and slowly closed his eyes.
His breathing became even, and before long, he was sound asleep.