When We Fight Again, We'll Know Who the Team Leader Is!

Bill strolled across the deck in a relaxed, leisurely manner.

Yet that leisure seemed to carry a faint trace of motherfucker.

"Phew—hah—why am I having trouble catching my breath?"

It reminded him of what Instructor Gray had once taught: rum contained a virus that could paralyze the respiratory system.

But, but he had not been drinking. Why was this happening?

Bill scratched at himself irritably, then suddenly recalled the mouthful of blood Ahab had sprayed at him.

According to Instructor Gray, Ahab did not lack the virus in his body. The reason he had not been poisoned to death after drinking was simply because of something called "antibodies."

Then his blood...

He had fallen for it!

Bill stamped his foot, realizing something was wrong.

Instructor Gray would not just stand by and watch him die. If his life had truly been in danger, Gray should have appeared long ago.

What he feared was that the poison was not lethal, but would leave him unable to fight.

No, no! While he still had strength, he needed to find Ahab Gul quickly.

Bill panted heavily, but the suffocating sensation only grew worse.

Damn Ahab Gul. He was too cunning, too despicable.

Ahab clearly knew that Bill had already been warned and would not fall for his tricks again.

Yet he had still pretended to say something like, "Have pity on me."

He had not wanted Bill to take the bait. He had used that moment to bite his tongue and spray blood all over Bill's face!

Could it be that he was going to become a forgetful idiot and get schemed against by Ahab Gul again?

Bill felt incomparably frustrated.

"Ahab Gul, you shameless bastard! If you have the guts, come out and settle this with me!"

His limbs already weak and unsteady, Bill leaned crookedly against the deck and roared.

"That is precisely what I hoped for."

A voice sounded behind Bill, seemingly a little slurred.

He was screwed. Totally screwed.

Bill turned around and saw Ahab standing stiffly not far away, one small hand pointing forward.

"No more stalling. It is time to decide who the team leader truly is."

"When we fight again, we'll know who the team leader is!"

Damn it, damn it! How shameless could he be?

What had this guy said earlier? Have pity on me?

And what was he saying now? Fight again?

Words from one hour ago had already become nothing but bullshit?

Bill nearly swallowed his teeth. Even lifting an arm was difficult now, so he could only speak humbly.

"You win. You can have both Meditation Methods. You're the team leader."

As he spoke, Bill tremblingly tossed out two Meditation Methods.

One was his, and one belonged to Little Potato Tolia.

Ahab smiled meaningfully and smoothly put away both Meditation Methods, yet he showed no intention of leaving.

According to the contents of the Future Diary, it would take him at least five days to master the Meditation Method.

By then, Bill would have recovered long ago.

He could still come beat Ahab up and take back the Meditation Methods.

He had to do something to Bill—something that would keep him out of bed for at least six days.

Seeing Ahab's reaction, Bill understood that his scheme had been seen through.

But at this moment, Bill truly had no other bargaining chips left.

He could only grit his teeth and swear.

"I swear on my honor that I will never compete with you for team leader again. I swear!"

"But I don't believe you."

Ahab looked Bill up and down. The poison should have reached its peak by now, yet Bill had still not completely lost his strength.

If he desperately counterattacked, that would be troublesome.

Ahab did not mind taking risks when the rewards were sufficient.

But now, he could use a cunning and safe method.

"I suddenly realized that teasing someone after everything has fallen under my control is actually quite interesting."

Ahab placed one hand behind his back, resting it on the handle of the Firewood Knife, while his other hand gestured as he spoke.

"How about we play a game? Guess whether I prefer river fish or sea fish."

"As long as you guess correctly, I will not do anything else to you today."

Like a drowning man clutching at a straw, Bill's attention was immediately drawn in.

"River... no, sea fish! Your skin is rather fair, so you must rarely work. Your family must be wealthy and respectable, able to afford delicious fresh sea fish!"

As he spoke, Bill stared nervously at Ahab's face, awaiting the answer.

Correspondingly, Bill lowered his guard considerably.

"Mm, congratulations. The correct answer is—"

Ahab's expression shifted as he continued to draw Bill's attention.

"I don't eat fish!"

At the same time, Ahab pulled the Firewood Knife from behind his back and slashed viciously at Bill.

Bill's aptitude was fairly good, and Instructor Gray clearly held high hopes for him.

To ensure Bill could not interfere with him for five or six days, Ahab had to inflict a physical injury.

His limbs, or his internal organs? Instructor Gray would certainly disapprove, and might even treat him himself to prevent lasting complications.

So, Ahab chose his target—

"Uh, ah!"

Bill let out a miserable scream.

Having succeeded with one strike, Ahab immediately leaped far away, turned, and fled.

Stay to admire Bill's impotent rage? There was no need. Learning the Meditation Method would take plenty of time.

"Ahab Gul, Ahab Gul! You cunning, sinister, vicious, shameless Nascent!"

Amid his furious curses, Bill reached down in disbelief, groping around.

"It's gone, it's gone! I'm not one anymore! I'm not one anymore!"

From now on, there would no longer be a strong, vigorous youth named Bill.

There would only be a blond, six-foot-three, muscular, earth-shattering grand eunuch—Bill.

With an injury like that, forget five or six days. Bill would be unable to make a move even after fifteen or sixteen days.

And it would not affect his future development, nor would it affect the Academy Contribution Gray could obtain!

"Is that... Instructor Gray? Save me, please save me!"

In his despair, Bill saw Gray walking out from behind the mast, with Tolia following behind him.

Instructor Gray pinched his chin, speaking unhurriedly.

"I do possess Healing Sorcery. I can treat you, even restore severed limbs, but—"

"Wizards value equivalent exchange. What will you offer in exchange?"

Bill gaped, his tongue hanging out. After a long while, he said:

"Th-this, Instructor Gray, this requires an exchange?"

"I am an apprentice under your care. If I suffer severe injuries, shouldn't you treat me just as you provide us food and the Ferry Ship?"

Instructor Gray cleared his throat and said solemnly:

"According to Academy regulations, I must bring the apprentices under my care to the Academy and provide food along the way. But this is not an obligation of mine, and the Academy rewards me in exchange for doing so."

"Likewise, if you suffer a fatal injury, I must treat you, and the Academy will provide an equivalent exchange for that treatment."

"But now, your injury only needs suturing, disinfection, and anti-inflammatory treatment. It is not fatal."

As he spoke, Gray reached behind his waist again and took out medical needles and thread, anti-inflammatory medicine, and other supplies.

"I have already provided the necessary items. Handle your wound yourself from here on."