Chapter 118: The Warship Beneath the Cruise Liner

The instant the Guard Cannon materialized, the pirates grasped that they had truly stumbled upon a formidable foe.

Though Scarface reacted instantly, their speed proved no match for the Guard Cannon’s blazing muzzle flash.

In a mere blink, the cannonballs tore through their bodies, their flesh and bone proving as fragile as paper against the explosive force.

Blood and gore sprayed outwards, the mangled remains of bodies mingling with the shattered fragments of the speedboat as they plunged into the depths.

A minute later, the Guard Cannon ceased its furious barrage, its muzzle now glowing with an incandescent heat, the crimson barrel radiating an intimidating power.

The pirates upon the waves had vanished without a trace, leaving behind only a scattering of broken debris floating on the water’s surface, a grim testament to their fleeting existence.

Within the bridge, Captain Li Hua sat regally in the command chair, her face utterly devoid of emotion as she surveyed the aftermath.

For pirates of this ilk, swift annihilation was nothing short of a mercy, and she harbored not an ounce of pity for them.

Indeed, the number of pirates she had dispatched was beyond counting; to her, such acts were as routine as eating or sleeping.

On the deck, Bai Yu observed the unfolding spectacle, leisurely munching on the snacks she held.

Despite the swiftness of the events, her formidable dynamic vision enabled her to witness every detail with perfect clarity.

Even the larger, dilapidated vessel far in the distance was clearly visible to Bai Yu’s keen eyes.

Her immediate thought was whether Captain Li Hua would let that distant ship escape, considering the sheer expanse of water separating them.

An ordinary person would not have even perceived a speck on the horizon.

Yet, Bai Yu’s query was swiftly answered, for Captain Li Hua’s subsequent actions precisely mirrored her expectations.

The stern deck of the cruise liner suddenly split apart, the tremendous roar that accompanied it momentarily deafening Bai Yu.

Just as she turned to investigate the commotion, an enormous missile launcher emerged from beneath the deck.

Before Bai Yu could even process what she was seeing, the missile launched with an explosive roar, a pillar of flame propelling it towards the derelict vessel.

“No, how in the world was a missile of that immense size stored in there?”

Bai Yu’s eyes widened in disbelief; the missile’s length and sheer volume were utterly disproportionate, and despite the colossal launch, the ship remained perfectly steady.

How was any of this even possible?

Bai Yu even suspected that the value of the launched missile far exceeded that of the target ship itself.

The missile, blazing skyward, hurtled directly towards the decrepit ship, and Bai Yu could faintly discern the desperate screams of those aboard.

At this, Bai Yu could only inwardly declare, ‘They deserved it.’ After all, they had chosen the path of piracy.

It was simply their just deserts.

Out on the ocean, the missile detonated with cataclysmic force against the ship’s hull.

The immense concussive blast unleashed a colossal shockwave, instantaneously generating a miniature tsunami that surged directly towards Bai Yu’s position.

Bai Yu swiftly braced herself; had this happened earlier, her petite frame would likely have been swept away by the ferocious gale.

However, having undergone numerous advancements, she now faced such extreme conditions with unwavering resolve.

As the furious winds lashed against her, Bai Yu pondered how Captain Li Hua intended to deal with the rapidly approaching tsunami.

Yet, in short order, Bai Yu realized her concerns were entirely unfounded.

While the tsunami was still several hundred meters from their cruise liner, the overwhelming deluge of water seemed to collide with an invisible barrier, instantly parting and rushing away to either side.

“A transparent protective barrier, too?”

Bai Yu’s eyes widened further. Was this some arcane art or cutting-edge technology? Was this vessel truly outfitted with such an astonishing array of features?

Bai Yu had been moments away from retreating to her cabin, having assumed the ship would simply weather the impact through sheer structural integrity.

As Bai Yu stood lost in her thoughts, a sudden tap on her shoulder startled her.

The unexpected touch made Bai Yu jump, and she quickly spun around to find Captain Li Hua standing there.

“What is it, Captain…?”

Bai Yu awkwardly scratched her head, embarrassed that Captain Li Hua had managed to approach her without being detected.

It was a known fact that Bai Yu would never fail to sense another Arcanist of comparable rank; this situation allowed for only one possible explanation.

Namely, Captain Li Hua was herself a high-ranking Arcanist.

Upon reflection, it made perfect sense; as a relative of a Dragon Summer Guardian, her power was bound to be formidable.

“So, Xiao Yu, what do you think of this ship?”

Captain Li Hua declared with a proud smile, evidently quite pleased with her recent display.

Bai Yu pursed her lips, realizing that this captain was clearly not someone to be underestimated.

“It’s incredibly powerful, but I can’t fathom where all those weapons are stored. From its exterior, the ship doesn’t appear nearly so formidable.”

Bai Yu scratched her head again, genuinely puzzled as she couldn’t discern any outward features indicating the ship was armed.

Logically, weapons of that magnitude would necessitate a far larger hull for proper installation.

After all, a ship must accommodate not only weaponry but also various living quarters and numerous complex operational zones.

This was precisely what perplexed Bai Yu the most.

“Haha, so that’s what you were curious about!”

Li Hua burst into hearty laughter, her wrinkles crinkling around her eyes.

Her expression became somewhat intimidating. Bai Yu mused that even in her youth, Li Hua must have been a formidable woman, precisely the kind of exhausting person Bai Yu least desired to interact with.

Unaware of Bai Yu’s inner musings, Li Hua continued her explanation.

“There’s no harm in telling you,” she began, “this ship is outfitted with the Dragon Summer Investigation Bureau’s most cutting-edge systems. Nearly every section is imbued with arcane arts, and its critical components even incorporate wondrous item fabrication.”

Li Hua stated with palpable pride.

“The missiles and other armaments you observed are all stored within wondrous items. For this expedition, I’ve brought quite a few excellent provisions, so you can set your mind at ease.”

Li Hua patted Bai Yu’s shoulder once more, a gesture meant to reassure her.

“Ah, I see, haha.”

Bai Yu scratched her cheek, a new understanding dawning on her. This vessel was, in essence, a war machine disguised as a cruise liner, its formidable power likely capable of matching an entire fleet.

Bidding Captain Li Hua farewell, Bai Yu retreated back to her room.

She channeled her spiritual power to the back of her hand, once more checking the progress of her refining.

To her dismay, she found that after an entire night, the process had only reached approximately thirty percent completion, the faint glow still clinging to the hilt of the inlaid blade mark.

“This is agonizingly slow!”

A wave of annoyance washed over Bai Yu. She found herself constantly compelled to check its progress, only to be met with a frustrating sense of stagnation each time.

[Your temperament remains far too impetuous. This is merely the initial stage; you will confront far greater challenges in the future.]

Moweila’s voice was utterly calm as she spoke, for in her estimation, Bai Yu still behaved like an overgrown child.

She completely lacked the composure befitting a mature Witch.

Indeed, much like Bai Yu’s figure, utterly barren.

“Hey, are you perhaps thinking something rather impolite?”

Bai Yu called out to Moweila, aware that while Moweila could perceive her thoughts, the reverse was also true, allowing Bai Yu a glimpse into Moweila’s mind.

However, Bai Yu had yet to fully master this particular skill, and Moweila’s constant obstruction only fueled her immense frustration.

Bai Yu truly resented herself for this, vowing not to allow Moweila such liberties in return.

Bai Yu yearned to properly discipline Moweila, ensuring she would never again act with such insolence.

Yet, Bai Yu knew this endeavor would be a protracted one; transforming Moweila into the submissive companion she desired would require a considerable amount of time.