While the Celestial Dragons were busy plotting, Rosinante had gone into seclusion.
The reason was simple. Not long ago, Moria had secretly delivered a shadow to him.
After receiving Rosinante's orders, the Shadow Hunt Squad immediately set out to carry out their first mission: hunting Elizabello II of the Prodence Kingdom.
"Hehehe, so this is the Prodence royal palace. It doesn't seem like much. We slipped in without any trouble at all," Moria said.
"At the end of the day, it's just a kingdom. Anyone with real strength has already gone out to sea. Who would still be hanging around in a kingdom," Daolang said.
"Let's go. Don't delay the captain's mission," the Ghost Warrior said coldly.
"Hehehe, what do you think an attack that needs a whole hour to activate is like?" Moria asked curiously.
"The captain told us not to cause any disturbance. Don't mess around," Daolang warned.
"Hehehe, I know. I'm just curious," Moria replied.
"Keh keh keh. Curiosity often gets people killed," the Murderer laughed.
"This is our first mission since joining the Gray Nation. Let's move," the Ghost Warrior said, taking the lead as he headed into the palace.
"Tsk, stiff as a block of wood, not a bit of fun. Being on a team with you in the future will be real suffering," Moria muttered as the others quickly followed.
In the gardens of the Prodence royal palace, a young man wearing a crown was steadily swinging his fists.
Bang.
A dull impact echoed as several figures swaggered in. The guards stationed nearby were already lying unconscious on the ground.
Seeing this, the crowned young man did not stop swinging his fists in the slightest.
"Hehehe, you're Elizabello II of Prodence, right?" Moria asked.
"Who are you? Assassins? Rebels? Or bandits?" Elizabello II continued to throw his punches, showing no fear at all toward the sudden intruders.
"Hehehe, I'm not some lowly thing like that. We're pirates," Moria said.
"Pirates? Sneaking into the royal palace, what do you want? To rob it?" Elizabello II asked.
"Hehehe, we just want to borrow your shadow for a bit," Moria said.
"Borrow my shadow? I've heard of borrowing Beli, borrowing gold, but never borrowing a shadow. You've come to the wrong place. I won't lend pirates anything," Elizabello II said, still swinging his fists.
"Hehehe, you will lend it. Or rather, whether you want to or not isn't up to you," Moria said with a grin, as if everything were under his control.
"So you intend to take it by force," Elizabello II said.
"Hehehe, we're pirates. If the owner isn't willing, then we can only borrow it by force," Moria laughed.
"Typical pirate logic. But you came to the wrong place. This is Prodence. And you're very unlucky, you know? I've just finished warming up," Elizabello II said. As he spoke, he drew back his fists. In that instant, a suffocating aura burst forth from his clenched hand.
The moment that aura spread out, Moria and the others all changed expression, their faces filled with disbelief. This kind of pressure was something they had only ever felt on Rosinante.
Unfortunately, it was already too late. Elizabello II had already thrown his punch.
An incomparably violent force exploded outward.
"Shadow Horn Spear!"
"Ghost Arm!"
"Flood Dragon Slash!"
The moment the shock passed, Moria and the others reacted instantly. Each of them unleashed their strongest techniques, attacking Elizabello II at the same time.
Their attacks collided head-on with the force of the King's Punch, but were immediately swallowed up. In the next instant, an enormous explosion erupted, obliterating everything around it.
The explosion raged on for a long time before finally subsiding. Thick smoke shrouded the center, making it impossible to see what had happened inside.
"Your Majesty, are you alright?" The violent explosion attracted soldiers from across the kingdom. Dagama, the military strategist of the Prodence Kingdom, also arrived, staring at the center of the blast in shock.
"I'm fine. A few pirates showed up, but they were unlucky. I had already warmed up more than halfway, and I even stalled them a bit with words. That gave me just enough time to finish my warm-up. To die under my King's Punch is their honor," Elizabello II said.
"Someone managed to infiltrate here without a sound. They're clearly not ordinary pirates. Go dig out their bodies and check who they were," Dagama ordered.
Just as the soldiers were about to move, a voice suddenly came from within the smoke at the center of the explosion.
"Wow, so this is the King's Punch? That power is insane. I really thought I was going to die just now," the voice said.
"Hehehe, looks like the captain's ability saved our lives," another voice followed.
As the smoke gradually dispersed, the figures of Moria and the others were revealed.
At this moment, all of them looked extremely battered. Their clothes were torn to shreds by the attack, and they were gasping for breath.
Yet astonishingly, there were no wounds on their bodies at all.
"Protect His Majesty. Who are you people?" Dagama shouted.
At the same time as he spoke, he quietly whispered to Elizabello II, "Your Majesty, please prepare yourself."
Seeing that Moria and the others were completely uninjured, Elizabello II was utterly shocked. His expression turned grave as he once again began to warm up.
At that very moment, a figure silently appeared behind Elizabello II. A swift chop of the hand fell, and Elizabello II instantly lost consciousness.
Before Dagama and the others could react to the sudden change, the newcomer grabbed Elizabello II. With a flash, he appeared beside Moria and the rest.
"Let's go. Don't forget, the captain told us not to cause too much of a disturbance," Dark Thorn said calmly.
"Your Majesty, absolutely cannot let them leave. Stop them at all costs. Bring His Majesty back," Dagama shouted.
At Dagama's command, soldiers from all directions charged toward Moria and his group.
"Hehehe, Bat Scatter," Moria said, as countless bats surged forward, swarming toward the soldiers and slowing their advance.
"We'll be taking your king with us for now," Dark Thorn said indifferently.
As he spoke, Dark Thorn led the group as they calmly walked out of the palace, completely ignoring everyone around them.
"Hehehe," Moria laughed as he left together with the others.