Byron's abilities and circumstances were clear as day in the Sailing Logbook, which also helped him quickly decide on his future path.
Right now, my top priority is to enhance my Extraordinary Powers. Of my two innate Talents, neither requires Spirituality to be active at all times. Cognitive Revision, despite having an adjustment limit and currently only being effective on Low Sequence Transcendents, is a top-notch life-saving ability. Weather Intuition is a divine skill coveted by every sailor and Navigator! But if I want to escape or even seek revenge, these two Talents alone are far from enough. I must complete my induction as soon as possible and attain at least one Class in a battle-oriented Transcendent Sequence to have the basic power to protect myself. Along the way, I need to activate the entry gifted by the Sailing Logbook—Historical Reviser. And I just so happen to have a key item that can be used for the induction ceremony.
As Byron thought this, he raised his left hand.
But he discovered that the family Seal Ring that should have been on his index finger was nowhere to be found!
However, when he saw that even the sapphire button on his shirt cuff was missing, he immediately calmed down.
I was first rescued by a merchant ship, then captured by a group of pirates. Expecting them to leave my belongings untouched was a fool's dream. No matter who took them, they would ultimately end up on this pirate ship.
With only a moment's contemplation, his mind was made up.
First, I need to recover my personal items plundered by the pirates from the Man-Eating Shark, especially the most important family Seal Ring. Only with this item, a medium possessing Extraordinary Power and symbolizing the Lancaster family's royal authority, can I complete the induction ceremony for my next Transcendent Class. It will also help block any potential divination or pursuit from the York Family.
I'll use the pirate ship to quickly leave the waters near Hightins. Afterward, whether venturing further into the vast North Sea Region or heading to overseas colonies, countless opportunities await me. I have the Sailing Logbook to help me; as long as I continue exploring the unknown world, I can grow quickly. This perfectly fits the current Great Nautical Age, which is less than a century old and has a map still filled with countless blank spaces. Excluding the self-destructive path of joining the Navy, I could become a privateer captain, pirate, independent adventurer, or Bounty Hunter... all options are on the table!
Byron grabbed the carved decoration on the stern gallery of the pirate ship and silently climbed up.
The last entry in the Sailing Logbook read: Lancaster's hatred is temporarily concealed, but there will come a day of Blood and Fire Sing As One.
「...」
Meanwhile, in the galley located on the lower deck of the Man-Eating Shark.
A young man wearing a white chef's hat and holding a kitchen knife stood vacantly in front of a chopping board.
He listened as the screams of the merchant sailors outside the porthole faded from shrill to weak, and then into silence. With a somewhat deranged expression, he muttered to himself, "I did nothing wrong! The captain, insisting on some ludicrous knightly spirit, swore to protect Lord Crawford's assets. Lord Crawford was a key supporter of the defunct Lancaster Party. When he insisted on pulling that shipwrecked person of unknown origin, who was clinging to a plank, from the sea, I told him that a knight's Eight Great Virtues were all a joke. An inflexible antique like him wouldn't last long on these treacherous seas."
"If the captain hadn't been so foolhardy, leading the boarding party in a counter-attack onto the pirate ship, I wouldn't have shot him in the back. Legend says that 'Bloody Eye' Salman, captain of the Man-Eating Shark, is ruthless and cruel, and also a powerful Transcendent. If he's provoked into action, everyone dies. Now, at least I've survived. That's all that matters!"
But as he slowly lowered his gaze to the ingredients on the chopping board, his expression gradually shifted to panic.
But I'm just an ordinary sailor who also cooks part-time. Even the crude sailors on board complain about my cooking. How would I know any refined noble cuisine? Besides, everyone knows the thinnest book in the world is the cookbook of the Kingdom of Hightins, right? Unless I go to study in the neighboring Irisflower Kingdom, how could I possibly satisfy that vicious Captain 'Bloody Eye'? Those pirates told me to get ready. Soon, they'll take me to meet that vicious 'Bloody Eye' so I can learn his preferences and prepare his meals. What do I do? What should I do?
The young man paced restlessly, his footsteps thudding on the lower deck.
It wasn't hard to guess that this young man was the chef from the Pelican Merchant Ship mentioned by First Mate 'Bone Crusher' Miles—the only one given a chance to survive.
However, this chance depended on him using his supposed experience of "serving nobility" to conquer the picky palate of Captain 'Bloody Eye' Salman!
Unfortunately, he was just a boastful imposter.
He recalled the rumors about the pirate captain: that he ate people alive, like a cannibal from a story. The mere thought terrified him so much it felt like his insides would burst.
He glanced around. The galley was empty; no pirates had noticed him. Knife in hand, he cautiously approached the porthole.
He was about to stick his head out to see if he could jump into the sea and escape, but the fear that the sharks that had eaten his comrades might still be hungry made him silently pull his head back in.
This painted a perfect picture of someone caught like a deer in the headlights.
Time ticked by. The sound of pirates' footsteps approached the galley again. Finally, he gritted his teeth, mustered his courage, and cautiously peeked out.
However, a hand as strong as an iron hoop shot out from below the porthole and gripped his neck.
CRACK!
He didn't even have a chance to beg for mercy before his neck was ruthlessly snapped.
Before darkness engulfed the chef and his consciousness completely faded, he heard a flat, icy voice, "Traitors must die!"
It was Byron. He had just climbed onto the pirate ship from the stern and happened to overhear the last survivor of the merchant ship muttering to himself.
He did not hesitate to act decisively.
Then, still gripping the chef's broken neck, Byron pulled his entire upper body out through the porthole.
Seeing the kitchen knife still clutched tightly in the chef's hand, Byron knew that if he hadn't acted decisively, he might have been injured.
He snatched the knife and, without a change in expression, made several deep gashes on the chef's body before casually tossing the corpse into the sea.
He watched until the body disappeared into the mouths of the swarming Man-Eater Sharks.
Only then did Byron climb through the porthole into the galley.
Picking up the chef's hat from the floor, where it had fallen during the struggle, he dusted it off and placed it on his own head.
As he turned, a Divine Light, as blue as the ocean, shimmered in his profound eyes, and Byron's aura underwent a seismic shift in a single breath.
It was his innate Talent, Cognitive Revision.
He looked at his hands, musing, I think in this current scenario, calling it 'Psychological Disguise Technique' is actually more appropriate. Outwardly, nothing has changed, but the chef's image, name, demeanor... all his characteristics have been 'revised' onto me.
To anyone who saw him, he was the chef; Byron himself had completely vanished from the world.
It was like someone born red-green colorblind, unable to realize their own condition until someone else points it out.
This identity isn't high-ranking, not compared to the ship's first mate, second mate, helmsman, or artillery officers—the pirate officers—but like them, I'm a newcomer. I have no memories of interacting with these pirates, so I don't need to inherit any existing relationships. This makes me the best candidate to blend into the Man-Eating Shark and hitch a ride.
BANG!
Just then, the galley door was suddenly flung open from the outside, and a very young pirate walked in.
Upon seeing the figure in the chef's hat, he paused for a moment, then greeted him naturally, "New chef, the great Captain 'Bloody Eye' is waiting for you. Come with me, quickly. Oh, I haven't asked your name yet, have I?"
Byron adjusted his hat and clothes and smiled amiably at the young pirate, "Byron. My name is Byron Tudor."