They all call me Great Master
Chapter 926 - 923 Ascend Step I

The hoarse and low voice made the 'Mechanism Master' shudder.

Instinctively, one of the 'Lion Group' replied.

"Alright!

We... uh!"

Before the words were finished, the longsword piercing through his chest ended the conversation.

The 'Mechanism Master's' small eyes widened.

It wasn't a sudden attack, but rather—

Not only did this person stab him in the left chest, but also followed up with a stab in the right chest, and then two more stabs in the soles of his feet.

"How did you know my heart was in the soles of my feet?"

Collapsed on the ground, the 'Mechanism Master' was utterly perplexed.

Arthur, wearing the [Mask of Concealment], smiled.

Then, with one slash, he severed the 'Mechanism Master's' head.

There was no gushing fresh blood, but the remaining force caused the 'Mechanism Master's' head to roll to the side, finally allowing him to see Arthur's 'true face.'

"It's you!

Bert..."

Before he could utter the title of Earl, the 'Mechanism Master' was interrupted by a bottle of kerosene.

The grease dripped onto his face.

The 'Mechanism Master's' mouth was immediately filled with an unnaturally sour and spicy sensation, and he screamed in horror.

"Wait!

I can trade information with you!

I know something important about His Highness!"

The 'Mechanism Master' shouted.

But Arthur paid no attention to him and directly lit a match, granting him a decent cremation—Arthur already knew what the 'Mechanism Master' knew.

In fact, he knew much more, in greater detail.

As for why he had to use Count Bert's visage?

It was naturally to convey false information to the Old Lion.

Or rather...

Arthur was testing.

Watching as the 'Mechanism Master' turned to ashes.

After allowing the Rat Swarm to explore the gold mine again, Arthur stood in the shadows waiting.

He was waiting for the Old Lion's reaction.

Whether the other party would stay in South Los or return to the Inner Bay.

As for others, Arthur wasn't sure.

But as the 'Blood Shadow's Thorn', the second of the 'Lion Group', if the 'Mechanism Master' was dead, the Old Lion would surely know immediately—so he let Count Bert show his face.

He wanted to make the Old Lion mistakenly think this was Count Bert's opportunistic strike for the gold mine.

Of course, he also had the Countess of South Los challenge the Old Lion, further adding to the stakes.

It's not about being single-minded or distracted.

He just needed to ensure the Old Lion wasn't in the Inner Bay.

Only then could he maximize the benefits—

'So, will he come back?'

Arthur waited, then hid himself further.

At that moment, Arthur completely merged with the shadows.

In the mine, only the sound of the residual zombie miners digging and their footsteps against the ground remained.

Time ticked by, second by second.

Soon, the night completely passed.

Arthur squinted in the shadows.

'How arrogant!'

Arthur silently said to himself.

Clearly, compared to unifying South County, the matters in the Inner Bay seemed trivial to the Old Lion.

Or rather, in the other's eyes, if they could just make the Countess of South Los yield.

Then, everything would be worthwhile.

'So, does South Los have any trump cards making him wary?'

Arthur rubbed his chin.

Arthur was never surprised by the South Los Family having a trump card.

If they didn't have one, that would be surprising.

'If that's the case, I won't hold back.'

Thinking to himself, Arthur quietly left the Lion Palace. After distancing himself from Kilg Harbor, the [Spirit Medium] appeared by the Inland River. Then Arthur took out the helm of the [White Crow] and placed it directly.

In a breath, amidst a series of metallic sounds of 'Kaka', the [Spirit Medium] transformed into the [White Crow].

From the outside, the [White Crow] was a standard caravel sailboat—ever since the 'Pirate King' Edward appeared, caravel sailboats became the favorite of near-sea pirates, not only out of blind admiration but also due to their light body, fast speed, and easy operation, requiring very few hands to easily navigate.

And the [White Crow] was simplicity to the extreme.

It only required a thought from Arthur.

Without entering the captain's cabin.

Arthur stood at the bow.

Subsequently, the [White Crow] began to dive.

Then it started to navigate in a straight line.

Neither the water's surface nor the sudden obstacles could block the [White Crow]'s progress.

Once again, Arthur returned to the underground of the Lion Palace.

With the help of the [White Crow]'s space, Arthur began collecting the pure gold left by the 'Pirate King' Edward, placing all the pure gold into the hold of the [White Crow].

Then, Arthur started letting the [White Crow] continue to dive.

Two thousand meters underground wasn't the limit for the [White Crow].

Its speed just slowed down.

When it reached five thousand meters underground, the speed of the [White Crow] had slowed to an extreme.

'This will do!'

Arthur thought, as he took out the 'Cat's Nest', 'Dragon's Horn', 'Fierce Tiger's Claw', 'Raging Bear's Gallbladder', and 'Terrifying Wolf's Ear', arranging them according to the ritual in his memory.

He intended to Ascend here.

The final connection of the ritual was completed, and as Arthur took out the 'Stairway of Ascension', the ritual emitted a faint orange light—

[Stairway of Ascension, Seventeen Order, determining...]

[Possesses the Ritual 'Great Orange', determination passed!]

[Does not possess the 'Cat's Nest', determination passed!]

[Does not possess the 'Dragon's Horn', determination passed!]

[Does not possess the 'Fierce Tiger's Claw', determination passed!]

[Does not possess the 'Raging Bear's Gallbladder', determination passed!]