BXBX NOVEL Chapter 42: Chapter 32 Sudden Fortune
His nickname was 'Ironhand,' an ambitious gang member.
However, yesterday, he had encountered an opportunity.
As a distinguished guest of the Black Rabbit Gang where he stayed, the leader of the Black Whale Group's Sawshark, the esteemed Black-eyed Captain, had arrived.
The Black-eyed Captain inquired about a young man with a 'Sea Beast sickness,' who, according to the Captain, had stolen their stuff.
To find any leads, he dragged out all but the high-ranking members of the Black Rabbit Gang, anyone related to the patient with the Sea Beast sickness, and severely whipped and interrogated them with a whip!
His words were fierce, his actions impassioned, showing none of the restraint expected of a pirate captain, treating the gang members purely as tools for venting his anger.
To the side, the Crow Ship's doctor hooked the corner of his mouth in a semblance of a smile, giving off an inexplicable sense of terror.
But their Black Rabbit Gang traded in human lives, not in kidnapping people for ransom!
Who cares where those lowly born slaves come from!
Thus, after a lengthy discussion with the Black-eyed Captain, the higher-ups of the Black Rabbit Gang could only conclude that the person was from the islands.
Now with the navy active, storms brewing, and sea monsters surging like schools of fish, they could only plan for the long term with such matters.
But in their interrogation, they had overlooked one person—that was him, 'Ironhand,' the ruthless member of the Black Rabbit Gang.
He was different; he had encountered Chen Qi and inadvertently learned that Chen Qi might be from Maro Town.
From the tone of the Black-eyed Captain, that person must have stolen something extremely valuable to him.
Thus, Ironhand came up with a daring idea.
If he could find that item before the Black-eyed Captain did, his rise to power would be unstoppable—he would win several wives and reach the pinnacle of life!
That was critical information known only to him!
This was his chance, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!
In the chaotic cabin, Ironhand lay quietly under the bed, as silent as a corpse.
When he had just come ashore, he carefully hid in the distant waters and saw the Sea Beast sick patient, he saw Chen Qi.
With so many eyes around, it was not a good time to strike.
When night fell, that would be his moment to hunt.
Ironhand chuckled to himself, having already pictured the scene of emerging slowly from under the bed at night, then suddenly delivering a heavy slap to awaken and scare the living daylights out of the other person.
Bang!
It was the sound of the ship door opening.
He's back... Ironhand held his breath; the rickety bed was too small, and in brighter light, he might easily have been discovered.
Bang!
It was the sound of starting a fire.
"I'm so tired, need a good meal, with so many ingredients, I could make a meal for Teacher An as well."
Chen Qi arranged the ingredients and cooking utensils.
Eat up, this might be your last dinner... Ironhand revealed a hint of a smile, thinking he was well-hidden.
However, the very next second, he heard a frighteningly thoughtful remark.
"Frying really needs lard, perfect, I put some under the bed to use later."
"!"
Was there lard stored under this bed?
As soon as these words were spoken, Ironhand broke into a cold sweat, unable to hold back the perspiration.
Though he was the one hidden in the shadows, why did he feel fear?
That lard couldn't be referring to him, could it?
Drip, drip!
Two drops of cold sweat fell to the ground.
The more he thought about it, the more fear he felt!
Enough, I can't take it anymore, driven by fear, he abruptly crawled out from under the bed.
Time to play it tough!
Time to surprise him!
He was ready to grab Chen Qi with his powerful arms, then slowly extract information from him.
However, the instant he emerged, no one was to be seen!
"Behind you!"
Ironhand realized, quickly turning his head and throwing a punch.
"Not bad reflexes."
Chen Qi took a step back, easily dodging the wild punch.
In Ironhand's eyes, any slave captured by the Black Rabbit Gang was disposable scum, devoid of free will.
Just as they would bring many people to the gang right under the noses of the police.
In his mind, snatching a sickly, frail slave from a backwater island was something no one would care about, an easily accomplished feat.
That was why he had been so brazen along the way.
But now, he felt an overwhelming fear, a profound trepidation.
"Dare to scare me!"
Ironhand's fear turned to rage, and he instantly adopted a boxing stance, his mechanical right arm steaming with scalding vapor, the air around him suddenly changing!
He grinned with bared teeth, ready to show the move that cemented him in the Black Rabbit Gang:
The Steam-Powered Punch!
However, his opponent's move took him by surprise.
Chen Qi advanced a step forward.
Sensing the majesty of my hand, not only did he not retreat, he advanced instead!
Let's give him a spectacle!
Boom!
Chen Qi advanced, his left hand lightly tracing and capturing the incoming mechanical right arm!
The unbranded, rusted mechanical arm, typical of a mixed-breed accessory, was mostly modified from discarded mechanical limbs.
Such a rusted steam-powered mechanical arm, though potent in sheer strength, was very predictable in motion.
Chen Qi then bent his right arm and thrust upward fiercely.
An elbow strike, a powerful and hefty elbow slam!
Ironhand's jaw took a hard hit, his body's balance thrown off!
Ironhand was stunned as a Transcendent, and especially a Blade Phase one, this was the first time he had been manhandled since acquiring his mechanical arm.