Battle Skill—Eagle Strike!

With a swift movement, like an eagle skimming the ground, Carl reached for the snarling water monkey.

SQUEAK SQUEAK...

BANG!

The sound of impact echoed.

Even at its most frenzied, the water monkey's strength was far inferior to Carl's.

But it was fearless of pain and had sharp teeth. It took quite an effort to finally subdue it after a frenzied struggle.

Psychic Analysis!

Mental waves surged into the immobilized water monkey as Carl's expression flickered.

"What's up?" Susan approached with a smile, "Are you interested in this kind of thing?"

"Yes," Carl nodded, "Unfortunately, it's already spent!" Saying that, he casually tossed the limp water monkey aside.

"Hmm..." Susan mused. "Sell it to me cheap later!"

"That's no problem," Susan nodded. "A water monkey after its outburst is worth at most fifty Divine Grace Coins, but its meat is not tasty at all."

Due to hormonal stimulation, the water monkey's flesh would taste bitter and astringent, and it was also somewhat toxic to ordinary people.

That's why it sold so cheaply.

It took great effort to catch one, resulting in significant losses. Moreover, it didn't fetch much money. No wonder no one wanted this kind of business.

"It's fine," Carl shook his head. "I'll study it."

He lowered his head, his eyes glinting.

In Adolf's Potion recipes, there was a special Potion to help a Knight break through to a new realm.

The Berserk Potion!

This Potion could temporarily enhance the user's life essence, elevating them from the pinnacle of a Knight to the realm of a Great Knight.

Of course, it had very clear side effects. That is, if the breakthrough failed, it would cause some damage to the body.

Still, a Berserk Potion could make a Knight go mad. After all, it increased the chance of breakthrough by nearly twenty percent.

Unfortunately, the main ingredient of the Berserk Potion is too rare. Currently, only the Church can provide it steadily.

As his thoughts whirled, Carl's gaze landed on the water monkey.

Its blood might be a substitute for the Berserk Potion's main ingredient.

Whether it truly could would require further experimentation, but it was an opportunity not to be missed.

「On the way back.」

"Uncle Carl!" Ayala ran over from a distance in a panic, her voice tinged with tears, "Hurry!"

"Save Xiao Nan!"

"Xiao Nan?" Carl looked up. "What's wrong with him?"

...

Water Plague!

The incurable disease of Freedom Port!

The nightmare of countless fishermen!

It was a peculiar disease that could erupt without warning and afflict anyone at any time.

Those inflicted with the Water Plague couldn't control their thirst, but no matter how much water they drank, it was useless.

Their bodies would dehydrate rapidly!

That's why it was called the Water Plague.

「In the room.」

Xiao Nan was submerged in a huge wooden barrel, his face pale, his body trembling ceaselessly.

He was afraid.

Afraid of death!

In the few months since leaving Black City for Freedom Port, he had finally come to appreciate the happiness of being alive.

And now, the gates of life seemed to be closing on him.

"Uncle," Xiao Nan looked at Carl, his eyes brimming with hope and desire, wishing to hear a different answer from him, "I... How am I?"

Carl stood by the wooden barrel, his face clouded. "It's the Water Plague."

"AH!" Xiao Nan's face stiffened. His eyes filled with despair, and he clutched his head, curling into a ball.

"SOB..."

"I don't want to die! I don't want to die!"

"AH!!!"

"Uncle!" Ayala gripped Carl's sleeve with both hands, crying out, "Please save Xiao Nan! Save him!"

Carl shook his head gently. If he could save him, why wouldn't he? But faced with the Water Plague, he truly was powerless.

Psychic Analysis!

He placed his hand on Xiao Nan's head, and psychic energy surged in. The next instant, chaos, frenzy, disorder, and twisted will flooded his mind, causing Carl to let out an involuntary groan.

Cold sweat beaded on his forehead.

No good!

Those afflicted with the Water Plague undergo a transformation from the inside out, originating deep within their Bloodline.

Initially, the body shows signs of dehydration. That's why the afflicted feel thirsty and continually drink water, but to no avail.

Their water intake could never keep up with the rate of fluid loss from their bodies.

In the end, they turn into a dried corpse and die.

The corpse would continue to dehydrate until it dissolved into a puddle of sludge.

Moreover, the Water Plague is highly contagious. Prolonged contact with a patient could lead others to contract the disease.

Freedom Port's method of handling it was to throw the afflicted into the sea, leaving them to dissolve.

Or burn them to ashes!

"What do we do?" Ayala appeared helpless. "What do we do?"

"Xiao Nan has only been in Freedom Port for a few months! Why did he contract the Water Plague? Others have been here for many years without issue!"

Carl shook his head. The Water Plague seemed to occur randomly. Some people never contracted it in their lifetime, while others might get it upon arrival in Freedom Port.

There's no warning!

No one knew where it came from. Even drinking hot water daily and maintaining hygiene didn't guarantee protection from infection.

Only by becoming a Knight could one avoid being targeted.

"Seven days." After sighing, Carl said in a slow voice, "I will prepare some Potions to increase his body's water absorption rate. However, at best, they can only help Xiao Nan hold on for seven days. After seven days..."

"NO!" Xiao Nan looked up blankly, muttering, "I don't want to die! I don't want to die!"

"AH!!!"

His eyes bloodshot, he flailed his arms wildly, smashing the wooden barrel. He pushed past Ayala and dashed outside.

"Xiao Nan!" Ayala hurriedly chased after him.

"Ayala," Carl said, grabbing her. "Don't get too close to Xiao Nan. He's... If you contract the Water Plague, you'll die too."

Ayala's body stiffened.

「An hour later.」

They found Xiao Nan, battered and bruised, in a dark alley.

He lay in a stinking ditch, desperately gulping down dirty water, sobbing as he drank.

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